Page 19 of All Your Lies (All or Nothing #2)

sixteen

Alexa

“ R un, piccolo angello.”

An exhilarating shriek leaves my lips before I’m running through the door and into a... forest? My steps falter as I take everything in. The room is dark, illuminated by a full moon, which is round, large, and fake. On this Halloween night, the moon outside is a slender crescent and not as bright.

The air is chilly in here, making goose bumps rise on the exposed skin not covered by my costume, and it even smells woodsy in here.

I would believe I was in a forest if I was blindfolded and unaware of my location before entering.

As far as the eye can see, there is an endless expanse of trees, while the floor is covered with a layer of dirt, gravel, and leaves.

I take off straight into the trees. I can’t hear the devil so intent on chasing me, but I sense him just as I feel the pounding of my heart. His presence is somewhere nearby, lurking in the shadows, patiently biding his time for the perfect opportunity to strike.

My breath comes in ragged gasps from a combination of exhaustion from running and the excitement at the thought of being caught by him.

I turned my head to the right, only to be met with an eerie void of darkness. The sound of a branch snapping up ahead to my left startles me, making me pause for a moment.

Shit.

I dash to the right, my heeled feet pounding against the ground in rapid succession. A soft giggle escapes from the depths of my throat. I’m enjoying this far too much.

What kind of twisted person is he creating in me?

A towering tree trunk catches my eye, offering a perfect hiding spot. As I crouch behind it, I place my hand over my chest with a smile.

“Where are you, baby?” His deep voice carries from the other side of the tree.

My palm slams against my mouth, attempting to muffle the squeak on the verge of breaking free.

His retreating steps echo in the silence. I wait a minute, then two, listening intently to the rustling leaves before glancing around the tree.

Nothing.

Slowly, I make my way toward what I think is the entrance, guided by the soft glow of the artificial moon, with the cool shadows of the trees above me.

A searing sensation grips my back as I’m pulled by the wings of my costume and land straight into his hard chest.

With a firm hold, he wraps his arms around me, his lips grazing my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine.

“Mine,” he says deep and breathlessly.

Our ragged breaths echo in perfect harmony.

I feel the hardness of his cock pressed against my back, causing me to wriggle within his grasp as I squeeze my thighs together.

His touch is electrifying as his hand journeys down my hip, lifting the hem of my dress and sending shivers of delight through my body as he stimulates me through the sheer material of my thong.

“You’re soaking wet for me,” he rumbles as he pulls them to the side and rubs his fingers up and down my slit. “You craved the chase, yet you longed for me to capture you.”

He removes his hand and spins me around to face him. My gaze is drawn to his unsettling devil mask, a striking combination of red and black, with two horns protruding from the top and concealing his entire face.

This is the first time I’ve been this close to seeing him.

Slowly, I extend my hand toward the mask, but he shakes his head in refusal while gripping my hand.

My brows furrow. “Why can’t I see you?”

“What if you don’t like what you see?”

There’s no way I won’t like what I see.

“Let me be the judge of that.”

His head shakes once again, revealing the obvious conflict raging within his thoughts. The only things that catch my attention are his deep-blue eyes, which convey gentleness, contradicting his outward appearance.

“You can’t kiss me with the mask on,” I say with a shy smile.

I wait while he contemplates his next words. “Close your eyes.” The vulnerability is apparent in his voice.

I pause at his sudden change. “Why?”

“Because I said so,” he says gruffly.

“Fine,” I mutter, shutting my eyes.

“Good girl,” he whispers with his lips lingering just inches from mine.

“Remember,” he whispers as his lips brushing against mine, “this is what you wanted.”

His confusing words linger in my mind for a fleeting moment while I become entranced by his presence. My mouth opens first, and I relish the sensation of my tongue caressing his. I can feel the warmth of his touch as he wraps both hands around my back and lifts me, our bodies becoming one.

My fingers dig into his back, aching to pull him nearer as if the distance between us is unbearable.

He breaks the kiss and rests his head against mine. “You drive me fucking crazy. You know that? So fucking crazy.”

His lips explore the side of my neck, leaving a trail of kisses and gentle sucking. A moan escapes my lips as I surrender to the sensations, tilting my head to the side to give him better access. Goose bumps replace the warmth of his lips.

“Please,” I whimper.

“What do you want?” he asks against my neck.

“Fuck me.” The words fall from my lips so easily for him.

I should care that I don’t know his name, I should care that I haven’t seen his face, but I don’t. I want this and I want him.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He releases his arm wrapped around my waist, and with a sudden tug, he tears the delicate lace thong off from the back with a resounding rip before taking large strides with me still in his arms.

“No, in here. I don’t want to leave yet.”

“Okay,” he says as he leans us both against a tree.

I gaze upward, my smile widening as I take in the sight of the faux trees forming a dark canopy above us. I can’t believe I’m finally doing this. My heart races with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

The sound of his belt buckle jingling fills the air as he tenderly explores my neck while bringing his cock to my entrance.

“Look at me, Alexa.”

Upon hearing my name from him for the first time, an instant surge of familiarity and a profound sense of connection washes over me.

I gaze into the very blue eyes belonging to someone I know all too well, just as he thrusts up into me.

My scream pierces the silence of the fake forest, fueled by both the sudden realization of who stands before me and the searing pain radiating from between my legs.

“Fuck!” he says breathlessly. “Are you—”

My world spins and crumbles into a million pieces.

“Put me down,” I say as tears form behind my eyes.

I think I’m going to throw up.

With a gentle lift, he raises me before carefully setting me back on my feet and stepping away.

Gage stands tall, his broad shoulders cast a large shadow over me. There’s a noticeable change in his appearance since I last saw him, but his eyes remain unchanged, full of warmth and the familiarity I’d cling to if not for the immense pain of betrayal.

“Why... why would you—?” A tear cascades down my cheek, leaving a salty taste on my lips. “How could you?”

The sensation of a crushing pressure on my chest leaves me gasping for air.

He lied to me. He played me. He tricked me.

“You—you’ve been the one this whole time and we just—” I can’t even finish a fucking sentence.

In the midst of my world collapsing, he stands there motionless, deep in contemplation.

I take a step back and then another. I have to get the fuck out of here. As I flee from the devil, the same sense of urgency that gripped me upon entering persists, yet the exhilaration has faded, leaving only a profound sense of dread and sorrow.

The exit is like a beacon of light, illuminating over a door, and I eagerly head toward it. In a rush, I burst through the door and welcome the vibrant lights and energetic atmosphere of the club.

I scan the room, my eyes darting from corner to corner, desperately searching for Jenna. When I don’t see her, I say fuck it and run to the front entrance.

My thighs are sticky, and I don’t need to touch them to understand I’m a bloody mess from where Gage just took my virginity.

What the hell did I do?

Out of nowhere, someone wearing a shimmering silver costume walks up to me, and I have to fight back the urge to burst into tears. It’s Rosie. Her words reach my ears, but they are drowned out by the chaos in my mind.

She becomes my lifeline as I grasp onto her just as Jenna rushes our way. I sense Gage’s presence looming behind me, but I resist the urge to glance backward.

I can’t.