Page 47 of Demon Shock

“It’s nice to meet you both. Are you all right with cats?”

“The better question is if the cats are okay with them,” Will said, joining us.

Ava kissed the top of Pete’s head and moved closer to Dax. My stomach twisted with the need to step between them.

“Dax, this is Pete. Would you mind holding out your hand so he can smell you?”

Dax did, and Pete immediately rubbed his face against Dax’s knuckles. The animal had no sense of loyalty.

Smiling, Ava passed Pete to Dax and turned to me. “Repeat pretty much does whatever Pete does, but you should still let him smell Bauts.”

Bauts reached out and scratched Repeat’s head. “Animals like me.”

Repeat's loyalty was just as bad as Pete’s. Worse, actually. He crawled out of my arms to reach Bauts.

Ava laughed. “They’re attention whores, aren’t they? How do you want me, Gyrik?”

Logical thought ground to a halt as I thought of all the different ways I wanted Ava. First, just to hold her and touch her freely. Then, to kiss her…everywhere. Finally, to sink into her softness. Facing her. Lying on our sides. Behind her on my knees.

“Might not want to word it like that,” Zach said.

Will elbowed him hard enough that the boy stumbled.

Dax reached out to steady him then went back to petting Pete while watching me stare at Ava. He knew what I was thinking.

“How do you want to carry me over that wall?” Ava clarified. “On your back?”

“No.” I picked her up fast enough that she squealed and wrapped her arms around my neck the way I liked. “You can scream this time if you want.”

Her eyes widened.

I ran at the wall and sprinted up it without warning her and listened to her sharp inhale as she clung to me.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

AVA

The gag-worthy feelingsettled as Gyrik rubbed my back and hugged me close. I could tell from the slant under my feet that we were on the top of the wall and not solid ground, but I hadn’t lifted my head yet. Mostly, I was giving my stomach time to settle. But I also was giving my thoughts time to settle as well.

I was pretty sure Gyrik had just confessed to liking me before we got out of the truck. Why else would he say he wanted to be more than friends? I wasn’t new at the dating game. I knew it could mean he wanted sex. And wanting sex wasn’t synonymous with liking someone. But the way he’d been nervous about me making friends and how excited he’d been when I’d asked him to live with me suggested he wanted more from me than just sex.

My pulse, which had been settling, jumped again.

“I won’t let you fall, Ava,” Gyrik said against my hair. “Ever.”

Comments like those were prodding me to give Gyrik a chance. As in a real chance, not just a one-night stand to satisfy my unrelenting curiosity about what sex with Gyrik would be like.

Probably mind-blowing.

“Ava?”

I even liked the way he said my name.

Lifting my head, I met his worried gaze. Whatever he saw when he looked at me seemed to reassure him, though, because he relaxed his hold just a little and nodded toward the homes stretched out before us.

The view was breathtaking from the top of the wall. It stretched as far as I could see. Nestled within the wall, the homes weren’t lifeless or covered with snow as they’d been in Shakopee. Smoke curled from chimneys, and people walked around between the houses.

Actual people…moving around like life wasnormal.Yet, there were hints it wasn’t. At least, not the version of normal I once knew.

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