Chapter 3

~Ava

I stood by the door of the Aston Martin, my eyes locked on the sleek, powerful car as if it might swallow me whole. My stomach fluttered, a strange mix of excitement and nervousness swirling inside me. I wasn’t used to talking to strangers. What if he was dangerous?

He smoothly slid out of the driver's seat, his movements effortless, and walked toward me with a confidence that made everything else around him seem to fade. When he stopped just a few feet away, his piercing gaze met mine, steady, waiting.

"You okay?" His voice was low, carrying a hint of amusement that made my insides twist.

I swallowed, trying to steady my breath. "I’m fine," I muttered, barely above a whisper.

He chuckled, misinterpreting my discomfort. "It’s okay," he said, leaning against the car with a warm smile. "I know it’s overwhelming. You probably don’t even know how to open the door, huh?"

I shot him a glare. "I’m not that clueless," I snapped back, my voice stronger than I felt.

But then... that smile. 

It was like the sun breaking through clouds, a breathtaking thing that stole my breath away. His smile was so beautiful, so disarming, that it felt like the world could be right again just because of it. Butterflies stirred in my stomach, a nervous flutter I couldn’t quite explain.

"Come on," he coaxed, his voice almost tender. "Get in."

I didn’t even know what made me nod, but I did. That smile, that magnetic pull—whatever it was, it made me want more. And before I could second-guess myself, I stepped forward, letting him open the door for me.

He slid into the driver's seat, adjusting his mirror before glancing at me, a brief flicker of curiosity crossing his face.

"So," he began casually, his fingers grazing the steering wheel, "where do you stay?"

I hesitated, the question making my chest tighten. The thought of returning to my pack didn’t sit right. I didn’t feel like going home... but how could I tell him that? My thoughts were all over the place, my heart too tangled to make sense of it all.

"I... I’m not sure," I said, the uncertainty in my voice clearer than I wanted.

He glanced at me, eyebrow raised. "You’re not sure where you stay?"

I shook my head, trying to push down the ache in my chest.

His gaze softened slightly, like he was trying to read me. "Where’s your pack? Where are you from?"

My throat constricted. "Frostfang pack," I answered quietly.

He looked at me in surprise, his eyes widening. "Frostfang? That’s... miles away." His gaze lingered on me, a mix of curiosity and something deeper. "Why so far?"

I clenched my fists in my lap, avoiding his eyes. I didn’t owe him an explanation, and I wasn’t about to give one. He didn’t know me, didn’t understand.

"How old are you?" he asked.

I ignored him, staring out the window. I didn’t owe him my life story. Not now, not with someone I barely knew.

"Alright," he muttered, sensing my reluctance. "I can’t drive that far. I need to head back to my family soon."

My heart dropped at the mention of family. Shit. "He’s married," I thought, the realization making something tighten in my chest.

Nimueh whimpered inside my head, a soft, sorrowful sound. "No," I whispered to myself, shaking off the wave of despair. "Snap out of it."

He glanced at me again, noticing my change in mood. "I have a second house here in Silverwaters," he said. "But my main house is further out, near the next pack borders."

I nodded absently, lost in my own thoughts. This man, his life—everything about him—was way out of my league.

He looked over at me again, more direct this time. "What do you say? Want to crash at my second house, or should I take you to my family house for the night?"

Hell no. I couldn’t go to his house, meet his wife.... She’d tear me apart. 

"I’ll go to the second house," I muttered quietly, barely able to get the words out.

"Okay," he said, nodding, and started the car again. The engine hummed to life, and we sped off toward Silverwaters.

When we arrived, I couldn’t help but gawk. The house was massive, more grand than anything I’d ever seen—a mansion, marble pillars, windows that stretched up into the sky. My breath caught in my throat as I took it all in. If this was his second house, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how grand his main one must be.

He led me inside, showing me to a guest room. I stood there, feeling small and overwhelmed. "Take a bath," he said casually, his voice calm and soothing. "I’ll make you something to eat while you freshen up."

I watched him move around the room, his presence commanding yet oddly gentle. Something inside me stirred, and I couldn’t deny it—I felt drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain.

As he made his way toward the door, he turned back, looking at me. "Everything okay?" he asked, his gaze lingering a moment too long.

My heart skipped a beat. I felt the pull again, but my mind snapped back to reality. I couldn’t let myself get caught up in this. Not with him. Not with someone so far out of my league, and married too.

I rushed into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. My heart raced, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything about what I was feeling was wrong, but it felt so right, or perhaps it was the alcohol playing tricks on me.

Under the hot water, I tried to wash away the tension, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him, that smile, his touch.

After a few minutes, I stepped out of the shower, wrapping myself in a towel. I was trying to get a hold of myself when I pushed open the door... and froze.

He was standing there, just a few feet away, setting food on the table. His eyes landed on me, and I froze, realizing I was half naked. The shock hit me like a jolt of ice water.

