Rekindled
The silence was awkward as neither spoke to each other just stood there.The music made the ride more awkward. Avery looked at the top watching the numbers decending to the lobby floor. The doors opened and Avery jumped out as fast as she could. Roger moved to put himself in front of her as he cut her off as he held her arms in place.
Avery glared at him with content ." What do you want , Roger . Is there a reason your in my way." She growled as he halted her .
" How is my son, doing?" He asked looking in her eyes. Roger remembered how those eyes almost made him lose himself in her.
" My son is fine. He has been fine for almost ten years." She said spiteful.
Roger remembered how he loved avery's fire. It's what made her so compelling instead of being a one night stands. She was the closest he had to a somewhat normal relationship. He was scared when she told him she was pregnant. But he was fourteen years her senior. He couldn't be with her with the age she was barely nineteen .
" Look we got off on the wrong foot. Can we go for coffee and have a civil discussion?" He said as he tried to subside her anger .
" Roger ten years won't be erased with a cup of coffee. And a talk. What do you really want?" She Retorted in disgust.
" I know that, but let me try. It's just coffee . No harm came from coffee and conversation." He said trying to convince her .
Avery remembered there coffee sessions in college as they would show up separately and Roger would act busy as Avery asked if the seat was taken. Roger would smile and they play their coy little dance in the room. Later on Avery would end up in a hotel room with an empty bed the next morning. Roger never stayed . She remembered the room as well like it was yesterday.
" One coffee. But if you try anything." She warned him.
" I'll be a complete gentleman. I won't do anything your not willing to." He said as he released her arms and ushered her to the rotating doors to the entrance of the building.
" Where is your car?" He asked Avery as he wanted to follow her to the coffee shop. Roger knew women choices in coffee shops could make or break a situation.
" I hailed a ride share from the bus stop down here. I wasn't going to lose my car in this part of town." She replied as she pulled open her phone application .
Roger didn't want to offer her a ride to anywhere in face he wanted to spend as little time with her as possible his goal was information about Caden. The son he thought she was smart enough to get rid of except she kept him. One look at the spitting image of himself made him curious enough to try her again. It wasn't usually Rogers style to ready any woman once he was done with them . But this son was definitely his.
" Then let me give you a ride there. I'm sure it will save you money and I will take you home afterwards." Pleaded Roger in an attempt to get her information since Mr. Savior took his client confidentiality to a stance.
" So you can leave me at the coffee shop when our conversation don't pan out as you planned ." Accused Avery.
" Avery. I would never leave a lady in distress. I'm not the villain in your story my dear." He said softly caressing her hand knowing this was a weakness of Avery in the past. Avery looked down at her hand and recoiled it back. Rogers eyes fell as this didn't work anymore on her .
" Fine. Just this one time. No funny business." She said falling away from him
Roger opened the door to the Mercedes as he ushered her in. The classical song played over soft violins as the car ride to the coffee shop felt familiar and awkward.
" So tell me what have you been up to the past ten years?" Roger asked making small talk.
" Not so much . I was a a professional fighter . Did that for a few years with my brother. Recently I started working as a secretary for a car manufacturing plant. " She said trying to keep the conversation to the point.
" What made you change careers? " Asked Roger turning into the small coffee shop. Avery looked at the shop they spent many days at. She was impressed he remembered the spot.
" My dad died. My mom left. My brother found a woman. And I needed to be home to provide for Caden ." She said plainly as Roger stared at her a moment to long. She pulled back wondering why he looked at her like that.
" I'm sorry you went through that." He said but Avery wasn't sure what he was playing at. Roger wasn't acting like the pompous jerk he usually was.
" Are we going to go inside for the coffee. That was the pretences you said we were here for?" Stated Avery hoping to redirect the energy in the confined space of the Mercedes.
Roger nodded as he opened the door for Avery and locked up the car. Then he met her by the door opening the door. Avery glared at his gesture like it was foreign behavior for him.
" A Carmel latte low fat no skim milk. And a black large one sugar ." He asked the barista as he didn't hesitate making the order
" You remembered my order." She said now feeling like she was in a time warp from her nostalgic past. She didn't know he memorized her order since she always ordered her own coffee and met him at his table later on.
" And a chocolate drizzled elephant ear pastry with whip cream and raspberries on the side." He ordered as Avery gawked at him.
" Who are you? " She said head cocked to the side like he just picked up where they left off.
" Your not a difficult person to order for. You stay pretty consistent with your preferences." He replied as he paid and collected the items bringing them to the table .
