Chapter 158: Their Quiet Moment Together
"You tell her you will come back, aren’t you busy?" Ava asked, her voice teasing but edged with curiosity.
Azazel only smiled, his eyes softening as he glanced toward Cassy, who was happily running back into the house after bidding him goodbye.
Her little laughter still echoed faintly in the air, leaving behind a trail of warmth.
"I will make time for her," Azazel replied, his tone steady and reassuring. He turned around to walk out of the house, his steps unhurried, and Ava followed closely from behind.
"Someone is acting as if he is already the brother," Ava’s voice carried playfulness, yet her gaze lingered on him, watching for his reaction.
"I will be soon," Azazel replied calmly, his lips curving into a half-smile. His words were firm, and his eyes glinted with something unspoken.
He caught the way Ava rolled her eyes, the gesture trying to mask the flutter in her chest.
"I didn’t say it to you," Ava shot back, but her voice betrayed a slight tremor, as if she were daring herself to say it without meaning.
Azazel chuckled, the deep sound vibrating from his chest, his knowing look pinning her in place for a moment.
"I will take my leave," he said finally, smiling ear to ear—a smile that wasn’t just for show but one that reached his eyes, softening the sharpness of his features.
Ava didn’t reply at once. Instead, she walked closer, her expression a mix of reluctance and hidden delight.
With graceful ease, she stepped ahead of him and pulled the car door open.
The metallic click echoed faintly in the quiet morning air.
"Come, get in," she said, her lips tugging upward into a smile, her eyes glimmering with playful warmth as she nudged her head toward the open door.
The simple gesture caught Azazel off guard. For a second, his brows lifted in mild surprise.
He hadn’t expected her to act that way—gentle, inviting, almost protective. Yet, he said nothing.
Turning slightly, he murmured a low "Thank you" before sliding into the driver’s seat, the leather groaning softly beneath his weight.
As soon as he settled, Ava leaned in closer. The faint scent of her perfume, something light and floral, brushed against him before he could even register it.
Then, with a boldness that made his pulse skip, she pressed her lips against the sharp line of his jaw.
Her kiss was feather-light yet searing, a stolen moment that left an invisible mark on his skin.
"You are most welcome, snowflake," Ava whispered against him, her breath warm on his cheek.
But before she could fully straighten up, Azazel’s hand moved with instinct, catching hers in one swift pull.
A small gasp escaped her lips as she lost her balance.
The next moment, she landed softly on his lap with a muted thud, her body fitting against his in a way that startled them both.
Azazel’s arms instinctively wrapped around her, slow yet unyielding, like a serpent circling a tree, protective and possessive all at once.
His palm pressed against the small of her back, anchoring her to him.
Ava blinked, her wide eyes shimmering like polished glass as her cheeks flushed pink.
Yet there was no resistance in her body—only the spark of secret delight.
Her lips curved upward in a small smile she tried to suppress.
Her eyes brightened as the warmth of his embrace sank into her, and the steady thump of his heartbeat reached her through the thin barrier of fabric between them.
Strong, steady, yet racing in a rhythm he couldn’t hide.
Their hearts beat like twin drums—not pounding in fear, but in the strange, sweet harmony of comfort and intimacy.
The kind of rhythm that silenced the world around them, leaving only the pulse of each other.
Her breath caught, soft and shaky, before she exhaled slowly, almost melting against him.
She lifted her arms and wrapped them tightly around his neck, holding on as though she was afraid the moment might slip away if she let go.
Azazel’s gaze softened, his jaw tightening slightly as he lowered his chin to brush against her hair.
He inhaled the faint fragrance of her shampoo—clean, fresh, a little sweet—something that would linger in his senses long after she was gone.
Ava’s heartbeat fluttered against his chest, and she could hear his in return, steady yet betraying the same turmoil she felt.
Her lips parted slightly, and her lashes lowered, hiding the storm of emotions racing through her.
Oh my!!
Lovers don’t want to part with each other, do they?
And here we are, readers—with no boyfriends, no warm arms around us—what are we going to do, huh??
