Page 41 of Veil of Shadows

“Alyssa…” he begins, his voice a low rumble.

“Shut up, Viktor,” I murmur, my voice firm. “I don’t want to hear another word. You’re going to listen to me now.”

I can see the defiance flicker in his gaze, but there’s something else there, too—curiosity, maybe even excitement. I grab him by the collar and pull him down to my level, pressing my mouth to his with a fierceness that catches him off guard. He stiffens under my touch, but I don’t relent. My fingers dig into his shirt, tugging him closer, letting him know I’m not about to let him go without a fight.

After a moment, I feel his resistance waver, and his hands come up to grip my shoulders. But before he can try to take control, I pull back, breaking the kiss just enough to meet his gaze. “You don’t get to call the shots here, not tonight,” I whisper, a dark thrill running through me as I see his expression shift from defiance to something deeper.

A grin tugs at my lips as I push him back against the counter, pinning him there with my body. “You think you’re always in control, don’t you?” I challenge, my voice a low murmur. “Well, not tonight. Tonight, you’re mine.”

His eyes darken, and I see the battle warring within him, the part of him that wants to dominate clashing with the part that’s intrigued by my sudden assertiveness. “Is that so?” he murmurs, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Without another word, I let my hands slide down his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath his shirt. I lean in, my breath hot against his ear as I press my body against his. “Yes,” I whisper, my voice dripping with confidence. “And if you don’t want to play along, then you can walk right out that door.”

A low growl escapes his throat, and I feel his hands tighten on my hips, but he doesn’t push me away. Instead, he surrenders, letting his head fall back against the wall as he stares at me, his gaze intense, almost reverent. “Fine,” he mutters, a hint of challenge in his voice. “Show me what you’ve got.”

I waste no time. My hands slide up his chest, slipping under his shirt, feeling the heat of his skin against my palms. I rake my nails lightly down his torso, relishing the way his muscles tense beneath my touch. He sucks in a sharp breath, and I can tell he’s holding back, fighting the urge to take over.

“Good boy,” I purr, smirking as I see the frustration flash in his eyes. “I knew you could behave.”

His jaw tightens, but he stays silent, letting me continue my exploration. I press a kiss to his collarbone, then bite down gently, just hard enough to leave a mark. A shudder runs through him, and I can feel his arousal building, hard and insistent against my thigh. I let my hand slide down, palming him through his pants, feeling the heat radiating from him.

“Is this all for me?” I taunt, giving him a teasing squeeze. “You must really want this.”

He lets out a low, guttural sound, his hands clenching at his sides as he fights to keep his composure. “Alyssa…” he grits out, his voice strained. “You’re playing with fire.”

I chuckle, unbuttoning his pants and sliding my hand inside, wrapping my fingers around his cock. “Then let me burn,” I whisper, stroking him slowly, enjoying the way he shudders beneath my touch. “Tonight, you’re mine to do with as I please.”

I take my time, torturing him with slow, deliberate strokes, watching as he struggles to maintain control. His breathing becomes ragged, and I can see the restraint in his eyes, the way he’s barely holding himself back. But I don’t let up. I want to see him break, to watch him surrender completely.

When I finally release him, he lets out a groan of frustration, his body tense with need. I step back, pulling off my shirt and letting it fall to the floor, standing before him in nothing but my jeans, daring him to make a move.

But he doesn’t. He just watches me, his gaze hungry, desperate.

“Take off your shirt,” I command, my voice firm.

He hesitates for a moment, then complies, peeling off his shirt and dropping it to the floor. I take a step closer, pressing my bare chest against his, feeling the heat of his skin against mine. My hands trail down his sides, my nails scraping lightly, leaving marks in their wake.

“Get on your knees,” I whisper, my voice a mixture of challenge and desire.

His eyes flash with defiance, but he drops to his knees, his gaze never leaving mine. A thrill runs through me at the sight of him kneeling before me, his powerful body at my mercy, and I reach down, threading my fingers through his hair as I pull his head back, forcing him to look up at me.

“You’re mine tonight,” I murmur, feeling the power thrumming through me, electrifying every nerve. “And you’re going to do exactly as I say.”

The thrill of power courses through me as I see him kneeling before me, strong and imposing, yet surrendering to my command. My fingers tighten in his hair, and he winces slightly, his expression a mix of defiance and barely restrained desire. I watch the storm in his eyes, his hands clenched at his sides as he fights the instinct to take control. But he’s waiting, holding himself back, for me.

"Good," I murmur, my voice low and edged with satisfaction. "I want you to stay just like this. No moving unless I say so."

A muscle in his jaw ticks, but he nods, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart pound. I slide my hands down his shoulders, feeling the taut strength beneath hisskin, then trail my fingers along his chest, grazing his nipples just hard enough to make him catch his breath. I lean in, pressing my lips to the hollow of his throat, tasting the salt of his skin, savoring every twitch, every shiver that runs through him as I take my time exploring him.

“Tell me you want this,” I whisper, my voice soft but commanding, as my fingers continue their slow, torturous descent.

He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. "I want this," he says, his voice strained, barely holding back. "I want you, Alyssa."

"Then keep your hands behind your back," I order, watching the frustration flash in his eyes as he complies, crossing his wrists behind him. I let my fingers drift lower, tracing the line of his abs, feeling his body tense beneath my touch as I let my hand slide over his cock, hard and aching for me. I wrap my fingers around him, stroking slowly, relishing the way he shudders, the way his control begins to crumble.

"You’re already so hard," I murmur, tightening my grip, moving my hand in languid strokes that make his breath hitch. "Is it because you like giving in to me? Or are you just desperate for more?"

He doesn’t answer, his jaw clenched, his gaze burning into mine, but I can see it in his eyes—the need, the hunger. I let go of him abruptly, savoring his groan of frustration as I stand back, taking my time unbuttoning my jeans and sliding them down, revealing myself to him. His eyes darken, his breath coming faster, but he stays where he is, kneeling before me, obedient and waiting.

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