Page 34

Valeria

M y heart almost burst through my ribcage when my brain finally comprehended he was really there. Zefarin held me in his arms with his typical skull mask covering his face and oversized black clothes hiding his body.

I clutched his hoodie with my hands and, standing on my tiptoes, pressed my face against his chest, releasing a deep breath. His strong arms wrapped around me, his hold on me tightening when I clung to him closer.

"Why did you return to him, mon c?ur?" he asked when I pulled away, trying to conceal the wetness in my eyes. He had no idea how much I needed him.

His question was expected, and I was prepared for it. What I wasn't prepared for, though, was how hard it was for me to lie to him. He was the one hiding his identity. He disguised himself, but I felt terrible for giving him a dishonest answer. But I knew I was doing it for my girl's safety.

"Zara pleaded with me to return to her father," I replied quietly, my voice almost breaking under that lie's weight.

"I see," he mumbled quietly, stroking my naked arm with his gloved hand. "I didn't take your daughter under consideration."

He sounded almost guilty talking about it .

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"There's nothing to be sorry about." He cupped my cheeks, the cold leather feeling soothing against my flushed skin. "She's your child. Of course, you'll do everything for her happiness."

I didn't have the strength to continue in this conversation. The topic had to be changed, or I risked being discovered.

My stalker knew me. He could read me like an open book, and if he asked the right questions, he would find the real story behind my return to Chester.

I couldn't let that happen. It would put him in danger. It would turn my life into the worst nightmare ever.

Until I knew who my husband's powerful friend was, I would never admit he forced me to live with him. No one would have a target on their back because of me.

"What are you doing here?" I muttered, hoping Chester would not wake up. It would be another disaster. "I sent you away."

"You have done that since we met." He shrugged; there was a smile in his voice. "I listen to it with one ear and let it out with another."

"Great," I sighed, acting annoyed. "Your respect for my decisions is immense."

"You're my heart, Valeria," he said, his thumbs brushing my cheeks. "I can't live without my heart."

A fluttering of my stomach made me aware of my feelings toward him. Maybe I was a pathetic, weak woman who craved attention so much she fell for the first man who gave it to her. Or perhaps he and his sweet words were exactly what I desperately needed to feel wanted again.

I was confused about where I stood when it came to my stalker. However, I knew I wasn't prepared to lose him. He opened my eyes, brought me back to life, and made me enjoy myself. His mask was the only thing standing between us, like an impenetrable barrier.

"What are your plans for the future, Zefarin?" I gently took his wrists and moved his hands away from my face. "Are you planning to stalk me forever, to hide under my bed or in my closet to catch a glimpse of me? "

"My plans will soon be uncovered, mon c?ur," he responded, entwining our fingers and bringing my hands to his lips. The rough fabric of the mask prevented him from kissing me, but a pleasurable shiver ran down my spine anyway.

"Right now, I have only one agenda." His gentle, seductive whisper was like music to my ears. "To make love to you."

I didn't notice when he maneuvered us to bed. Only when my calves hit the edge did I realize he slowly pushed me backward.

"Can I cover your eyes, Valeria?" He pulled a black scarf from the pocket of his hoodie. In the dim light of Zara's red lamp, he could read the question why on my face. "I want to kiss you."

"Your wishes must be fulfilled while mine are pushed aside." I crossed my arms over my chest, resembling defiance.

"Whatever you want, you shall have it, mon c?ur," he stated sincerely, and I knew he meant it. I believed any nonsense he would say to me. "Just please, be patient with this one request."

"And if I refuse to wait until you decide it's the right time?

" I mumbled angrily, mentally rolling my eyes at my foolishness.

His reasons were understandable. I did irrational things for Zara, too.

If he thought I was in danger, if I knew who he was, it made my heart beat faster, learning he cared enough to keep me safe.

"Then you'll punish us both," he responded, curling his arm around my waist. "Do you like torturing me?"

"Maybe." I smiled, placing my hands on his shoulders and feeling his stiff muscles underneath his clothes. "You're lucky no one cares for my needs as much as you do."

The glint of happiness in his eyes made my heart flutter like a trapped bird in a cage. His possessive hold on me tightened, and my knees trembled from the intensity of his gaze.

"That's the most lovable thing you ever said to me," he whispered in a low, strained voice. My insides danced cheerfully, and a wide, radiant smile appeared on my lips.

"Put that scarf to use, lover boy, or I might lose interest. "

He chuckled at my command but obeyed without hesitation. A silky-smooth fabric touched my face, cooling my skin. He tied it at the back of my head and ensured I couldn't see anything before he took off his mask and crushed his lips on mine.

He claimed my mouth with ferocity and possessiveness that made my knees buckle. My hands instinctively grabbed him for support as he lifted me and placed me on the bed.

