"I'll take you up on that." Avery glanced around the large room. A baby grand piano sat in one corner, the sofa was a gorgeous cocoa color, and behind her was yet another mural, this one an abstract of colors washed across the entire wall.

"Your taste is so eclectic," Avery said.

Lola laughed. "That's Grey's word. I'm sure you mean it's all over the place and what the h.e.l.l were you thinking when you decorated the joint!"

Avery shook her head. "No ... well, maybe. A little."

"I can't help it. I like what I like. So it's a good thing Rep doesn't care about things like decor."

Avery leaned back against the comfortable cushions. "He cares about you, so the rest doesn't matter."

Lola curled one leg beneath her. "Is that how you are? If you're in love, nothing else matters?" Her blue eyes pinned Avery in place, and the question had her choking on her drink.

"Sorry. I tend to speak my mind," Lola said, mirth in her gaze and not a hint of true remorse in her voice.

"Yes, I can see that. I take it you're asking about my feelings for Grey?" Avery decided to confront the innuendo head on.

Lola shrugged. "He's my family, and I want him to be as happy as I am. And I know, no matter how many years have pa.s.sed, you've always been important to him. I just want to make sure you're not going to hurt him in the end." Her tone was light, but the warning in her message was clear.

"Wow. You really don't hold back." Avery rubbed her bare arms, chilled by Lola's sudden possessiveness.

Despite the fact that she was Grey's best friend, Avery had let her guard down and relaxed around her. She'd invited her out with her closest friends, only to find herself cornered and pushed.

"Look," Avery said, wanting to be perfectly clear. "If anyone's in danger of getting hurt, it's me, so don't worry about your best friend." She heard the sharpness in her voice, but she couldn't bring herself to take it back.

Lola let out a long breath. "I like you, Avery, I really do," she said, her tone softening. "I'm just looking out for Grey. He's been like a brother to me, and it's what I always do."

"Well, Grey can look out for himself. What's going on?" Grey himself asked, stepping into the room, his gaze darting from Lola to Avery.

Avery glanced at Lola and managed a smile. "Not a thing. Just girl talk."

She placed her gla.s.s on a coaster and rose to her feet. "I'm going to the ladies' room. I'll be right back."

She needed a few minutes to compose herself before she had to face Lola and Grey and the subject of their relationship, because if she knew Grey, he wouldn't buy her story or let things go until he had answers.

Grey watched Avery leave the room before turning on his best friend. "What the f.u.c.k did you say to her?" he asked as Rep walked into the room.

"Don't talk to her like that, man." The large football player strode up to his woman and wrapped an arm around her.

He leaned down and asked, "Tell me, baby, what'd you do?"

Grey bit the inside of his cheek. Rep might look out for Lola, but he knew her well too.

"It's like Avery said, it was girl talk." Lola blushed but held firm.

Grey c.o.c.ked an eyebrow her way.

"Fine. It was about you." She pursed her lips, then forced out the rest. "And I might have warned her not to hurt you."

"Dammit, Lo, I wanted her to like my friends, not face an inquisition."

"You're the one who told me she's wary of the craziness that comes with celebrity. I'm just worried she's going to freak out and bail on you and-"

He stiffened. "It's my problem. Not yours."

"He's right," Rep told her.

Grey groaned. "I'm going to do damage control, and when we come back out, you're going to be your nice, non-prying, non-threatening self."

"Okay. If it means anything, she seems great," Lola said.

"Then behave. You aren't helping me by driving her away from my best friends." Without waiting for a reply, Grey turned and headed to find Avery.

He approached her as she was coming out of the bathroom and eased her back in the small area, shutting the door behind them. He realized his mistake immediately when his body responded to her nearness and her distinctly warm vanilla scent. Once again, he warned his c.o.c.k to calm down. Now wasn't the time.

"You okay?" he asked her, taking in her wary expression.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

He narrowed his gaze. "I know Lola said something she shouldn't have."

"It's fine." She flicked her braid over her shoulder dismissively. "We can work it out between the two of us."

He appreciated her attempt to let things go, but he wasn't accepting her easy out. "Not when I'm the issue."

Avery sighed. "Lola is looking out for you, and I respect that even if I don't like her getting involved or questioning my feelings and motives."

"Which she had no right to do. I don't need her fighting my battles or making trouble between us out of some misguided sense of loyalty."

"Don't worry. I'm not going to do something stupid like ask you to choose between me and your best friend."

"There'd be no contest who'd win."

"Good to know." She clenched her jaw, steeled herself, and tried to push past him and get to the door.

Ridiculous woman, he thought, holding her in place with his hips, pressing her against the vanity behind her.

She sucked in a shallow breath, her flushed cheeks revealing she was as hot for him as he was for her. "You need me to explain that better for you, sugar?"

Avery scowled, and that expression set him off. He'd played by her rules, been nice, accommodating, and taken his time. If she didn't believe where she fit in his life, he'd d.a.m.n well have to show her, he thought and slammed his lips down on hers.

She stiffened at first, her hands coming to his shoulders in a half-hearted attempt to push him away until suddenly things changed. She softened beneath him and kissed him back with the same need driving him, her fingers curling into the material on his shirt. Her teeth clashed with his; their tongues tangled. He slid his hands beneath her dress and cupped her breast through flimsy lace, pinching her nipple between his fingers until she whimpered and bucked against him.

