Chapter 76

Ava’s POV

The entire world stilled. I didn’t move, and I was sure he wasn’t breathing either. His intense, gray eyes locked on mine, unblinking, and for a single, electrifying moment, I thought he was actually going to do it.

But then, just like that, the moment shattered. He turned away. “Go to sleep, Ava.”

This time, a finality in his tone cut deeper than I wanted to admit. It silenced me, making it clear that no amount of pushing would break the wall he’d just reinforced. I felt my chest deflate, and a quiet ache settled where hope had briefly sparked.

Just when I thought we’d made progress, we were back to square one. Three steps forward, and then an unyielding wall slammed down in my face.

The silence grew heavy, so thick it felt alive, pressing down on me. The words slipped out before I could stop them. “Is this how it’s always going to be?” My voice trembled, more vulnerable than I wanted it to be. “You let me think I’m finally breaking through, that you’re going to let me in, and then I realize… you don’t have any intention of tearing down your walls, do you?”

I wasn’t expecting an answer, and he didn’t give me one. His silence, though, was louder than any words he could have spoken.

I turned to the other side of the bed, counting the seconds, trying to focus on anything other than the unbearable weight of his presence. The man lying beside me felt miles away, unreachable in every way that mattered.

My heart clenched as I replayed his every move, every word, dissecting them for some hidden meaning. Had I misread him? Was I foolish to believe there could ever be more than this endless push and pull?

I forced my eyes shut, willing sleep to take me. But the darkness behind my eyelids wasn’t peaceful. It was filled with the same tension that lingered in the air, a silent reminder that no matter how much I wanted to close the distance between us, he was determined to keep it intact.

Just as sleep began to pull me under, his voice broke through the silence, quiet but sharp. “You don’t understand.”

My eyes snapped open, my heart hammering in my chest. I didn’t dare turn to look at him, afraid that if I moved, the fragile thread of his words would break. “Then help me understand,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He let out a long, measured sigh. “It’s better this way.”

I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Better for who, Grayson? Because it sure as hell isn’t better for me.”

His silence stretched again, and I could feel the weight of his stare even though I wasn’t looking at him. I turned my head slightly, catching a glimpse of his profile in the faint moonlight. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something raw and unguarded—for a fleeting second, before the coldness returned.

“It’s better for you too,” he said finally, his voice quieter this time, almost as if he were trying to convince himself as much as me.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. “If you say so.”

I rolled over again, my back to him, my frustration and hurt mingling in a way that made my chest ache. I felt foolish for trying, foolish for hoping. But as the silence stretched on, I couldn’t help but notice the faint sound of his breathing—slow, deliberate, controlled.

I closed my eyes, trying to match his rhythm, but it was impossible. Every part of me was too aware of him, too consumed by the storm of emotions he stirred within me.

And then I couldn’t take it anymore, so I pushed myself off the bed. Without a word, I stormed toward the door, needing distance, needing space to breathe. But the moment I opened it, everything shifted.

I didn’t even have time to process what was happening before I spun around, my back hitting the door with a soft thud as it slammed shut. My breath caught, my heart racing wildly as his face hovered just inches from mine.

And then he kissed me.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t hesitant. His lips crushed against mine with a desperation that stole the air from my lungs, and suddenly, the world around us disappeared.

Heat surged through me as he pulled me closer, his body pressing firmly against mine. My hands instinctively gripped his shoulders, clinging to him as if I might fall. The hardness of his chest against mine was maddening, but it was nothing compared to the unmistakable proof of his desire pressing against my stomach.

His hands tangled in my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, and every coherent thought vanished. All I could focus on was the way he consumed me, the way he left no part of me untouched by his intensity.

When he finally pulled back, we were both gasping for air, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. My cheeks burned as I looked away, unable to meet his piercing gaze. “I’ve never… I’ve never done this before,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, his hand gently cupped my jaw, turning my face back to his. His eyes bored into mine, dark and unyielding, but there was something softer beneath the surface—something raw and unspoiled.