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"Give me a call when you reach home, okay?" Ava said softly, her voice tinged with care she was trying to mask.
Azazel nodded, his lips tugging to the side in that quiet, unreadable smile of his.
His eyes lingered on her face, as if memorizing every detail before parting.
Ava, not trusting herself to say more, tried to pull herself up.
She placed her hand against the car seat for support, sliding slowly off his lap.
But before she could fully rise, a large, firm hand wrapped around hers, halting her movements.
Her brows knit together in surprise. "What’s wrong?" Ava asked, sinking back down on his lap, her voice caught between confusion and nervous curiosity.
She turned her head toward him, searching his face for answers, but instead of words, she was met with the sharp intensity of his gaze.
His eyes locked onto hers—deep, unwavering, filled with something that made her chest tighten.
The world outside blurred in that instant; the only thing that existed was the weight of his stare.
Her heart jolted at the sudden closeness, the air between them thinning, yet she didn’t flinch.
Something about him rooted her in place, as though her body had forgotten how to move.
"Azazel," Ava called again, her voice coming out smaller than she intended.
But before she could say more, his finger rose.
His index finger pressed gently against her lips, silencing her.
"Shush," he whispered, his voice low and commanding, though tender in its restraint.
Ava’s breath caught as she felt his finger linger, then slowly trace downward.
His index finger was replaced with his thumb, warm and deliberate as it brushed across the curve of her lips.
His touch was gentle, yet it ignited sparks that shot down her spine.
Her heart stuttered in her chest. With every careful sweep of his thumb, she knew he could feel the quickening rhythm of her breath, see the nervous flicker in her eyes.
Ava’s lips went dry under his touch.
Her nerves tangled with desire, and instinctively, she drew her tongue across her lips to moisten them.
The small movement didn’t go unnoticed—Azazel’s eyes darkened, following the delicate glide as if it were the only thing in the world.
His face shifted, slowly, deliberately. He was moving closer.
Inch by inch, his breath brushed against her skin, warm and faintly ragged.
The sharp lines of his jaw softened under the low glow of light, his lips hovering just above hers.
Ava swallowed hard, the sound betraying her, and his hand—resting firmly beneath her chin—caught the subtle bob of her throat.
The corner of his mouth curved, the faintest hint of a smirk flickering there as if he enjoyed the way her body betrayed her nerves.
Not allowing her to turn away, his grip was steady, tilting her chin upward, guiding her into his closeness.
’ Oh my... Azazel, are you really—really going to kiss me?’ Ava’s thoughts screamed in the silence of her mind, her heart pounding so loud she swore he could hear it.
’ And outside, of all places? This isn’t even the right moment, but that look in your eyes—it’s too much...’
Her lashes fluttered, her eyes widening slightly as another thought hit her.
’ What if we get caught? What if someone sees us like this?’ The idea made her stomach flip, but her body refused to pull away.
Her breaths came shallow, uneven, as the last inches of distance shrank.
His lips were close—so close she could almost taste the anticipation lingering in the air.
Her gaze flicked from his eyes to his mouth, then back again, torn between nervousness and longing.
And then, just as her chest tightened in surrender, Azazel lifted her face with a sure, gentle pull and closed the gap.
Ava froze, her senses alight with expectation—only to feel the brush of his lips not against her own, but against her cheek.
Her eyes snapped open, wide in shock. A sharp rush of breath escaped her, mingling with the heat of his closeness.
Her cheek tingled where his lips lingered, warm and deliberate, and though it wasn’t the kiss she thought was coming, it sent her pulse scattering all the same.
The intensity of the almost-kiss hung in the air between them, thick and electric.
She could still feel the shadow of what could have been—the weight of his lips hovering just shy of hers, the promise left hanging.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, as though she had run a long distance without moving an inch.
And when she dared to look into his eyes again, she saw it—that flicker of restraint, of something deeper he wasn’t ready to unleash.
It wasn’t rejection. It was a pause. A warning. A promise deferred.
And for Ava, that was enough to leave her trembling in his lap, clutching onto him as though her world had tilted and found a new center in his arms.