The Jock and the Wallflower | Lisa Marie Davis

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The Jock and The Wallflower

T

HE

party was in full swing by the time we arrived at a

quarter ’til ten and if it hadn’t been for my best friend,
Scarlett Wade, clutching tightly to my hand and forcefully
dragging me forward, I would have happily bolted out the
door. I really didn’t want to be there. At all. Only a week into
my sophomore year, I simply wanted to spend the weekend
doing what I had done every weekend throughout my
freshman year: I wanted to hang out in my cluttered dorm
room with a bag of popcorn and a good book, or maybe an
old black and white film. I certainly didn’t want to attend the
Kappa Psi Delta fraternity’s Back to School Bash—quite
honestly, I had to question the sanity of anyone who did
want to attend any event hosted by a fraternity made up of
football jocks, baseball jocks, and basketball jocks. It was
Jock Central. And me… well, it was safe to say no one would
ever mistake little five-foot-five-inch, one-hundred-forty-five-
pound me as anything remotely related to a jock. I had,
however, spent my entire high school career with an invisible
target posted on my back, inviting any and all jocks and
their friends to torment me in whatever ways they deemed
amusing.

Scarlett knew this, of course, as she and I had been best

friends since fifth grade, and on more than one occasion
Scarlett had jumped wildly to my defense when some asshole
tried to badger me in her temperamental presence. No one
wanted Scarlett pissed with them. She wasn’t a wilting

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southern belle by any stretch of the imagination, never mind
the fact she was only an inch taller than me. Scarlett’s
dainty, blue-eyed, blond beauty fooled many tragic fools at
first glance, but most quickly learned that Scarlett didn’t
tolerate stupidity, arrogance, or bigots and she could and
would stare down men twice her delicate size, if and when
someone landed on her bad side. I adored her beyond
reason. I wasn’t close to my family, but I had Scarlett. I knew
I could depend on her come hell or high water, and it was
because I did indeed love her that I allowed her to talk me
(thoroughly strong-arm me) into attending Kappa Psi Delta’s
Back to School Bash. “Brent’s going to be there and I’d like to
maybe show up and flirt a little, to find out if he’s really
interested.” Brent was—of course—a jock, as the Kappa Psi
Delta directive apparently mandated, but having talked to
the star pitcher on several occasions, I had to admit he
seemed like a decent sort. If he hadn’t been, I would have
told Scarlett as much. Period. She was certainly strong-
willed and capable, but the protective nature of our
friendship went both ways, and I looked out for Scarlett’s
well-being whenever I could. She had dated a few jackasses
in the past, but Brent seemed intelligent, levelheaded, he
didn’t come across as painfully arrogant, and I didn’t doubt
for a second that he was very much interested in Scarlett.
And Scarlett (damn her) knew I was utterly interested in and
completely enchanted by Brent’s best friend and Duke’s star
right fielder, Avery Beckett.

Yeah, call me a short, skinny little hypocrite; I wasn’t a

great fan of jocks in general, but damned if Avery Beckett
wasn’t an exception to the rule. But being an exception
didn’t matter all that much, considering a) I hadn’t seen or

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heard anything that suggested Avery was gay or even
bisexual, and b) if by some glorious chance Avery was indeed
gay or bisexual, there wasn’t a chance he would ever look
twice at me. He was a freakin’ Adonis. Six feet tall. Broad
shoulders, powerfully long legs, narrow hips; Avery was solid
muscle with deliciously bronze skin, brilliant blue eyes,
sensual full lips and sun-kissed sandy brown hair. And he
was smart. He had shared the same creative writing class as
me the previous semester (not that Avery had known I was
alive, let alone in the same room with him), and I was blown
away each time Avery posed a question or answered a
question, and anytime we were required to read an
assignment out loud, I found myself captivated by Avery’s
smooth voice and equally captivated by his undeniable (and
damn sexy) talent with words.

When it came to Avery, I had a serious crush/case of

lust/desire to actually know more, but I didn’t fool myself.
Avery Beckett hadn’t a clue who I was, he never would, and
sadly, despite knowing that, I was willing to hang out at
KPD’s alcohol-fueled, jock-infested party because I wanted a
chance to ogle him from a distance.

Oh yeah, I was a loser of the bona-fide variety and less

than ten minutes after arriving, I was a loser flying solo. The
moment Scarlett caught sight of Brent lingering on the other
side of the overly crowded room, she left me with a kiss on
the cheek and an order to have fun. “Mingle and hang out.
Okay? You don’t have to drink. Just maybe drop your guard
and you might have a pretty good time, darlin’.” She was off
to flirt with Brent before I could respond to her advice, and
watching her quickly disappear into the crowd of dancers
and drinkers, I knew I wouldn’t see her again. Scarlett was

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on a mission: land Brent Logan. And me? I was a pitiful little
fish out of water, and I really just wanted to go back to my
dorm, where I should have remained in the first place, thank
you very much. But I had promised Scarlett I would hang
out for a least an hour, and I couldn’t break a promise I
made to Scarlett, which meant I had an hour (fifty minutes!)
to play Mr. Wallflower.

