Chapter 23
AVA
“He made you come just from dry humping in your childhood bedroom?” Jade arches a brow. “Good fucking day to you, too,” she muses, and I wiggle my eyebrows at her.
Following her into the back of the store, I set my bag down and pull out my lunch. I’ve taken to visiting her on my break during work to see if we can get any further with my magic, but this is the first time I’ve been back since the holiday.
It’s been fun to find a new friendship in Jade. I need to introduce her to Luna so the four of us can have a girls’ night.
It’s been a little over a week since Thanksgiving, and I’ve replayed what happened between Valen and me many times in my head.
Him sneaking in was adorable and ended in the hottest orgasm I’ve had in my life.
We haven’t done anything like it since, but the static charge between us has been slowly building.
I don’t miss the hunger in Valen’s eyes or the way his fists clench when I walk by.
Okay, so maybe I’ve been laying the seduction on thick, but hey, I’m fucking horny.
“What did you do for the holiday?” I ask as I settle in my spot on the couch.
Jade pulls out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and waves her hand dismissively.
“Nothing. Held down the fort here and had a one-night stand to distract myself from the shitty text message I got from my dad. He loves to remind me how worthless I am.” While she shrugs like it doesn’t bother her, all I can do is gape at her nonchalance. “What?” she mumbles around a mouthful.
“Nothing.” I focus on unwrapping my own sandwich and taking a bite. “Who was the guy?” I direct the conversation elsewhere.
“We didn’t exchange names, but he was a hot werewolf.
I can tell you that. Tall, dark, and handsome.
” She smiles at the memory. “I met him at the bar across the street.” She fans herself.
“He took me for a ride. Sounds like Valen took you on one too, though.” She arches a brow, her lips twitching like she’s trying not to laugh.
I laugh, which brings on her own giggles, but I feel myself heating up thinking about Valen’s hard cock pressed against me once again.
We spend the rest of lunch chatting and catching up. Jade plans to read through a few tomes she found hidden away that could help with unlocking my magic. I haven’t told her about learning of the adoption agency’s name, and I’m not sure why.
“Anyone here?” Liam calls from the main storefront area.
“Where else would I be?” Jade responds with a roll of her eyes. “Men,” she mouths to me.
“Oh, hi, Ava.” He gives a crooked grin when he steps into the room.
Liam’s intentions aren’t hard to decipher. He’s been making not so subtle passes at me since the day we met. The man can’t seem to take a hint despite Valen spooking him the one time.
“Hey, Liam,” I reply kindly but not encouragingly. While it’s hot seeing Valen, who’s such an even-tempered guy, go all alpha protective over me, I’m not sure what the mate bond might make him do if Liam keeps pushing boundaries. I’d feel bad if Valen killed the guy.
“How was your holiday?” he asks and tries to make eye contact I intentionally avoid.
“Good.” I purposely don’t ask how his is.
“I already told you, Liam, it ain’t gonna happen.” I love how blunt Jade is and appreciate her letting him down for me. A smile twitches at the corner of my lips, but I hold it back, lest Liam think it’s his doing.
“And I told you I’m not giving up just because of some bloodsucker,” he retorts.
“You fucking should, spellcasting imbecile,” a voice growls from over Liam’s shoulder.
Liam tries to hide his fear, but everyone in the room knows it’s fake bravado.
He seems to steel himself before turning around.
When he does, he spots Valen holding two to-go coffee cups and he’s wearing a scowl that could kill a man.
With his dark hair styled in controlled waves, wearing a black shirt with a dark brown jacket, jeans, and boots, he looks like an avenging angel.
Ironic.
“Every time I try to talk to Ava, you show up. Are you skulking around like the cockroach you are? Vampires really are the scum of the earth leeching off trash and unsuspecting women who don’t know any better.” Liam spits, and I raise my eyebrows at the venom in his voice and the insinuation.
“Dumbass,” Jade mutters, knowing this only ends one way.
Chest beginning to heave, Valen’s eyes narrow.
“I’m going to pretend you did not just insult Ava’s intelligence.
” Valen speaks with controlled anger. “Your unintelligence, however, is insulting to me. Every word that comes out of your mouth is idiotic drivel. Ava has shot down your advances, yet you refuse to get it through your thick skull that she is mine.” The way he emphasizes the word has me shivering with need.
“You know what you’ll never have? Her, needy and desperate beneath you, writhing for release.
Breasts heaving, eyes full of lust, and rocking against your cock.
I’ve seen it and it’s fucking beautiful.
” Stepping toe to toe with Liam, he continues.
“If you want to resolve this in a duel, warlock to cockroach, I would be more than happy to take you up on it.” Valen’s head tilts with predatory focus.
He shrugs off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves like he’s ready to fight the guy right here.
