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 at his warda Tho

14:57 –

2/7

Ava: Virgin Heat (III)

intimacy with Clayton, without the haze of heat and desperation clouding our senses, fills me with a longing I can’t quite put

something I’d hoped to find with Lucas.

murmurs, his fingers trailing down my spine in a featherlight caress.

feel my heat creeping back into me, desperate for

it when my hips grind down a

need

say again, rubbing harder. I can feel him growing inside

say my body couldn’t take another round? Because it

anothers.

whisper into his ear, licking my way down his neck

14:57

Virgin Hoat (ill)

a wrong way.

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

He rejected you. Your mate

didn’t Clayton’s claim take?

be frustrated and demand more answers, but I have other concerns

is there.

felt good, though. The pain had pushed me

“Ava.”

nibble where his neck meets his shoulder, as his hands grow

inside of you.”

14:57

Ava: Virgin Heat (III)

I was there, after all.

an agonizingly slow rhythm. Just enough to build my desire without giving any real relief from it. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on

This isn’t enough.

you,” he says, and every part of

say, as Selene

don’t want

brain and body are united in wanting Clayton to

be more in tune with himself than I am. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers, leaning forward to brush his

hips. “I promise, I’ll

reality is starting to catch up to me, just a little.