Page 53 of Veil of Smoke

She breaks again, loud and raw, shaking under me. I keep licking, slow now, drawing it out until she’s trembling, breathless.

I climb up. Lie beside her. Our bodies tangle, slick with sweat.

“Fuck,” she mutters, hand on my chest. “You’re insane.”

“Yeah,” I say, tracing her thigh. “You started it.”

She smirks. Reaches down. Strokes my cock again, slow and lazy.

“Hard still?” she asks, teasing.

“For you,” I grunt. “Finish me.”

She slides down. Takes me in her mouth again, slower this time. Her tongue works me, deep and steady, until I’m groaning, close.

“Fuck, Viviana,” I say. “I’m coming.”

“Come for me,” she whispers, sucking hard.

I thrust once, spilling into her mouth, a low growl tearing out. She takes it all, swallowing, then climbs back up, kissing me softly.

We collapse together. The couch creaks under us, red light washing her skin.

Her hand finds mine. Presses it to her chest.

Her heart thumps hard. Steady.

I look at her. Sweat beads on her temple. Bruises mark her hips.

She looks back. Sees me. Not the killer. Me.

“You stayed,” I say, voice scraped raw.

“I’m still here.”

“Why?”

She shifts closer. Her cheek rests on my arm. “You showed me your worst. I didn’t run.”

“I told you everything.”

“You did.”

I nod.

Her breath warms my skin. She traces the scar on my rib.

“I don’t know what this is,” I say, quiet.

She kisses my chest. “It’s real. That’s enough.”

I close my eyes.

The tension in me fades. No bullets. No ghosts.

“I’ll tear down the world before I let it take you,” I say into her hair.

She lifts her head. Meets my eyes.

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