Page 171 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“I must agree with Cessy this time. You will ruin my perfect costume with all that paint before we even have a chance to leave my chambers.”

Alec responds by rubbing his face over my bare skin.

“Hey!” I scream in protest, but he just laughs and pulls away. I expect for his paint to be a smudged ruin, but it’s as perfectly haunting as it was before his assault on my neck.

“Do not fret, my clove. It is just a glamour. I will not soil your beautiful dress with my costume.” Alec smiles at me playfully. “But perhaps I may soil it in other ways.” He leans forward and kisses me deep. I willingly accept, pulling him to me.

Cescily groans louder than before.

“Why are you still here, Cessy?” Alec asks with impatience, his heat drenched eyes never leaving mine.

“Gods, will you two please just complete your bond? You both clearly want it,” she says brightly, patting me on the shoulder as she walks past me on her way out. “See you at dinner.”

When we hear the door to the bedchamber close, I pull Alec’s face to mine, kissing him hungrily, proving Cescily’s point.

Since I stabbed him, Alec and I have spent nearly all of our time together, and we hold each other while we sleep. After we both released our sexual tension on that first day, he hasn’t caved to my advances, holding steady to his control.

But right now, something is different. Something between us has shifted since our declarations of love while soaking in the sun. I felt such peace and happiness, fully content with where I was and who I was with. I knew that there is nowhere else I want to be than right beside Alec, his fingers tracing over my skin.

I have been asking myself all afternoon,What am I waiting for?

I don’t have an answer, but I do know that I’m finished waiting and ready to claim my happiness.

Alec matches the fervor of my kiss with his own, his primal instincts recognizing the shift in me. This deep untapped want, this hunger andnecessitywithin me demanding to claim. Claim.Claim.

My teeth throb with delightful pressure, my heart seemingly trying to beat out of my chest and reach toward his.

Alec holds me close, kissing me hard before abruptly breaking away on a growl. “I thought you did not want me to ruin your dress before you have a chance to flaunt it?”

“I’ll just get another,” I pant heavily and lean in for more.

Alec pulls away laughing. “You obviously have no idea how much time and effort went into making that dress.” He gives me a soft kiss on the cheek and tells me, “If you are ready for me to ravage you, I will happily do so. But right now, we are late for a dinner that we happen to be hosting.”

“I know. Let’s go.” Grabbing his hand, I make for the door, ready to start the celebrations and see where they lead us. But Alec doesn’t budge.

“One last thing,” he says, walking to my vanity and rummaging through the contents of the surface before picking up a gold tube of lipstick. He uncaps it and rolls it up, inspecting the shade. Alec smiles faintly at it and motions for me to come to him. I reach for the tube, but he holds it away and sweeps his hand towards my vanity chair.

“Allow me.”

I give him a surprised smile but sit, tilting my head up and parting my lips. Alec holds my chin in his hand as he carefully applies the lipstick with intense focus. The sight of this brutal and foreboding man applying makeup on me is so ridiculous, I can’t help but giggle.

“Hold still,” Alec chides. I suppress another laugh as he finishes and smiles down at me. “Done,” he whispers, brushing the pad of his thumb below my bottom lip to clear a smudge.

“The day you came home with your new hair, wearing this wicked lipstick, I nearly lost my composure when I saw a small smudge—just here,” he rubs his thumb over the spot again.

Alec drops his hand, rolling the lipstick back down the tube and capping it. His eyes meet mine again. “For days after, all I could think about was how badly I wanted to smear the color all over you while you choked on my cock.”

My eyes widen at the unexpected filthy words, and my cunt clenches as the image forms in my mind. He deposits the tube into his pocket before leaning down to me, his mouth against my ear.

“The first time I fuck your throat, you will wear this, and I will make a wild mess of your gorgeous face while you gag and moan around me,” Alec whispers. “Would you like that?”

Unable to find words, I nod and lean into him.

He backs away and turns to the mirror to adjust his suit and hair, as if he is completely unaware of the wave of wet desire he just brought forth between my legs. I stand shakily, my knees weak. Alec catches my reflection in the mirror and winks before turning to me, tucking my hand in the crook of his arm to lead me to dinner.

We walk silently through the residence, Alec’s warmth seeping through our clothes, calm and comforting. As we get closer to our destination, my heartbeat increases. He must sense my nervousness setting in because he squeezes my hand gently before saying, “We will not stay long. The dinner is usually short, the children ready to go collect sweets.”

“It’s fine, Alec. We’ll stay as long as you want to. I know this is important to you.” I lift my free hand to rub his affectionately. “I’m fine.”