Free Zeno: #8 (Luna Lodge) by Madison Stevens Page B

under the blanket, with just her head peeking out. She looked up to him, and the fire from before reignited. He cleared his throat, not really sure what he should tell her.
    “Well,” he said and ran a hand over his face. The stubble scraped against his fingers. “Most have a somewhat normal life at the compound. They have houses, and some men have bonded and are even building families.”
    “Is bonded like getting married?” she asked. “Val explained a few things, but I just didn’t really understand it all.”
    He shook his head and looked down at her again. “It’s more than just words,” he said. “It’s an attraction. One that goes deeper. A feeling.” He stopped and stared at her. His face had been inching closer to her. Never had he wanted someone as he did her.
    “Like love?” she whispered. Her eyes half-closed she leaned in a bit.
    Zeno took in a shuddered breath. “No. That’s not even enough. More like fate,” he whispered.
    His mouth rested just an inch from her own. All he had to do was move a fraction, and they would meet. He’d get to taste her sweet mouth.
    She ran her pink tongue across her lips.
    He could see the reflection of his eyes as they blazed their bright amber light.
    “Oh,” she whispered.
    They jumped when the sliding door from the balcony next to them slid open, and Apollo stepped out.
    He glanced over to Zeno and gave him a knowing smile.
    “You’re off,” he said and stared at them both. “Get some rest.”
    Zeno rose without even looking at her. How was he supposed to after he’d what had almost happened?
    He slipped off his coat and sat hard on the couch. Ava slid the door closed and stepped past him on her way to the bed. She stopped between him and the bed.
    “This is stupid,” she said.
    His head snapped up, not quite sure what she was going to say next.
    “I’m sorry—” he said.
    “Just sleep in the bed,” she huffed.
    He looked at the bed and then back at her.
    “There is no way you’re going to fit on that tiny couch,” she said and waved a hand where he was sitting. “Besides, it’s a big bed. There’s plenty of room.”
    He wanted to argue. Everything decent in him said that he should, but he couldn’t seem to form the words. Instead, he stood and grabbed the pillow from the couch. He waited as she placed the blanket back on the bed.
    He’d sleep in his clothes, and it would all be fine.
    She climbed onto the bed, her perfect ass pointed right at him.
    A low predatory growl rumbled inside him. She stopped moving and looked over her shoulder to him. Heat rose up his face.
    She turned back around and climbed into bed. She flipped the blanket open on the other side of the bed.
    He hesitated. He knew she was calling to him, and his hybrid side wanted to go to his Vestal.
    “Please,” she said quietly. “I feel better near you.”
    All his defenses melted at her request. He kicked off his shoes and climbed into his side of the bed. As soon as he was under the covers, she let out a soft sigh.
    “Goodnight,” she said, her voice already sounding as if she were drifting off to sleep.
    “Night,” he said.
    The steady rhythm of her breathing lulled him to sleep.

Chapter Eleven
     
     
    Ava woke up warm and, to her surprise, aroused.
    She wasn’t normally a morning person, and she had never been someone to wake up horny. Any yet there it was. Not a bad feeling, just not expected.
    Not wanting to open her eyes and face the day, she snuggled into the nearby warmth. Her face pressed against very solid and warm skin.
    Her eyes flew open as she tried to understand what was happening.
    At some point in the night, she’d moved over to where Zeno slept. She’d wrapped herself against him. Pressing her chest against his side, one arms slung low across his stomach, she could feel the hairs that met his pants. Thankfully he still had his jeans on, or she would really have some explaining to do, especially since her leg seemed to have a mind of its own