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“Oh God.” Ava cringes, pressing my hand a little harder to her belly. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, well, I guess someone has to keep me in line.”
There’s a moment of silence where Ava just stares at me, like she’s trying to make sense of everything in her head. It reminds me of Fran, the way she agonized over what to do and how to tell Grayson. How afraid she was of all the things that could go wrong, and now…
My phone becomes weightier in my pocket. Maybe I should’ve asked more questions? Maybe I should’ve called her? But the logical part of me knows that they need to focus on whatever’s happening, not on my worry. Just as I know that Ava needs me to tell her that. “Everything will be okay. We’ll figure it all out.”
“Together?” Her question is tentative.
“We’re a team,” I assure her. My hands sweep down to her hips as I stand and then perch her in my place.
“How are you so calm?” Nuzzling into my chest, she tucks her hands into the top of my slacks, at the top of my ass. “I’m freaking out.”
“Makes a change, huh?”
She peers up at me from my chest. “Seriously?”
“You’re here, Ava, that’s all that matters. You’re here and you’re mine.” Cupping her face, I thumb over her cheeks.
“I’m yours…” she murmurs. “Because…”
“Because.”
“Because.” Her full lips stretch into a teary smile. “I love you, Damon. Beyond reason and right or wrong. I love every part of you, even the ones I hate. I think I might love those more…” She swallows and then adds, “Asshole.”
A chuckle vibrates through me, and for the first time since she left, my heart relaxes, skipping and stuttering over its slowing beats. And it’s all because of her. My beautiful Ava.
“You can’t call me that forever.” I tip her face up to mine, taking my fill of her. I’m completely lost in her silver-speckled cerulean eyes.
“Ass. Hole.” She cranes her neck, bringing her lips closer to mine.
“That sounds like an invitation.”
“God, just shut up and kiss me already.” Her mouth presses to mine with the plush lower lip pushing past the seam of my lips. Teeth grazing my flesh, she sighs in that way you do when you’re home after a shit day.
With her hands clambering up my chest, to my shoulders, she moans as I lick into her mouth, sating my overwhelming thirst for her. The kiss is like water in the desert to my parched soul.
“I love you, little mouse,” I murmur over her lips, pressing another kiss.
“Why do you call me that?”
“Sounds better than Reepicheep.” Tracing her jaw with the tip of my nose, I breathe her in. Filling my lungs with her scent like it’s the only thing I’ll ever need to keep me alive.
“What the hell is Reepicheep?”
“The mouse leader from Narnia. You know, passionate, gentle, fearless, and honorable.” Planting a kiss behind her ear, I suck at the sensitive spot, laving and nipping until she’s a trembling, breathless mess. “They’re all the things I love about you, little mouse.”
Her arms wrap around my neck, meshing her body to mine. “Take me home?”
“Every fucking day, baby.”
“Forever?” Her legs wrap around my hips, pulling herself up from my desk until she’s latched onto me completely.
“And ever.” I walk her to my open door, William is nowhere in sight. So, I take a moment to let my hands wander over the curve of her ass and her thighs. I savor the feel of her warm skin on my hands as I take my time tracing the contours of her body pressed to mine.
The office is still relatively quiet when I open the door to the floor and stand Ava on her feet. For a moment, bashfulness flushes across her cheeks when she sees William’s assistant staring up at us. But before she can get weird about it, I walk her down the corridor. Everything is so much better with her next to me. As much as I love CPM, it’s all lackluster when Ava’s not here with me. It’s all cold and meaningless. My life without her is meaningless. A derelict church with deity to worship. Ava’s my goddess, and she deserves to be revered like it.
When I walk her down the corridor, she looks up at me confused. “This is not the way out.”
