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16

Alina

My gaze trails down Lev’s body, and my heart leaps in anticipation of being in his arms.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he says, his breath warm against my skin. “Ignoring me. Why?”

I swallow hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “Because it’s easier than facing what I feel for you.”

His grip tightens, just enough to let me know he’s there, that he’s real. “And what do you feel, Alina?”

I don’t answer. I can’t. The words are stuck in my throat, tangled with fear and desire. Instead, I reach up, my fingers brushing his jawline, tracing the hard line of his cheekbone. His eyes darken, his control slipping, just a fraction.

And then he’s kissing me. His lips are firm, demanding, his tongue sliding against mine in a way that makes my knees weak. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, my body pressing against his. He’s solid, unyielding, his muscles tensing under my touch.

He lifts me, his hands gripping my thighs and ass, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He carries me to the bed, his kisses never faltering, his mouth devouring mine like he’s starving. I can taste the whiskey on his breath, the raw need in every movement.

He lays me down, his body hovering over mine, his weight a comforting pressure. His hands roam, tracing the curves of my body, his fingers brushing the lace of my lingerie. I arch into his touch, my breath coming in short gasps.

“You drive me mad, Alina,” he murmurs against my neck, his lips leaving a trail of fire in their wake. “Every time you look at me, every time you touch me… I can’t think straight.”

I tangle my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. “Then stop trying to think, Lev. Just feel.”

He groans, his mouth moving down my body, his tongue tracing the swell of my breast, his teeth grazing my nipple through the lace. I gasp, my head falling back, my hands clutching at the sheets. He’s relentless, his mouth and hands mapping every inch of me, his touch both tender and demanding.

When his tongue slips between my legs, I cry out, my body arching off the bed. He’s a master of this, his tongue and fingers working in perfect harmony, bringing me to the edge again and again, but never letting me fall. I’m a mess, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my body trembling with need.

“Lev, please,” I beg, my voice hoarse.

He looks up at me, his blue eyes dark with desire, his jaw clenched. “Say it, Alina. Say you want me.”

I meet his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. “I want you, Lev. I’ve never stopped wanting you.”

He growls, his hands gripping my hips, his body positioning himself above me. He’s hard, his erection pressing against me, and I reach down, guiding him inside. He enters me slowly, his eyes locked on mine, his control slipping as he fills me completely.

“Fuck,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion.

He begins to move, his thrusts steady and deep, his body driving into mine with a rhythm that’s both primal and tender. I meet him with every movement, my nails digging into his shoulders, my legs wrapped tight around his waist. The room is filled with the sound of our breaths, our skin slapping together, the creak of the bed.

“Alina,” he groans, his voice breaking as he speeds up, his body losing its control. “I can’t—”

“Don’t stop,” I plead, my body on the brink, my orgasm building like a storm.

He doesn’t. He drives into me harder, faster, his muscles straining, his face a mask of raw emotion. And then, I’m falling, my body shattering around him, my cries echoing in the room. He follows, his release powerful, his name on my lips as we both collapse, our bodies still joined, our hearts pounding in unison.

Later, as I lie in his arms, my body sated and my mind at peace, I feel his heartbeat against my cheek. His fingers trace lazy patterns on my skin, his breath evening out. I close my eyes, a smile playing on my lips, and for the first time in weeks, I feel whole.

His eyes narrow, and I feel them trail down my body, slow and deliberate. My nipples tighten under his gaze, and I shift uncomfortably, suddenly hyperaware of how dishevelled I must look. His stare lingers on the damp spot between my thighs, and I flush, heat creeping up my neck.

“Are you on a mission to kill me, Alina?” His voice is a low growl, and before I can respond, his hand cups my cheek. His thumb brushes over my slightly swollen lips, and I shiver at the roughness of his skin against mine. His breath is hot and ragged as he leans in, his lips crashing against mine in a kiss that’s anything but gentle.

There is no satisfying our craving.

Where he was gentle before, he can now barely contain himself. His tongue invades my mouth, demanding and possessive, and I moan into him, my body pressing against his, matching his tempo. He tastes like smoke and something darker, something that makes my knees weak. He breaks the kiss, his lips trailing down my neck, his teeth nipping at my collarbone, sending shivers down my spine. His hands grip my hips, his touch firm, as he dips his head, capturing one nipple.

I gasp, my head falling back, my body arching into him. He sucks and nips, his tongue teasing the sensitive peak, before moving to the other breast, his fingers rolling and pinching the neglected nipple. His touch is relentless, his mouth a torment, and I’m drowning in the pleasure he’s wringing from me.

He dips a finger into my soaking pussy and begins to slide in and out. Pleasure rips through me. He moves to remove his hand, and I quickly pull it back to my throbbing core, muttering for him not to stop. He chuckles darkly and introduces a second finger and increases his pace.

“Lev,” I cry out, my body convulsing as I come, waves of pleasure crashing over me. But he’s not done. His fingers pump in and out of me, drawing out my orgasm until I’m a boneless, trembling mess.

He breaks the kiss, his forehead resting against mine as he slowly pushes into me. I moan, my body stretching to accommodate him, and he groans, his hips pressing flush against mine. He starts to move, his hips rolling, his cock sliding in and out of me with a rhythm that’s both brutal and beautiful.

I’m climbing higher and higher, my body tensing as I feel the familiar coil of pleasure building again. He’s fucking me with a ferocity that leaves no doubt about his claim, his body slamming into mine, his hands gripping my hips like he’s afraid I’ll disappear.

I scream his name as I come, my body milking his cock, my nails digging into his back. He groans, his body tensing, and he comes with me, his cock pulsing deep inside me. He collapses on top of me, his body slick with sweat, his breath ragged against my neck.

I’m boneless, my body spent, as he rolls off me, pulling me into his arms. I nestle against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, my mind a blur of pleasure and confusion.

But as I drift off to sleep, his hand tightens around me, and I feel it—the weight of his scars against my skin, each one a reminder of the battles he’s fought. And I wonder if he is now ready to fight for what we undeniably feel for each other.