Page 51 of Cruel Hero

“See how beautiful you are,” he says, his voice thick with admiration. His hands travel to my hips, fingers splaying possessively over my skin as he leans in, pressing a kiss to the curve of my shoulder. “How perfect.” His lips trail lower, leaving a searing path along my spine, and I tremble, my fingers curling against the mirror.

I watch as he kneels in front of me, his hands sliding down to grip my thighs, spreading them slightly. My pulse races as his breath ghosts over the sensitive skin there, and then his mouth is on me, hot and demanding.

I gasp, my head falling back against his shoulder as he teases and torments me with an expert touch. My hands slide against the mirror, leaving faint smudges as I struggle to keep myself upright.

“Adrien,” I whisper.

He hums against me, the vibration sending shockwaves through my body. My legs tremble as he pushes me closer to the edge, his tongue working in relentless circles until I’m clinging to him for balance.

When I finally fall apart, he doesn’t let me go. He stands slowly, pulling me back against him as I sag into his chest, still trembling from the aftershocks. He kisses my temple, his breath warm and uneven against my skin.

I look at him. His eyes are dark, almost black with desire. I can feel the rapid thud of his heart against my chest, a mirror to my own racing pulse.

“Adrien,” I whisper again, but this time it’s not a plea.

It’s a declaration.

A promise.

He doesn’t respond with words. Instead, he captures my lips in a searing kiss, one that steals the air from my lungs and leaves me dizzy. His hands roam over my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake, and I can’t help but moan into his mouth. He lifts me effortlessly and carries me to the bed.

Adrien lays me down gently, his body hovering over mine as he takes a moment just to look at me. His gaze is heavy, filled with so much emotion that it makes my chest ache. I reach up to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead, my fingers trembling slightly.

“I don’t want you to go,” I admit.

The thought of him leaving, of being apart from him for even a moment, is almost too much to bear.

“I’ll always come back to you, Tiffany. Always.”

The words are a balm to my frayed nerves, but they’re not enough.

I need more.

I need him.

I pull him down to me, our lips crashing together in a desperate kiss.

He responds immediately, his body pressing into mine as his hands explore every inch of me.

The world outside ceases to exist. There’s only us, only this moment. His touch is both gentle and demanding, his kisses sweet and sinful. He takes me to heights I’ve never known, his name a constant litany on my lips. And when we finally collapse together, spent and sated, I know that no matter what happens, this is where I belong.

He gathers me in his arms, pulling the covers over us as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.

I close my eyes, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear.

“Sleep, angel. I’ve got you.”

When I wake up the next morning, the spot next to me is cold, the sheets rumpled but empty.

He’s gone.

Chapter 22

Adrien

A week later

As I step off the plane, I am hit with a wave of heat and humidity. I can feel the sweat soaking through the bandages wrapped around my torso. I grit my teeth and adjust my jacket, shielding the injury from prying eyes.

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