Swallowing what little pride I had, I worked my way

through the crowd, feeling more than a little nauseated by
the rather pungent—and overpowering—stench of beer
combined with other obviously cheap alcohol. It never failed.
Just the smell of beer made me sick. It was a bitter reminder
of a past I wanted to forget; a reminder of my father’s
drunken rages and a sad reminder of my mother’s tragic
inability to defend herself (and me) against verbal insults
and flying fists that often left one of us in need of medical
attention. Christ, would I ever forget? No, no, I knew there
wasn’t any chance that I could or world forget my troubled
childhood, but I wished I could escape the countless
reminders. Especially now. College was supposedly a
carefree time and let’s face it, a person couldn’t get through
college without encountering drinkers. I shook my head as I
finally found an unoccupied corner, where I leaned against
the wall with a heavy sigh born from exhaustion and relief.

I had maybe another forty minutes left before I could

run for the hills (or the dorm room in my case), and I
couldn’t wait.

My eyes closed for a moment and I willed myself to

relax. I struggled to ignore the smell, the sounds, the music
that was unbearably loud; I could feel one hell of a headache

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on the horizon, and I prayed the minutes would pass damn
quickly. Please God! I was starting to feel just a little
claustrophobic standing there, and I cursed myself for it as
the sound of loud laughter followed by a sudden squeak
snapped my eyes open at the exact moment something icy
cold splashed against my chest.

The smell of beer assaulted my already hyperactive

senses, and I jumped, unable to shrink away from the cold
liquid that plastered my shirt to my chest.

“Oh my God!” I looked up to see a girl standing in front

of me, her eyes wide, a look of embarrassed horror on her
face. “I’m sorry! I tripped and… God, I ruined your shirt….”
She was on the verge of tears, and I couldn’t help but feel
sorry for her and that had me forcing a smile as I tugged the
soaked material away from my chest.

“It’s fine. Really. It’s not a big deal.”

“But your shirt….”

“I was about to leave, so it’s fine. I swear. Don’t worry

about it.”

“Are you sure?” Her eyes were still wide and I nodded. “I

really am sorry. I can pay for the dry cleaning.”

“Believe me, that isn’t necessary.” I smiled at her again.

“Like I said, I was just about to head out, so it’s not a
problem.” Hell, despite the smell (which was atrocious), I was
grateful for the perfect excuse to get out of the party early.
When Scarlett asked why I bailed, I could tell her—
honestly—that I needed to change before I became tragically
ill in a room filled with people I didn’t dare offend with

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projectile vomit. Cowardly? Yep. Did I care? Nope. Blessed
escape was in my sight, and I intended to take it, but before I
could excuse myself from the still-apologizing girl, a
wonderfully warm and strong hand clamped down on my
shoulder, and I looked up to find the object of my unrequited
longing standing beside me. Touching me. Smiling easily,
naturally, that amazing smile that was radiant and
charming; the smile that revealed dimples that were oh-so-
sexy. I blinked, certain I was suffering from some unexpected
hallucination. I had to be. There wasn’t any possible way
Avery Beckett was touching me… smiling at me…. I shook
my head to try and clear aside the obvious hallucination.
Avery didn’t disappear from my sight, but he did turn to
flash a smile at the young woman whose drink was currently
soaking into my shirt and chilling my goose-fleshed skin.

“It’s cool, Tabby.” Avery’s voice was as rich and warm as

I remembered from our class, but hearing it up close, with
Avery’s hand resting casually on my shoulder… shivers of
delight (and lava-like arousal) traveled down my spine and
my digestive organs did a series of rather impressive
somersaults. “Go grab yourself another drink. I’ll take
Decker upstairs and find one of my shirts for him to change
into.” I was dimly aware of the girl—Tabby—looking relieved
and departing with a happy smile aimed at Avery, but mostly
I was in a state of shock. 1) Avery was touching me, 2)
apparently Avery actually knew my name, and 3) Avery
intended to take me upstairs and loan me a shirt, and that
was just so out of left field I half expected to hear the theme
music from The Twilight Zone. Had I tumbled down a rabbit
hole? Could I be drunk—and delusional—from simply
smelling alcohol? That seemed unlikely (since I knew it was

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impossible), but there wasn’t any obvious explanation for
why Avery’s hand moved from my shoulder to catch me by
the wrist. With casual confidence, he began tugging gently
through the crowd of giddy partygoers toward the stairs
which undoubtedly led to the dorm rooms. What the hell was
happening? Dazed and more than mildly confused, I forced
myself to stop moving when we reached the bottom of the
stairs. Avery turned around to look back at me, and I drew
in a much needed, almost desperate, breath.

“Come on. I’m sure I can find something for you to wear.

No need to spend the rest of the night in a wet shirt.”

“I don’t… I mean, I… I was leaving….” I winced, because

damn, did I sound stupid. “You don’t need to be nice to me
because….” His beautiful lips curved into another radiant
smile, and I felt something inside me shiver again because
that smile was perfect. I figured he could convince me to
walk to the moon and back by just flashing that smile and
yes, that made me pathetic on at least a dozen levels, but I
realized I didn’t care. So I was pathetic? So what? I could live
with it, if Avery would just keep smiling at me like that, like
maybe he really did see me, Mr. Wallflower, as more than
some borderline hermit/nerd/utterly-unjocklike loser.
Christ! My heart kicked so hard in my chest that I briefly
wondered if I was suffering from a heart attack, but once
again I simply did not care, as once again Avery tugged
gently at my wrist and I began following him up the stairs as
if I had done so before and would do so again.

