Page 31 of With This Mask

"Show me how much you like it," I say, surprising myself with my newfound boldness.

"Trust me, I will," he threatens. And he does.

The sound of our breathing fills the room as we move together. As Alec slides in and out of me. As I moan. Alec’s hands roam my skin with an urgency that feels feral and desperate. And as we move together, Alec showers me with encouragement, his dirty words driving me wild.

“You feel so good wrapped around me,” he growls, his voice thick and possessive. “I want to hear you scream.”

“Faster,” I pant.

He shifts position, hooking one of my knees up and over his shoulder. He grips my thighs as he slams into me harder, and a cry of ecstasy escapes my lips. He pistons in and out of me with a speed that leaves me breathless.

His hands roam my body, seeking out every curve and hollow, mapping me as if I'm a land he's desperate to conquer. He pinches my nipple between his fingers, drawing a gasp from my lips before soothing the sting with a flick of his tongue. He lowers his head to my other breast, suckling it gently, and I can't help but arch into him, craving more of his attention.

One hand slips down between my thighs, teasing the sensitive flesh there until I'm nearly sobbing with desire. And when his fingers finally find my clit, rubbing slow, deliberate circles around it, I feel as though I'm coming undone.

"Fuck, Alec, don't stop..."

"Never," he promises, his voice laced with determination.

The pressure builds within me, a storm brewing at the center of my being, threatening to tear me apart. Alec senses my impending climax and quickens the pace of his fingers, driving me closer and closer to the brink.

"Come for me, Salem," he commands, his voice soft yet insistent.

With that final command, I shatter. Waves of ecstasy crash over me. I feel my entire body, from my toes to my neck tighten before it all erupts with bliss. A cry breaks free of my lips, followed by another.

Alec lets out a roar of his own release as he slams into me one last time.

As we both come, it’s nothing short of earth-shattering.

Alec collapses back to the bed, his entire body shaking. But he pulls me into his side, and I settle in, my head resting on his chest. And the full body skin-to-skin contact is heaven.

The warmth from Alec's body radiates like a comforting flame, and I can't help but lean in for another kiss. Our lips meet, slow and tender this time, as if we're rediscovering each other on a deeper level. With every heartbeat, I become more aware of just how good he is for me—how he challenges me, excites me, and makes me feel alive in ways I never thought possible.

"Fuck, Salem," Alec murmurs against my lips, his breath hot and enticing. "You have no idea what you do to me."

"Right back at you," I reply, grinning at the way his eyes dance with something more than just desire.

As I curl into his side, something feels a little uneasy in my stomach. And I need security. I need to know the exact parameters of, well, everything.

“Alec, did you mean it?” I ask softly. “Or was it just something you said because you didn’t like seeing me dancing with Josh.”

“What?” he asks as he looks down at me, though I don’t look up and meet his eyes. “When I asked you to be mine?”

I nod against his bare chest.

Alec hooks his finger under my chin and draws my gaze upward. His blue eyes burn with intensity as he stares at me. “I meant all of it, Salem. I want you. Just you. As my girlfriend.”

I feel my face blushing. And a smile creeps onto my lips. “Does that make you my boyfriend, Alec Vanderholt?”

Wow. Alec has one of the best smiles on the planet. And it’s one of my favorite things of all time when it happens. Like right now. “You bet your perfect ass it does.”

I simply surge forward, and press my lips to his.

It's strange to think about how different we are, how opposite our worlds have been until now. Alec, the wealthy heir with endless resources and power; me, the hardworking scholarship student who's had to fight for everything I've ever wanted. And yet, despite those differences—or maybe because of them—we fit together like two jagged pieces of a puzzle, finally finding their match.

"Thank you for all of this," I say softly, brushing my fingers over his chest. "For helping me explore this side of myself."

"Pretty sure it should be me thanking you after what we just did,” he replies with a chuckle. “But you’re incredible, Dora.”