What should he say?
Ask her why she only sent photos without any words? Or if he was just her entertainment in her spare time?
He couldn't bring himself to say it.
Averi pressed further. "Don't want to talk to me? Fine, I'll hang up."
"Averi." His voice was rough, strained with urgency.
"Why didn't you reply to my messages?"
Dallas took a few deep breaths and replied quietly, "I only turned my phone on yesterday."
"Then why didn't you reply yesterday?"
There was a silence for about half a minute before Dallas finally spoke. "You didn't say anything to me. Just sent photos."
So?
Averi's eyebrows knitted together as she tried to think through the situation from Dallas's perspective, vaguely guessing at what was bothering him. She was surprised and amused—how had she never realized he was this sensitive?
"Dallas, just because I didn't say anything, does that mean you can't talk to me? What is this, some kind of contest?" She paused, then asked in a gentle voice, "Is there something you want to say to me?"
Dallas was silent for a moment, then said, "The peacekeeping unit decided not to relocate the camp, so we've been patrolling non-stop for the past six weeks." Which was why he hadn't thought to turn on that phone.
Averi said, "That's not right."
His breathing quickened, and his heartbeat began to race as he added, "Nothing's happened here. No one's gotten hurt."
How shameful—he knew exactly what he should say, yet he held back on purpose, wanting to test her just one more time. He knew it; in front of her, he was growing more and more shameless.
A faint laugh reached his ears, and Dallas's nerves were stretched to the breaking point.
She had to have seen right through him. What would she say?
"Well, that's nice to hear," Averi said slowly. "But Dallas, it's still not right."
After what felt like forever, he murmured into the phone, "Averi, I miss you."
Averi's eyes softened, a warmth flooding her dark gaze. "How much?"
The low, raspy voice sounded again, "I really want to." This was followed by a sharp, heavy inhale, quick and tense, as if trying to hold something back.
Dallas forced himself to swallow back the words "What about you?"
Averi's heart softened all at once, a bittersweet ache blooming in her chest. She whispered softly, "I miss you too."
Dallas gripped the phone tighter, his voice even huskier, "How much did you miss me?"
Averi raised an eyebrow. Oh? So he'd learned to give as good as he got?
"A lot. I think about you every day," she coaxed softly. "So, if you miss me, just send me a message, okay?"
Dallas wanted to respond, but his throat was choked with sweetness, and all he could manage was a soft "Mmm."
Averi teased, "So… did you like the photos I sent?"
He finally found his voice again, "I liked them."
His voice, stretched tight, stirred something wicked in Averi. "Did it… turn you on?"
Dallas held his breath, his gaze flickering, "Yeah."
"Dallas, I want to hear you say it."
"…It turned me on."
"Did you touch yourself?"
Dallas lowered his eyes, his lashes trembling, "Yeah." This time, without her prompting, he added, "I touched myself."
A shiver ran through Averi, her voice shifting slightly. "I'm glad… but Dallas, don't you think you should have replied to me?"
Dallas hesitated, "What do you want to see?"
Since he used the word "see," he had to know, didn't he?
Averi didn't call him out, simply replying, "You know."
Silence on the other end. She added, slowly, "I sent you so many, and you didn't reply to a single one. It makes me feel like… like I'm just some cheap call girl."
"Averi!" Dallas's voice shot out, darkening instantly. How could she use that word to describe herself?
"Hmm?" Averi responded lightly, pretending not to understand his urgency.
Dallas felt his brow pulse, hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself, pulling off his underwear and aiming the camera at his hips.
As the flash went off, he averted his gaze.
All Averi could hear was his breathing, each breath getting heavier. She didn't know what he was doing, patiently waiting for several minutes until her phone buzzed, indicating he'd sent something.
She opened it, and a fully aroused, throbbing erection filled her screen, leaving her momentarily speechless.
He actually sent it? Now? And with this much… sincerity? She hadn't even sent anything that explicit.
What a… fool.
A tingling surge shot down her spine, and Averi unconsciously squeezed her legs together, softly breathing, "Didn't you just get off yesterday? How are you already this hard again?"
Dallas could tell she was aroused, and his throbbing ache grew almost unbearable. His lips moved numbly as he replied, "Didn't finish yesterday."
Not like him to say something like that.
Averi's lower abdomen tightened sharply; she didn't need to touch to know she was definitely wet.
"Why not? Weren't the pictures good enough?"
"No."
"Then what is it?"
Dallas gritted his teeth before responding, "Didn't want to… defile you." He paused slightly on the word "defile," as though he disliked using it.
The last time she'd teased him with her underwear, Dallas had felt like some depraved pervert.
Averi sighed, "You fool, I was only teasing you."
Saying he lacked a sense of romance wasn't unfair—he really didn't get it, not even now.
"Dallas, do you want to finish today?"
He didn't answer, and Averi slid her fingers into her underwear, moaning softly, "Mmm… I want you to hear me. Do you want to hear me come?"
This time, he didn't stay silent for long. "Yes."
"Want to do it together?"
She heard him swallow on the other end, "Yes."
Dallas closed his eyes, listening to her breathy moans, his hand wrapping firmly around his painfully swollen length, stroking hard. Six weeks of pent-up desire roared awake, his body tensing in a wave of overwhelming pleasure. He pressed his lips together tightly, trying to stifle any sounds he couldn't control.
It must be because she was there that he felt so strong. He had also fucked yesterday and felt comfortable, far from reaching this level, so he could hold back from shooting.
Hearing his ragged, beast-like breaths, Averi let her voice go soft and seductive, describing each touch as her hand drifted lower. "Dallas… my fingers are on my clit, it's getting a little swollen… and so wet down there." She teased, letting her fingers trace circles, feeling the warmth and tremble. "I can feel the opening… it's pulsing. Dallas, should I slip a finger inside?"
Dallas's eyes turned crimson, and his veins and veins jumped along with the veins on his forehead. "Insert it, Averi, insert your fingers," he said.
