Spark: Book 1 (The Heat Series) Read online

Xander was happy to see that she was eating. He never revealed to her that Abby had had a problem with anorexia early in their relationship. She finally started seeing a therapist and her condition improved. By the final year of law school, she had gained most of the weight she had lost. As far as he had known, she was eating normally. He didn’t want Ava to travel the same path.

  Chapter 15

  Ava entered the office on Monday feeling anxious. She had no idea what she would encounter when she saw Victoria. Her desk had no folders or notes on it, and nothing was in her email. Ava hated confrontation, and the last thing she wanted was to see the woman face to face. But she had no choice. The door was open; She softly knocked on the door, and Victoria looked up.

  “Ava, good to see you this morning.”

  Ava was taken aback by her jovial attitude.

  “Please take a seat and we will discuss the items I need you to take care of today. I would also like to apologize for my behavior on Friday. I was overwhelmed, and if I seemed to be a bit persnickety, I am sorry.”

  Holy shit, did she just use the word persnickety?

  “I want to emphasize that the rules we went over earlier stand, but I think that if you need to use your cell phone during office hours, it's fine. However, let me offer an addendum to that. If I see that it is interfering with your work production, then I will ask that you remove it from your person until lunch or after hours. Do I make myself clear?”

  Ava answered immediately, “Yes, Ms. Carter.”

  “Very well then, let’s dispatch with the unpleasantries from Friday and get to work. I need you to file these cases.” She patted two large stacks that were sitting next to her desk, at least three feet high. “These were part of the open files handed to me. I have no idea why they were not filed, but I need you to take them to Central Filing and put them in their proper places. I trust you know where they go and how they are filed?”

  “Yes, I’ve done that many times before.”

  “I also need you to cross reference each file and make sure we have an electronic copy on the server and the backup. It’s very important that you do this before you physically file the paper folder. I know this is a lot of work, but I expect you to try and complete it by this evening. Thank you.”

  Ava thanked her in return and made her way to the eighteenth floor to get a cart to remove the folders from her office. At least she would be on the same floor as Xander. He didn’t travel with her to the office because he was going to the doctor to get his test results. Wait until I tell him that Victoria was civil to me!

  She retrieved the cart and went back to Victoria’s office. She was not at her desk, but Ava felt it was okay to go in and take the folders. Several of the folders had slid off the stack and were now under the desk. The only way Ava could get them was to get on her hands and knees. She stood up just as Victoria came around her desk with a cup of coffee. She startled her, and the hot liquid sloshed onto Ava’s hand immediately scalding her.

  “Ahh,” She cried out in pain.

  “I’m so sorry. You scared me. Come with me.”

  She pulled Ava by her arm down the hall to the kitchen. She turned on the faucet. “Here, put it under the cold water.” Ava slipped her hand under the running water. In the meantime, Victoria dug around the cabinets looking for a bag, filling it with ice from the freezer and handing it to Ava.

  “Thank you for being so kind to me.”

  “Regardless of how we started off, I’m not a monster. I’m truly sorry that I burned you. Leave that on until the burning subsides. It looks like a first-degree burn and might sting for a little while. I’ll have one of the other assistants pack up the cart and leave them by your desk. Do you think you need to go home?”

  Ava removed the ice pack to look at her hand. It was bright red, but no blisters had formed. “I think I will be alright. I will ice it for a little while then go up to central filing.”

  “Please let me know if you need to go for medical assistance. I will see that someone helps you there.”

  Xander must have intimidated her pretty well. This is incredible how she is treating me today. If he hadn’t said anything and she spilled coffee on me, she would have probably kicked me under the desk and continued working.

  In a few minutes, Ava went to her desk. The cart was there, and she put the ice pack on top of the folders and pushed her way to the elevators. Central Filing was a large room on the eighteenth floor where all the closed case folders were stored. There were several laptop stations at a table in the room where she could cross reference each folder with the electronic and backup copy. She spent over two hours doing this while she iced her left hand. By then the bag of ice had turned to water. The burn was still red, but the sting was practically gone.

  She started to physically file the folders in alphabetical order. It took time because of the multitude of folders in each cabinet. She was so involved with her work that she didn’t hear the footsteps. Hands wrapped around her waist. She could smell Xander’s cologne before she saw him.

  He noticed her burned hand. He let her go and held it up by her wrist. “What happened?”

  She explained, and he felt his anger start to boil up in him. Ava knew what he was thinking. That Victoria had done it on purpose, but she told him no and said she was civil to her.

  Xander raised his eyebrow and gently kissed her hand. “I’m glad that she is nice to you. I wasn’t sure if I would have to try something more aggressive on her.” He bent down and moved aside her thick hair to kiss her neck, then her cheek and finally her lips. Ava felt her body start to flush.

  “Stop. Don’t do this here.”

  “When should I do it?”

  “When we are home alone where no one can walk in on us.” Xander knew he was taking a chance but that was no deterrent when he knew how close she was to his office.

  “Did you get your test results?”

  “Yes, and I am clean as a whistle. I’ve been careful.” Ava thought of the possibilities now that he was tested, and she was on birth control. She had not revealed this fact to him yet, and he had not noticed the small pack in her purse.

