The Alpha King's Reluctant Bride (Ava and Grayson) novel Chapter 76

76 /209

-Ava’s POV

The entire world stilled. I didn’t move, and I was sure he wasn’t weathing either. His intense, gray eyes locked on mine, unblinking, and for But then, just like that, the moment shattered. He turned away, “Go to sleep, Ava.”

This time, there was a finality in his tone that cut deeper than I wanted to admit. It silenced me, making it clear that no amount of pushing w

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 t 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. Th My heart clenched as I replayed his every move, every word, dissecting them for some hidden meaning. Had I misread him? Was I foolish t 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 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 wor 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 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 e something raw and unguarded, just for 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

1. 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 ho 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.

2K 95%

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 sp

I didn’t even have time to process what was happening before 1s spun around, my back hitting the door with a soft thud as it slamuned slut

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 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 p 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.