"This looks sexy," Vanessa grinned, staring at Ava who was donning a beautiful black backless gown. "I think it's too much. And it's too revealing," Ava said, staring down at the huge slit at the right leg that almost reached her hip and would even show her panties. A big no. "Nah. You want him to lose control and f*ck you nine ways to Mars then I'd suggest wearing this tonight and you'll be thoroughly smashed-" "Vanessa!" Ava's cheeks flushed in embarrassment at her crude words. "What? Can't I be honest? Get used to it. The way I see it, Aiden is nowhere near Vanilla. That man oozes masculinity and power. He would surely be into kinks and stuff. No wonder he was attracted to you. Sin is intrigued by innocence. Swoon." Ava gaped at her friend. "Stop it. This sexualizes a person. Why are you even relating kinks with him? He's a gentleman." Ava muttered, grabbing a red dress from the bed. Vanessa dramatically gasped. "I thought it would fly above your head. But. Dude. My prude
"What are you making?" Aiden asked, stepping into her apartment. She had given him the spare key to her place and he often joined her for breakfast. She loved having him around. He smelled like whisky, sandalwood, and smoke. She was getting used to it. It made her heart flutter. "Cookies," She smiled. Her dimples were on display.Aiden walked over to her. Her hands were covered in dough as she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek when he held her waist in his big hands. Whenever he would come closer and touch her, she felt so small and delicate in a good way. "You can watch something," She tipped her head in the direction of the television. Aiden said he would spend the whole weekend with her and she couldn't be more excited. After their last date, she felt they had gotten closer. "I'm watching something," He mused, peering down at her, she blushed and quickly whirled around focusing on kneading the dough. "Go watch a show or something," She mumbled. "My show is right in fro
Ava pulled back rather abruptly as she stumbled out of his hold and he let her. He didn't want to hold her in the first place. Aiden wasn't a giver, he was a taker through and through. The women he had slept with knew this very well. He only takes and f*cking loathe to give. He was this way and women still worshipped him. It was a f*cking chore to give her gentle kisses and make her feel special but it was important. He must take her high before shoving her off the edge and after that, she would keep falling with no bottom awaiting her. That would be her life. He was f*cking bored with her. He barely kissed her neck and she was resembling a tomato and stumbling on her shaking legs. He suppressed the roll of his eyes and got up. "I'll answer," He turned to walk to the main door but Ava stopped him with her hand on his arm. "Wait. It could be Mrs. Smith, my neighbor, I'll answer," He watched as she padded to the door and pulled it open. A squeal was heard before a fluff of bl
"So you're 26?" Annie asked and Aiden gave her a nod. "Head of the sales department? What are your qualifications?" "Business graduate." "Just that?" She asked. "Is that not enough?" Aiden answered with a question. "It depends on how much you earn-" "Annie!" Ava looked at her little sister stunned. She had a feeling that they made a mistake in sending her to the hostel. "What?" Annie played dumb which she was far from. She was a little devil. Sometimes Ava gets worried sick thinking about Annie's tendencies. If she was like this when she was this young, what would become of her when she gets older? "Where are your manners?" Ava chided. Annie cocked a brow at her sister. She was sitting opposite Aiden with her arms crossed and the whole situation felt like an interrogation. "I left them at the hostel," She answered coolly, earning a chuckle from Aiden. Ava was glad Aiden wasn't taking her words to his heart. "Do you like art?" Annie asked. "Not really," Aiden respo
Annie stayed for the next two days. She opposed the idea of staying back at home for no reason and said she'll be bored out of her mind so she offered to help her at the bakery. Ava agreed and then there was chaos in the kitchen. Ironically Annie and Vanessa vibed so well, almost too creepy to the fact that she thought they were long-lost sisters from the funfair. Annie helped her in the kitchen, thankfully Mrs. Williams wasn't there so they both enjoyed messing around and working together. They both talked in that crude language and made weird jokes. In conclusion, they both became fans of each other. While Vanessa kept saying where Ava was hiding her gem of a badass sister all this time. Ava made sure to make them both clean later before closing. Aiden came to pick them up and they had dinner at the downtown street restaurant. Annie loved their chicken momos so Aiden got a takeaway for her as well, in case she got hungry late at night. While Vanessa was telling her about her th
Ava stared at him. There was something different about Aiden. She couldn't put her finger on it but she was having these uneasy feelings cocooning her in their shell. "What's wrong?" She asked softly, eyeing him. "I just need you by my side. I had a quarrel at work which turned into a fight," He said and her eyes widened as she looked for any injuries. "Are you hurt?" Her voice sounded worried sick. "No, I'm fine." He dismissed the topic. She wanted to ask more but his mood seemed off so she didn't question him. She noticed they passed the turn of their complex. "Where are we going?" The words tumbled out of her lips on their own accord. "I want to give you a surprise. Something you'd love to see," There was this sinister edge in his deep voice or maybe she was being too paranoid because he was cold to her earlier and ordered her as if he owned her. She hated it and she'd talk to him on this matter but only when he wasn't in such a bad mood. She didn't say anything. Ava rel