  The rest of the week was uneventful until Wednesday. Ava was planning on spending the upcoming weekend with Xander. They were staying at his apartment and had just gotten into bed. She straddled him and laid on his stomach and chest, kissing him under the chin. They had not yet had sex for the first time, but she had become more aggressive in finding out his test results.

  “Sweetheart I need to talk to you.” She sat up on his stomach, and he stroked her thighs.

  “I won’t be able to spend this weekend with you.”

  “Why not?”

  “Two of my buddies from Duke will be in the city this weekend, and I promised I would put them up.”

  Ava didn’t hide her disappointment. “They can stay here, and we can stay at my apartment. What is the big deal?”

  Xander sat up, and she got off of him. “The big deal is that I want to spend time with them. I haven’t seen them for a couple of years, and I thought we would just hang out.”

  Ava turned on her side. “So you don’t want to spend time with me?”

  “I want to spend time with you always, but we need to have lives separate from each other, too. I made the mistake of cutting off my friends with Abby, and I don’t want to do that anymore. I thought you would understand.”

  Ava continued to pout. He touched her shoulder, and she moved away from his hand.

  “Come on, don’t be angry with me. This doesn’t mean that I don’t love or want you because I do, very much.”

  She turned to look at him, “Then why haven’t you made love to me yet?”

  “Is that what this is about? You think I don’t want to make love to you?”

  “I thought after your test you would.”

  “I want it to be special for you. I don’t want just to pounce on top of you just to do it. It’s going to be your first time, and you want it to be memorable, don’t yo
u?” This was true; she did want that. “Be patient, I have something planned, and you will love it, I promise. Why don’t you go and spend an evening with Rachel or Samantha? You haven’t seen them since we have been together.”

  “I could. Sam has been bugging me to go to Club Olé again. I might just do that.”

  He gently pushed her back to the bed and began kissing her, his tongue delving into her mouth. She ran her nails over the smooth skin of his muscled back and felt him shiver. He moved his lips to her ears and licked at the lobes then trailed his tongue down her beautiful neck.

  By now, he knew what she wanted. He slipped his hand under her t-shirt, rubbing the soft skin of her belly then lifting the fabric so he could kiss it. He pushed her shirt up revealing her breasts. Her nipples had hardened into tight little rosebuds. He kissed one, then the other, sucking on each. He got on his knees to marvel at her beauty. He had seen her naked before but each time was a treat for him. She closed her eyes as he worked his way down her body.

  She anticipated his tongue. But he teased her by leaving her panties on, taking the waistband in his teeth and pulling at it. Tonight she was wearing a thong with a tiny strip of cloth that was made of lace. It hid nothing since it was practically see-through. He moved his mouth down and blew a breath against her mound. She moved her hips and again begged him. He finally removed her panties, sliding them down her legs and discarding them on the floor.

  “Take your shirt off; I want to see you naked.” She sat up, and he watched her remove her shirt. He sat on his heels as she lay back down. Her lovely curves bathed in the soft light of the bedside lamp. How badly he wanted to slide into her. He touched his tongue to her clit, and she again moved her hips. She was wet, very wet, and her juices were sweet. He glided his tongue up, trying to get as much of the sweet nectar as he could. Ava was moaning. She was no longer afraid to express herself with him in bed. She reached down and grabbed a handful of his hair, pushing him hard against her clit. He slipped a finger into her tightness and slowly began circling. She bucked and moaned.

  “I’m going to come, Xander, make me come.” She let go of his hair as her orgasm ripped through her. He continued to lap at her juices until she twitched at his touch. He backed off, his face glistening with her wetness.

  “Kiss me.” He lay beside her, and they kissed.

  “Is that what I taste like?”

  “Yes, that is you. I think you are delicious.”

  Ava giggled and reached between them. Xander was rock hard. She stroked his him through his boxers, and a wet spot began to form on them as his pre-cum soaked the fabric. He lay on his back with his eyes closed as she freed his cock from its confines. She pulled his boxers down as much as she could without needing his assistance and cupped his balls. Her nails tickled the soft flesh on the underside, and he moaned his approval. Ava decided to do something that she had never done. She continued to stroke his length but bent her head to take him in her mouth. Xander immediately opened his eyes.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m returning the favor.”

  “You don’t have to do that. Just stroke me.”

  “But I want to taste you.”

  He lay back down and closed his eyes. She sucked him while continuing to work his length with her hand. Her mouth was working his head, licking at the underside and that sent little shock waves through his body. Since they had started dating, he rarely masturbated anymore. He wanted to save it for her. There were times when he wanted to take care of himself, but it was sweeter for him when she was the one to make him come.

  “Stop sucking me; you can stroke instead.”

  “I want to taste you.” She said again.

  “No, you have never done that before, and I’m not sure you are going to like the taste.” He tried to stop her from sucking him, but she pushed his hand away.

  “Sweetheart I’m going to come, I can’t hold it anymore.” He panted.