Avery felt thrown back by his cold nonchalant attitude. Roger was so hot and cold. Like a light switch flipping on and off. She drank her latte and dipped her pastry in the cream. She didn't think she ever see him in the coffee shop that started it all.
" Do you still come here every Monday like back in the days." Avery said curiously looking over her cup as she sipped.
" No not really . After we . Well after us no longer seeing each other I found no point. I only came her to get a glance at you anyways." He confessed careful with his words. Roger didn't know why he never really visited the coffee shop after they were done . He supposed it was more out of the way rather than a preference. He used to visit Avery in this particular coffee shop because it was close to the campus and he was there on business with Bethany it was a two birds with one stone sort of deal.
Rogers office was on the other side of town and he would stop by the coffee shop on his way to see Bethany. Him running into Avery was purely circumstantial. He saw a pretty woman and was handle business . Avery made it worth his time.
" And our old hotel room . Room two ten correct." She reminded me him of their history. In truth Roger used that room for every woman he banged . He wasn't going to have some half crazy woman he slept with in his loft and stalking him . Some women felt like they were owed an explanation and since the hotel was trained to keep information about their guest confidential and was used to turning away unwanted visitors it help Roger ghost a lot of woman who wouldn't leave him alone.
Roger knew he couldn't tell her that he kept that old room as was still using that room to bang women in it. He finally got her alone. He met his son. He wasn't going to mess it up being him.
" I don't want to talk about that right now. I want to talk about what is his name , Caden ?" Asked Roger trying to remember the grey eyed boys name.
" What about him ?" Avery said on a defensive measure. She glared at him more intense of his reason behind his interest in Caden.
" Is he smart? What does he like to eat. What is his favorite color. Does he have any special talents?" Popped off Roger one question after another.
" Whoa. One question at a time. That's like a cliff notes version your asking for ." She said overwhelmed by his interest all of a sudden.
" He is brilliant. He homeschool for the past four years this year is his first year in a public school. He is in all honors and special classes. He likes magna series. I wouldn't call it a talent but he copies the characters a lot ." She explained.
" Why did you change from homeschool to public? He asked .
" He needed to be socialized. My brothers fiance has a daughter that was his only friend. I didn't think it was fair to him to only be introduced to only one child." She said keeping it as vague as possible.
Roger nodded in agreeance.
" His favorite food ." He asked to push avery more. He wanted to more about this son of his. Caden looked like him in the face and if Roger was to reverse time he would be seeing himself as a kid. Alexander looked somewhat like him but he had his mother's face . Only his hair and eyes were a trait he gave him. Roger realized he had two sons . Was there others he didn't know about or even care about.
" He isn't a picky eater. He eats what ever we give him. We try to keep him off of processed foods to prevent any childhood effects like ADHD . " She said sounding like a medical journal readout .
" Who is we?" Asked Roger glared at Avery afraid she had married or in a committed relationship or something. Why was he even concerned about if she had moved on from him it had been almost ten years. He couldn't honestly expect her to be holding out for him all this time apart because he sure hasn't been holding out for her.
" My brother and I . He help me a lot in raising him. He loves his uncle." Avery said now sadder to think of how their relationship was now .
" " I understand. Family is important. To you. I unfortunately wasn't raised on the tight knit family atmosphere. I'm an only child." He lied as He conseded as he wasn't big on family moments.
" His favorite color?" Roger pushed Avery to reveal more about his estranged son.
" Silver. Or light grey. Like his eyes. " She smiled as she noticed the irony of the one trait he inherited from his father. Caden was obsessed with where he got his grey eyes from.
" I like silver too." Confessed Roger . He smiled a small smile feeling better he knew a little about his son .
" Why did you leave? When you found out." Avery asked trying to get some closure to a time she didn't get. She knew it was a make or break conversation subject but it was driving Avery crazy over the reason behind it.
" It was our age to be honest . You were barely nineteen and I was thirty-three years old. I felt I was holding you back . No more like depriving you of it. I wasn't ready to settle down. Hell I wasn't even looking for anything to progress. When we happened it just happened . Something to do in the moment. It started off as curiosity but later became well complicated. It hard to describe ." He said dodging the question at hand .
" You began to feel something so you ran. " Avery clarified it purposely pushing it to the surface. She wanted to make him uncomfortable . She wanted to see him squirm to see his vulnerable. To see him break. All the years of hurt and confusion was due. It was time to pay the piper. She thought bitterly.