My stomach dropped, my face burning with embarrassment. I quickly made sure my towel was properly tied, my private parts well covered. The air between us thickened with an awkward tension, but I couldn’t stop the way my heart raced or the way my body reacted to him.

He quickly apologized, his voice strained. "Sorry," he muttered, turning away. "Enjoy your meal. I have to leave now. When you leave in the morning, just drop the keys in one of the flower pots outside."

I nodded, barely able to breathe. Part of me wanted to be alone, to escape from the intensity of the moment, but another part of me didn’t want him to leave.

He made his way out of the room, opening the door quietly, but before he could step through, I rushed to his side, my eyes locking with his.

"Please, don’t go," I whispered, my voice trembling. "The house is so big, so lonely. I’m afraid to be alone." I knew he was married, but everything inside me wanted him around.

He hesitated, his eyes flickering between mine and the open door.

His gaze was locked on mine, heavy with want. His hands lingered at my waist, his fingers dancing along the edge of my towel. I felt my breath catch in my throat as he tugged the fabric lower, slowly revealing the curve of my breasts.

He swallowed hard, his eyes drinking in my body with a hunger that matched my own. A flush of heat spread through my body as he took in the sight of me, bare and vulnerable in his arms.

"I can't," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

My heart pounded. I reached out, grasping his arm, pulling him closer. "Please, stay," I begged, desperation tingling my voice, as my eyes locked with his. "Is it because of your wife?"

His laugh was deep, rich with something else—amusement? "A wife?" he said, the words smooth, teasing. "Where’d you get that idea?"

My face flushed, my heart racing. Not married. Not bound to anyone.

Suddenly, his hand slipped into mine, tugging me gently toward the bed. "You’ve had too much to drink," he murmured, voice soft and coaxing. "You should sleep it off."

As he stepped away, I grabbed his arm again, pulling him toward me. This time, he fell onto me, his weight pressing me into the soft mattress. Our gazes locked—intense, fiery—and then his lips crashed against mine.

We kissed with an urgency, as if the world might collapse around us. His hands roamed, pulling me closer as the heat between us burned hotter with each passing second.

He took one nipple into his mouth, sucking and swirling his tongue around it, driving me wild with pleasure.

He worshipped my body, his mouth moving from my breast to my neck, trailing kisses along the sensitive skin. His hands were everywhere, exploring the curves of my hips, the softness of my belly.

I arched my back, letting out a soft moan as his teeth grazed my flesh. "I want you," I gasped, the word caught between my lips.

He shifted, his body pressing against mine with an irresistible weight. His fingers slid between my thighs, finding the wet heat at my center.

His fingers teased my entrance, circling my clit with a slow, deliberate rhythm. I bucked against his hand, begging for more.

With a groan, he entered me, his fingers slipping inside with a sweet, aching pleasure. I threw my head back, a whimper escaping my lips as he began to thrust, his movements deliberate and torturous.

His mouth moved back to mine, his tongue tangling with mine in a passionate dance. His hips ground against me, pressing his arousal against my thigh.

He withdrew his fingers, leaving me empty, yearning. I gasped as he positioned himself between my thighs, his hard length teasing my folds.

"Please," I begged, my voice hoarse. "I need you."

With a low growl, he thrust into me, filling me completely. I cried out, my hands digging into his back as he began to move. He set a furious pace, his hips slamming into mine with a relentless rhythm.

"Yes," I panted, my body arching towards him. "Don't stop.”

Our bodies moved as one, the air thick with our moans and gasps. He leaned down, his mouth capturing mine in a possessive kiss. His tongue invaded my mouth, tasting and exploring as his hands roamed my body.

His thrusts grew more frantic, more desperate. I could feel the tension building in his body, a coiled spring of pleasure about to snap.

"I'm close," he grunted, his breathing ragged. "I'm going to fill you up.”

My body tensed, every nerve on fire. I grasped his shoulders, my nails digging into his flesh as he thrust harder, faster.

Suddenly, I shattered, my orgasm washing over me in a shuddering torrent. I cried out his name, my hips bucking against him as he drove himself deeper.

With a growl, he erupted inside me, his hot seed spilling into my core. I could feel him pulsing within me, his body trembling with the force of his release.

We collapsed onto the bed, our bodies slick with sweat. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as our heartbeats slowed and our breaths steadied.

He buried his face in my hair, kissing my temple with tender affection.

—

The first light of dawn filtered through the window, and I woke, my eyes adjusting to the soft glow. He still lay beside me, his chest rising and falling gently. 

I dressed quickly, feeling like a thief in the night, trying to slip away before he woke. I had to go before Aunt Maria noticed I wasn’t home.

"You can’t do this," Nimueh whispered in my mind. "You should say goodbye. It’s an honorable thing to do."

"Honor doesn’t matter when you’re dead," I snapped back, fear clouding my thoughts. I’m already dead, I thought, as the fear of Aunt Maria’s wrath clenched in my chest.