A moment later, I was ushered into a room—Avery’s

room—and I noticed that it was a single, larger than mine
and surprisingly uncluttered and well-organized. Avery had a

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few sports posters on the walls, a large bed, a desk housing
a computer, and a small nightstand. Granted, my eyes
lingered on the bed, because it was Avery Beckett’s bed. I
was in Avery Beckett’s room, and I considered pinching
myself. “Look, I really don’t need a shirt and like I said to
Tabby, I really was ready to leave.” I didn’t turn and look at
Avery, but I could hear him rummaging through his closet,
undoubtedly looking around for the shirt he had offered. My
chest felt tight and for a moment I feared I might faint, but I
pulled in another breath as Avery moved to stand casually in
front of me. Hopelessly, I looked up at him, into eyes that
were so alluring and beautiful I could have lost myself in
them and stayed lost in them.

“It’s way too early for you to be leaving.” He flashed

another smile and I took a step back, leaning against the
wall in what hopefully appeared a casual stance. “You just
arrived and you haven’t had a chance to enjoy the party.”

“I don’t… I really don’t like parties all that much.” Yeah,

I’m a dork; why not just put a “Loser” sign around my neck?

“That would explain why I’ve never seen you at any of

these mind-numbing events before tonight.”

“I’m here with my friend.” See, I wanted to say, I wasn’t

a total loser, ’cause I did have a friend and that counted for
something.

“I saw you come in with Scarlett Wade.”

“Yeah. We’ve been friends since grade school.”

“I think she and Brent are hooking up.” Avery took a

step forward. “Which means you’re free to spend some time

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with me.” I blinked at that. I couldn’t help it, because really,
why would Avery Beckett want to spend time with me when
there was a major party taking place downstairs?

Gathering my bearings as best I could with Avery so

close (and gods, but he smelled so very, very good), I prayed
to any deity in existence that I wouldn’t make a major fool of
myself—at least not any more than I already had. “You don’t
have to do that—hang around me because Scarlett’s with
Brent. I can go back to my dorm room, and you can enjoy
the party and not be stuck babysitting me all night….” I
realized I was rambling, which happened whenever I found
myself nervous, and in that moment nervous didn’t begin to
describe what I felt, standing there in the same room with
Avery. I wanted to turn and run. Why not? I had already
come across as a blithering idiot. Avery likely figured I was
completely useless, and certainly, I felt that way as I looked
away, not wanting to see the look of amusement in Avery’s
eyes. It was official. I would always be some socially
awkward loser. Time wouldn’t change that, being away from
my father wouldn’t change that; it was enough to depress
me, but I didn’t have the chance to fall into that depression
before a hand reached out and captured mine. Startled, my
eyes shot up to look at Avery, who wasn’t looking at me like I
was indeed a loser. Wow. I couldn’t claim experience when it
came to guys (or kissing, or sex, or anything related to the
entire wanting/seduction process), but despite my tragically
limited experience, I was fairly certain what I saw in Avery’s
eyes was desire.

I licked my lips nervously as Avery squeezed my hand.

“Here’s the deal; I spent all of last semester wanting a

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chance to know you better and now the chance has fallen in
my lap, and I’m taking advantage of it.”

“Avery—”

“I asked Scarlett to get you here tonight, without telling

you why.”

“You what?”

“Last semester, I couldn’t make a move because I had

some family issues going on, and I decided that when I set
out to pursue you, I didn’t want anything distracting me
from giving you all my attention.”

I shook my head, because what he was saying didn’t

make sense. Avery couldn’t really be telling me he wanted
me, that Scarlett knew he wanted me…. It was too much like
a dream come true and frankly, I didn’t buy into the belief
that such dreams could become a reality. “Why? I’m just…
what I mean is, I’m nothing special and you… you can have
anyone….” My face burned, I knew I had to be blushing from
head to toe, and I again tried to look away but before I could
Avery’s free hand cupped my cheek, and I found myself
looking into those brilliant blue eyes as he smiled
indulgently.

“First of all, you are so very, very wrong, Decker,

because you are special.”

“You don’t know me.”

“I know more than you think.” He offered a teasing smile

and I raised an eyebrow.

“Really? What do you know?”

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“I know that you, Decker Alexander Lennox, turned

twenty on July 25

th

, you’re from Charlotte, you’re an only

child, and you’re majoring in media communications.” I
stared as he rattled off the information. “You’ve been friends
with Scarlett for years. And she’s protective, of you, just in
case you didn’t know. I won’t tell you exactly what she
threatened to do to my balls if I dare upset or hurt you.” I
laughed because I knew how creative Scarlett could be when
she made threats, and I didn’t doubt she had put the fear in
Avery. “I also know you love watching old black and white
movies, you love reading, parties really aren’t your thing, and
I’ve heard you aren’t exactly a fan of brainless jocks.” He
grinned as he added that part, and I blushed again. He had
to have gotten that information from my dear best friend,
and I decided then that I would be killing Scarlett at the first
opportunity and that killing would be justified. Maybe. If it
turned out that Avery really was—against all possible odds—
genuinely interested in dorky little me, Scarlett might be
allowed a stay of execution. It was all too much to fathom.
Not only did Avery really know who I was, he apparently
found himself interested in getting to know me (well, getting
to know me more, beyond his basic, borderline stalker
information gathering), and that was more than I had ever
dared hope for. Maybe more than I could handle. Just
standing there with him was surreal, dreamlike; I wondered
if it really was just a dream and if indeed it was, I decided to
indulge in it a bit more before waking up and returning to
my Avery-free reality. With that in mind, I didn’t franticly
run from the room when Avery stepped closer. Close enough
to trap me between the wall and his wonderfully hard and
delightfully warm body—gods, but I wanted to melt wantonly
into that delicious warmth. It was unlike anything I had ever

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experienced and in that electrified moment, I knew my life
was about to be turned upside down and inside out, and I
realized I didn’t care about any possible aftermath.

