She shook her head. A hint of frustration crept into her voice. “I don’t have an appetite.”
“I didn’t see you eat at the repast either,” I said, pulling out my phone to order some food. “You’re getting something to eat.”
“But I can’t—” she began to whine.
I cut her off with a firm yet gentle tone. “You will eat, Aviana. You need to take care of yourself.”
“Mythic—”
“Don’t play with me, Avi.”
She finally submitted, a small nod indicating her acceptance. “Okay.”
I ordered one of her favorite meals from a nearby restaurant through the food delivery app. Once I placed the order, I glanced at the clock and realized it was almost midnight. “You’re still in those funeral clothes,” I said, my voice softer now as I took her hand. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I stood and gently pulled her to her feet, guiding her toward the bedroom. Even amid the confusion and chaos of the night,I admired the way her curves moved beneath her clothes. I led her into the master bathroom, then I turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature until it was just right.
As the water began to cascade down, I turned to her. I helped her undress. My fingers brushed against her skin as I peeled away the fabric. I was captivated by her. As each piece of her toffee-colored skin was revealed, I wanted to taste it—to devour it.
Once she was completely undressed, I took a moment to appreciate her beauty—the way the light danced on her skin and how every curve told a story.
“You’re stunning,” I murmured, unable to hold back the admiration.
Her weary eyes looked up at me. A small blush traced her cheeks, but I could still see the confusion and worry weighing down her shoulders.
“Get in,” I softly ordered.
I watched her as she stepped through the glass doors.
As the water bathed her, she looked at me with pleading eyes. “Don’t leave me.”
Her need for me made my dick start to rise. When I began to undress, she at first looked surprised, then glad that I was not only staying, but joining her.
After stepping in with her, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close. I wanted her to know that even amid all this chaos, she was safe in my arms. I held her tightly as the water flowed down over us, providing a tranquil escape from the mayhem outside.
After a hot bath and some comforting food, Aviana finally managed to drift off to sleep. Even in her sleep, she clung to me with her head in my lap on the couch.
I stared out at the busy downtown below. The city lights sparkled like stars against the dark canvas of the night. My thoughts were chaotic as I tried to wrap my head around what Damar was hiding. The fact that Mia had been missing since shortly after her arrest gnawed at me, leading me to believe Damar might have murdered her. If he could murder his own son, he was capable of anything. But I wondered what would drive him to do any of this.
As I continued to try to mentally put this puzzle together, my phone lit up. It was on silent, but I could see Lelani’s name flashing across the screen. She had called three times already. Sighing, I knew I had to go, but the last thing I wanted to do was leave Aviana.
As I carefully slid off the couch, trying not to disturb her, I felt her stir slightly.
“Are you leaving?” she mumbled sleepily.
I looked down at her, seeing the reluctance etched across her face. She had been the only woman to ever make my heart ache. I didn’t want to be anywhere else at that moment but with her.
Our eyes locked, and in that instant, we both understood. Neither of us wanted me to go, but we knew I had to. I knelt beside her and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Then I leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, sweet kiss as I savored the taste of her tongue.
“I promise I’ll be back first thing in the morning,” I whispered against her lips as I softly palmed the back of her head. “Okay?”
With our foreheads touching, she nodded. As I stood, the fervor lingered, making my dick hard, and I knew that no matter what happened, Avi was mine, and I would always fight to protect her.
As I left the suite, I felt so much regret and still longed for her. I could still feel Aviana’s warmth on my skin, and as I closed the door behind me, it gnawed at me that I was leaving her. My phone continued to ring in my hand, and I sighed, knowing I needed to answer it.
“I’m on my way home. I just locked up at the club,” I said quietly as I inched away from the suite.
But instead of the familiar voice I expected, I heard Rachel’s bitter voice. “Mythic, I’ve been calling you for hours.”
