Page 204 of Hunting Pretty

And I wouldnottake pleasure from Ava in such a filthy place. She deserved silk sheets and satin lingerie, roses and candles.

Once I got her back toourhome, we’d have all the time in the world.

I swept her into my arms and cradled her tightly against my chest, head tucked in against my collarbone.

Carrying her like a babe, I crossed toward the stairs, stepping over Cormac’s corpse, unbothered by tracking blood up the steps on my boots.

I carried Ava into the pouring rain outside the cellar to my waiting car. Water ran down her skin, washing away dirt and blood.

Whatever the rain didn’t get, I would.

I was going to cleanse her.

Cleanse her right down into her soul.

I slid her into my passenger seat and buckled her in, my arm brushing against her breasts. I hadn’t meant to at first. It had been an accident. But the slight friction of my forearm against her made her nipple harden.

I brushed my arm along both her breasts as I withdrew it.

Both nipples tightened, her breasts seeming to arc toward me as she breathed in.

My cock swelled to painful.

My responsive girl. Even when she was sleeping.

I couldn’t wait to have her laid out before me, to play her body like an orchestra. To watch her respond to my hands, to watch the waves of pleasure rush through her like she was my sea and I was her God.

Patience.

I got a blanket out of my trunk and folded it around her, brushing her hair back off her face so she looked like a sleeping passenger, my tired girlfriend.

I forced myself to withdraw from the passenger side and shut the door.

I glanced around the trees, listening for the sound of an approaching car as I walked around to the driver’s side.

I got in and locked all the doors, before pulling a small towel from the console and wiping the blood off my face and hands.

It wouldn’t do to be pulled over.

I started the car, pulling away from the crumbling building.

If I had more time, I’d have burned the cursed building down.

I didn’t care if they knew who had taken their prize. Who had killed one of their soldiers.

Both the Sochai and I had too many secrets.

They’d get rid of the evidence for me.

As I drove us through the woods, I glanced over at Ava, sleeping peacefully beside me, a feeling of rightness swelling inside my chest.

My Ava.

Finally.

How many years I’ve waited for this. For you.

How many hours had I planned our reunion.

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