Throwing caution (along with reason, logic, and perhaps

common sense) out the window, I wrapped my arms around
Avery’s neck the moment his mouth descended on mine, and
I was instantly consumed. I heard myself whimper. I couldn’t
help it. This was it. Not only was this my first kiss,
somehow—and yes, I knew it was utterly insane—but
somehow, somewhere deep in my heart and soul, I knew
without a doubt that this kiss was indeed the beginning of a
reality that would surpass my dreams and daydreams by
leaps and bounds. Avery Beckett was kissing me, and I
happily lost myself in that kiss as Avery’s tongue slipped
past my lips to delve eagerly into my mouth with toe-curling-
skill.

Of their own accord, my hands tangled in Avery’s hair;

the silky strand wrapped around my fingers, gentle, teasing.
I loved the way his hair felt, and I whimpered again when he
slipped a hand beneath my shirt to touch my back gently. I
arched myself against him. No, I didn’t have a bit of
experience, but it seemed that my body had taken over;
instincts took control, leaving me to savor the luscious
sensation of Avery’s tongue snaking around mine. He tasted
like something warm, something delicious. I couldn’t name
the taste; it was special, unique, and fantastically addictive—
I wanted more and more, and I feared I wouldn’t ever be able
to get enough as the kiss ended and Avery pulled back,
looking down at me, with beautifully damp, kiss-swollen lips
that were oh-so-perfect.

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His hands moved to cup my face tenderly. “Christ! I’ve

wanted to kiss you like that from the moment I saw you last
semester, sitting in Professor Johnson’s class looking so
sexy.” After a kiss like that, I could no longer doubt his
admission, but it still amazed me and I guess the depth of
my amazement was reflected in my eyes, because Avery
grinned. “I can see we are going to spend some time building
up your self-confidence, Decker, because you really need to
know how incredible you are.”

“No one has ever said anything like that to me before.”

My hand rested on his chest, and I could feel his heart
racing.

“Anyone who can’t see what I see when I look at you is

blind or stupid.”

“Avery—”

“Of course, I consider myself damn lucky someone

hasn’t snatched you up.” He leaned in to brush a light kiss
over my lips, and I shivered from the brief contact. “And
honestly, baby, this isn’t how I wanted to go about this and
I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“I intended to get you alone tonight, I can’t deny that,

but I wanted to tell you how much I like you and ask you
out.”

“Seriously?”

“I want to do this right, Decker.” His thumb brushed my

bottom lip. “I want to take you out to dinner. Maybe see a

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movie. Or maybe go dancing. I’ve never done actual dating
before, I have to admit, but with you… damn, with you,
baby, I want to get everything right. No rushing, no pushing
for too much too soon.” He sounded so earnest and his
eyes…. As cliché as it sounded, his eyes reflected the
honesty behind those words and I smiled, pulling him to me,
into another kiss that soon had us clinging to one another. I
surprised myself. I couldn’t believe I was being so bold,
actually initiating a kiss, but the way Avery responded
assured me I was doing it right. I groaned when his hands
trailed down my back to greedily cup my ass and my dick
swelled, to the point it was near painful. I pressed hard
against Avery. I needed contact, as much contact as I could
get; damn, but I wanted anything, everything. It would have
been embarrassing, if I hadn’t been well past the point of
caring, as Avery suddenly lifted me and I instinctively
wrapped my legs around his waist.

With remarkable ease, Avery walked us across the room

to his bed, where he sat down with me straddling his lap.

My hands rested on his shoulders as we sat there for an

endless time, kissing again and again, with each kiss
becoming more intense, hungrier, than the last. I forgot
about anything and everything beyond Avery; the party
downstairs was meaningless, my insecurities were seemingly
miles away from me, and I didn’t question it. I didn’t feel the
need. I was in Avery’s arms and he wanted me and that was
really all that mattered. “Avery….” I gasped his name when
he broke the kiss and immediately turned his attention to
the sensitive patch of skin just below my right ear. I thought
I might pass out. He licked and sucked and nibbled, and I
was putty in his hands. Avery seemed to intuitively know

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where to touch, where to taste; places that I wouldn’t ever
have imagined sensual were lusciously susceptible to Avery’s
exploring mouth, and I arched against him again, feeling
emboldened by the press of his erection hard against mine.
Incredible. So amazing, so insane. I was a mess of raw
emotions and need, and I knew it was the same for Avery as
he reached for the hem of my shirt. I quickly lifted my arms,
allowing him to easily free me from the still-damp garment.

Avery threw the shirt aside before quietly removing his

own and I swear, my mouth watered at the sight of Avery’s
hairless chest, dark brown nipples, sculpted pecs and abs…
he was a freakin’ work of art, and the knowledge that he was
mine made me lightheaded. “Christ, Avery, you’re perfect.”
The words escaped before I could think to stop them, and I
was pleased to see Avery blush at my truthful outburst; I
liked knowing I had the same power over him that he had
over me. That only fueled my already raging desire, and I
reached out, almost tentatively, to place my hands on his
chest. At the contact, Avery sucked in a breath. I looked up
to see that his eyes were wide, dark with desire, and I
wanted more. Needed more. I wanted to touch, taste; it was a
need unlike anything I had ever before experienced, but
Avery seemed willing to give me the freedom to explore, and
my hesitation melted away—if my touch could bring Avery
pleasure, I wanted that. I could hear both of us breathing
heavily, intently, as I moved my hand over him slowly.
Reverently. I was completely in awe. His skin was so warm
and taut over his hard muscles, but his skin was also
surprisingly soft. I adored how it felt, how he felt, trembling,
ever so slightly, beneath my touch.

