Page 58 of Vegas Baby!

“Aves, that’s not why?—”

“Thenwhy?! You’d better have a damn good reason because I refuse to be a burden out of obligation. I would rather?—”

Luke covered my mouth with his hand and something inside me snapped. I bit him, and when he recoiled with a yelp, I hoisted myself to standing and stalked away.

He was hot on my heels. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t fucking know but I can’t be around you right now.”

“Ava, stop.”

I halted just long enough to turn and glare at him.

“What are you so mad about?”

“You, jackass.You’rewhat I’m mad about.”

I moved to walk away again, but he wrapped his hand around my wrist. “Can you stop for two seconds and talk to me?”

I growled, low and dangerous. “Why are you here?”

“What do you mean? I’m here for you. For my pack.”

I sucked in a breath, wishing it could’ve been deeper, calmer, but the baby was taking up too much space for that. “I can’t handle this. I was in love with you from the time I knew what that meant, and when you found me again, part of me wondered if maybe I would finally get to find out what it felt like to be loved by you. But I can’t be an obligation, Luke. I would rather die. If that’s all you’re here for, I need you to leave.”

He stared at me as if I had punched him straight in the face. “You’re not an obligation. Fucking hell, Ava, it wasn’t easy to leave you. Do you think I didn’t love you right back?”

“Youleft. You abandoned me.”

“I was a scared kid in a shit life and you didn’t deserve the person I was then. You’re my whole world and I keep fucking it up and I don’t know how to stop.”

I bit back a scoff. “You never came back.”

“I’ve only started feeling like I was getting my shit together.”

“So, what were you expecting me to do? Sit pretty until you felt like you were ready and would come back for me?”

“Yes. No.” Luke let out a frustrated growl. “I don’t know. I never thought you would be my reality.”

“Just because you moved on with your life didn’t mean I stopped existing.”

“I know that, I just…If I had stayed, I’m pretty certain I would’ve ruined your life. And if I had gone back, I’m not sure it would’ve been any different. We both know I can be a stubborn asshole. If I had gotten my claim on you before Bryce was in the picture, it’s a guarantee I would’ve been insufferable. I didn’t deserve you then and I don’t deserve you now. I know that about myself.”

He looked so miserable Ialmostfelt bad. I absorbed everything he said, but it didn’t make me feel any better. All I heard was that Luke never saw a life with me in any circumstance.

“But,” he continued, turning me to face him, his arms holding my shoulders, “I’m selfish enough that I still want you. I never stopped.”

I stared into his eyes. “Prove it.”

It was a stupid thing to say, but I couldn’t take his word for it. I needed his actions.

He did exactly as I had hoped, cupping my face and drawing me in, his mouth sweeping over mine in a burst of citrus that had my blood humming. Omega instincts took over, my fingers locking in his hair, my mouth desperate for his as he fulfilled this secret fantasy I’d harbored for years.

His growl against my lips sent a spiral of desire through me, slick dripping. I wanted to drown in him and never surface.

I couldn’t catch my breath and I didn’t care one bit. His hands tensed against my ass. The bump prevented us from getting any closer, and from him picking me up and pressing me against the nearest surface like I wanted.

As if reading my mind, he scooped me bridal style and set me on the edge of the nest before dropping to his knees in front of me to reclaim my kiss. Heat rushed through me.

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