Page 59 of With This Mask
“I told him I’m done,” Alec says, and something in his eyes goes a little bit desperate. “I’m out of the company. I’m out of the will. If I can find a way to get rid of the name, I’m down for that too.”
“Shit, Alec,” I say, chuckling as things just get more and more final. “You detonated your whole life.”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s just finally beginning. And dammit, Salem, I want you there. For all of it.”
My heart goes haywire with hope. With elation. With every desire I’ve been suppressing for the last four weeks. “You really mean that? Even after what I did?”
His hand splays into my hair and he looks down into my eyes. In them, I see everything. I see promises. I see the future. I see someone who is mine, and I wonder how I ever gave him up.
“I mean it, Salem,” he says. “You’re my equal. You’re the only person who has never been scared of me and something as insignificant as a name. You live in my head. And I dread every minute we’re apart.” He brushes his thumb over my lip, and fuck, I could get lost in those eyes of his. “I love you, Salem.”
My heart explodes.
“Holy shit,” I breathe out with a tiny chuckle, and something bites at the backs of my eyes. “Alec, I love you too.”
A smile takes over Alec’s face, and it’s quite possibly my favorite thing ever. Alec Vanderholt doesn’t smile often, so when they make an appearance, they’re rare, like a shooting star. And it wraps around my whole body, tying me all the tighter to this man.
A tremor runs through my body, not from the cold seeping through my soaked clothes, but from the realization that Alec Vanderholt, the guy who always seemed untouchable, has laid himself bare for me. Emotion clogs my throat, and I struggle to keep my composure. Love wasn't a currency I thought I'd ever be rich in, especially not with someone whose life is a stark contrast to my own. But here he is, the boy who had the whole word at his feet and threw it in his father’s face, handed me his heart like it's been mine all along.
And then, he’s kissing me. It's not gentle or tentative—it's a claim, a brand, a relentless force that obliterates every last shred of resistance I have. My fingers tangle in his wet hair as I kiss him back with equal fervor, our mouths moving together in a rhythm that feels both wild and achingly familiar. The taste of him is addictive—like victory and defiance, like something precious I've won against all odds.
The warmth of Alec's body bleeds through my soaked clothes, his heart hammering against mine as if to sync our pulses. My fingers thread through his blond hair, tugging him closer, a silent plea for the distance between us to disappear completely.
"Fuck, I missed you," he breathes against my lips, his words charged with a desperation that mirrors my own. His hands are firm on my waist, guiding me backwards until the backs of my knees hit my bed. We fall onto the mattress, a tangle of limbs and unspoken promises.
He peels off my wet shirt, his fingers tracing the valley of my spine, sending shivers racing across my skin despite the heat pooling inside me. "Salem," he murmurs, his voice husky, eyes blazing with an intensity that only I get to see, only I get to ignite.
"Show me you're real," I challenge, the words all but a whisper. It's not just about the physical; it's an anchor, a tangible proof of us, here and now, beyond the reach of his father's threats and the world's judgment.
He responds with a growl, his mouth finding mine again in a kiss that's both a claiming and a surrender. The rest of our sodden clothes are discarded, each barrier shed leaving us more vulnerable and yet stronger, bound by the need to prove that we belong to each other and no one else.
Our bodies move together with a fervor that is rough and tender all at once. Alec's hands explore every inch of me, setting fire to my skin, marking me as his. I welcome the burn, arching into his touch, desperate for the connection that has become my oxygen.
"You feel so fucking good," he groans, as he enters me, filling me completely. Our gasps and moans mingle in the charged air, a testament to the rawness of our new confessions. There's no pretense here, no holding back – just Alec and me and the storm outside that pales in comparison to the tempest he unleashes within me.
"Yours, Alec," I pant, nails digging into his muscular shoulders, pulling him deeper. "Only ever yours."
"Say it again," he demands, a note of possessiveness threading through his gruff tone.
"Yours," I repeat, louder, my body spiraling towards a release that’s been weeks in the making.
His movements become more urgent, and together we chase the edge, teetering on the brink until the world dissolves into blinding pleasure. We cry out, our names a benediction on each other's lips as we come undone, wrapped in the safety of our shared sanctuary.
As we lay there, spent and still entwined, the rain outside softens to a gentle patter. I trace the bruises on his knuckles, reminders of the battles he's fought, the ones he'll continue to fight for us.
"Whatever comes next," he says, his gaze locked on mine, fierce and unyielding, "we face it together. No more running, no more hiding."
"No more running, no more hiding," I vow.
chapter twenty
Morning light sneaks through the blinds, casting a warm glow across the room. I'm cocooned in Alec's arms, his breath steady and comforting against my neck. It's a rare moment of peace, where my heart feels light, almost buoyant. But as consciousness fully takes hold, so does the gnawing uncertainty about what comes next.
"Morning," Alec mumbles, his voice rough with sleep. He tightens his grip around me, and it’s just about the best feeling ever. The intimacy of his bare skin against mine sends a shiver down my spine.
"Hey," I reply, trying to keep my voice even. His lips find mine in a soft, lazy kiss that makes me want to forget the world outside this room.
"Happy?" he asks, eyes searching mine for any hint of doubt.