Page 114 of Picture Perfect

I'm still perched on my bed, knees drawn up, and suddenly very aware of the scant inches of space that separate us. His anger is this living thing between us, hot and electric. It scares me, not because I think he'll lash out at me, but because it's a reminder of how much we both carry inside us, how close to the edge we are.

"Are you just going to stand there all night?" I venture, trying to keep my voice steady.

He turns on his heel, and I flinch inwardly, bracing for whatever comes next. But Dre doesn't yell or break things; instead, he strides towards me until he's close enough that I can see the storm in his ice-blue eyes. There's something feral about him tonight, something that's got nothing to do with the wedge wedged under my door or the darkness outside.

"Snowflake," he starts, and his voice is rough as gravel. "You drive me insane."

"Good to know," I reply, injecting a bravado I don't feel into my words. "Any particular reason why?"

"Because every time I think I've figured you out, you slip through my fingers like smoke." He reaches out, and before I can react, his hands are cradling my face, thumbs stroking my cheeks with a gentleness that belies his earlier aggression. "I want to crack you open, Addy. I want to rip out all your secrets and drown in them."

His admission sends a shiver down my spine, a mix of fear and longing. I should pull away, should tell him that some things are better left buried. Instead, I find myself leaning into his touch, craving the raw intensity in his gaze.

"Is that all you want?" I whisper, challenging him even as my heart races.

"No," he breathes out, and then his lips crash against mine.

It's not a gentle kiss, not with Dre's need pressing insistently against my own, not with his hands framing my face like I'm something precious, something worth his fury. His kiss is a question and an answer all at once, demanding and giving in equal measure. And when I kiss him back, it's with everything I am—every scar, every secret, every hope I've tried so hard to smother.

In this moment, with Dre's mouth moving over mine, I let myself forget about the locked doors and the battles waiting for us. Right now, it's just him and me, and the way he makes me feel seen, known, and fiercely wanted.

Heat unfurls in my belly as Dre's touch becomes a soothing exploration, his fingers trailing paths of fire across my skin. I expect him to surge forward, to take what he wants with the same fervor that crackles like electricity in the air between us. But he doesn't. Instead, he watches me with those ice blue eyes, waiting for a sign, a nod, an invitation.

"Show me," I whisper, and it's all the permission he needs.

He doesn’t hesitate. Dre's fingers glide along my skin, teasing and tantalizing every nerve ending. A low growl escapes his lips as he explores my curves with gentle yet confident strokes. I can feel the heat radiating from his palms, igniting a fire within me that begs for more.

The air around us crackles with erotic tension as he leans in closer, his breath hot against my neck, and I can't help but let out a soft moan in anticipation. Despite the tender caresses, there's an undeniable hunger in his touch that leaves me breathless and wanting.

My heart races as his he wraps his fingers around the column of my throat, firm but not suffocating. The bristle of his fingers grazing lightly against my skin sends a shiver darting down my spine. The contact isn't simply touch; it is a bold claim, raw and possessive, which has me gasping for air.

He maneuvers me smoothly until my back nestles flush against the hard plane of his chest. His fiery warmth seeping through the thin veil of our clothing acts as an aphrodisiac, fueling the simmering heat within me.

His grip tightens around my throat, cutting off my breath as he presses his body against mine. The

hard, hot length of his desire presses into my lower back, sending a shock of heat through me. I can feel every inch of him, and it makes my breath quicken and my skin flush.

He runs his other hand down my body, slipping his fingers under the elastic of my panties, sending shivers down my spine. He runs one finger along the edges of my lower lips and lets out a deep, satisfied hum as he feels how wet and eager I am. I can't help but squirm as he continues to tease me. His deep chuckle only adds to the torment, sending vibrations through my body.

“Needy little thing, aren’t you. Be a good girl and stay still, Snowflake. I’ll give you what you need.”

His breath, warm and rich with desire, ghosts over my ear as his lips brush against my skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I can't help but arch into his touch, craving more of his attention.

I try to breathe, but his grip on my throat makes it difficult. But, even as I struggle for air, I can't help but feel a strange sense of safety and desire. This man, with his dangerous hands and heated touch, is making me feel things I've never felt before.

He guides his rough, calloused fingers to my entrance and plunges them inside without warning, a low growl escaping from his throat as I let out a loud moan in response to the intense pleasure.

“Snowflake,” he rumbles softly, his voice resonating with ardor and reverence. “You are breathtaking like this—laid bare, so intense and wholly mine.”

His final word sends an electric jolt down my spine as a shuddering gasp escapes my lips. But there’s no alarm in that tremble; it's an acceptance of the undeniable truth we’ve been skirting around.

This is unadulterated desire—raw, passionate, dirty, and yet so beautifully exquisite that it tips us over the edge, into the realm of pure ecstasy where only pleasure reigns supreme.

He moves slowly, pressing and circling with a patience I hadn't known he possessed. The sensations build, coiling tighter and tighter until I can't breathe, can't think, can only feel the crescendo that he orchestrates within me.

“Please,” the plea tumbles out, almost choked with anticipation as I clasp onto his forearm feeling the tide starting to surge within me.

“Let go,” His whispers gently stoke the flames already raging inside me. His hot breath grazing my earlobe sent waves of pleasure rippling through me. “I’ve got you. Come for me, baby.”

---