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.”

hana immitan within mo at his warda

14:57 –

2/7

Virgin Heat (III)

of heat and desperation clouding our senses,

I’d hoped to

his fingers trailing down my spine in a featherlight caress. “Let me take care of

desperate for more. His tender affections feed it,

help it when my hips grind down a little on his cock,

need

rubbing harder. I can feel him growing inside of

my body couldn’t take another round? Because it

anothers.

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

14:57

Virgin Hoat (ill)

a wrong way.

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 can just try again.

cheating, Selene interjects. He rejected you. Your mate

Clayton’s claim

be frustrated and demand more answers, but

see Clayton’s eyes flare with a hint of yellow. His wolf is there. His wolf must be the one that

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

“Ava.”

his neck meets his shoulder, as his hands grow a

inside

14:57

Ava: Virgin Heat (III)

know.” I was there, after

enough to build my desire without giving

This isn’t enough.

demanding that I breed you,” he says, and

I say, as Selene groans in my head.

don’t want pups,

my brain and body are united in wanting Clayton

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

rolling hips. “I promise, I’ll take care of you and our pups. You won’t want for anything.”

the reality is starting to catch up to me, just a