Calvin kissed the back of her shoulder as they spooned and Cynthia shivered.
“I love you.” She said unnecessarily.
It was as though she couldn’t fully believe how good her life was now from Cole to Calvin, her life was like a wonderful dream she didn’t want to wake up from.
Dorian lurked in the shadows like an unwelcome reminder of how fragile this peace was but at the same time, even he felt far away and distant when she was in Calvin’s arms.
“I love you too.” Calvin dropped another kiss at the back of her nape and his hand drifted south of her waist.
Cynthia giggled.
“How can you still be horny?”
Calvin pressed up behind her so that she felt the full length of his arousal.
“You make me insatiable.” He whispered into her ear then bit on her earlobe.
Cynthia shifted so that she met his gaze, an uncharacteristic shy smile on her face.
“But Cole…”
“He is asleep.”
Calvin kissed her and she lost track of what she was saying.
There was a knock on the door startling Cynthia out of the kiss.
“Let’s ignore it.”
Cynthia wholeheartedly agreed and pulled Calvin closer dropping a kiss on his lips enticing their legs and rocking against his thick–
Another knock and Cole woke up with a piercing cry.
Calvin cursed and rolled off her. Cynthia reached for her discarded dress feeling achingly empty.
“I’ll take care of Cole, you get the door.” Calvin kissed her cheek and went to get Cole.
Cynthia went to the door.
“Hey.”
It was Ava. Cynthia smiled at her and opened the door wider so she could enter.
******
“He is so cute.” Ava gushed.
She was hiding. She should have gone to the pack hospital today but she wanted to talk to somebody about her and Adrian. Well, not exactly but she wanted advice on how to spice up their relationship.
Her usual go-to would be Jenny but somehow somewhere after her bringing up her suspicions of Cynthia, they had begun to drift apart.
So much so that she felt awkward going to speak with her about something like this. On the other hand, she and Cynthia had become even closer.
When she thought of how once upon a time they couldn’t see eye to eye, she almost laughed at how silly it seemed.
Cynthia had made her Cole’s godmother and it was one of the highest points for her of the past month and had made her all the more eager to have her own child with Adrian.
He was blond like his mother but had the most unique shade of green eyes.
Cole regarded her quietly, his chubby tiny hands in fists then he looked at his mother who smiled at him gently. As a running joke about his gentlemanly persona, Cynthia had taken to dressing him in formal baby clothes which only made him look more dignified and funny.
“Isn’t he always?” Cynthia smiled proudly then she looked at Ava. “Are you alright, Ava? You look stressed.”
Ava flushed. Was her discontent written so boldly on her face?
Cynthia took her hand. “You can tell me anything, you know?”
Ava grasped her hand tightly. “Thanks. I… it’s not really a problem. I just… I was wondering if you would have… ahem…pointers for making Adrian want me more.”
Cynthia looked puzzled. “Want you more?”
Ava blushed furiously. “To spice up our sex life.”
“Oh.” Cynthia paused. “In what aspect? Is there a particular…position you are interested in trying out?”
“Position?”
Both of them looked at themselves and laughter erupted between them with little Cole looking between them as though confused by the sudden laughter.
When they finally got it down, Ava felt more at ease. This was why she kept coming back to Cynthia. She was so open-minded and funny especially after she gave birth to Cole and got Calvin back. She seemed happier too.
“It’s just Adrian and I haven’t been intimate in a while. He seems so stressed and I understand that. Even though it makes me seem like a randy dandy at times. I want to be there for him, to take his hand but he has never felt farther.”
Cynthia gripped her hand sympathetically.
“Maybe you need to have a talk with him. It’s possible there is something else apart from sex that you aren’t even considering that might be causing the problems.”
Ava considered it. She and Adrian were good. Great even. If she investigated such a talk would she be casting doubt needlessly? Ava felt dizzy at the thought. No, there was no need for such a conversation.
As though reading her mind, Cynthia continued.