“Neither have I,” he said, his voice low and rough, as if the words cost him something.

Before I could respond, he closed the distance again, capturing my lips with the same intensity as before. But this time, there was something different—something deeper, as though this kiss wasn’t just about desire but about everything we weren’t saying.

The kiss stretched on, igniting a fire within me that had been smoldering for months. His tongue slid against mine in a slow dance, drawing me in even closer. I could feel the heat radiating off his skin, as well as something else… something primal. He placed a hand on either side of my face, holding me firmly in place, refusing to relinquish control.

My hands gripped the fabric of his shirt, pulling him tighter against me, and a growl escaped his throat, breaking the spell briefly. But before I knew it, his hands came to my shirt, pulling at it roughly. It slid over my head easily, revealing the plain white bra underneath. As soon as it was free, he discarded it quickly. My eyes darted to his, noticing how intensely they were studying me.

Embarrassment crept over me, taking root inside me. He smirked slightly, breaking the tension. He then reached behind me, unhooking my bra with ease.

It fell away, leaving me completely nude above the waist before him. He paused for a moment, drinking in the sight of me. I couldn’t help but blush as his gaze wandered across every inch of me. After what seemed like forever, he leaned forward, planting gentle kisses along my collarbone. His lips traveled lower, pausing at the underside of my breasts, sending shivers down my spine.

Slowly, he circled one nipple with his tongue, flicking it lightly before taking it fully into his mouth. Another jolt of pleasure shot through me, making me gasp. His hand lifted my other breast, squeezing its softness lovingly while sucking hard on my nipple, sending pulses straight to my clitoris. A groan escaped me, begging for more.

Withdrawing his mouth, he moved down to give equal attention to my other breast. My back arched involuntarily, offering my flesh up for his exploration. My breathing became labored, struggling to keep pace with his ministrations. Sensing my need, he continued downward, kissing along my stomach, trailing tiny bites here and there.

My hands ran through his hair, guiding his movements. Finally, he dropped to his knees. There was something about it that made my stomach twist as he undid my pants, sliding them down, and then my underwear followed. The cool air in the room hit me, but it did nothing to quench the heat coursing through me. I wanted to say something, anything, but before I could, he raised one of my legs, and I had to push myself backward to balance myself. He didn’t give me a chance to fully adjust before burying his head between my legs.

My body jolted almost violently at the sudden onslaught, though it took less than a minute for me to be wrapped up in the sensations he gave me. His tongue traced delicate patterns along the insides of my thighs, avoiding my most sensitive spots, teasing me relentlessly. He refused to make direct contact, driving me wild with desire.

The longer he teased me, the harder my breathing became until, finally, he plunged a finger inside me.

My whole being trembled at the intrusion, every nerve ending coming alive. His tongue started flicking around my clitoris while his finger fucked me faster and faster. My toes curled so tightly they hurt.

Involuntary moans left my lips as wave after wave crashed over me, each stronger than the last. I held onto his shoulders tight enough to leave marks and desperately tried to breathe as I shook uncontrollably.

My eyes snapped open, reality slamming into me as sunlight filtered through the curtains. For a moment, I couldn’t move, the hazy remnants of my dream lingering until the realization hit me like a freight train—I had been dreaming. Heat flooded my entire body, humiliation spreading like wildfire.

And just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did.

As if drawn by an invisible force, my body registered him before my brain did. I turned, and our eyes clashed.

He was standing at the bathroom door, his gaze locked on me, unflinching. And in that moment, I knew he knew.

My lips parted to speak—anything, a denial, a joke, an excuse—but he said nothing. Without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving me behind with a single, mortifying thought:

I had just had the first sex dream of my life, and the man starring in it had watched me have it.

Well, screw my life.

(The timestamp and other extraneous information at the end have been removed.)