Liam shudders slightly and tries to play it off with a scoff. “As if you’re worth my time. Fuck this.” He walks out of the store without a backward glance.
For a second Jade and I look at each other with wide eyes. She mouths, “Wow.” I nod in agreement. The tension in the room is suffocating.
“Jesus,” Jade finally speaks. “I’m sorry about him.
If he weren’t one of the few helpers I have for both the apothecary and stationery store, I’d fire his ass.
” Jade bites off a piece of licorice and shakes it at Valen.
“Unfortunately, I need him. Good job putting him in his place. I doubt he’ll try anything else with Ava after that. You really peed on your territory.”
Valen’s eyebrows pull together while Jade whistles and walks back into the store.
“I do not know what that means.”
Tension lines his shoulders, so I slowly walk over and pat his arm. “Liam’s an idiot. Don’t let him get to you.”
“Fucking warlock,” he curses. “No good. The whole lot of them,” he bites out, lips pressed in a flat line.
“I won’t argue with that,” Jade mumbles.
“Kind of hot seeing you get worked up over me,” I whisper.
Him describing what I looked like in such a vulnerable state might make some girls mad, but it turned me on.
“Thank you for defending my honor.” I reach up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek, but at the last second, he turns his head.
Soft lips meet mine and my eyes fly open in surprise.
Neither of us backs off, and we breathe each other in.
I know he can smell my arousal and his pupils shrink. The telltale points of fangs press against his lips, and I lick mine in anticipation. This must be the fangboner Zav likes to talk about. I want to see this carefully controlled vampire of mine lose it.
Valen’s heated brown eyes meet mine after tracking my tongue and then blessedly, the dam breaks.
He sets his cups down on the table and lifts me up by the backs of my thighs.
I wind my legs around his trim waist and hold on for dear life.
Backing me up to the wall, he fuses our lips together.
I can tell possessiveness is riding him hard.
The frantic movement of his mouth begs mine to match his fervor, and I open for him, letting him know I’m here and I’m his.
Fangs nip at my lip, and I groan, realizing it’s my new favorite thing. I find myself wondering what his real bite would feel like.
“Stay away from him.” Valen pulls back with a growl. His nose traces down the side of my face, and he presses a kiss against my jaw. “I don’t want him anywhere fucking near you. It makes me feel … unstable.”
I pant and struggle to form words. “You know when you curse, it just turns me on even more. Prim and proper Valen with a dirty mouth,” I murmur against his ear.
When I’m about to dive in for more, pounding comes from outside the room.
“No sex in my store!” Jade yells.
“Shit. Forgot about her,” I sigh and give Valen a pat on his chest, signaling him to let me down. He does so reluctantly but makes sure to kiss me one last time.
Packing up my lunch, I realize it’s time to get back to work anyway. Valen and I make our way out to the street but pause to say bye.
“See you later, Aves!” Jade calls and I wave. I didn’t get much accomplished, but I can’t say I’m mad about Valen showing up.
I tug my peacoat tighter around myself when the wind blows and accept the cup Valen holds out to me. “What’s this?” Sniffing, I take a tentative sip. “Hot chocolate?” The warmth is much appreciated.
“It was on your bucket list.” Valen takes a sip of his own and recoils. “That is horrendous. Truly appalling.”
“More for me then.” I make to grab his cup, but he holds it away from me.
“No, I want to share this with you since you like it. Even if it does taste like sewage water.” He adds the last part under his breath but shoots a shy smile my way.
My heart skips a beat at the sight, and I grab his hand, swinging it a little. Valen makes me feel like a teenage girl with a crush. We walk in silence for a bit before Valen breaks it with a question I’d been hoping he wouldn’t ask.
“Why haven’t we looked into the agency more yet?”
I mull over my answer before responding.
“I’m scared. It feels like a step closer to the answers I’m seeking and yet also a step closer to shattering the life I know.
Everything is going to change, and I’m not sure how to feel about it.
” I lower my head, staring at the sidewalk.
When he’s quiet for a full minute, I lift my head and find him nodding thoughtfully.
“But what if it’s a better life?” he asks, voicing something I haven’t considered.
“Well, then that’s even scarier,” I admit. “I could’ve been missing out on so much and never known it. But I suppose the life I’ve lived until now ultimately led me to you, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.” I wink at him.
Valen stares, and I can see the wheels turning in his head at what I’ve just done.
“It’s a wink.” I do it again.
He attempts to do the same back to me but looks like he’s having a stroke instead by blinking both eyes rapidly. Giving up, he walks me all the way back to the precinct.
Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, he sighs. “No matter what, I’ll be there for you.” Valen tightens his grip on my hand. “Let’s go to the agency tomorrow.”
Blowing out a breath, I nod, steeling myself to the decision.