Chapter 5

Ava POV

I was floating.

At least, that was what it felt like with Arthur’s hands running over my body. I couldn't explain what it was that drew me to him so deeply, but I knew I liked it. His fingers touched my face, my neck, and my shoulders, ran down to my breasts, kneaded my nipple, and then to my belly button.

I sighed in contentment at having him so near, gasped in surprise when his skilled fingers entered me, and almost cried when they began administering a steady, pleasure torture.

I waited in anticipation until he drove into me in one fluid movement. I felt my walls give way, break down for him. Something inside me snapped, and I let out a loud howl. His own terrifying growl came after, and as our bodies moved in perfect rhythm, it occurred to me that we were actually mating.

My senses were heightened towards him, as well as my feelings. Feelings I'd never before experienced for anyone began to form inside me, and I let them, knowing it was inevitable.

When he kissed my lips, I dragged my fingers down his back, drawing blood. My abdomen felt heavy, almost like it was trapped behind a wall and needed release.

I basked in the feeling of his possession of me and loved the way he branded me with his kisses.

"Ava," he groaned. "Oh, Ava."

I was approaching a cliff head-fast, and I was not weary of falling. It didn't seem like the kind of fall one regretted afterward. Instead, it felt like the kind of falling that came with being addicted to something or someone.

"Arthur."

His name was enough to push me over that edge, and when I fell, I fell with a force that threatened to consume every inch of my being. My body shook violently as I held onto him for dear life, fearing that I would expire from the ferocity of the vibration.

Placing one last kiss at the top of my shoulder, Arthur let out a growl, then spasmed.

He collapsed on top of me, and I felt his heart beating sporadically. My body felt like sandpaper, weak and tired from our lovemaking. I was in the battle to sleep, and seconds later, I was drifting away...

************

My bones were so weak I couldn't even move. What happened?

My eyes fluttered open, and I took in the scenery. Light filled the room, and I winced.

Somewhere at the back of my head, something beeped red. I sat up, alert and extremely aware of myself.

"Where am I?"

Airbrushed at my skin, causing me to look down, and I gasped as I realized I was completely naked. I jumped off the bed, holding the white bedsheet over my body.

"Oh, my God," I murmured, fear gripping my body. "Oh, my God."

"You're awake."

I heard the voice before I saw his face. His eyelids fluttered then opened slowly, his lips stretching in a wide smile.

"Did you sleep okay?"

Wait. How had I ended up in bed with Arthur James?

"What did you do to me?" My voice carried

daggers, and I swear I almost killed him at the thought that he'd touched me. “Why am I naked in your bed?"

He stared at me like he'd seen a pink ghost, the smile disappearing. "You don't remember what happened?"

I shook my head, backing away when he leaned forward to touch me. "Don't touch me!" I screamed, hitting the wall. "Don't you touch me.”

Now he was kneeling on the bed, an alarm in his eyes. "Ava," he held out a hand, and I recoiled. Something had happened last night that ended up with me in his bed. In fact-I reached between my legs and winced at the soreness-Oh, my God.

"Did we have sex?" I almost cried. "What did you do to me?"

"Yes, we had sex, but-"

"How come I don't remember anything?!"

Tears were running down my face now. I hated not knowing. It was one of the reasons I loved to read. Even if I didn't have the experience, I hated not knowing. He'd taken my virginity, and I didn't even remember-

"Wait. I remember."

He was instantly in front of me, holding my face in his hands. "What do you remember?"

I tried to pull away, but he was too strong.

"Ava! What do you remember? Tell me."

I tried to relax and put the fuzzy pieces together in my head. I'd been talking to Jennifer about how shameless she was for selling me out, and then he'd come to me with a drink, and that was where everything got fuzzy.

"You gave me something." My eyes were wide as saucers, and my body shook as I stared up at him. "What did you put in the wine?"

He let me go, staggering back. He was looking at me, but it seemed like he couldn't see me.

"Arthur, What did you put in the wine you gave me last night? I'm not stupid. I've been studying spells for over two years. I can recognize bewitchment when I see it."

His chest heaved, and he blinked. He'd done something to me; I just knew it. I remembered him touching me, licking and sucking on my skin. I remembered him entering me, and I remembered how amazing it had felt, but it seemed like ages ago. Like I was an outsider looking through a glass door, watching as free will left me.

"Let's get married." He said abruptly.

"What?" Flummoxed, I could only stare at him. The man was crazy. He was out of his mind. "You're insane. You've gone mad."

He hurried closer, holding my hand in his big ones. My other hand held the bedsheet to my body, trying to cover what remained of my dignity.

"I've never been more serious, Ava. Let me make this right. Marry me."

Oh, My God. I've never met a man so clueless. I pushed him away with all the strength I could muster, surprised I was able to stand on my two feet. "You drugged me!"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I didn't drug you. I'm not such a delinquent."

"Well then, you used a spell on me." I spat. "Does that make you feel better? You took advantage of the free will that you took away from me, and then you took my virginity. You're worse than scum, and I want to have nothing to do with you."

I scrambled around for my underwear. If I didn't get out of this place, I was going to explode.

"Fucking piece of shit. What was your plan? Fuck me into submission?"

"Ava, wait. I'm sorry."

I zoned out on him, throwing on my panties and clasping my bra. Now, where was my dress?

"Let's talk about this, Ava. We can sort this out."

I found the stupid dress at the foot of the bed, jumped into it, and threw it on. Oh, I wished I hadn't attended the stupid event. How I wished Anna hadn't shown me that stupid picture that made me think about him nonstop.

"Ava," he grabbed my arm, halting my

steps. I spun around to meet his deceiving blue eyes, daring him to deceive me even more. His eyes roamed my face in silence, like he was rethinking his next words. "You won't be able to get rid of me that easily. We mated. We're bound together forever."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'd rather die than be your mate."

After a few seconds, the implications of what he'd said hit me. I hadn't even thought about that. My eyes were suddenly opened, and I could see him clearly, clearer than normal.

He'd branded me, made me his. I checked with my wolf, gasping. I could feel the strong connection between his wolf and mine. I could feel the possessiveness, the passion, the path. Most of all, I could hear his wolf, and it muttered just one word, "Mine."