  She continued to suck him, and he released into her mouth. He watched amazed as she swallowed. It had been a few days and had been building. She was the first to speak after she released his cock from her mouth.

  “You don’t taste bad. I want to do that again.”

  “That was so hot,” Xander said.

  She didn’t tell Xander that she had been reading articles online about the way to give the perfect blowjob. She knew it wasn’t perfect, but she would get better with practice.

  Friday came, and Ava was dreading it. She wouldn’t be able to share Xander’s bed for at least two days. That morning, they had showered together, and she got more practice on him with her mouth. They had spent so long in there that he didn’t have time to make her come. He promised that he would make it up to her.

  The only good thing about the weekend was that she was planning to spend most of it with Samantha and Rachel. They hadn’t had a girl’s sleepover for several months, and she missed that. Rachel had been very busy lately working on designs. She had started an online business, and it was booming. She was now renting space in Greenwich Village and had several employees.

  All three of them were going to sleep at Ava’s apartment. She had placed an order with Stan’s and gotten all the junk food they all liked but rarely ate. They would watch movies, sit on her bed and fill up on snacks. She was looking forward to it.

  At the end of the day, though she promised not to have contact with Xander in the office, she had already broken that several times. Mostly it was his fault, but she accepted her part. She sat at her desk waiting for most of the people to filter out of the office. She texted him.

  Are you still in the office or did you leave?

  I’m still here. I have a few things to finish, and then I am going home to change and wait for the guys.

  She took the fire stairs up to eighteen. Most of the offices were dark, and the cubicles were empty. She quickly walked down to Xander’s office and was relieved to see that Jacob had left already. The last thing she needed was to have to explain why she was near his office. Xander’s door was partially closed, and she peeked in the door. He was sitting at his desk, jacket off, sleeves folded up and tie loosened. She loved seeing him that way because it meant that he was relaxed. He was paging through a case file. If he heard her enter he made no indication. She closed his door, and he looked up.

  “I’m so happy you came by; I was wondering why you didn’t text me back you little sneak.”

  Ava gave him a lopsided smile. “I wanted to say goodbye properly.”

  “I think this morning was a proper goodbye, don’t you?”

  She didn’t answer him but instead sat on his lap and kissed him. He unbuttoned several of the buttons on her blouse to the waist of her skirt. Her pink lace bra was revealed, and he leaned in to kiss between her breasts. She twined her fingers in his hair as he moved one of the cups of her bra aside, exposing her nipple. He sucked on it, and she inhaled deeply. She pushed at his face, and he dislodged her nipple from his mouth with a pop. He looked up and saw the desire in her green eyes.

  “You need to stop making me wait. I want you so much. And don’t tell me to be patient.”

  He gave her a wicked smile. “Do you want me to take you right here on the couch this very minute?”

  She knew he was kidding. “Of course not, but you do these things to me and I wonder what else you have in store.”

  “It’s not easy for me either. I think about you all the time.”

  “Then why are we waiting?”

  “Because I don’t want you to think all I want from you is sex. I want so much more. I love you.”

  “I don’t think that at all. I know you love me.” As they talked, he buttoned up her blouse. He checked his watch.

  “I hate to leave you, but I need to be home within the next forty-five minutes. Jon and Bobby will be at my apartment building by six-thirty.”

  She kissed him on the cheek and got off his lap. They left his office together, and when they got in the elevator, they were the
only ones in the car the entire ride down.

  “I meant to ask you, how is your new assistant?”

  “Right, Ashley, she is very capable.”

  Xander had no intention of telling Ava that with Ashley he might have an issue. She had only worked for him for four days, but he felt that she had ulterior motives. She was a nice enough young lady, but her attire was a bit too provocative. She also had a bad habit of leaning over when he was at his desk exposing her cleavage. He never disrespected Ava by looking, but it made him feel uncomfortable. His opinion was that she was looking for a rich attorney husband and wasn’t interested in the law.

  “Is that all you have to say, that she is very capable.”

  “What do you want me to say about her? She works for me, and that is all that matters, how she does her work.”

  Ava could hear the irritation in Xander’s voice, but she had no idea why. She stopped asking him about it because she didn’t want this to be their last interaction before their two-day hiatus from each other. They ended up taking a cab together and during the ride he sat close, kissing her, sucking her earlobes and fingers. She was overheated when the cab stopped at her apartment, and he gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

  She whispered in his ear “You owe me…”

  She prepared her apartment for the sleepover. All three of them would end up sleeping in her king sized bed together unless one of them fell asleep on the couch. Sam and Rachel arrived almost at the same time. They spent the night eating popcorn, ice cream and all kinds of candy. They watched two romantic movies. Ava forced Rear Window on them, and they allowed it because they knew it was one of her favorites. Rachel argued that it was not a romantic movie, but Ava insisted it was. Sam broke the tie by agreeing with Rachel, but Ava made them watch it.

  They talked about the new employees at the firm and Ava told them about Victoria.

  “What a bitch,” both Rachel and Sam said in unison. She didn’t tell them about what Xander had done but said Victoria was treating her better since the first day. Sam told them about the new people that had come to work on eighteen. Ava asked about Xander’s new assistant.