chapter 21: Take All Of Your Clothes Off
Dominic
I haven’t lied to you, Dominic. Why is that so important to you? Has someone… lied to you before?*
Something dark and painful twisted inside me. The question hit a nerve I thought I’d buried years ago.
Careful, she’s perceptive, Luca warned inside my head.
“Everyone lies, Avery, I finally said, my voice deliberately flat. I’ve just learned to be careful about who I trust.”
Her face fell, those expressive green eyes clouding with hurt. She bit her lower lip and looked away, the rejection in my tone clearly affecting her.
You made her sad! Luca growled internally, pushing against my consciousness.
Fuck, I thought. He was right. I’d been unnecessarily harsh with her.
“I’m sorry,” I said, softening my tone. “That wasn’t directed at you. You’ve been… refreshingly honest.”
She glanced up, surprise evident in her expression. “It’s okay.”
“How are your injuries?” I asked, changing the subject. “You showered earlier, right? The ointment Rachel applied would have washed off.”
She nodded hesitantly. “They still hurt, but I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” I contradicted, noticing how she winced when she shifted in her chair. “You need more ointment.”
“Rachel can-
“I’ll do it,” I interrupted, my voice leaving no room for argument. I called one of the house staff over. “Please ask Rachel for Avery’s ointment. Tell her I’ll be applying it from now on.”
The staff member nodded and left immediately.
“What?” Avery’s eyes widened in alarm. “No, I don’t–I can’t—”
“You can and you will,” I said firmly. “I want you to get comfortable with me, Avery. I want us to have an intimate relationship.
Her cheeks flushed crimson. “But-”
“It’s just ointment,” I said, though we both knew it was more than that. It was about trust, about breaking down the walls between us.
When the ointment arrived, I gestured for Avery to follow me upstairs. She moved with obvious reluctance, her body language screaming discomfort.
Once in our bedroom, we stood awkwardly facing each other. I held the jar of ointment in my hand, suddenly unsure how to proceed.
“So…” I cleared my throat. “How do you want to do this?”
“I don’t,” she mumbled, but her trembling fingers reached for the hem of her soft blue sweater.
I sat on the edge of the bed, giving her space. “We can talk while I do this. It might make it less awkward.”
She nodded, pulling the sweater over her head to reveal a simple cotton bra and the angry red welts that crisscrossed her back. The sight of them made Luca snarl with rage.
Calm down, I told him as I dipped my fingers into the ointment.
1/3
Chapter 21. Take All Of Your Clothes off
Are you thit nice to all your mathe?” Avery asked suddenly as I began applying the cool gel to her back-
Istiffened. Did Rachel tell you about them?
Sort of
Pucking Rachel needs to learn to keep her mouth shut,” I muttered. “What exactly did she say?”
*just that there were others before me, Avery whispered, wincing as my fingers touched a particularly tender spot.
I sighed deeply. Yes, there were others. I didn’t want them, but as Alpha King, having a strong heir is important. I’ve been searching for a suitable mate for years.”
And you didn’t find one until now? At thirty–five?” she asked, her voice small.
“Thankfully, I found you,” I replied, my fingers working ge
across her skin. “Turn around, please.”
She complied, arms crossing over her chest protectively. Her eyes met mine briefly before darting away.
“Did you kill them?” she asked suddenly. ‘Rachel said-
“Christ, no, I cut her off sharply. “Rachel is testin She does this with all my potential mates.”
‘Brides,” Avery corrected.
“They weren’t brides. I never married any of them,” I clarified, applying ointment to the marks on her collarbone. “They were more like… arranged dates. Nothing developed, so they left.”
“Arranged dates?”
I couldn’t help but smile at her confusion. “It’s called dating, Avery. You really are primitive, aren’t you?”
“I’m not primitive,” she protested weakly, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.
As I continued applying the ointment, I had to ask her to remove more clothing. “The bra needs to come off,” I said, my voice rougher than intended. “And those pants.”
Her blush deepened, but she reached behind to unhook her bra with trembling fingers. It fell away, revealing small, perfect breasts with rosy nipples that hardened instantly in the cool air–or perhaps from my intense gaze. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
“The pants too,” I reminded her, my mouth suddenly dry.
She unbuttoned her black leggings and slowly pushed them down her legs, revealing a pair of plain cotton panties. The contrast between the innocent underwear and the erotic situation made my cock twitch with interest.
“Everything off,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the fire raging through my veins. “The marks go… everywhere.”
Her eyes widened, but she hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her panties and slid them down, stepping out of them completely. She stood before me. utterly naked, vulnerable, and impossibly beautiful.
“You’re stunning,” I said, the words escaping before could stop them.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “I’m covered in scars.”
“They’ll heal,” I promised, gently turning her around to continue my ministrations. My fingers traced the outline of a particularly nasty welt on her lower back. “And they don’t define you.”
As I worked, the room grew thick with tension. My hands moved over her skin with increasing boldness, lingering longer than necessary on the curve of her waist, the swell of her hip. When my fingers brushed the side of her breast, she let out a soft gasp that sent electricity straight to my groin.
2/3
The Alpha King’s Cursed Luna
