Page 32 of Soul Redeemed

“I don’t remember my mother’s name. Nor my grandmother’s. Besides, it’d be an honor to name her after the female who saved her life.”

“I really didn’t …. I meant to bring you back, but I honestly didn’t know …” Ugh, the guilt of having to confess that she didn’t think about the baby at all weighed down on Ava. What a horrible thought. And even if she happened to be staring down at a perfectly healthy baby, the thought of what could’ve happened still slapped her in the face.

“You didn’t know if she’d survive. And still, you didn’t hesitate. Quit minimizing it Ava. You did something incredible, okay?”

Pressing her lips together, Ava smiled and gave a nod. “Okay.”

“Would you like to hold her?”

A twinge of panic beat against her ribs as her heart prepared to leap through her bones. Babies had never been her thing, but with Logan as it’s father, standing over her with his arms crossed, visuals of dropping the baby had her shaking her head. Hard. “Please … I’m not good with … maybe in a few days.” Years?

“It’s okay.” Calla gave another squeeze and released her hand. “Her daddy’s been itching to hold her again, anyway.”

Her muscles finally softened, as Calla passed the tiny bundle to Logan. He held the baby out from him for a moment, in a proud moment of admiration, before he tucked her into the crook of his elbow, like a little bean against his massive chest.

For a brief moment, Ava’s mind taunted her with visuals of Calix holding one of their own and brought a smile to her face. Gods, to be that doted upon and protected. Ava had never known that feeling in all of her life, and yet, the baby in Logan’s arms would only know that feeling for the rest of hers. Between all of her uncles, she essentially had her own army of brawny males who’d give their lives for her without thinking twice.

“She’ll be considered royalty by birth. A basiliaj. I thought a regal sounding name would be appropriate.” Calla’s voice broke Ava from her musings, and she turned her attention back toward the blonde.

By birth, female Wrath demons were sought after and lavished upon in royal bliss. The child would never know hunger, poverty, pain, or suffering—all the things her namesake had suffered. And for whatever reason, that made Ava happy.

“It’s beautiful. Avalon. I love it.”

17

Ava stared at the wall across the room from where she lay in Calix’s bed. The mattress and linens had been completely replaced since Calla’s water had broken, leaving no trace that a child had been born there just hours before. It brought to mind how easily life came by, living in the mansion. Always someone to take care of things, to ensure comfort.

Ryke had always kept a butler to make himself look regal, and maids who were better suited for the Playboy mansion. None of it had been for her benefit, or comfort, though. It was all part of his façade. His show. Not like at the demon’s mansion. That was real, as real as luxury could possibly get for her, and yet, she still couldn’t entirely surrender herself to it. A part of her felt as though she were dreaming, perhaps still trapped in that cold cellar with those disgusting creatures staring down at her from the ceiling.

The visual only cast a ripple of disgust down her spine.

Since leaving that place, a part of her felt undeserving. Dirty.

Infected.

The bed dipped from behind as Calix slid beneath the blankets, and cords of muscle banded her stomach before her body slid backward into his. The clean scent of soap drifted over, and that aroma he wore like his own brand of masculinity watered her mouth.

A warm palm skated up her body, his other arm beneath her, crossing over her chest, and when his fingers dug into the supple flesh of her breasts, she arched into him, prodding them into his hand for more.

Nothing would ever compare to sex with Calix. The man’s body acted as a weapon, and all she could do was surrender to him and hope that she’d survive the aftermath.

His knee slid between the gap in her thighs, and he shoved her leg over his spreading them open.

“Let me give you release. You need to feed.” She set her hand on his, but he swatted it away, spreading her wider.

“I’m fine. You first.” Calix’s greatest talent lay in his ability to do two things at once, so when his fingers slid back and forth along her cleft, his rolling of her nipple never once faltered, while his tongue traced the shell of her ear. As if his body had been made strictly for bringing a woman the ultimate pleasure.

Ava’s lip slipped between her teeth, while his deft fingers stroked her slick sensitive flesh. Her mind fell into fantasy, visuals of exactly what he was doing to her, and because Calix could read her mind, her darkest secrets like a book, he knew to pinch her nipple at that exact moment, creating the most exquisite mishmash of pain and pleasure. An appreciative moan leaked from her mouth, and she rolled her hips with his assaulting caresses. She’d never have to tell him what to do. He could see it all. So when his finger dipped inside of her, followed by a second, she cried out, clutching her pillow. “Ah, Gods, Calix.”

“You’re wet, Ava. Fucking hell, your pussy is so wet right now.”

“Isn’t that the standard for you?”

“No female has ever had me this strung out.” In and out, his fingers pumped, until the sounds of her weeping pussy confessed her pleasure.

She closed her eyes to something dark that clung to the fringes, and as it became clearer in her mind, sweeping over the visuals of what he was doing to her, Calix paused. As much as her mind scrambled to reel it in, to tuck it back inside it’s wicked vault, she couldn’t. It was depraved, but it was her truth, and no amount of lying would convince Calix otherwise.

“Are you certain that’s what you want?”