The Alpha King's Contracted Luna by Nelson Claudia

Chapter 166

-Ava POV

a

“And what you said afterward. That you loved me.”

The words lingered on the tip of my tongue, but as soon as I said the word sex, I saw the subtle shift in Grayson’s expression. His entire demeanor seemed to sharpen, his hackles rising ever so slightly. It wasn’t that he was angry–just alert, his focus zeroing in on me with an intensity that made my throat dry up. I stopped there.

I wasn’t even sure he realized he’d said those words during one of our more… passionate moments. And even if he had, I didn’t know if it was something he meant or just something that slipped out in the heat of mind–blowing sex. But for me, it wasn’t something I could just brush aside. I’d clung to it, turning the words over in my head more times than I cared to admit.

Still, this didn’t feel like the right time to bring it up. Not yet.

I realized he was staring at me, his piercing eyes making it impossible for me to think straight. My entire body heated up under his gaze, and I didn’t need a mirror to know my face had turned completely red. I suddenly regretted bringing up this entire conversation, silently cursing Isabella for planting the idea in my head in the first place.

“What about it?” he asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, yet curious.

I bit my lip, searching for words, and the corner of his mouth twitched in a way that made it clear he was holding back a smirk. That simple expression was enough to make me blurt out a rushed explanation.

“It’s not anything bad. Actually, it’s great–like, thinking–about–it–all–the–time great. I was just talking to Bels, and she had this stupid idea, and now that I’ve brought it up, I don’t even know why I did. Just forget about it.”

Grayson arched a brow, his lips tugging upward just slightly. “You want me to just forget about it? You said it’s about sex and now you’re telling me to forget about it? Would you?”

I groaned inwardly and looked down at the napkin in front of me, fiddling with the edge. “Well… no.”

His voice softened, coaxing. “What was the idea?”

It

gaze. neck as I avoided his way down my If I was red before, I was sure I resembled a tomato now. The heat spread all the didn’t matter how far we’d come as a couple–sometimes, Grayson still had the ability to completely unnerve me with just a look.

“She said I should… make a list. You know, of things I wanted to do. During… sex.” My voice faltered as I stumbled over the last word, shifting uneasily in my chair. “This was a bad time to bring it up.”

for a moment. Then his voice broke the silence, amused and low, “Did

meet his, and I glared

smirk he’d been suppressing spread into a full, amused smile. “Of course, it’s not funny,” he said, his tone laced with humor that he didn’t bother hiding anymore. “And I’m not laughing at you. I just… wasn’t expecting this.”

“You can

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Chapter 166

we’re already doing,” I blurted out, the words rushing together in my nervousness. “I mean, I like everything you do.

how much I’d just admitted. I looked away, staring down at the table, wishing I could disappear.

lips twitched again, but this time, he didn’t laugh. Instead, he stayed quiet, letting me gather my

stuff I think I’d like to

swallow me

table, his gaze locked on Grayson as

his tone polite but firm. The waiter nodded, still avoiding eye contact with me, and said, “Your

at that. Ten minutes. Ten whole

a buffer. I groaned

Grayson’s eyes were back on me. “Did you make the list?” he

let it go, but his expression told me otherwise. He wasn’t going to drop

defeat, I reached into my bag, fumbling through its contents until my fingers brushed against the folded piece of paper. Pulling it out, I handed

the paper, his brows raising slightly as he unfolded it. I caught the briefest flicker of surprise in his expression

word. My

few bullet points. It was a comprehensive inventory of every dark fantasy, every curiosity that had ever crossed my mind.

was going to kill Isabella. And then, once I was done with

he finished the first page and flipped it over to the next. His expression didn’t change–not a smirk, not a frown,

looked up at me, and for a moment, I couldn’t read the look in his eyes. Then, slowly, a smile tugged at his

thorough,” he said, his tone

buried my face in my hands, groaning.

firm. “It’s not a bad idea. Not at all

even more.