“I’m thinking I don’t want to think about him anymore.”
Bridger pursed his lips. “Today took about ten years off my life.”
She shifted on his lap, pressing closer to his chest, and ran one hand from his neck up into his hair. Warmth rushed through him. “I’m sorry you went through that.” She leaned in and kissed the side of his mouth.
Bridger groaned and wrapped his hands tighter around her waist. “Ava,” he whispered.
She smiled slightly. “Maybe I could make it all better if you’d just shut up and kiss me.”
* * *
Avalyn bit at the side of her lower lip as Bridger’s chest rose and fell quickly. Had she been too bold? He’d told Ramsey he loved her earlier. Did he mean it, or was he just trying to protect her?
“Now that sounds like a beautiful plan.” Bridger grinned, then lowered his head to hers. Their lips connected, and happiness soared within her. He manipulated her mouth carefully, tenderly. There was nothing demanding or insistent about the kiss. It was as if he thought she was a priceless treasure.
He pulled back and framed her face with his hands. “Ava,” he whispered. “I was so afraid.”
“Me too,” she admitted.
“I won’t let him near you again.” His deep brown eyes studied her with sincerity.
Avalyn didn’t know how Bridger could promise such a thing with all the men Ramsey had, the guns they constantly flaunted, and the awful taser they’d hit Bridger with today. She knew he was sincere and after tonight she hoped Ramsey wouldn’t do that to them again. Maybe Ramsey didn’t want her anymore. He claimed he’d let her go because she admitted she loved Bridger. Should she tell Bridger that?
Bridger didn’t wait for her response; he bent his head to hers and claimed her lips like he’d been waiting for this chance his entire life. This kiss was firm and strong, and Avalyn loved it as much as his tender kisses. Bridger’s warm hands moved confidently against the silky material of her dress. She was hot from head to toe, but she also felt such love and possessiveness. Bridger was sworn to protect and love her. The combination of sweet and fierce was overwhelming and beautiful to her.
The kisses heated with passion and swelled to a crescendo. Avalyn never wanted to come back down to reality. Bridger slowed the kisses down and held her close. His lips lingered next to hers. Their breath intermingled, and she savored the closeness.
“I love you, Ava. I’ve loved you since I was twelve,” he murmured against her lips.
Avalyn straightened and stared at his beautiful face. If that was true, what did love mean to him? She loved Bridger, but sadly she still didn’t trust him to be able to devote himself to her and only her once they returned to the real world. That was what she’d always dreamed of with Bridger, and he’d never delivered before. She couldn’t delude herself into believing he would change just because of the situation they were in.
“You’re joking,” she said.
“Why would I joke about that?” His hands still held her tight to his body as if he couldn’t stand to let her go.
Avalyn didn’t want to have this talk. She wanted to savor her escape from Ramsey, kiss Bridger all night long, and bask in Bridger saying he loved her. But she’d loved him as long as he’d claimed to love her, and he had repeatedly chosen to flit from girl to girl and break her heart. “You’ve tormented me since we were teenagers, and the one time you kissed me, you went and made out with Kelly Turner in front of the entire school the next day.” She’d been a senior and thought finally she and Bridger were going to have a chance, but he’d proven her wrong quickly.
Bridger’s brow furrowed. “You have to understand that you were two years older than me and perfect in my eyes. I kissed Kelly to make you jealous so you wouldn’t dump me. I know it was stupid now.”
Avalyn pushed off his lap and stood. She needed some distance from him and his excuses.
Bridger stood also. He looked fierce and strong. She would never be afraid of him physically, but he’d hurt her so many times emotionally as she’d longed for him from afar all these years and watched through social media as he flitted from woman to woman.
She suddenly regretted the intense kissing session they’d just had. Yes, she was relieved Ramsey hadn’t taken advantage of her, and she was touched by Bridger’s apparent devotion, but she knew better than to trust that he’d settle down to one woman. Hadn’t he proven that with Britney on Christmas Eve?
Avalyn was so out of sorts right now. She didn’t feel like a philanthropist, author, and speaker, but like a needy woman who only existed for this one man. “So all the women you’ve had clinging to you throughout the years were just to ‘make me jealous’?”
His brow furrowed.
“Being all over Britney Nolan at Creed’s wedding? That was just to make me jealous?”
He lifted his hands and shoulders. “In my defense, that was—”
“Last week,” she supplied, folding her arms across her chest.
“Stupid. I was going to say stupid.” He took a step closer, his broad frame overshadowing her. “Plus the fact I kissed you the day before and you shut me down with no hope of you being interested.”
“I only shut you down because you’re such a player.”