That night played in her head on a loop, again and again. Those haunting eyes that glowed like flames stared down at her. Ava had shoved that haunting memory to the back of her head and never mulled over it ever again until tonight. It was like she was back in that alley, staring at the mobs holding down an innocent man. The thunder rumbled. "Earth to, Ava."She flinched. Her fear-filled gaze locked with his. The man in front of her wasn't the Aiden she fell in love with and knew all this time. He wasn't that kind, gentle, caring man. Instead of his place stood the monster who approached her with the very intent to destroy her. The revelation had knocked the ground off its axis for her. The earth seemed to pause as if it forgot the basic function of rotating around its axis. Her lungs gave up on her, refusing to take in oxygen. She wasn't physically harmed yet but his words had punched her guts. As if he reached for her soul, fisted it, and wrung it out of her. A warm trail on h
Her heart almost jumped to her throat and twisted knots formed in her belly as she gazed at his veiny massive arms and those big calloused hands that frightened her. Those same hands she loved so much as she kept holding them and kissing his knuckles. His words rattled the existence of her very being. Ava's eyes widened and her face ashen when he strode towards her like a predator. To escape she took a step back only to gasp when her back collided with the door.She looked at the door over her shoulder with teary eyes and when she looked ahead all her breath was knocked out of her system finding him standing in her personal space like a deadly beast. The mere aura surrounding him was so ominous and dark that she couldn't breathe as she stood there holding her breath and trying her very best to evaporate in thin air."Breath." He commanded in that gruff voice making her chin wobble and lips quiver as she took in a sharp breath from her parted lips.Her teary eyes were dead set on hi
8 years later. Her brows furrowed and a moan slipped through her lips. Confusion washed over her sleepy state as she slowly opened her eyes, Ava felt it and her eyes widened. There was something inside her. Moving. The familiarity soaked her senses. Her gaze flickered to the man on top of her. "Good morning, baby." Thrust. Her lips parted, feeling every inch of him. "Aiden," She breathed his name. He had a pillow resting beneath her hips, holding her legs wide open, he slowly moved in and out of her. "You should've woken me up," she said in her slurry morning voice. "I want to wake you up like this. The expression of surprise and pleasure on your face is a treat to my eyes," He mused. Voice deep and husky with a perfect sleepy edge to it. His hair was a mess, brows furrowed as he moved inside her. She opened her arms, and he leaned in, pressing his lips on hers in a soft kiss, his chest pressing on her bare breasts. His hand slid between them as he grabbed
Ava sat at the edge of the pool with her legs immersed in the water while gazing at the beautiful sky which resembled a dark storm. The ghastly grey clouds scattered over the sky veiling the twinkling stars and glorious moon as a chilling breeze swept past her. It was calming. She loved this weather. The serenity before the rain. The storm. The darkness. The wild breeze. The weather seemed to be in ruthless chaos. Mayhem, and then it bursts in the form of rain. With rain, everything blurred out and all that mattered at that moment was just the present. As the heavy downpour tumbled down, the breeze felt ecstatic. The darkness felt soothing. The fresh scent of after-rain felt surreal. Ava smiled a little startled when the clouds grumbled wildly. A promise of a downpour in its wake. A month had passed since Ava came back to live with Aiden. He took care of everything and wouldn't even let her step out of bed. Ava got better in a week, but he was just too caring. Aiden would s
"What the f*ck are you doing here?" Jacob growled, his hands fisted on his sides and by the dark look on her father's face, she knew he was mad. She had never seen him this pissed in her entire life. "I came to see my wife," Aiden said calmly, pulling to his feet. His eyes lingered over Ava for a couple of seconds before he faced Jacob. There was something about Aiden. He stood tall with his shoulders squared, staring down at her father with that blank look. He resembled a hidden menace. "Your wife? She's not your wife!" Jacob barked. Aiden's jaw ticked as he noticed from his peripheral vision that Ava had stepped out of the bed. "She is my wife, Jacob. I've thought hard about it and concluded. I can't let her go and no one can make me think otherwise." His voice was firm. "Are you in the right state of mind? She is in this condition because of you. It's better if you leave my daughter alone." Jacob fumed. "As I said. I cannot let her go." Aiden's tone oozes out fin
