Leonard chuckled, shaking his head ruefully. “Well, I had simply assumed that you and Chris were… you know.” He ran a hand through his silvery hair. “An item, of sorts. Most young men like him pursue romantic interests quite vigorously. At least, they did when I was his age.” The implication of hi
Ava I made my way back to the Packhouse, my mind still buzzing over my interaction with Leonard. His words kept replaying in my head on a loop—his insistence that Chris harbored deeper feelings for me, despite my protests to the contrary. His observations about the telltale way a man looked at a w
“Trees aside,” he said, “I was under the impression that your… subordinates—what are they called, ‘Omegas’?—would be available to assist with any labor requirements. They are essentially free labor, are they not?” I felt my stomach twist. The Omegas were no longer our slaves. And the way that his
Ava It was well after sundown, and I had given up on expecting Chris to come over like he had said. He still hadn’t shown up, and it was getting so late that I thought maybe he got sidetracked or simply forgot. Truthfully, I wasn’t even sure why I had said yes. After what Leonard had said earlie
Rather than explain, I simply grinned and rolled up the pantlegs of my pajamas before cleaning my feet in the nearby sink that I used specifically for this reason. Then, I climbed up onto the ledge of the nearest tub, and without hesitating, I swung one leg over the side and stepped right down into
Ava With a grin and a wild laugh, Chris pulled the towel free from his hips. I gasped and quickly covered my eyes, my cheeks burning. I felt my stomach twist inside of me, a thousand emotions taking over—surprise, annoyance, maybe even excitement. But a moment later, I peeked through my finger
“Mm, much better,” I sighed contentedly, still chewing the sharp cheese. “You were right, my wine is worlds better than that bottled stuff.” “I’ll say.” Chris took a drink as well, smacking his lips appreciatively. “You’ll have to show me more about the whole winemaking process sometime. Like, wit
Ava I smoothed my shirt down in front of the mirror, biting my lower lip in anticipation. Even now, standing in my own bedroom with no one else in sight, I couldn’t help but feel a red tinge creep into my cheeks. Normally, I opted for a more bohemian style: long, flowy skirts and dresses, tops s