“Are you okay?” Ava asks in her delicate voice.
“Too many auras can hurt my eyes,” I admit. “I was walking through the city for fresh air and may have overdone it.”
Ava gently directs me to the bathroom, and I turn to her in question.
“Strip down, Vampy,” she states as I continue to stare. “Sorry, that was probably a little blunt.” Pink stains her cheeks. “I’m going to run you a bath. It’s what helps me when everything gets to be too much and I’m overstimulated.”
Her rambling is adorable, and I hide my smirk. Grabbing the fluffy pink towel off her rack, I step away to undress. She hums to herself as she likes to do, letting the bath fill with water.
“Do you prefer vanilla or rose scented salts?” Ava calls from the bathroom.
“Rose.” I don’t have to second-guess myself. It’s the obvious choice because it smells like her.
Tucking the towel around my waist, I walk back to the bathroom. She’s filled the tub with both fragrant salts and bubbles. Candles litter the room and flicker, casting shadows on the walls. There’s even soft music playing, though I wish it was her humming instead.
“Wow.” I marvel at the small corner of comfort she’s created for me.
“Is it okay? I was hop—” Ava stops in her tracks, and I glance at her to find her gaze glued to my torso.
Ah, scars.
Her delicate hand reaches toward me with undisguised curiosity. I flinch away. “Do not touch please,” I whisper. “After being held, I find contact … difficult. It is nothing personal.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I attempt to hide them from her and clear my throat, hating that is how I feel even around my mate. “I know they are ugly to look at.” Not being able to bear the weight of her gaze, I glance off to the side.
It’s true, the number of scars that litter my skin are infinite, and yet I forget they are there. I find it hard to remember a time without them.
A soft brush of skin against one of the raised scars brings goose bumps to my flesh, and I jump. It’s an unfamiliar feeling as a vampire who typically isn’t affected by temperature, and my eyes shoot to hers. Ava’s blue orbs glitter with unshed tears and a fierceness that takes me aback. She seems to stare straight into my soul.
“Don’t ever say that to me again. Every part of you is beautiful, and it tears me up that you’d think differently.” She continues to stroke the bumps, and I slowly step back, not used to the sensation or emotion radiating from her.
“Thank you for the bath. I will treasure it,” I say and make my way over to the tub. I hear her shuffle awkwardly behind me and head for the living room.
“No problem. I’ll just close this for your privacy.” Hinges squeak as she pulls the door shut.
“Wait!” I shout suddenly. Peeking at her over my shoulder, I see her frozen to the spot. This might be the first time I’ve raised my voice. “Please leave it open. I don’t want to be alone.” Enclosed spaces are still hard for me.
“Okay,” Ava whispers. “I’ll sit here and keep you company, then. If that’s what you want.”
I nod. “It is.”
I feel bad asking that of her, we might be mates, but there’s still so much we have to learn about each other. I know something like this is extremely intimate, but I don’t want to be alone. Her presence calms me. Makes me feel safe. I suppose that could be the bond itself, but something tells me it is just Ava.
She slides down to the floor and makes herself comfortable. “Feel free to get in. I’ll look away.”
Making sure she’s indeed looking away, I drop my towel and step into the warm water. It feels wonderful against my skin, and the scent of Ava surrounds me, both from the water and from her sitting mere feet away. Once I’m settled in, I take a deep breath and lean my head against the back of the tub. The tension drains from my bunched muscles and my headache has already begun to go away.
A gasp to my right sounds, and I glance at Ava tosee bright pink cheeks and a dumbfounded look on her face before she quickly drops her gaze and looks at the wall.
I fear she did not do as she was told and got an eyeful of my bare buttocks.
CHAPTER 8
AVA
“I can’t believeyou’re leaving,” I whine as I watch Celine pack away her things at the precinct.
Logically, I know it’s the best choice and I know she’ll be happier, but that doesn’t mean I won’t miss her.
