It Started With a Kiss (Insta-Spark)

She shook her head. “I was never overly fond of it. Luckily, it sort of broke in pieces.”

I ordered the pizza, making sure to get plenty of olives on her half, and held out my arms. “Come here. I miss you.”

She curled into my chest. “You’re crazy.”

“I am about you.”

She burrowed closer. We lay enjoying the quiet, both of us drifting off. The knock at the door roused us, and I stood, grabbing for my pants, pulling them on, not bothering to do them up. I didn’t plan to keep them on for long. “I’ll get the pizza.”

She sat up. “Okay. I’ll get dressed.”

I handed her my shirt. “This is all you need.”

She laughed, accepting it. I bent low and kissed her, just as another knock, heavier this time, sounded.

“Impatient pizza guy.” I huffed.

“He always is.”

“Stay here. We can eat in bed and watch a movie.” I plucked the shirt from her hand. “Actually, you won’t need this after all.”

She beamed at me. “Okay.”

I made my way to the door, digging out my wallet. Another knock sounded. I flung open the door, not looking up as I took out some money. “Sorry, man. Got here as fast as I could.”

All I heard was a muffled gasp, followed by a low curse.

Startled, I looked up and froze.

Avery

I curled up, holding my pillow. It smelled like Daniel. Fresh grass, citrus, something musky, and all him. I pushed the book teetering on the edge of the nightstand back into place. We had certainly left a trail of our lovemaking behind us. I knew the term fucking was more accurate, but every time Daniel touched me, every time he was inside me, no matter how frantic it was, it still felt as if he were making love to me.

And he did love me. The way he said it in the truck, the emotion in his eyes, I could feel it everywhere. I could feel him everywhere. He filled up every corner of my mind—and my heart.

I rolled over to study the few movies I had piled up by the TV, wondering if he would want to watch any of them, when I heard hurried footsteps.

I sat up as Daniel came in, shutting the door behind him. I tried not to drool as I looked at him. His hair was disheveled, sticking up everywhere from my fingers. His torso was bare. His pants hung low on his hips, the button open. There were two marks on his neck and another on his chest from my passion earlier. He looked like sex. Walking sex. Then I met his gaze. His wide, panicked gaze.

“Daniel, what’s wrong? Where’s the pizza?”

He stepped forward, crouching down, holding my arms. When he spoke, his voice was low and intense. “That wasn’t the pizza, Avery.”

“Oh Lord, was it Beth?” A chuckle escaped my lips. “She got an eyeful, didn’t she?”

He shook his head wildly, and something in his expression made me realize he was being serious.

“What is it? Who was at the door?”

“Avery,” he began in a nervous tone, “your parents are in the living room.”

I scrambled off the bed, staring at Daniel in shock.

“What?” I prayed I hadn’t heard him correctly.

“Your parents are here. In the living room.”

I blinked, swallowed, then reached past him, grabbed a mint from the bowl and started chewing. Watching me fidget, he handed me another one.