Page 15 of Avery

Jia gives him an unimpressed look that I have to bite my lip to keep from smiling at. I don't think either has noticed me watching them. This is just how the two interact with one another.

I'll have to ask Phial another time why Jia doesn't seem to be his biggest fan. I'd ask now, but as soon as that door snicks shut and Phial turns to face me, my mouth goes dry, and my thoughts vacate my mind.

Phial gives me a toothy smile, his eyes jumping around the room. "Where do you want to start?"

eight

Phial

Ihave died and gone to the highest plane of the afterlife. The mother has blessed me. No, she has more than blessed me because I'm in a room, alone with Avery. Yes, sure, we've been in rooms alone before, but this is different. This is a room she has chosen to be intimate with someone, and she's asked for me to be here with her.

I can't help the smile on my face when I finally get Jia out of the room and turn to face Avery. Her face is the brightest shade of pink, and I don't think she's ever looked so beautiful.

I take in the room around us, and yes, there are so many soft, safe places for me to make her feel comfortable enough to maybe take her clothes off. Maybe a little more.

"Where do you want to start?" I ask, trying and probably failing, not to sound too eager.

Avery's eyes widen at my question, and I figure I sounded too enthusiastic to be here. I'm not taking it back now, though, andI don't want to. I'm more excited about this than I've been for anything in a long time.

I stay standing by the door even though, more than anything, I'd like to stand close to her and feel the heat radiating off her body. I stood far too close to her the entire time we walked here.

But I didn't touch her, so I'm still a good friend. A good friend who wants to slowly strip his friend of all of her clothing and imprint the image of her in his mind.

"Well, I don't really know." Avery licks at her lips, her gaze moving from me to all the soft places we could get acquainted. "I had a plan, but that was before you were here, and I'm not quite sure what to do now."

My eyes narrow slightly as I take in what she's saying. I don't know if she means she's altering plans in a good or bad way because it's me with her now and not a Rytharian male. I can do most things they can do. I mean, there won't be any purring, there won't be any fingering since my claws might snag inside her, but that's only like two of ways we could pleasure one another.

Surely, her plans weren't to have him purr for her and stick his fingers inside of her. My eyes narrow further. Was that her plan?

"I was going to sit on the loveseat and get to know whoever was helping me today, but we already know each other, so I don't know." She chews on her lip again.

I let out a relieved sigh. So, there were no plans for anyone's fingers to go anywhere today. Good. This is good.

"Then let's sit."

I move over to the loveseat and wait for her to get comfortable before situating myself. I lift my tail and toss it over the armrest since it'll be pinched between the back of the couch and my body if I don't. Avery notices and scoots further away, giving me more space to sit sideways. I don't wish for her to go further, but it'snot like she has much space anyway. I need only to shift my knee an inch or so, and we'll be touching.

"What did you want to do next?" I ask, keeping my tone light and a smile on my lips. I don't want to scare her away. In fact, I want to do the opposite so she might feel safe enough to press her body against mine.

"I already know pretty much everything about you," Avery says, blowing out a long breath.

My friend is still there. She only needs a little coaxing to come out to play with me again. She's nervous because of what this room represents. I need to show her that we're still close with one another, can still joke, and be comfortable with one another, even if there is a chance of fornication.

Mother, please. I hope there's fornication.

"Well, we can skip to the next part of your plan if you want." I shoot her what I hope is a charming wink. When she flushes and giggles softly, I think it's working.

Avery tucks a strand of hair behind her head, the motion drawing my attention down her body to what she's wearing. I didn't take it in earlier because I was too busy trying to calm myself enough that my feathers would go down.

She's wearing a light-colored dress that ties over her shoulders and reaches her mid-thigh. It's not normal wear for Rytharians, and I wonder where she found it. Maybe she altered something of Sloane's or K'Vella's to fit her. Where she got it doesn't really matter because it's beautiful on her.

"I didn't have the rest of it planned out yet." She looks up at me through her lashes, her fingers fiddling with one another in her lap. "I thought things might progress naturally once we were comfortable with one another."

"Are you comfortable with me?" I ask, reaching my hand to hers and stilling her fidgeting.

It's the first time I've initiated contact with her since I freed her from the smuggling ship. Her cheeks are still rosy, though I do think some of it is fresh.

"I am," she says, the words barely a whisper. Then, with a little more confidence, she adds, "Of course I am."

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