Page 21 of With This Mask

"Relax, Salem," Alec whispers, sensing my tension. "You're allowed to enjoy this."

His words give me permission to let go and embrace the sensations coursing through my body. I close my eyes and surrender myself to the pleasure, allowing myself to moan and whimper uncontrollably. It feels liberating, finally letting go of all inhibitions.

Alec leans in, cupping his free hand behind my head, and captures my lips in a passionate kiss as he continues his ministrations with the toy. As I’m dragged closer to the edge of the counter, I can feel his hardness pressing against me through his jeans, adding another layer of arousal to the mix. I want him inside me so badly, but at the same time, I don't want this moment to end.

As another wave of intensity rolls through me, my head lolls back and I moan. Alec chuckles with greedy pleasure, and suddenly he rubs his thumb over my clit.

Shit. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Bare fucking naked. Legs spread wide, displaying the most intimate part of myself. On the kitchen island. With Alec Vanderholt himself—Vice—pushing me to the brink of madness.

"Let go, Salem," Alec encourages, his voice low and seductive. "Don't hold back."

As if on cue, I feel the coil in my stomach tighten, and I know I'm teetering on the edge of climax. My breath comes in shallow gasps, and my legs tremble around him.

"Watch yourself," he reminds me, his gaze hot and heavy on my flushed face.

I force my eyes to remain open as he works the dildo in and out of me, each thrust pushing me higher and closer to release. My body is a live wire, every nerve ending alight with electricity, and I know I can't hold back much longer.

"Fuck, Alec," I gasp, unable to contain the profanity. "I'm so close."

"Come for me, Salem," he commands, his voice firm yet gentle. "Let go."

And with that final command, I shatter. Waves of ecstasy crash over me, overwhelming my senses and stealing my breath away. I feel it everywhere. Rushing up from my toes, over my thighs, gathering from my fingertips, rushing down my neck, before it all explodes from where he’s rubbing me and pumping that beautiful glass in and out of me.

I fucking erupt.

Through it all, I keep my eyes locked on his expert hands, watching as Alec brings me to the most intense orgasm of my life.

The aftershocks of my orgasm still reverberate through me as Alec kisses me softly, his lips tender against mine. His hands glide over my body, fingertips leaving a trail of fire on my skin. The way he touches me is possessive yet gentle, like he's memorizing every curve and hollow of my body.

"You feel so damn good, Salem," he murmurs into my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "Every inch of you is perfect."

I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks at his words, but the warmth in his voice makes me believe him. Like, actually believe him. People can say whatever they want, but that doesn’t mean you buy it. But the combination of his touch and his words, I actually believe Alec.

"Thank you," I whisper, not knowing what else to say. All my life, I've fought to prove myself in a world that seemed determined to remind me of my shortcomings. But with Alec, I feel seen, appreciated exactly as I am.

"Hey," he says, tilting my chin up so our eyes meet. "You don't need to thank me. I'm just telling you the truth."

Before I can respond, there's a sudden knock on the door, and we both freeze. Panic surges through me, and I scramble off the kitchen island, frantically gathering my clothes from the floor. Alec's eyes are wide.

"Bedroom," he whispers urgently. "I'll take care of this."

I nod, clutching my clothes to my chest as I dash into his room. The door clicks shut behind me, and I press my ear against it, listening to the muffled voices on the other side.

"Father," Alec says, his own voice strained. "What brings you here?"

Oh, shit.

"Can't a father visit his son?" Mr. Vanderholt replies, though his tone isn’t particularly friendly.

I quickly pull my clothes back on, my heart pounding in my chest as I listen to the conversation between them. I can hear the tension in Alec's voice, and I have to wonder, what has Alec’s home life been like?

"Of course," Alec says, finally managing to regain some composure. "What can I do for you?"

"Actually," Mr. Vanderholt begins, his voice dropping low. "There's something we need to discuss."

The door to Alec's bedroom muffles their voices, but I can still make out the words just barely as they come inside and shut the door.

"As you know the school's gala fundraiser is coming up,” his father says, and I don’t know what it is, but his voice sends a chill down my spine. Maybe it’s the complete lack of warmth as he speaks to his son. “Your presence there is non-negotiable. There will be important people there, and you need to represent our family well."