The Fear of Falling

Chapter Thirty Five

"Pay up." I cornered Gavin in his room so he couldn't saunter away and hide. A smug grin stretched across my face. There was no use in trying to hide it. I was pleased. No, downright tickled that Gavin Airos had to pay the piper.

He stood next to his easel, covered in paint. His bewildered expression only added to my fun. "What?"

I waved the camera in my hand. "You said I could take those photos of you today. It's time."

He laughed before adding more paint to his newest masterpiece. "Right now?"

I nodded, eager to get started. Ever since the auction, our relationship had been good, stable even, and I craved more. Suddenly, eating breakfast together or watching reruns of Friends wasn't enough.

Luckily, Gavin seemed pleased.

"Alright, alright," he wiped his hands on his stained shirt. "Where do you want me?"

****

Gavin laid across the couch with my favorite throw blanket draped over his waist. I stood next to the window after loading the fifth roll of film.

Every time I pointed the camera at him, hoping for a stoic, semi-nude masterpiece, he stuck out his tongue. Or rolled his eyes. Or removed the blanket just long enough to blur the shot and make me blush.

"Hold still," I kneeled. "This is my last roll."

"Oh no," Gavin feigned distress by tilting his head back. "Then I'll have to go back to painting."

I frowned. "Oh, you're so funny."

He winked just as the shutter closed. Dammit.

"Gavin," I whined.

He smiled. "Megs."

I stared at him, ready to throw in the towel—or blanket.

"Has anyone ever told you you're cute when you're annoyed?"

Our eyes met; his sparkled with unbridled mischief while I forced myself not to look away in embarrassment.

"They haven't."

"Well, they should have," he sighed before looking away and breaking the trance.

I blinked, recovering from the compliment and the way his gaze caused sparks of excitement to gather at the base of my spine.

I cleared my throat, eager to move and not be totally transparent. "Let's try another angle."

He watched me approach him. "Where to now, boss?"

"You stay still."

Before he could catch on and protest, I straddled him and pointed the camera toward his startled expression. The shutter clicked, and I had finally taken one authentic photo of Gavin.

He frowned. "That was low. Even for you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged. "It's open to interpretation."

I shifted backward before asking, "Are you—"

The thin blanket concealed nothing underneath it.

"I'm only human, babe."

I rolled my eyes and opened my mouth to respond, but my phone buzzed in my pocket.

An evil thought rolled into Gavin's pretty head, but I scolded him before answering.

"Hey, mom."

"Hey, sweetie. Your father and I wanted to know when we should come up for Thanksgiving. I'm booking the hotel and there's a hot tub," she sang.

I pressed the phone to my ear with my shoulder. Then, peered through the camera viewfinder. Gavin wiggled his eyebrows, ready to ruin another photo.

I fought the urge to sigh.

"Well, break starts on the twenty-third, so any day after that works for me."

"What about your roommate? We don't want to impose."

"Oh, he'll be fine. Don't worry."

As if on cue, Gavin thrust into me. I glared at him.

My mom's voice dropped. "Is he still causing you trouble?" You have no idea.

I narrowed my eyes, threatening him silently. "He's okay."

"Okay?" Gavin mouthed. I tried to ignore him, but that became impossible with his dick pressed against my ass.

"Just okay?" she continued, pressing for more intel. I imagined my dad sitting nearby, waiting to hear the fresh gossip.

Sometimes, when neither of them could wait until the end of a call, she wrote it down on a notepad and tossed it at him.

"Yeah, but he can be a real pain in the ass sometimes." I stared down at him, then took another photo.

"Oh, bring your camera! We'd love to have some of your pictures for the office." Gavin grabbed my hips and pulled them up, away from trouble—or so I thought.

"That sounds fun. I'll bring some extra film, too." Once my bank account recovers from this photoshoot.

Then, before I could recoil, Gavin began kissing up my parted thighs.

My eyes widened.

"-and if Gavin is free, we'd love to meet him."

I cleared my throat as he tugged my panties over and began circling my clit with his tongue.

"I don't know," I said, sharper than I intended. "That may not be the best idea."

"Oh, I thought you said things were better?"

I sucked in a breath as Gavin slid his fingers inside of me.

"We're okay but-"

"So maybe we could try to get to know him better? Animosity in the home is just terrible for inner peace."

I bit my lip, holding back a flurry of moans, then quickly agreed.

While my mother cooed in excitement, Gavin continued his attack.

Before I could make Thanksgiving very awkward, I ended the conversation. "Hey, I love you, but I need to go."

"Sure, honey. I-"

I hung up, making a mental note to apologize later.

"Are you crazy?" I hissed at Gavin. I was frustrated but not quite angry enough to pry his mouth away.

He laughed but otherwise ignored my complaints.

Eventually, I gave up, positioned the camera, and committed the image of Gavin eating me out to film.

For artistic reasons only.