Chapter 14 Naked Under Moon
Naked Under Moon
AVA
What the ever-loving hell am I doing?
I don’t even know as I stumble exhausted toward his couch, it’s so fluffy, like a dog but fluffier. The fur. It beckons me. I don’t even remember closing my eyes until I smell coffee in the morning.
I jolt awake.
“I’m alive!”
I don’t mean to announce it like that, but I don’t even remember getting woken up in the middle of the night.
“Did you know,” Eli says from the kitchen wearing nothing but low-slung silk black pajama pants, “I nearly had a heart attack trying to wake you up the first time last night?”
Suddenly embarrassed, I sit up with the blanket. I probably look like a train wreck.
“I’m so sorry! What time is it?”
He checks the watch he already has on.
“We have two hours before my first meeting, and twelve until the full moon, so we have time to drink coffee decaf for me, normal for you, we can have some breakfast, and have time for you to tell me—”
His phone rings, he holds up a finger and answers it.
I lay back down, enjoying the blissful smell of coffee, until his panicked voice hits. I jolt back up as if to ask what it is.
He gives me an annoyed look and hangs up.
“Think you can get ready in thirty minutes?”
NO!
“Yes, of course, yes.” I totally lie, then grab my shoes and purse and bolt for the door, then jump back and point at his coffee mug. He rolls his eyes and hands it over.
“You’re a saint.”
“Never been called that before.”
“Thank you.” I genuinely mean it.
He just nods.
“Try not to stop by when I’m naked again without at least announcing yourself, oh and I had the doorman deliver the wine you stole to your apartment, since you couldn’t help yourself, but honestly, he leans in so close that it feels like he’s going to kiss me,” Instead he unlocks the door.
“Trust me when I say I know the feeling.”
My heart cannot handle the up and downs. I start to leave when he yells, “Nine am downstairs, my car.”
I wave him off and attempt to power walk and drink his incredible espresso and get to my apartment.
I have no clue what to wear, but I do know that I need to look professional and be ready to do my job so I chug the rest of the coffee add a light touch of makeup and throw on a navy dress with a white coat and tan boots.
And this time.
To avoid a repeat.
I keep my hair down.
I make it downstairs in record time to see him waiting by the car, no not waiting, literally leaning against it with aviators on, a grey suit and red shirt open at the chest, his hair styled messy, and a smile on his face as he stares at his phone.
Why does the universe do this to people?
It’s so unfair.
I almost stomp my foot before getting outside.
“Get in.” That’s all he says.
I roll my eyes internally and get in the back with him.
“I wasn’t even late.”
“Thirty seconds.” He still hasn’t looked up from his phone, so I do, in fact, roll my eyes.
“Saw that.”
“How?”
“More like…” He looks up.
“Felt it.”
We’re in one of his SUVs headed to the first meeting with the Angel Investors.
“What are you doing?”
“Mmm, studying the portfolios.” He taps the driver's seat with his fingers.
“We’re going to be late. Can you go a bit faster?”
Marvin nods his head, all business.
“Absolutely.”
He hits the gas so hard I collapse like a bad romance novel against Eli’s chest, but this time he grips my hand.
And despite his grumpiness, he very gently puts it back into my lap.
I feel the heat of his skin the rest of the day.
I fly through the meetings, and when I’m done and kick off my heels at the apartment, I see the wine.
It would be nice to share it with him. Every deal was incredible, and I was genuinely excited about the changes he was making not only in the world but in the local community, mainly with the children.
I don’t even bother to change. I know it was a late night, so he was going to stay at the apartment. Wine in hand, I start to knock when I hear a deep moan, then screaming.
I knock.
And then I knock again.
“Eli?”
More screaming, cursing.
“Fuck it hurts!”
“Shit!” I scramble for my phone and call Gabe. He answers on the first ring, I hear club music.
“Yeah?”
“Gabe! I’m at Eli’s apartment and I hear yelling and moaning!”
He laughs.
“Maybe he finally got laid?”
“Gabe! Seriously, that’s unprofessional and he could be hurt!”
I can actually hear him yawn.
“Okay… so you have the code, just go in, I mean, if you’re brave enough.” He laughs.
“Oh, his bite is way worse than his bark. Bye!”
I turn to leave, then come back, then think about calling the police and realize that for the security he has, it would be nearly impossible for someone to be in there.
Decision made, I type in his code and yell, “I’m coming in!”
I set my purse and the wine on the counter, my heels click against the marble as I walk through the house and finally find him out on the balcony on his hands and knees, right under the full moon.
The doors are open, wine is spilled, and he’s panting.
He falls back and grips his sides and starts a muffled scream against his arm.
He quickly dives into the pool and I can still hear his screams from inside the water.
I don’t even think; I strip down to my bra and panties after kicking my shoes off and jump right in, swimming toward him as he floats to the bottom of the pool and sits there.
The minute I touch him, his eyes jolt open, so blue it’s like a light shining around us, he shakes his head and soars to the top. He’s completely naked and wet.
“Ava, you need to go.”
“Are you hurt?” I ignore him.
Another shudder hits his body as he slams back against the tile. It surprisingly doesn’t break.
“It always hurts.” He finally pants out.
“What does?” I get closer.
“Ava.” He holds out a hand.
“I’m telling you, do not do what you are about to do, do not touch me, do not—” He screams again in agony.
I can’t help it. I touch him.
He calms immediately.
“You. Have. No. Idea. What. You’ve. Just. Done.”
I try to pull my hand away but can’t. He flips my body around slamming me back against the tile, his mouth latches onto mine and holds on, he grips the tile on either side of me, and I feel the agony he faces, I taste the horror, but the more I kiss him, the more I taste him, it goes away.
I wrap my legs around him, his cock is hard between my thighs.
I have no idea what I’m doing, but he doesn’t stop. He finally pushes us down into the water, but I’ve always been good at holding my breath, at being a good swimmer, I have no idea why. I cling to him still as we come up to the other side of the pool.
The moon shines.
And he can’t let go.
And neither can I.
Our mouths briefly break apart.
“What’s happening?”
He shakes his head.
“I’m so fucking sorry.” He has tears in his eyes.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I tried.”
The last words he says to me before flipping me onto my stomach and fucking me.