Imperfections Take Me As I Am (The Imperfections Series Book 3) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Books by Shaniel Watson

  About Imperfections Take Me As I Am

  Chapter one

  Chapter two

  Chapter three

  Chapter four

  Chapter five

  Chapter six

  Chapter seven

  Chapter eight

  Chapter nine

  Chapter ten

  Chapter eleven

  Chapter twelve

  Chapter thirteen

  Chapter fourteen

  Chapter fifteen

  Chapter sixteen

  Chapter seventeen

  Chapter eighteen

  Chapter nineteen

  Chapter twenty

  Chapter twenty one

  Chapter twenty two

  Chapter twenty three

  Chapter twenty four

  Chapter twenty five

  Chapter twenty six

  Chapter twenty seven

  Chapter twenty eight

  Chapter twenty nine

  Reader Letter

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2016 by Shaniel Watson

  Imperfections

  Imperfections Come To Light

  Imperfections Take Me As I Am

  Can one night of passion ignite a fire that will last a lifetime?

  Sexy, overbearing, bold, take no prisoners Ava Alexander drives me crazy. She’s the opposite of me and everything I don’t want in a woman.

  Then there’s Sage Wilson…everything I should and do want. Ava’s a match, and if I let her, she’ll burn down everything around me. But one night is all it takes. A night seared into my mind of a raven-haired temptress with a body made for the worst kind of the sweetest sin and regret.

  I don’t want to hurt anyone. If I let her break down my defenses, that’s exactly what will happen.

  I’m a woman who knows what she wants and I make no apologies for it. Smart and successful, I have everything. Except for the one man I have my sight set on, Christopher Reed, my best friend’s brother. He’s handsome, caring, patient, the voice of reason. But don’t be fooled, as I learned, underneath all his controlled reserve is a man that commands obedience, and he’s not easily swayed by my charms and bold demeanor. But I’m a woman determined to show him I’m exactly what he needs. There’s only one problem: Sage. The one person standing in my way.

  I’ve never been one to walk away from a challenge and I have no intention of starting now.

  Ava

  Four months earlier...

  “I don’t have sex without a condom.”

  “Don’t worry, we’re going to use one. I’m clean. What about you?”

  “I’m clean, too.”

  “Then what are you waiting for?” He looks at me, down at himself, then back up at me.

  I hold eye contact with his steady gaze. His oh so sure of himself, sexy, leisurely, waiting posture and tell him, “I don’t do that. I mean...I do it but only if I’m in an exclusive relationship. We’re not.”

  Unmoving, he tells me in his smooth as silk deep voice, “You wanted me, you have me, show me what this Ava is about. Lick.”

  This is a different side of him. I’ve never seen him this assertive and demanding. Then again, he usually avoids all willing interactions with me no matter how much I try to take him down. Well this is what I wanted, him, and he’s giving himself to me all right. I might not get the chance to get at him again and I do hate a missed opportunity.

  In nothing but my black lace thong, I sit down on the edge of the bed. Holding his gaze, I put my hands on my thighs, slowly parting them, waiting for him to come to me.

  Walking to me with his shirt off, he stands just between my legs touching my knees. I watch his muscles flex as he drops his pants allowing me to get the full-frontal exposure of his massive arousal. God, it’s better than I imagined. His body is a frigging work of art. Beautifully sculpted to my specification. Hard, smooth, steel but soft and warm beneath my fingertips.

  Drawn to him, I reach out to wrap my hand around him and then I stop. Looking up at him towering over me when he says, “No, no hands. Get down on your knees. I’m running the show tonight. Get down on your knees and lick me. When you put your mind to it you can be a real bitch.”

  “What?” My eyebrows go up and I wait for him to explain himself before I let him know what’s on my mind.

  With an arrogant smile I didn’t know he possessed in all the years I’ve known him, he looks at me unflinching from the, ‘I’m going to chew your ass out’ look on my face, telling me, “I think you should take it like a bitch down on all fours.”

  “Usually this shit doesn’t fly with me; I give orders I don’t take them. If you were another man you’d be limping out of here with a broken dick. Just to let you know, which I’m sure you already do.”

  “Ava, you wanted me, now you have me, the full Christopher Reed experience. Outside of these walls, I would never call you that. Take it as a compliment for what we’re about to do. You’re a modern-day woman who likes to give as good as she gets. Here’s your chance, give it to me. You might not get another one if I walk out the door.”

  Well shit! When he puts it like that...I’ve worked long and hard to catch him, only to have him slip through my fingers due to poor word choice and me being who I am, not taking shit from any man, not even the one I’m about to make unbelievable happy with my skills.

  This happening was not a part of the plan for tonight. All we were going to do was hang out and have the best damn bachelor and bachelorette party Cat and Nick didn’t want to have. Party of two since we were the only ones in the wedding. It was part of a peace treaty between us after another one of our strong disagreements. One of many since I was about eleven and he was my best friend’s 15-year-old brother. I thought he was the most handsome boy my eyes landed on. I terrorized him mercilessly but only because I didn’t know how to tell him.

