Chapter 225

Ava

“So it’s settled, then? You’re going?”

Chris nodded as he shut his laptop, leaning back in his chair. “Just for two days.” He turned to Ophelia, who was leaning against the doorframe. Leonard was resting in the other room, although we all tried to pretend that we couldn’t hear him struggling not to cough.

“You’re sure you want to come with me?” he asked her.

“I wouldn’t dream of not going,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “I think my influence will be… helpful during the conference.”

Ophelia was right, of course; if Chris was going to sway the human media back to his side and garner their support in our struggles, then he needed all the help he could get. Besides, Ophelia was a human who had spent her entire life in the human world. Her opinion, to other humans, was almost invaluable.

Chris rose from his chair, and for the first time in days, he looked hopeful. He extended his hand to Ophelia, causing her to quirk her eyebrows up at him.

“What’s this for?” she asked.

“I’d like to not only welcome you to Moonstone pack,” Chris said, “but also as my human liaison and emissary.”

“Your… what?” Ophelia laughed.

“Emissary,” Chris said, jutting his hand out further. “I think you owe me after being allowed into the pack. Maybe we could put your charm skills to use in the coming months.”

The room was silent as Ophelia stared at Chris’s proffered hand, considering his offer. It came as no surprise to me; he had been discussing the concept with me, in private, when we couldn’t sleep at night—which was every night lately.

With Ophelia as Moonstone’s human emissary, we had both come to the conclusion that it would be extremely helpful in our cause.

And besides, it wasn’t as if Ophelia had any lingering interest in her modeling career. She had… changed. We all had.

Finally, smirking and gripping Chris’s hand, Ophelia shook it firmly. “If giving me such a title would help you sleep at night, darling, then I’m all for it,” she quipped.

Satisfied, Chris turned to me and placed his hands on his hips. He raised his eyebrows invitingly, a silent question in his husky gaze. “I should pack,” he said, jerking his head toward the stairs. My knees almost buckled just at the way he looked at me.

…

The bathroom was filled with steam as I slipped the black fishnet stockings up my thighs, clipping them to the garter belt I wore around my waist. I bit my lip once I was done, turning this way and that in the foggy mirror.

It felt like too much—far too much. But with the sound of Chris packing in the other room, knowing that he would be gone for two days, I had slipped out this old thing and secretly put it on, wanting to surprise him.

I adjusted the matching lace bra and teased my hair with my fingers. I had told Chris that I was going to shower and freshen up, since I had hardly slept lately. After my shower, I snuck the lingerie on.

“Ava?” Chris called in an almost sing-song voice from the other room. “Are you done in there?”

“Just… Just a minute,” I replied, cringing at how hoarse and nervous my voice sounded.

It’s just lingerie, I told myself as I stared at my reflection. But I couldn’t help but feel a little shy; I never wore stuff like this. I had bought it ages ago, before we went to that wedding in the human world, and hadn’t had the confidence to wear it.

I wasn’t sure why. Maybe I thought that Chris would find it silly. Or maybe I figured that it was pointless, since he would just rip it off of me anyway.

Taking a deep breath, I turned and swung the bathroom door open. Chris stood with his back to me, still packing his bag.

“Should I bring the blue tie or the—”

He turned, holding two ties up to the light. And dropped them both.

“Luna’s teeth,” he breathed, sinking down onto the edge of the bed.

I felt my face redden as I slowly turned to let him see me—all of me. I could hear his breath catch in his throat as I turned fully and revealed the thin string that served as panties, the way that it left little to the imagination in the back.

“You… Like it?” I all but whispered as I turned to face him.

If my face was red, then Chris’s was redder. He simply nodded, his throat bobbing, and I could already see a small tent in his pants as I slowly strode up to him.

“Ava…”

That was the only word he could manage as, using the music that had already been playing softly on the speaker as my backdrop, I sauntered up to him and pushed one finger into the center of his chest.

“I want to dance for you,” I murmured, ignoring the way that my face heated up beneath his husky gaze.

Apparently, I didn’t need to tell him twice. Because he leaned back on his elbows, watching silently and patiently, as I began to move.

I was a little awkward at first, my movements nervous and jerking. But as the music filled my ears, and Chris gently grabbed my hips, I loosened up. My waist moved of its own accord, slithering and winding like a snake. Up, down, back, forth.

I ground against his hips, reveling in the feeling of the hardness in his pants. His breath caught again as I dipped down, touching my ankles, and twisted my hips before coming up to sit directly on his lap.

“Shit,” he groaned as I ground against him, twisting my torso and wrapping one arm around his sturdy neck.

“What?” I teased, bringing one hand up to stroke along my abdomen and cleavage. “Don’t like it?”

“Don’t like it?” Chris echoed. His fingers dug into my hips, and I couldn’t help but let out a small whimper of surprise. “Ava, I love this. Why did you—”

“Just a little parting gift,” I cooed.

Chris swallowed hard again. The hardness in his pants was practically marble as I turned, pushing him down against the bed, and straddled him. “I’ll only be gone for two days,” he whispered.

I shrugged, holding my hands against his shoulders as I twisted and writhed my hips over him. I leaned down, pushing down the strap of my bra to reveal my nipple, and hovered my breast in his face.

“Two days could feel like an eternity when we’re apart,” I murmured. I jerked back, placing my hand over his lips, just before his tongue could reach my nipple. “I know it’s felt that way before.”

With those words, and a heady grin, I slammed my hips down onto his.

Chris let out the lowest, most feral growl I had ever heard. And then, before I knew it, the world was spinning and he was throwing me over the edge of the bed. Suddenly, one of the ties was in his hand, and then the light was blotted out as he wrapped the dark fabric around my eyes.

“Hmm,” he murmured, his lips grazing the back of my neck. “I think I’ll take the blue tie after all.”

I heard the sound of a zipper, and then felt a flash and a burst of pleasure as he thrust into me in one fell swoop.