Tangled

43 Ava: Virgin Heat (III)

I don’t want to think. I nuzzle my nose into Clayton’s neck and breathe him in, hearing Selene growling in the back of my head. “For what?”

“For all of it. But for claiming you when you told me no.” I can feel his hands brushing against my neck, and pleasure and pain course through me. I can still feel him in my head, but the presence is fading. He sounds puzzled. “It didn’t take, though. Why didn’t it take?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know.” But I can guess it has something to do with me.

Clayton continues to caress my neck. “This looks terrible. Like a wolf tore your neck apart. It looks like I tried to kill you.”

“Mmm.” I’m tired, and trying to ignore the little flares of heat in my abdomen that are trying to come back.

My body can’t take another round of this. But I want

one.

“You were a virgin,” Clayton continues. He’s very talkative after sex, I guess.

14:57

1/7

43 Ava: Virgin Heal (ll)

He sounds grim. I finally open one eye to look at him, and he looks furious. “I’m sorry?”

“No, I’m sorry. Your first time should have never been like that.”

His fingers trail through the tangled strands, gently working out the knots. I can’t help but lean into his touch, savoring the tenderness, the gentle affection.

“I’m so sorry, Ava,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my temple. “I never wanted to hurt you like this. I tried so hard to stay away and keep you safe.”

A pang of guilt twists in my chest at the remorse in his voice. I already know he never meant to hurt me. He did everything he could.

“It’s okay,” I whisper through the roughness in my throat. “I understand.”

Clayton shakes his head, his fingers continuing their soothing motions. “No, it’s not okay. Your first time should have been special, not a frenzied mess driven by instinct and heat.” He presses a tender kiss to my forehead. “I promise, when this is all over, I’ll make it up to you.”

immitan within mo

14:57 –

2/7

Virgin Heat (III)

desperation clouding our senses, fills me with a longing

I’d hoped to

he murmurs, his fingers trailing down my spine in a featherlight caress. “Let me take

for more. His tender affections feed it,

when my hips grind down a little on

need a break.”

can feel him growing inside

Because it disagrees. It wants another. A lot

anothers.

into his ear, licking my way down his neck and breathing in his scent.

14:57

Virgin Hoat

a wrong way.

reminded of Lucas, and a part of me wants to pull myself away in horror. I’ve cheated on my fated mate. Another part of me doesn’t care. Isn’t okay to have this one as my mate? He’s gentle and kind. And even if the mating bond didn’t take, we

Selene interjects. He rejected you. Your mate

Clayton’s claim

goes silent again. I think she’s giving me my privacy. Normally, I’d be frustrated and demand more answers, but I have other

of yellow. His wolf is there.

felt good, though. The pain had pushed me into another plane

“Ava.”

nibble where his neck meets his shoulder, as

came inside

14:57

Virgin

was

to build

This isn’t enough.

says, and every part of me shivers in

as Selene groans in my

want

are united in wanting Clayton to

I am. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers, leaning forward to brush

contrast to his wandering hands and gently rolling hips. “I promise, I’ll take care of

to me, just a little. “There’s no