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I brushed fingers over his already budded nipples. He

jerked in reaction, and again, I smiled at him. “I like
touching you.” I whispered the admission, and Avery caught
one hand in his, easily lifting it to his lips and kissing my
knuckles gently. It was such a tender gesture. But that was
Avery; he was wonderfully tender, respectful. I knew without
asking that he was waiting for me to determine the pace, and
that meant a lot to me; it told me he respected me and how
far I was ready to take things between us and honestly, I
knew what I wanted. Needed. I wanted Avery in every
possible way, and I wanted him to know that, but despite the
information he had gleaned from my good buddy Scarlett,
there was still a great deal he didn’t know, and I wanted to
be upfront with him.

He seemed to notice something in my eyes, and again he

cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone.
“What’s wrong? Decker, if we’re moving too fast, we can slow
all this down until you’re more comfortable.”

“It’s not that.” I whispered, my fingers playing idly with

the hair at the back of his neck, mostly because I loved how
soft and silky it felt. “You think you know me, but I… well,
there’s a lot you don’t know, and I guess I don’t want you to
move forward with whatever this is until you understand
certain things about me.”

“Decker—”

“I don’t have contact with my family,” I blurted out

baldly.

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“Okay.” Avery watched me closely and I drew in a

breath, feeling a little sick, because this wasn’t a subject I
enjoyed.

“The short version is this: my dad is a drunk and he can

be a real ass and I… well, when I came out, he disowned me
right then and there.”

“Baby….”

“And my mother, she cried and she was so upset, but

she’s never been able to stand up to my father.” I tried a
casual shrug to appear more at peace with the situation
than I actually was, but I suspected Avery saw through my
bravado. “Scarlett’s the closest thing I have to family. It was
her family I stayed with when she and I went home over
summer break, and I just wanted you to know that I’m a
little screwed-up and if it bothers you, I understand.” I just
needed to get it all out there. It was time for full disclosure
before I ended up completely losing my heart, and I didn’t
doubt that I could tumble head-over-heels in love with Avery
before the night was over, because I was already halfway
there. Maybe more than halfway there, truth be told. He had
this intense hold on me and my heart and honestly, I didn’t
know what I would end up doing if he decided I wasn’t worth
his time thanks to my less-than-ideal family history. I
silently prayed I wouldn’t find out, as Avery shifted our
position so I was stretched out on his bed and he lay down
beside me.

He braced his weight on his elbow and looked down at

me, one hand resting on my chest. I reached up to cover that

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hand with my own, and Avery laced our fingers together,
which made me smile.

“Remember when I said I wanted you since I saw you

last semester?”

“I remember.”

“And I also said I had some stuff going on I had to deal

with, because I didn’t want to have anything distracting me
from you?” I nodded at that. “Well, the thing is, my mom and
dad split years ago. My dad lives in California, and I have to
say, he and I aren’t close. I never did forgive him for ditching
me and my mom for some bimbo and… well, my mother has
never been a strong person emotionally.” There was a catch
in his voice at that admission, and I squeezed his hand
gently and Avery squeezed back just as gently. “She’s spent
years in and out of different institutions and things go okay
as long as she keeps on the medication, but last semester,
after a conversation with my father, she stopped taking the
meds and she had some bad times. My aunt does what she
can to help, but I’m an only child and usually, I’m the only
one my mom listens to, so I had to talk her into going back
to the hospital until the drugs were working again and it’s
pretty messy.”

“Avery, I’m so sorry.” And I was, I could see how much it

hurt him and I hated that.

“It’s just the way things are and they can’t be changed,

but I want you to know, I have some family history that’s
complicated too.”

“It’s doesn’t bother me.”

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20

“And the fact that your father is an asshole doesn’t

change how I feel about you.” His eyes locked on mine and
held, and I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. “Listen, I
know it sounds cliché and hokey, but I’ve never felt drawn to
anyone the way I feel drawn to you, Decker, and that means
something special. You’re special. I need you to know that.
Believe it, baby. I won’t lie and say I haven’t had sex a few
times, but that was just sex and I don’t want something cold
and meaningless with you.”

“I believe you. I do. And I… I’m not experienced. At all.”

My face burned. “I don’t want to be a disappointment.”

“You could never disappoint me,” Avery whispered. “But

if this is moving too fast, we can slow down. Okay? I won’t be
upset with you.”

“It means a lot to me, that you’re willing to wait, but I

want this.”

“Decker….”

“I know it’s sudden and maybe it’s crazy, but I just

know that this is right and I want to be with you.”