Roger pursed his lips not wanting to admit it He didn't like her putting words into his mouth . He watched her analyzing eyes. Those piercings blue eyes and that dark hair . He use to think she was nothing like he ever saw before. He had his share of unattached woman in his life but she was different. She made him want to let his guard down.
" Well it's getting late. I'm sure Caden misses his mom. We should do this again some time. I like talking to you this way. It's been a while since I've talked to a person that wasn't in it for themselves. " He said with a small chuckle .
Avery got up as she disposed of her trash as Avery analyzing the entire conversation. She noticed he never admitted or denied her questions. She did notice he was in a hurry to get her home after the offset question. Roger opened her door as she settled in the familiar car. She looked forward as he drove her home from memory.
Roger pulled up to Avery's house as he walked her to the door. She paused awkwardly because she didn't know if she should invite him inside or just concluded it. This wasn't a date it was just more of an infiltration of personal information. He was interested in Caden then her.
It's been some time since they have been here together. She smiled as she spoke plainly. She usually went to the hotel with Roger and on occasion snuck Roger in when her parents weren't home knowing her brother Axel wouldn't snitch on her sneaking guys in and out just like she never snitch on him doing the same thing with girls.
" I know you have already had your coffee but would you like to come in to ." She paused hesitated to find an excuse to have him in her home ." See Caden for a bit." She slid out the words before she realized it.
She knew Caden was at school but Roger didn't know that. Avery felt an urge to get Roger inside while the house was empty. To see if the thrill was still there or if she was truly over him . She was testing a theory to see if he held the same place in her heart as he did almost ten years ago.
It's not that she didn't want him to be in Caden's life. She had fantasized about it many times. The day had come for her to take revenge and retribution for the pain he caused her and left her alone ,but she held no resolve . He was standing there. He was real not just a figment of her imagination. Not an altered memory of him and her together . Not a tormented truth of him and her separated . A living standing in the flesh.
" Perhaps I shouldn't. I really want to but we are just getting back on our footing ." He said in a low voice that sounded like a mating call to Avery ears.
" You seemed so interested in him over coffee. I just thought that was the real reason you offered to take me." Her voice hitched as she thought of unholy things as she said it like a subliminal message between words." Me home." She continued.
" It was my duty to take you." He said closer now as his voice hitched as heat filled his pants and he remembered how she was when they were together he was close enough to smell her flowery scent of her perfume. He slowly inhaled it as his mind ran wild." Ahem. Home. I did promise you I would." He said awkwardly louder than he intended too.
" And I appreciate it. Perhaps we do need to take it easy. Since it's been so long." Avery sucked in her breath feeling drawn to him the closer her was to her the tension building between her legs as she swallowed hard remembering his touches on her skin .." ummm.Since we've seen each other. " She said releasing her breath as her heart beated wildly.
She had no idea why she felt this way when he was so close to her. She was angry with him prior to the coffee shop. Mistrusting. But now every nerve in her body felt like it had electricity running through it and his scent . His closeness made her dizzy. Her eyes glasses over and she looked up at him in his eyes now.
He looked back at her and his eyes focused on her as well. What the hell was he doing. Why did he want her so bad right now. After all the time they had been apart he didn't ache for her like he did now. He wanted to pick her up and wrap her legs around him and kiss her the way he felt right now.
Roger leaned down and pushed her against the door as he kissed her deeply. The wanting consuming him in the moment. He felt hungry and he seemed her lips as his hands went in her hair and before he knew it Avery pushed them apart.
" What the hell Roger . Was there an open invitation written on my face to do what you want without permission." Snipped Avery. Impressed the kiss was better than she remembered. It was raw and hungry and she wanted more,but she didn't want to admit it out loud.
Roger was confused did he read the situation wrong. Was he not seeing her desire in her eyes. He knew this woman. They were together for almost a year before she ended up pregnant.
Avery breathed ragged. Her heart rate beat sparatically . She was taken by the random kiss even though she did think of it. But now what she wanted to happen again as she grew more confused. She didn't know if she was mad he made the first move or was brave enough to act on it.
Roger looked like he had been scorned as he stepped back giving Avery some space. The silence was defining. Was he supposed to leave now. Or wait for Avery to calm down. He was confused why she made him this way .
" Oh screw it ." Avery said pulling Roger into another heated kiss. The two kissed like teenagers that haven't seen each other for a while. Roger remembered how passionate Avery was . she opened the door as she pulled Roger inside. He lifted her against the wall as she wrapped her legs around him as she dropped her purse and shoes .
Roger walked to the room carrying her her remembered . He spun her against the door as she fumbled her hands to lock it not stopping her actions. the kiss was more needy now the bed was a few feet away. Roger spinned her laying her on the bed.