“But if you really want to spice up your sex life, then…”
Cynthia leaned in and whispered in her ear, Ava’s eyes widening with each word.
“You and Calvin do that?!” Ava whisperyelled.
Cynthia smiled smugly.
“You’ll thank me later.”
******
Ava got ready feeling nervous but also excited.
She was so sure that this time Adrian wouldn’t be able to resist her. He wouldn’t be tired either because Calvin had told her that they had little work to do today hence why he could be home with Cynthia so early.
The nightwear was the most revealing she had ever worn. It was a bold seductive combination of red lace and silk that barely covered her, hinting at and clung to her figure and accentuating her curves.
She had their room decorated with romantic themes and candles lighting up the place. It wasn’t anything over the top but it was pretty nice if she could say so herself.
She had some of the things Cynthia had recommended laid out on the bed stand. Some not all. There were some things she didn’t think she wouldn’t be shy enough to use.
Then finally after what seemed like forever, the door opened and Adrian stepped in and the door shut behind him.
He was handsome. He seemed to become even more so with each day they spent together. His dark hair was shorn short again and although she missed the long hair, he still looked exceptional.
It was possible that she was biased because he was her mate but that was by the way.
“Ava, I want…” He trailed off as he noticed the change in decor. Noticed her.
Ava stood from the bed, slowly, surely. Her heart was in her mouth as she moved closer to him. He was frozen still as she advanced towards him. She placed her hands on his chest pressing close to him.
She didn’t speak. She didn’t want to break the fragile spell between them just yet.
She unbuttoned the first button on his shirt.
“Ava.” He said but he made no move to stop her.
She unbuttoned the next and pressed a kiss to his newly exposed chest. She felt his body shiver and his hands settled around her waist.
She opened another button, then another after that dropping kisses in intervals.
By the time she was out of buttons, the tension between them was so high that it felt like the temperature of the room had gone up.
Ava tipped her head back and looked at him. His eyes looked like uncut emeralds this up close so beautiful that she could easily get lost in them. She wanted to get lost in them. In him.
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. He was unresponsive at first then like ice, he thawed towards her. His lips opened to her and he kissed her with passion for the first time in a month.
Her hands went around his shoulders, and his hands tightened around her waist pulling her silk night dress up as he drew her close.
Their tongues were in a primal duel where there were no losers and they were passion-made flesh. Ava wanted more. With every moment, she felt her desire rise and crest. It had been too long. Way too long. How had she survived without him for so long?
He pulled back and she almost protested until his lips dropped to her neck, kissing, biting, nibbling.
“Adrian.” She moaned. “Oh Goddess, I love you so much.”
It was like the spell was broken that very instant.
Adrian pulled away from her and backed away.
“I’m sorry, Ava. I can’t.”
Ava blinked back in shock as tears sprang to her eyes, and her lips trembled as she asked.
“Why can’t you?”
Adrian was silent, his right hand going through his hair as he obviously fought to speak. Ava’s thin veneer of patience cracked.
Maybe it was the one month of waiting and doubting herself. Thinking that she was overreacting. Overthinking. Maybe it was the humiliation of her soul mate turning her away when by all rights she should be irresistible to him.
Maybe she was just done with everything.
“Answer me, Adrian. You owe me that much at least. You won’t touch me. You won’t kiss me. If I did something wrong, won’t you at least tell me? Or have I become repulsive to you?” Her voice broke on the last sentence.
“No, Ava. Never, I…” Adrian sounded shocked, he reached out for her, to offer her comfort perhaps, but she backed away from his touch.
“Don’t touch me. Don’t you dare. If I’m not repulsive to you then what excuse could you possibly have for all you have been doing the past month? You made me feel so stupid. You are busy, you are tired, you’re not in the mood.”
“I tried to understand you when you removed me from the ruling authorities of the pack. Tried to be there for you even when it felt like you kept pushing me aside. Whenever I tried speaking to you it felt like there was this wall between us. You owe me an explanation, Adrian.”