Ava hesitated, then gave Chloe a condensed version of the past few days, leaving out the more intimate moments that still made her blush to think about.
She kept it simple: polite cohabitation, minimal conversation, professional boundaries.
When she finished, Chloe was quiet for a moment, clearly thinking.
The whole situation was bizarre.
Damon Sterling marrying Ava out of nowhere, the strange contract, the way he treated her with such careful restraint.
It didn’t match the rumors Chloe had heard about the ruthless Alpha King at all.
Something was definitely going on beneath the surface.
But if her best friend needed a push, Chloe was more than happy to give one.
“Okay, here’s what you’re gonna do,” Chloe said decisively.
“Call him.
See how he reacts.”
Ava’s pulse quickened.
“What if he thinks I’m being annoying?”
“Then you apologize and don’t do it again.
Simple.
But Ava, you won’t know where his boundaries are if you don’t test them.
And honestly?
For all you know, he’s sitting there right now wishing you would call.”
The thought hadn’t occurred to her.
What if Damon actually wanted her to reach out?
“Okay,” Ava said, firmer now.
“Okay, I’ll try.”
“That’s my girl.
Now go.
Text me after and tell me how it goes.”
Ava ended the call and stared at Damon’s contact for a long moment, her heart thudding against her ribs.
Just do it.
Worst case, he thinks she’s being overly cautious.
Best case…
She didn’t let herself finish the thought.
She took a deep breath and hit call.
The phone rang twice before Damon’s deep voice came through.
“Yes?”
It wasn’t cold, exactly, but clipped.
Professional.
“Alpha Damon, it’s Ava,” she said quickly.
“I’m sorry to bother you.
I just noticed it’s late, and I wasn’t sure if you were still… busy.”
There was a pause.
Then, so subtle she almost missed it, his voice softened.
“I’m not busy.
I’ll be heading home soon.”
Relief loosened something in her chest.
He didn’t sound annoyed.
If anything, he sounded… pleased?
“Oh.
Good.
That’s good.” She fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.
“Do you… need anything?
I could order something if you’d like.
Herbal tea, maybe, or—”
“No need.” His voice went quieter, almost gentle.
“I’ll be there soon.
Get some rest.
Don’t wait up.”
“Alright.
Drive safe.”
“I will.”
The line went quiet, but neither of them hung up right away.
Ava could hear faint noise on his end.
Voices, the clink of glasses.
Then, softly:
“Goodnight, Ava.”
Her name, in that low tone, sent a shiver down her spine.
“Goodnight.”
She ended the call and set the phone down, pressing a hand over her chest.
Back in the lounge, Damon lowered the phone, and the smile he’d been holding back finally broke free.
The frustration that had gnawed at him all evening was gone, vanished the second he heard her voice.
She’d called.
She’d checked on him.
A small thing.
A simple gesture.
But to Damon, it felt like the first crack in the wall she’d built around herself.
Inside him, Ragnar stirred, his voice a low, satisfied rumble.
“She cares.
Even if she doesn’t know it yet.”
Vaughn watched from across the room and let out a low whistle.
“Well, well.
Someone’s night just took a turn for the better.”
Damon was already reaching for the coat draped over his chair.
He shrugged it on and stood.
“I’m leaving.”
“That’s it?
You’re ditching me for a woman, Damon?”
Damon didn’t bother answering.
He gave a lazy wave over his shoulder and walked out, already halfway home in his mind.
When Damon returned to the mansion, Ava’s bedroom door stood slightly ajar, the main lights already dimmed.
Only a nightlight glowed within, casting a soft amber strip across the hallway floor.
He shouldn’t go in.
He knew that.
But his feet carried him forward anyway, silent on the thick carpet, until he stood at her bedside.
Ava slept peacefully, her breathing soft and even.
Her hands lay folded over the blanket, her face relaxed, a faint flush on her cheeks.
Her lips, slightly parted, looked impossibly soft in the low light.
Ragnar stirred inside him, a low rumble of approval.
“Beautiful.
Ours.”
Damon’s jaw tightened.
He shouldn’t.
Not like this.
Not when she was asleep and unaware.
But the pull was too strong.
He bent down slowly, his control fraying with every inch, until his lips brushed hers.
Just a taste.
Just once.
The kiss was feather-light at first, a whisper of contact.
But the moment he felt the warmth of her mouth, something snapped.
His hand came up to cradle the side of her face, his thumb brushing her cheekbone as he deepened the kiss, just enough to feel her.
Ava stirred faintly in her sleep, a soft sound escaping her throat.
Damon froze.
After a long, agonizing moment, he forced himself to pull back.
His breathing was uneven, his wolf clawing at him to claim more, to wake her, to—
No.
He grabbed a tissue from the nightstand and carefully wiped the dampness from her lips, erasing the evidence of what he’d done.
Then he turned and left, closing the door quietly behind him.
One more second, and he wouldn’t have been able to stop.
The next morning, breakfast was a quiet affair.
Ava sat across from him in a cream sweater and dark slacks, her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail.
She looked fresh, professional, completely unaware of the night before.
Damon set down his coffee cup with a quiet clink.
“I’m flying to Harbor City tomorrow,” he said evenly.
“Two days.
After that, I have business in Paris.
A week.”