Avery's mind was rushing a million miles per hour. He heart beated so hard she felt it burst out of her chest . Roger was here. Not a distant memory or a bitter regret. She closed her eyes and surrendered her body to him. She knew she needed to stop this she was so angry at him earlier . Why was she letting this happen again . Avery moved as she felt like she had no control over her body her need for Roger.
She screamed out as she took him in. Then something magical happened as she lost herself in him. My Roger she thought in her head. He is mine. As her toes curled in extacy.
Axel pulled into the driveway a few hours later. Avery layed there exhausted with Roger laying beside her. She heard a car door shut outside as she ran to her bedroom window to see axel's car.
" Oh shit. No no no not right now. Her phone was in her bag she dropped inside the door. She cursed the fact that Roger was in the bed as she smiled at him.
Axel walked in and looked down at the shoes and purse discarded on the floor inside the entry way. He shakes his head as he picked it up and put it on the hook it was designated for. Avery thought she can be quiet maybe he wouldn't touch the door to talk to her. She sat on the end of the bed trying to get dressed in case he did come to talk.
Roger looked at Avery as the bedoved waking him up. He sat up behind her trying to pull her back to bed with him. Avery tried to be quiet as she softly made a noise. She put he finger to her mouth as she heard Axel stopped at her bedroom door.
" Avery can you come out here." He said sternly. Avery cursed the bad timing. She told Roger to wait here and give her one moment.
Avery quickly stepped outside her room and pulled the door shut. Axel noticed her action as he glared at her.
" Something you need to tell me?" He said flat and direct. Avery searched her mind exactly what he wanted her to confess too. Does he know Roger is in my room? I can't do this with him I'm a grown woman . She prepared herself to mentally defend herself when the moment came.
" Is mom gone? Or do I need to get more items to take to Paul's place?" He said hastily.
Oh thank the ansestors that's what he wanted to know. That was why he was here." No she hasn't left. Mom has nowhere else to go." She said in defence.
" If I can find a place in ten minutes so can she. Right now I don't have time to negotiate this , nor do I care to." He said grabbing his bag to go in his room to pack up.
Avery stood placated in front of the door making sure she can block him for searching her room. She stepped over to look in his open room door as Axel tossed clothes in a bag. Axel turned on his heel as Avery was going to walk him to the door to make sure he left before Roger got up .
" Give me a call when you get rid of her. Tell Caden I love him. Be nice to my nephew." He warned Avery knowing her moods.
Avery narrowed her eyes as she grew angry as an assumption that she was cruel to her own child. Axel opened the door as Avery held her breath. She knew the less words exchanged the faster Axel will leave. She stood by the door seeing him out. Axel scanned the yard and his eyes fell on the Mercedes parked in the yard .
" Whose car is that?" He questioned. Avery face grew white and heartbeat picked up.
" Is someone in the house with you?" He accused. As he tried to reenter the house. Avery leaned against the door knowing what he would find .
Avery had to think fast. How was she going to get out of this one. " It's a rental. My car is on the fritz . I have a tow truck coming to pick it up tomorrow. " She said thinking on her toes . Axel nodded his head and began to pull out . He looked at the licenses plate as it read R 0 G 3 R 7 6. He glared at Avery knowing she lied to him. He would know that plate anywhere. That bastard was in his house with Avery. What the hell is Avery doing?He thought as he reversed out now pissed off more.
Axel thought for a moment he should barge back in there and toss the house,but him and Avery were already on rocky terms as it was. She was grown and him telling her she can't see someone as a grown woman was a ridiculous notion. He wanted to remind her to rem what happened last time she was with him and talk some sense into her. Avery lost all sense of herself when she was with Roger. It was like no one else mattered when he was around. But in the end he decided against it . Avery wasn't a child . It was her choice in the end to.make the same mistakes I er and over .
Avery closed the door as Roger stood behind her with nothing on as she looked him up and down in desire.He nibbles on her ears as he knew what he did to her. She had a wicked thought if he was standing there the entire time it would be extremely hard explaining that to Axel. Axel never really met Roger only in passing. But he remembered the car because it was always leaving the house when he came in. All he knew of Roger was what Avery said about him and her and their fights and leaving her .
" You lie very well. I knew I liked you for something. Perhaps I can hire you at my firm . It would certainly keep me interested to see you in tight little skirts bent over." She interrupted him as she kissed him and he pinned her hands above her head. She smiled at him and pushed him back to the room.