Ava was lying in bed. She was sleepy but she didn't let herself doze off. She waited. Patiently. Hours passed and he didn't show up. Maybe it was all her imagination. Ava buried her face in the pillow and tears of frustration gathered in her eyes. She wants to kill him. Maybe she could; once she gets better. Burying her face further in the pillow she let her body relax and tried to sleep. The ticking of the wall clock was the only faint noise in the silent room. Her breathing relaxed and she tilted her face, her eyes droopy. Just when she was about to drift into her sleep. She heard a light noise. Followed by a heavy thump of boots on the balcony. Ava's eyes flew wide when she heard the subtle creak of the window. A light shuffling and she slammed her eyes close, evening out her breathing and calming her heartbeat, pretending to sleep. She didn't hear a single sound but suddenly goosebumps rose on her flesh when she felt an intense gaze followed by a soft caress on her che
Three days went by in a state of daze and blur. Most of the time she was sleeping and when she was awake, Ava just stared at the ceiling and reeled that barbaric night in her head on a loop. In these three days, Aiden didn't show up. He had abandoned her. The more time passed, the more she felt she was losing herself in silent distress. She hasn't said a single word in the past few days. Ava would sleep most of the time, have small portions of soup or porridge twice a day, and just lay in her bed. Lilith would sit beside her and talk nonstop, sometimes Marcus also joined in; talking about his trainee days and telling her how Jacob made his life hell because he was such a strict leader. Evan did show up in her room twice but both times he would just stand in the corner while Lilith and Marcus talked, and he would quietly leave with them. Thankfully her father hadn't told Annie anything, and she was oblivious to everything. She'd visit them in summer and there were still a
A cry of pain tore through her lips. Ava glanced at the girl who helped her kill the guy hoping she could do it, but she was sprawled out cold on the floor. The fire was reaching close to her. The people trapped in those cages were screaming, banging on the electric wall, and getting electrocuted. Ava was crying full-blown now as she forced her body to move. She had to save them. She had to. Ava dragged her body up with the help of the wall, she put pressure on her wounded leg and the stitches tore her skin and opened making her scream in pain as she jumped forward slamming her palm on the button before falling. Water mist splashed water all over the place. Sirens of emergency and evacuation were ringing, and it felt like she was hearing them through the end of a tunnel. Cold water touched her skin. A shuddering breath left her lips as she closed her eyes hoping for all the pain to go away and softly whispered Aiden's name for the peace of her heart. Ava was in a beau
Bullets were raining behind him and he got hit in the back causing him to stumble forward crashing into her as she held him. "Aiden," She whispered shakily, feeling wetness on her hand. There was a wild commotion behind them. Animalistic growls and snarls but all she could hear was a numbing whistle ringing in her ears, seeing red coating her palm. "Take cover," He rasped in her ear before pulling back. Aiden roared like a wild beast, and she noticed his canines extending and claws expanding as he lunged at the scarred old man. Ava noticed Enzo and more Aiden's men infiltrating the place like charged canons. A guard tried to get to her, but someone blocked his way in a flash and knocked him down with a solid punch. It was Jacob. "Dad," She breathed shakily as Jacob hurried over to her. "F*ck, I'm late. Hide, Ava. Don't let them see you," Jacob said, forcing a pistol in her hand. "Use it to protect yourself. Kill if need be. Don't even hesitate when it comes to your safe
Ava banged on the door with all her might until her hands throbbed in pain. They had locked her in that room and then left. Cole was still unconscious while Ava had searched for every possible escape but there was none. She could hear two guards talking right outside the door. They were keeping an eye on them. It didn't matter how much she screamed or yelled at them to let her out. They didn't pay any heed to her. Ava was scared and drowning in anxiety with each passing second. Her pendant didn't electrocute her which meant she was close. Aiden would find her and be there any second now. A groan from behind had her head snapping to Cole. "F*ck," He cussed while trying to move but couldn't because of the wounds and pain. "Stay still. We are locked here. Your injuries are serious, you shouldn't move much," she said in a hoarse voice. Upon seeing her relief washed over him, his eyes fleeted to the gauze on her thigh and the number of bandages and patches that covered her face
"Are you done for the day?" Cole asked when he ordered his usual honey donut and Vanessa grumpily prepared it for him. They both hate each other's guts she could swear on it. They both left no chance to get on each other's nerves. It was fun to watch them, but Ava didn't want her friend to be dragged into this werewolf's world. "Yeah, I'll be out in a minute," Ava said hurrying to the staff room as she changed into her clothes and stepped out. Cole was waiting by the door watching Vanessa who was putting the chairs away. It was her turn to close tonight. Ava said her goodbyes to Vanessa while Vanessa yelled after her, reminding her of the brunch tomorrow with Alice and Audrey. The girls’ day out. Ava yelled over her shoulder that she remembered as she walked down the street with Cole to their car. Cole handed the donut to the homeless man and Ava watched him. "Why do you buy it, when every time you don't even eat it?" Often when there was no homeless person around, he wo