  I’m not a little girl anymore and he’s all man. Six feet one, deep brown eyes, solid muscles. I’m going to show him exactly what he’s been missing out on in his carefully controlled life.

  Head held high, I lock eyes with him. Hooking my arms around his firm thighs, I sink down to my knees effortless, exactly where he wants me.

  Stroking my hair back out of my face with strong hands, he tips my chin up further between his fingers. “Good girl. Now suck.”

  And suck I did, along with various other things that left me shocked at myself, which is not an easy feat. I had no idea Chris could be so domineering. In his everyday life, he’s usually calm and cool, the voice of reason. But there was a gentleness in the way he commanded me to do as he wished then rewarded my full compliance. With soft kisses and hard heart pounding thrusts. Then slow long strokes playing my body to a beat only he could control. Power was his and I was all too willing to follow wherever he led my aching body of need and anticipation.

  You really don’t know a person until you’re stripped down bare at their mercy while you’re spread eagle. Legs and arms restrained, while ripples of exquisite torture from only his hands and mouth course through your body with endless spirals. To say it was the best sex I’ve had would be an immense understatement. It was dirty, raw, and out of my control the way I didn’t know I liked it.

  The next morning, I go from that to waking up alone in my bed with a smile on my face, to seeing him with Sage. His date to his sister’s wedding. What the hell! Just like that all the good feelings I had from last night are gone. I’m standing here in my maid of
honor dress looking like the fabulous ex-beauty queen I am, seething. Watching her kiss him on the lips, lips that were between my legs and every other crevasse on and in my body mere hours ago. I’ll kill him.

  Once, Sage, aka Old Spice releases him from the lip lock she has clamped down on him, I move more into the corridor and grab his hand as he’s walking by. Being the best man he is probably on his way to Cat’s room to tell her Nick’s impatient ass is ready to get this wedding started.

  “Aren’t we going to talk about how you’re doing me wrong?” I say, flinging his hand down.

  He looks at me surprised like he doesn’t understand what I’m saying. “What are you talking about?”

  As usual, my deep Nashville roots start showing in my accent when I get all worked up. “Don’t play stupid, you know. The night after we’re together you show up with that one dangling off your arm at Cat’s wedding. What the hell is that?

  “She was my date long before we hooked up last night.”

  “Are you trying to show me last night meant nothing? Today is business as usual where I’m only your little sister’s pesky best friend that you merely tolerate when you have to?” I’m railing at him and he’s looking at me with that annoying calm composure.

  “Ava, I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

  “I let you do things to me I don’t do, I came as close as possible to begging as I ever have and let me tell you, this is one bitch that begs for no man. And all that was only a hook up to you?”

  “I didn’t say that. Your words, not mine.”

  “So what is your take on last night, Chris? Come on, man the hell up and tell me what you think or is her hold on your jock strap so strong you can’t voice your own opinions,” I say between clenched teeth trying to keep my voice down.

  “Here we go,” he says, looking around in a hushed tone to make sure no one hears us. “Retract your goddamn claws or they might get chopped.”

  Well, well. “Looks like the straps may not be as tight as I thought.” I straighten up to my full height when he points a finger at me.

  “They’re as tight as I allow them to be pulled and when I say enough is enough. This is the difference between you and Sage.”

  “The difference is she’s going to be your willing doormat and take what you dish out with the bare minimum of questions asked.”

  Sighing, he shakes his head. “Ava, this is why we won’t work. I don’t need you to tell me how to dress. I don’t need you to tell me how to act, when to piss, or when and who to fuck. I can do that by myself. You’re so busy trying to be in control all the fucking time! I can’t deal with that shit.”

  Folding my arms under my chest, I look over at the guests seated in the garden. My eyes land on Sage sitting next to Kate, Cat’s bitch of a sister and his twin. “So what? Nick says anything that comes to his mind and lips and you’re friends with him.”

  “I don’t have to live with Nick, I don’t have to sleep with him, I don’t have to think about making major life changing decisions with him one day. And for the record, I don’t remember forcing you to do anything you weren’t perfectly willing to do last night.”

  “Really,” I say dryly, still looking at the guests when Sage turns her head and sees me. I smile at her and step closer to him knowing she can see us now. I lightly run my finger down the middle of his shirt. “Let me ask you this question. Is she doing them for you? Is she lapping at your dick, moaning your name with your cock lodged in her throat while she squeezes every last drop out of you, telling her what a dirty bitch she is while you scream her name?”

  I wait for him to answer watching him close his eyes like he’s fighting against something. I reach up snaking my tongue out slowly and methodically lick the side of his lips. No answer.

  “Yeah, looks like you need more than a ‘yes woman’ to fulfill your needs. You can tell my cousin your sister’s ready. See you up at the altar, best man.”

  Ava

  “Ava, what are you doing to yourself? You’ve been partying a lot lately.”

  “No more than usual,” I say to Cat with my head on my hand down on the table.

  “Yes, more than usual.”

  “Can’t a girl have a little fun?”

  “You can have all the fun you want at a reasonable pace. When’s the last time you were to the boutique?”