“I won’t hurt you. Ever. I’ll take my time and I swear, I’ll

make this good for you.” He leaned down to capture my
mouth in a heated kiss, and I instantly responded, placing a
hand on the back of his neck to pull him closer. “Gonna
show you what you mean to me.” I shivered at the promise
as Avery again turned his attention to my neck; he nipped
and licked and bit into the skin at my collarbone, which sent
electric-like jolts directly to my dick, and I cried out, because
it felt incredible. His body pressed down against mine,

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21

effectively holding me captive. I was happily engulfed by
blazing skin and hard muscles, and I repeatedly arched
against Avery, rubbing our cocks together as best I could
with layers of denim between us. I whimpered helplessly. I
hadn’t known it was possible to want so much, to feel
completely driven by need. It was wonderful and it was
heady and I never wanted it to end; I wanted everything
Avery could give me, and I dug my fingers deep into his
back, using my aching body to beg for more. And more. I
couldn’t fathom a rational thought, I couldn’t conjure words,
all I could do was make gluttonous little noises as Avery
began kissing and biting a sensual path down the length of
my chest. He wrapped his lips around first one nipple and
then the other, sucking hard at the aching nubs before
tugging with his teeth and when he did, I bucked up off the
bed. Avery laughed gently against my skin, and I loved the
vibrations that created. I shivered once more. I was
trembling inside; I was in utter bliss. Avery’s mouth played
my body like an instrument only he knew how to
manipulate, and I wrapped my legs around him tightly,
anchoring myself to that delectable body and the strength it
possessed.

“Taste so good, baby.” Avery breathed against my skin.

“So good. Could spend all night just tasting you.” He nipped
teasingly at my belly button as his hands moved between us,
and I shuddered as he unfastened and then carefully
unzipped my jeans. I felt as if I were teetering on some
precarious edge. Everything was hypersensitive, but I
realized that I loved how wanton and eager I felt; for the first
time in my life, I wasn’t hiding behind self-constructed walls,
because I knew, with Avery, I was safe and always would be.

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22

Always. Avery would see to it. I was where I was meant to
be, and I was meant to be with Avery; there wasn’t a single
doubt resounding in my mind, and I suspected my feelings
were evident in my eyes as I forced them open to watch as
Avery stood long enough to tug my jeans and boxers down
my hips and legs.

He had to pull off my shoes before he could completely

remove my pants, and I happily watched each move Avery
made; he was so damn sexy, the way his muscles moved
gracefully kept me totally transfixed. “You’re beautiful.” I
didn’t feel any shame saying the words because they were
honest and Avery smiled, emotions shimmering brightly in
his beautiful blue eyes; in those eyes, I could clearly see
everything Avery felt in that moment, and it thrilled me to
know his emotions matched mine. This was indeed real.
Avery wanted me. It no longer felt like a hazy dream; it felt
like reality, because that was what it was—Avery Beckett
had found something in me no one else had ever seen (me
included), and that knowledge thrilled me. It made me
believe I was more than some nerdy loser; it made me believe
I was special and wanted, and I basked in the confidence
that generated as Avery stood for a moment, looking down at
me, stretched out on his bed and more aroused than I had
ever been. It was erotic. Exciting. I knew that compared to
my soon-to-be-lover, I wasn’t some masculine work of art,
but the way Avery looked at me, the way his eyes devoured
me with undeniable hunger, assured me Avery liked what he
saw. He didn’t believe me too thin, too pale, too inadequate…
whatever I was, in Avery’s eyes, it was more than enough. I
smiled at him as he took a quick moment to strip himself,
leaving me to eagerly drink in what was the most beautiful

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23

sight I had ever witnessed. Christ! He was perfect. I was
dumbfounded, mesmerized; he was all enchantingly sculpted
muscle—I could look at him, forever and it wouldn’t be
nearly long enough, a thought that bounced around my
mind as my ravenous eyes finally settled on his erection.
Damn, but I gasped, seeing his impressive (and gods help
me, enormous) shaft nestled in a patch of curls only slightly
darker than his hands-mussed hair.

Dazed, I pushed myself up on my elbows. “Avery….” I

wasn’t certain what I wanted to say, but Avery smiled and
crawled back onto the bed to lie down beside me, one arm
draping over my waist.

“We’ll take our time,” he promised, and I nodded. “If

anything doesn’t feel right, or if you need time, just tell me
and we’ll slow down, baby.” His lips claimed mine again, and
I opened to him as we turned, facing one another, side by
side. We seemingly fit together perfectly. I was molded tightly
against him, and his hands were somehow everywhere. And I
was again lost. I had no ability to form rational thoughts… I
could only whimper and gasp in reaction to Avery’s lips on
my neck and shoulders, and then he pushed me onto my
back, and I went willingly, tangling my trembling hands in
his hair.

Avery’s lips again teased my nipples, and I arched my

back, using the hands in Avery’s hair to try and keep him
firmly anchored to me. “Please… please, Avery….” I wasn’t
even sure what I was begging for, I just knew I wanted more;
it felt like I was burning from the inside out. I was consumed
by my need for this man and what only he could give me. His
lips moved lower and lower, while one hand moved away

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24

from me long enough to fumble with the drawer attached to
his small nightstand.

Tugging too hard, Avery nearly tipped the nightstand

over and most of its contents spilled freely to the floor.

Cursing, he leaned over the side of the bed, retrieving a

tube of lube and a box of condoms, and I laughed.

“I can’t imagine how completely inept my seduction

attempt must seem.” Avery rolled his eyes at himself.

“It’s kinda nice to know you might be as nervous and

excited as I am,” I confessed as he pulled himself back onto
the bed, lube and condoms in hand.

He dropped the items beside him and leaned close to

kiss me hard and quick. “Believe me, baby, I’m nervous, and
I’m so damn excited I feel like some clueless teenager.” He
lifted his hand to caress my cheek tenderly. “This is new for
me, Decker. I like you. This is so much more than sex or
some casual hookup, and I’m terrified I’m going to send you
running from me.” He sounded surprisingly vulnerable,
which seemed so out of character for my image of him, but
the honesty just made me fall for him even more.