He released the tight bud only to give the other one the same treatment. She pulled at his hair as she cried out, rocking her hips into his, seeking relief against the harsh denim of his jeans. "I need ... I can't ..."

"Shh. I'll take care of you," he promised. He lifted her, setting her down on the vanity counter and hiking her dress above her hips.

"Wait, in here?" she asked, coming to her senses and drawing her legs together.

"n.o.body's going to bother us." He pushed her legs apart and slid her panties down her tanned legs, shoving them into his back pocket.

He looked down at the gorgeous sight. Her bare p.u.s.s.y beckoned, creamy skin and slick folds waiting for him. "f.u.c.k. I've waited years to see this." He cupped her wet heat in his hand, and she gave in.

She leaned against the mirror, head back, cheeks flushed, and a sense of satisfaction flowed through him that she trusted him this way.

"I want to see you come for me, Avery." He slid a finger inside her and nearly came himself at the feel of her tight walls clasping him in heat.

She trembled, and a raw sound ripped from her throat.

"Lean forward." She did as he asked, and he pressed her head against him. "Scream into my shoulder," he said and began pumping his finger in and out, all the while keeping pressure on her c.l.i.t with his hand.

Her soft sighs and breathy moans let him know what worked, and when he curled his finger upward and her breathing hitched, he knew he'd found the spot. He kept up the pressure, rotating his hand in a circular motion until she was writhing on the counter.

He slid his finger out, and her inner walls clasped at him, not wanting to let him go. "Noo ..."

He grinned and slicked a finger over her c.l.i.t, focusing on where she needed him the most. Back and forth, he worked the tight bud, and she rotated her hips in time to his rhythm, keeping her on the edge but not taking her over.

"Grey, please, please, please." She was shaking, nearly totally undone and just where he wanted her. Begging him for what he could give her.

Only then did he change the light caress to a hard tweak, and she came, first screaming then f.u.c.king biting his shoulder as the remainder of the tremors shook her body.

He held her until her o.r.g.a.s.m subsided, ignoring his own pain and state of need.

She lifted her head, her glazed eyes meeting his. "That was ... earth-shattering."

"I hope so because it was just the first of many."

Her eyes opened wide. Grey was so on edge he couldn't manage a laugh at her incredulous expression. Her hands drifted to the b.u.t.ton on his jeans.

He shook his head and clasped her wrists in his. "If you touch me now, I'll explode."

"That's the idea," she said, treating him to an impish smile.

h.e.l.l no, he thought. "The first time I come with you, it's d.a.m.n well going to be inside that hot p.u.s.s.y."

Those eyes opened even wider at his blunt words.

He adjusted the top of her dress so she looked presentable. He couldn't help it if she still looked almost f.u.c.ked. h.e.l.l, he liked it.

"Where have you been hiding?" she asked, her voice still husky.

"What?"

She bit down on her puffy bottom lip. "You've been so ..." She wrinkled her nose, searching for the right word. "Gentle up till now." Her soft gaze bored into his, and guilt flooded him.

"Did I go too far? Hurt you?"

"No! I actually like this side of you." A sweet blush stained her cheeks. "I've just never seen it before, and you've definitely kept it from me on purpose."

His heart started beating again at I actually like this side of you, and he blew out a long breath.

"You weren't sure about me or us," he said, trying to explain. "It seemed smart to let you set the pace. But when you were about to walk out on me because of Lola ... I decided to change my game plan."

She studied him in silence for so long he grew antsy, shifting on his feet.

"It's about time," she finally said.

He took that as an all clear. "We're out of here," he muttered.

"Now?" she asked, stunned.

"Yep. I need to be inside you. I'm taking you home before you change your mind.

"But what about Lola? And Rep?"

"Trust me, they'll understand." He grasped her hand and unlocked the door. "But ... my panties!"

"Are just where I want them," he said, patting his jeans pocket. Without giving her a chance to respond, he pulled her along with him back into the big living room.

"Everything okay?" Lola asked.

"Fine," Avery said.

"Great," Grey added. "I'm sorry to break up the party, but we need to get going." He squeezed Avery's hand in rea.s.surance.

Lola looked from him to Avery, a smile edging her lips as she took them in and understanding dawned. "I can see why," she said, laughing.

Rep chuckled. "Okay then."

"Umm, it was nice to meet you both," Avery said.

Grey headed for the door, tugging her beside him, but she dug in her heels, turning back to the other couple. "Thank you for including me."

Grey understood he needed to let this moment between Avery and Lola happen, and he stopped his run for the exit.

"It was good to meet you," Lola said, her expression as serious as he'd ever seen it. "Come back any time."

"Thanks," Avery said.

"I mean it!" she called out as Grey started for the front entry once more.

He opened the door and came to a stop when he ran right into his manager about to ring the bell. "Simon." Grey was surprised to find him there.

"Kingston," Simon said by way of greeting.

His gaze zeroed in on Avery, and Grey had the sudden urge to pull her behind him and shield her from his manager, which was ridiculous.

"Lola's inside but we were just leaving," Grey informed the man.