  “The boutique’s fine, Cat. I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not. Something’s up with you. What is it?”

  “Nothing, I’m having fun living the life. My life.” I emphasize.

  “You can give anyone else this but not me. You don’t have to tell me now but I think I know what’s on your mind. Why you’re reverting back to your college days of up all night partying.” She pauses and continues like she’s just remembered something. “Please tell me you haven’t developed a penchant for hooking up with random strangers? I’m your best friend, I don’t want to start sounding like your mother or god forbid mine. But if I have to I will bust out a lecture and a cautionary tale to set your ass straight!”

  “Relax, mom, I don’t do random strangers, that’s not for me. Except for that one time back in college.”

  “Thank goodness,” she says with a relieved sigh. “I came over here to hang out but you’re in no shape. I’m inviting you over tomorrow evening, Nick and I are having an informal get together.”

  “Who else is going to be there besides fabulous me?”

  “It’s a small thing, nothing big, but you should bring a date with you.”

  She didn’t answer my question. Cracking my eyes open, I lift my head up leaving my hands on the table for support. “Chris is going to be there, isn’t he? With that seasoning he lives with?”

  “I believe so but they might not make it and they’re not really living together.”

  “I’m out. I have no intention of spending a perfectly good night watching your brother’s girlfriend pour herself over him, like syrup on a hot fudge sundae. No, thank you, I’m good. I’ll find other entertainment elsewhere.”

  “Ava, you’re going to be in the same room with both of them at some point.”

  “Why exactly?”

  “Because you’re my best friend and he’s my brother who is also my husband’s best friend, who I don’t need to remind you is your cousin. We’re bonafide family.” With her infectious annoying, early morning cheeriness, she brushes a lock of hair out of my face, placing her hands on top of mine.

  I manage to crack a smile back. I’m glad she’s this happy and excited. She deserves to be after all the crap Nick and her went through to be together. Her manipulative sister and Nick, her family not speaking to her for months, and she almost died. Her son was born and she was in a coma. Nick wouldn’t leave their side for a minute. God, he loves her.

  “Cat, can you not say it in that way, being that Chris and I got way down and dirty the night before your wedding. It makes it sound downright incestuous and forbidden. Although...it was hot and dirty.” I smile, biting the inside of my lip.

  “It’s more like a stepbrother romance and don’t make me violently ill going into any details of that night,” she says, patting my hand and sitting back in the chair.

  I laugh and slump back in my chair. “The few times I’ve seen him since then he’s been with her. She makes a point of making out with him all for my benefit. Mmm, if she only knew.”

  “Ava, don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” I look at her with feigned innocence.

  “You know,” she says in a warning tone. “Nick’s going to hand you your ass if you come and start shit. You two are too much alike. You know how you get.”

  Smiling demurely, I look down at the table. “Convince me to come.”

  “I want this to be a fun easy get together. You get to visit your baby cousin, your godson. You know how much Jace loves to see you. Please don’t get banned.”

  I see her biting her lip when I look up. A sweet serene smile on my face and a little cheeriness of my own I say, “All
right, I’ll come. I love that kid.” I do and it’s an extra added bonus to make Sage a little less comfortable.

  “Bring a date. I know you well.”

  I run my hand through my hair taking a breath. “I can’t promise you I will. Right now, I feel like shit.”

  “You should, look at you.” She sighs. “Hangovers are not supposed to make you feel good. It’s tomorrow evening you should feel better by then.”

  “It’s not the hangover. I mean in general, at times I don’t have the energy I usually have. I’m not sure if I want to deal with the bullshit pretense of a date on top of watching Sage and Chris together all evening. More energy than I want to put out.”

  “Did you go to the doctor like I told you to?”

  “No, I don’t need a doctor. I don’t feel as bad as I did before. I think it was the flu I had, my body is still recovering.”

  “Ava, that was weeks ago.”

  “And I went weeks ago. He said I was fine, nothing was wrong with me.”

  “Maybe you need to rest, stop partying so much. You’re not as young as you used to be.”

  “Shut your mouth!” I object. “I’m as young as I want to be. Gage and I went out the other night and I outdid him.”

  “Okay,” she drawls. “Gage is in college and the next day he was at our house playing with Jace. You were still down and out for the count when I spoke to you.”

  “So maybe my recovery time is not as fast as it used to be, but at 27 I still have it.”

  “Right.” She nods, smirking.

  “Oh, get out. Go home to your husband and your adorably cute baby.”

  Laughing, she gets up and kisses me on the cheek. “I will. Bring a date tomorrow and leave your outlandish side at home.”

  “I try not to make promises I can’t keep. Kiss Jace for me and tell him I love him.”

  “I can let myself out. Go rest, no more partying.”

  “Sure. Tomorrow.”

  No more partying, what will I do with myself? I don’t have the man I want yet, my best friend is in newly wedded bliss, a slight hangover and I’m not feeling so hot. I’m living the life. Maybe I just need more rest like Cat said. Getting up from the chair I walk to my bedroom flouncing down on my bed pulling the covers over my head. It could be worse, I could lose the ability to shop. That would be tragic.