I covered his hand with mine. “I’m not running from

you. Not a chance. I never believed I could be here, with you,
and now… you have no idea how very much I want you,
Avery.” The admission came easily, much to my delight, and
Avery grinned before sweeping in for another heated kiss,
and I wrapped my arms tightly around his shoulders. He
pushed me down on the mattress, and I savored how
wonderful it felt, his body pressing into mine; he was heavy,

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25

but it was a weight that I gladly accepted as Avery gently
nudged my legs apart, and I didn’t hesitate to allow him the
freedom to do so.

The hand that wrapped around me was gentle, teasing,

but it was a touch that was beyond exquisite. “Avery….” My
body bucked upward, and Avery chuckled before kissing
along my neck as his hand began stroking me slowly,
languidly. It was obvious he was enjoying the teasing pace,
and I wrapped a leg snuggly around his hips, rubbing
wantonly against him. I didn’t care if I appeared out of
control, because hell, I was indeed out of control; my skin
was blazing, my heart pounding wildly. I wanted to cry out
Avery’s name, but I was too breathless as he worked his
mouth down my chest. He placed heated, open-mouthed
kisses. He licked, nibbled, his tongue teased sensitive places
with sensual intent and then, that hot little tongue impishly
licked the underside of my cock and stars exploded behind
my eyes. Holy shit! I may have said that out loud, as I heard
Avery laugh in the instant before the most glorious heat
engulfed my shaft. Avery seemed to swallow me effortlessly,
until the head of my cock brushed the back of his throat and
with focused energy he used his mouth, tongue, and lips to
pull me closer and closer to some magical abyss.

I was gasping, hips flexing, my hands tangled in the

sheets…. I was lost on a sea of pure pleasure that became
even more wildly intense when Avery brushed lube-covered
fingers over my tight opening. “Oh God….” I shivered and
braced myself for the first invasion as ever-so-slowly, Avery
eased a single finger inside my body and there was a brief,
burning sensation as the muscles adjusted to the newness of
what was happening. I drew in a shuddering breath; I felt

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26

Avery begin to carefully, gradually move the finger inside of
me and the discomfort was quick to fade and a wondrous
sensation took its place.

My back arched again, and Avery’s mouth left my cock

to first teasingly lap at my balls before sucking them into his
mouth.

Humming, sending enthralling vibrations from my balls

up my spine, Avery gently added a second finger to the first
and this time, the muscles gave more easily. “Feels so
good….” I half-whimpered the words. I wanted Avery to know
how wonderful it felt—how right. I was under his spell
completely; my body literally throbbed. I wasn’t certain how
much longer the pressure building inside me could
successfully be suppressed by sheer will. “Avery….” His
name was ripped from me when he again easily swallowed
my cock, just as a third finger entered me. In the most
perfect sync, the fingers inside me moved and curled, hitting
the sensitive patch Avery so skillfully sought while his mouth
and tongue worked together to propel me over the edge into a
soul-shattering release.

I didn’t just cry out, I screamed as the pleasure rolled

over me again and again, and I spilled myself into Avery’s
mouth.

Still, Avery stayed with me, his fingers still flexing,

curling, flexing, until I whimpered again and carefully, he
withdrew those talented fingers and with casual ease kissed
his way up my body an exploring inch at a time. “So
beautiful, baby.” Avery whispered the words against my
chest between kisses and once more, my hand tangled in his

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27

damp hair. “Loved doing that for you… loved seeing you
come apart like that….” His mouth was finally on mine
again, and I kissed him fiercely. I could taste myself; it was
heady, delicious, and I greedily devoured Avery’s mouth.

Never breaking the kiss, he parted my legs again and

pushed my knees up, and I didn’t feel hesitation or fear.

Gasping, Avery pulled back from the kiss, and I felt

dazed, so many emotions and needs warred inside me.

“Just relax for me, baby,” Avery interjected, easily lifting

my legs to drape them over his shoulders, and I blushed at
the exposed position. “I promise, I’ll make this good for you.”
Those remarkable eyes held mine, and I wanted to tell him
he had already made this beyond good—it was wonderful,
perfect, better than I could have imagined, but the words
failed me as Avery quickly snatched a condom, ripped open
the pack, and slipped it over his shaft. I was mesmerized
watching—damn, but the sight was amazingly erotic. He was
so beautiful. I wanted to tell him that again, but I couldn’t
form words when slowly, cautiously, Avery began pushing
himself inside of me and again, after a brief burning
sensation, my body accepted him, an inch at a time. He filled
me, consumed me; the entire time, our eyes held, and I
realized again that this connection we had went beyond the
merely physical. I was home. The thought made tears sting
my eyes, but I blinked them away—crying wasn’t what I
wanted now, with Avery completely inside of me. I could feel
every blessed inch buried in my ass, and the feeling couldn’t
be described with words, because it was indescribable.

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28

For an endless moment, Avery held perfectly still and

then, carefully, he moved once, twice, and that was all it
took to spark the fire; my cock was again painfully hard, and
Avery’s hand wrapped around me once more. “Let go and
enjoy this, baby.” Avery stroked me with one hand as the
other held tightly to my hip and together, almost effortlessly,
we found a rhythm, steady, strong, a perfect cadence. I
reached up and wrapped a hand around his arm. I needed to
touch him as much as possible. I wanted the moment to last
forever, but I knew it wouldn’t, it couldn’t, not with the heat
generating between us as Avery began to move faster and
faster. His hips snapped forward again and again, and I
arched my back as I thrust up to meet him, to accept him
and the rightness of what we had found together.

