Page 42 of Veil of Shadows

“Now,” I whisper, stepping closer so that I’m just within his reach, “I want you to taste me. But only when I say.”

His gaze lifts to mine, his eyes smoldering with anticipation, and I feel a thrill run through me as I see the restraint, the submission. I lean back against the counter, spreading my legs just enough to beckon him forward.

“Go on,” I command, my voice a whisper of permission, and he moves, his hands still behind his back as he leans forward, pressing his mouth against me. His tongue flicks out, tentative at first, then more insistent as he loses himself in the rhythm, tasting me, exploring me, his breath hot against my skin.

I grip his hair, pulling him closer, feeling every stroke of his tongue, every shudder that runs through him as he gives himself over to me completely. I press myself harder against his mouth, moaning as he responds to my every command, every shift of my body. I feel myself nearing the edge, the sensation overwhelming, and I pull him back just enough to meet his gaze, his lips glistening, his eyes dark with hunger.

"Not so fast," I murmur, relishing the power in holding him there, on the brink. I tug him up to his feet, pressing him back against the counter, and he stares down at me, breathless, barely restrained.

“You look so damn good like this,” I whisper, running my hands over his body, my fingers brushing over every line, every scar, as I press against him, claiming him with every touch. "You like this, don’t you? Being at my mercy."

His eyes blaze, and he nods, barely able to contain himself. "Yes," he breathes, his voice low and ragged. "I want you, Alyssa. However you want me."

A thrill rushes through me as I see the surrender in his gaze. I push him back onto the small couch, straddling him, feeling the heat of his body against mine, his cock pressing against me, hard and ready. I grind against him, feeling him shudder beneath me, his hands gripping the edge of the couch, struggling to hold back.

I lean down, pressing my lips to his ear. “You don’t touch unless I say so,” I murmur, and I feel him tense, fighting the urge to reach for me, to take control. I let my hand slide down between us, guiding him inside me slowly, inch by inch, relishing the way he fills me completely, the way he groans, his head falling back as I take my time, savoring every sensation.

I set the pace, slow and teasing, moving against him in a rhythm that leaves us both breathless, but I don’t let him speed up, don’t let him take control. I watch his face, every flicker of restraint, every shiver of need as I keep him on the edge, holding him right where I want him.

“Alyssa,” he gasps, his hands clenching the fabric beneath him, his body taut with tension. “Please… I need…”

“What do you need?” I ask, leaning down, my breath warm against his skin, as I keep the same slow, torturous rhythm, watching as he fights for control.

“I need you,” he whispers, his voice a plea, his eyes searching mine. “Please… let me come.”

The vulnerability in his eyes, the raw honesty, sends a thrill through me, and I press my mouth to his, tasting thedesperation, the need in every kiss. I increase the pace, feeling him shudder beneath me, his control slipping as I take him closer and closer to the edge.

“Come for me, Viktor,” I whisper, my voice a command, and his body responds, his hips thrusting up to meet mine as he lets go, groaning my name as he pulses inside me, the release overwhelming. I follow him over the edge, my own pleasure crashing over me, consuming me as I cling to him, feeling the depth of our connection, the raw intensity of what we’ve just shared.

As we catch our breath, I press my forehead against his, my fingers tracing his jaw, grounding him to me. His gaze meets mine, filled with something deeper, something vulnerable, and he lets out a shaky breath, his hands coming up to hold me close.

“You’re incredible,” he murmurs, his voice filled with awe, and I smile, feeling a warmth settle between us, a newfound understanding, an unspoken bond.

I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, and I know that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.

Chapter Twenty – Viktor

I pull up outside the abandoned bar, my heart pounding in anticipation of the meeting ahead. The neon sign flickers dimly, casting an eerie glow on the cracked pavement. It’s a place that used to serve as a refuge for men like me—men who lived in the shadows of the Bratva, bound by loyalty and fear. Tonight, it feels more like a sanctuary than a trap.

Stepping inside, the stale scent of old liquor and dust fills the air, and I can barely make out the outline of Sergei sitting in the back booth. He’s a former ally, a man who escaped the grasp of the Bratva and now lives on the outskirts, carefully navigating the dangerous waters of our world.

“Viktor,” he greets me with a cautious nod, his eyes scanning the room as if he’s checking for hidden threats.

“Thanks for coming,” I reply, sliding into the booth across from him. The dim light highlights the lines etched into his face—worn from years of surviving the consequences of our choices.

“I had no choice,” he says, his tone serious. “What’s going on?”

I take a deep breath, knowing that my next words could change everything. “I need your help. Alyssa is getting too close to the truth about the Bratva, and I can’t let her get hurt.”

Sergei’s expression shifts from curiosity to concern. “You know the risks, don’t you? The Bratva won’t take kindly to this.”

“I’m aware,” I reply, frustration seeping into my voice. “But I won’t let them hurt her. She doesn’t deserve any of this.”

He leans back, folding his arms across his chest. “You’re risking a lot by protecting her. Loyalty to the Bratva isn’t something you can just turn off.”

“I’m willing to sever ties if it means keeping her safe,” I say, the weight of my resolve heavy in the air between us. “I can’t go back to that life.”

Sergei studies me, his eyes narrowing as he processes my words. “What do you need from me?”

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