Tears are forming in his eyes again and I am afraid I may have done something wrong.
 
 “I am sorry if I’ve overstepped, Alek, you could convert it to a gym, an extra kitchen, whatever you would?—”
 
 My rambling is cut off by Alek’s plush lips colliding with mine. It was only hours ago that I was dreading never getting to feel his lips on mine again and now I am drowning in his show of affection.
 
 Surrounded by the sound of the pattering rain from the building storm outside, I think to myself how forgiveness has never tasted so sweet.
 
 CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
 
 ALEK
 
 Listen. Flexibility is a superpower.
 
 He built me a fucking dance studio.
 
 My mind is racing. I’m in a mental frenzy that matches Ezekiel’s claiming kisses and nips of his teeth against my lips. The margaritas have long worn off. The light—headed feeling is all from how thoroughly this man kisses me back.
 
 While I was upset and crying a few hours before, deep down in my heart I knew that Ezekiel must have had his reasons for not fully letting me in. After hearing his story, glimpsing his most special places, and seeing all he prepared for me to feel comfortable within his home, I know, without a doubt, that we are meant to be.
 
 A needy groan leaves Ezekiel and suddenly, I’m pressed against the wall of mirrors with a ballet barre digging into my lower back. His hands spread across my hips, pinning me in place while my arms wrap around his neck and my tongue dives into his mouth.Damn,I am never going to get over how fucking hot it is when he commands my body like that.
 
 “I need you to fuck me, Ez,” I whisper the words into his lips. He backs away in order to look up and meet my eyes.
 
 “Gladly, sweetheart. Let’s go to the bedroom—” Ez begins to answer.
 
 “No. Here. I want you to take me here.”
 
 A flash of lightning bounces off the mirrors and brightens the room for a moment as Ezekiel’s gaze heats. I lean forward and teasingly take his lip between my teeth, as I reach my hand into my back pocket and take out a small packet of lube.
 
 Ezekiel’s eyes are fluttering closed when I bring the packet up between us.
 
 “This should do.” I grin at him. He opens his eyes and his gaze lands on the blue packet.
 
 “Producing a packet of lube out of nowhere? One might think you’re an apprentice to the BDSM magician,” Ezekiel replies. My laugh makes my body curl closer to his.
 
 A howl of thunder sounds outside. A second later, the lights flicker and we’re surrounded by darkness.
 
 “Now you see me, now you don’t!” I joke and it makes Ezekiel laugh so hard he falls forward onto my chest. I take the opportunity to laugh and hold him as we catch little peeks of one another whenever lightning comes through the window.
 
 “Wait. You had this prepared in your pocket the entire night?” Ezekiel asks. He traces his hand down my arm until he gets to the lube.
 
 “Well, yeah. I was upset. But I was thinking of the makeup sex too,” I admit.
 
 “You truly are a devious little thing,” Ezekiel chides. “Now strip and turn around so I can fuck you hard enough to draw more tears from your eyes.”
 
 I’ve never stripped so goddamn fast in my life. My clothes are in a pile on the floor before Ez even finishes removing his belt and dropping his zipper.
 
 “Turn around, Alek. I will not say it again,” Ezekiel demands as he comes into view in a flash of light. He’s got his belt in his hand and his boxers peek out from his pants. The opened zipper can’t contain the large bulge there.
 
 As much as I’d love to keep stealing looks at him, I know I’ll be rewarded when I listen. And fuck, I want to make him proud of me.
 
 I turn around and place my hands onto the bar.
 
 “Left leg on the bar,” he instructs.
 
 I listen to him without hesitation and stretch to rest my leg on the bar. Just as I’m settling into the position, I feel a smooth, cool texture trail against my thighs. The belt.
 
 “I am going to use this—” Ezekiel emphasizes his words with a hard hit of the leather on my ass. I thrust forward in reaction. “—to tie your leg to the bar. I am going to need you wide and open, Alek. Do you agree?”