Attacking my neck, he ripped open my nightgown, baring my chest. His hands grasped my breasts, kneading and playing with them while he left a trail of kisses from my neck to my erect nipple.

I arched my back, floating on a cloud from the bliss hazing my senses, but thankfully, I didn't forget where we were. Concealing a moan when his hand reached my pussy, I pushed the thought about my husband and daughter to the side.

I had to focus on not making any noises, but it was tremendously challenging, with his tongue flickering against my clit. My fingers were buried in his hair, tugging on it, but he ignored my prompts. I needed him to stop, or he would make me scream.

Desperately seeking release, I pulled the cushion from under my head and pressed it on my face to muffle the noises I couldn't stop. My body shook when an orgasm took over me, and I moaned into the mass of fluffiness, losing track of my own thoughts.

Waves of pleasure blasted through me, seizing my body in delicious cramps before I was released and returned to the provider of this magnificent experience. He moved the cushion from my face, pecking my dry lips.

"It was only the first round, and you're already panting," he muttered into my ear, chuckling when a weak whimper left my mouth, followed by a loud cry when he harshly entered me.

His cock almost tore me apart, bringing pain and pleasure to my lower parts.

Thankfully, he anticipated my reaction because his palm was quick to cover my mouth and muffle my scream.

He moved slowly, nibbling and kissing my neck, while another orgasm built rapidly. My skin tingled under his lips. My pussy was on fire from his passionate thrusts, and it eagerly clamped around him. I was almost there for the second time when I heard the thud of the door closing.

Zefarin stiffened, lying motionless on top of me while the taps of footsteps echoed from the hall. The sound of running water told me that someone, most probably Chester, was in the kitchen. My blood froze in my veins, and I almost ceased to breathe when my stalker resumed his movements.

Chester was behind the door in Zara's room. I knew it. His steps stopped right there, on the other side. If he opened the door, he would've witnessed me being fucked by another man.

I bit my tongue, stifling the plea that wanted to be heard.

Zefarin risked everything with this stunt, but he didn't care.

His hand wrapped around my throat, and he pinned me further into the mattress, quickening his rhythm.

I did all I could to stay quiet, yet I was powerless against him and this situation.

Knowing my husband could walk in on our actions anytime brought another wave of flames over me. My body wriggled under my stalker, begging for rougher treatment.

The idea of vengeance on Chester overcame my senses, and the knot in my lower abdomen tightened. I gave myself to another man under his roof, in our daughter's room, while they slept in the room next door.

What “belonged” to him I served to the masked stalker who enchanted me, poisoned me, and dragged me out from the dark hole of my ignorance toward my needs just to shove me into another glorious swirl of madness.

I loved every second of the feeling of power over my marriage again. It was like I finally let go of our sick connection, and we were together only on paper.

Chester stripped me of everything, and what did I do? I returned the favor with infidelity at its finest. And if, by any chance, under the mask was hidden Zyon's gorgeous face, it would be the icing on the cake.

My husband could go fuck yourself. He couldn't take this moment of domination from me, which would surely fuel my next moves and decisions.

"Harder, please." A faint whisper was like a touch of light in the darkness, but it started a firework.

Zefarin's appreciative low rumble did something funny to my insides, but his cock was in the leading role.

He covered my mouth with his hand and slammed it into me with such force that I sunk my teeth into his glove to disguise it.

My nails dug into his hoodie, trying to find and touch his skin, yet he was completely covered.

The only bared part of him was rearranging my insides.

I felt my stalker's hand on my throat as he used it to keep me in place. I wriggled and groaned into his palm, both his hands grasping me with bruising force. Subconsciously, I knew I would feel his hold on me for days, but I didn't care. I was his to mark, to fuck, to do whatever he wanted.

With that thought on my mind, I climaxed, seeing stars. My sounds were quelled but still loud in the calmness of an early morning. The cushion hushed Zefarin's suppressed groaning, and he collapsed on top of me, his body enveloping me and protecting me from the world.

"Don't stay with him, mon c?ur." The plea was like a rock that stirred the glass surface of the pond, making waves of feelings crush my heart. "You're mine. I'll do something stupid if you stay with him."

I wanted to rip the scarf off and look into his eyes so he could see into my soul. He must have felt it. There was more between us than this insanity of him stalking me and me pushing him away.

But Chester's threats were at the front of my mind. I sobered from the bliss and realized I had jeopardized my life with my daughter for a selfish fantasy of being happy with a masked man. How could I be so stupid? We were a moment away from a tragedy.

"You should go," I choked out, inhaling his scent mixed with his typical Versace cologne. My soul felt like it could crack at any second, but I surely heard Zefarin's heart breaking.

But he didn't say a word. In less than thirty seconds, he lifted himself, removed the scarf from my face, and disappeared.

I pressed the silky textile against my chest, my tears moisturizing the expensive material. I stayed with my husband, but my heart left with its owner. It was useless to deny it in any way.