“Avery….” I cried his name as hot come shot over my

chest and stomach and less than a second later, Avery’s
orgasm followed mine. His fingers gripped my hip so tightly I
knew I’d have bruises come morning, but I didn’t care.
“Avery….” His name escaped me again as Avery’s weight
collapsed heavily against me, his delectable skin damp with
sweat, scorching hot; he was breathing erratically, but so
was I as I lifted a hand and stroked it up and down his back
while he buried his face snugly against my neck. I turned my
head and kissed his hair. I could hear the beat of music
echoing from downstairs, and it surprised me—I had
honestly forgotten there was a party taking place below us. It
seemed nothing else in the world mattered beyond what
Avery and I had found. Together. I smiled lazily, and Avery
finally lifted his head to look at me, and I knew the dazed
and oh-so-very-satisfied light in his eyes was reflected in

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29

mine as well. Avery smiled with such natural ease, it nearly
stole the breath I had just managed to regain.

My hand moved to his hair, which was damp as well,

and he made a sound that was suspiciously close to a
pleased purr. “You’re sort of amazing, Mr. Beckett.” He was
so much more than merely amazing, but the way Avery
grinned told me he was fairly delighted with the compliment,
and I smiled. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to smile. Avery made
me want to smile and laugh and make love with him again
and again. It was impossible to believe I hadn’t wanted to
attend Kappa Psi Delta fraternity’s Back to School Bash, but
now I thanked God that I had, because it had changed my
life.

“You’re pretty damn amazing yourself, Mr. Lennox. I’ve

met my match.” The way he said it told me exactly what he
meant.

“Yeah?”

“Oh yeah. I have a good feeling about us, baby. A real

good feeling.”

“Me too,” I whispered. “A real good feeling.” He eased

away from me then, and I felt the loss of his weight and the
pressure of him buried deep inside me. It felt oddly like he
was a part of me now, and I didn’t want to be away from
him. Certainly, it was strange how quickly our connection
developed, but I decided not to question it as Avery went into
the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he returned,
he had a washrag in hand. I happily watched each move he
made as he perched himself on the edge of the bed, and
using the warm rag, Avery quietly cleaned each of us. It was

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30

another remarkably gentle, caring gesture. Avery was so
much more than even I had imagined; yes, he was beautiful
and sinfully sexy, but he was also kind and gentle and
thoughtful, and I was damn grateful we had somehow found
one another. We were a truly unexpected match, the jock and
the wallflower. Who would ever have imagined? Maybe it was
possible for secret dreams to come true. I figured I might
have to reevaluate some of my more cynical views in light of
this new found happiness; being chronically cynical would
be an unwelcome challenge when everything in my life felt so
perfect, as Avery tossed the rag to the floor and crawled back
into the bed.

Resting on his back, Avery pulled me to him so my head

rested comfortably on his chest and he cradled me close, his
hand stroking over my hip lazily. “So, I know we’ve put the
cart before the horse, so to speak, but I really would like to
take you out on that date.”

“Avery—”

“I mean it. I want to show you how much I like you. I

want to do the things couples are supposed to do together.”

“Is that a good idea?” I asked softly.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re in a unique position, being on the baseball

team and all. If we’re seen out, chances are, people will talk.”

“So?”

“So, I’m pretty much openly gay and you—”

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31

“Don’t worry about that.” Avery pressed a kiss to my

forehead. “Coach Harris knows I’m gay, and so does Brent.
Neither have a problem with it, and if someone does, they
can kiss my ass because I don’t care.”

“I just don’t want to cause problems for you.”

“You won’t. Unless you don’t want to see me again. If

that’s the case, I have to tell you, you’ll be breaking my
heart.”

Laughing, I snuggled closer to him. “Believe me, I won’t

be saying I don’t want to see you again, and I would love to
go on that date with you, sweetheart.” Sweetheart. I had
never used such an endearment before, but somehow, it
suited Avery, and the way he hugged me tight told me he
liked it.

What we had, whatever it was, it was new, precious, but

I honestly did believe it could turn into something lasting.

Content, I closed my eyes and enjoyed just being close

to Avery when he again kissed my forehead. “Any chance I’ve
changed your mind about not liking jocks?” He was teasing
me, and I knew it, which made me feel warm and safe; I was
right where I was meant to be, and I was damn happy about
it.

“Well, I don’t know about all jocks, but I do like you.” I

lifted my head to look at him with a delighted smile.

“Just me, huh?”

“Just you.”

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32

“You know what? That’s good enough for me, baby.” He

pulled me to him, kissing me with tenderness and passion,
and I melted into him because he was right—it was good
enough, and it was only going to get better.

About the Author

Born and raised in Florida,

L

ISA

M

ARIE

D

AVIS

spends her

time writing and babysitting her nearly three-year-old
nephew, Zach. A night owl, most of her writing gets done
well after one in the morning when the rest of the world is
happily sleeping.

Visit her blog at http://lisamariedavis.livejournal.com/.

Copyright

The Jock and the Wallflower ©Copyright Lisa Marie Davis, 2011

Published by
Dreamspinner Press
4760 Preston Road
Suite 244-149
Frisco, TX 75034
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the
authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,
business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Art by Anne Cain [e-mail]
Cover Design by Mara McKennen

This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is
illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon
conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No
part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. To
request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite
244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

Released in the United States of America
May 2011

eBook Edition
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61581-920-1