Read The Second Song #1: Homecoming for Free Online Page A

arched my back as he drove into me with each declaration; my nails scrapping down his back, as our lips met in a searing hot kiss.
    "Elise you have some explaining to do!" The door crashed open and Max Clark and half a dozen other familiar faces swarmed into the room.
    "Max!" I screeched as Avery moved to cover us with the blanket.
    "GET OUT! Every last one of you just get out!" I cried, furious that they dared barge into Avery’s home like that.
    "Get dressed Elise, we’re leaving." Max insisted.
    "No, I’m not a child you can order around anymore, and you have no right - this is Avery’s home !
    "It’s alright, cher, " Avery said softly, leaving the security of our blanket to confidently walk across the room to his traveling gear, heedless of the fact that he was naked in front of a group of complete strangers.
    "Max you’re angry about the interview, but we can talk about this another time. You can’t just come barging in like this."
    "I can and I will, Elise. You’ve crossed the line this time! Do you know what crazy ridiculous stories are flying back home in the real world?"
    "I don’t care, this is the real world Max, and not that circus you call my life."
    "Get out!" Avery said in a cold, harsh voice I hardly recognized. "Get out of my house right now." He turned, pointing a wicked looking blade at Max and his entourage. "Stop harassing the woman I love, and should you wish to speak with her, call like a civilized human being to make sure we are in a position to receive guests."
    "Now son, calm down," Max frowned at the huge knife in Avery’s hand. "No need to go all Cajun-swamp crazy on us."
    "Did he seriously just say that to me, Lise?" He turned to me with amusement in his eyes.
    "I’m sure you wrestle alligators with that thing, and we’re all sufficiently impressed, but this isn’t necessary. We’ll just take Elise and go."
    " Cher, go get dressed." Avery sighed. "I’ll handle this."
    I ran up the stairs, but I could still hear their conversation.
    "I am a well-educated man, Mr. Clark. I am a very successful photojournalist in high demand, and the work I do is sometimes dangerous. The knife is for protection when I’m away. I had to use it against a member of the Argentinean drug cartel not too long ago and I’m not afraid to use it now. You’ve broken into my home, interrupted Elise and I during a very private moment, and now you refuse to leave and you think I’m going to let you take her?"
    Listen son, I’m sorry for the insults, that was unnecessarily rude," Max countered, "but we really need to get Elise out of here and do some damage control from that crazy interview."
    "She was honest about who she is, how can anyone not see that?" Avery snapped. "We’re done here Max. You can leave like I’ve asked, or I will make you leave. The choice is yours."
    "Elise! This isn’t over!" Max called.
    "It is for today!" I said as I came back downstairs, handing Avery his jeans. "Go back to town, get a room and call me tomorrow and I might agree to talk. But don’t you ever step foot in this house again without express written permission. Avery is off limits! You hear me Max?"
    "Fine, meet me tomorrow in town at nine."
    "Fine, but you’re all leaving Avery Island when we’re done!" I slammed to door in his face.
    "The rumors are flying Elise." Max sighed. "They’re talking about how you’ve been cheating on Silas for years with this Swamp Boy - their words, not mine," he clarified. "They’re saying you’re a product of incest between your mother and her brother. It’s ridiculous, I know." He held his hand up to stem my outrage.
    "Momma didn’t even have a brother! My daddy was her high school sweetheart. He died during a bad storm when she was just a few months along with me. A tree fell on him when he was trying to secure the windows before the storm hit, and he didn’t make it. It was all in the interview, Max - didn’t you watch it?"
    "Of course, and I know it was all honest and a true