Page 58 of His to Possess
I met her gaze, looking deep into those emerald depths. “Look at me,” I commanded, my voice hoarse with need. “I want to see your eyes when you come.”
Her breathing hitched, and her lips parted slightly. The challenge consumed me, and I thrust again, my eyes never leaving hers.
“You can’t hold back forever.” My voice was thick with desire. “Surrender. Give in to me.”
Our eyes were locked, an unspoken battle of wills taking place. Panic flooded her beautiful face, but she was as determined as ever, not giving in.
One more thrust, and I felt her inner walls clench around me, her body convulsing with pleasure. But still, no sound, her eyes glued to mine, defying me to the very end.
I leaned down, my lips brushing hers as I came undone. It was a sweet torture, our mouths hovering so close but never touching. Her body was boneless beneath me, spent and satisfied, but still, she refused to speak. On my part, I moaned, a sound that sounded more painful than pleasurable. I was left breathless, my heart pounding in my chest.
me my desire Her silence was a provocation, one that I fully intended to overcome. I would make her beg, plead for release. I would make her scream my name.
That was when the timer chimed in the room, snapping me back to reality. I froze, my body still buried within Laurel’s warmth. I had lost track of time, so focused on breaking her resolve, on hearing her voice. But time was up, and I hadn’t won.
As realization dawned, I noticed tears welling in Laurel’s eyes, sliding down her cheeks. Something inside me shattered at the sight—a panic and worry I hadn’t experienced in a long time, maybe never. Instinctively, I gathered her tightly in my arms, and she sobbed against me.
I had had women weep before, but the only emotion I had felt was annoyance. This woman in my arms, though… Her tears affected me profoundly, stirring something unfamiliar and undeniably powerful.
I ran my hands up and down her back. I didn’t fully understand my own response, but I found myself wanting to soothe her, to take away her pain. It was a foreign feeling, one I couldn’t quite comprehend.
“Shh… It’s alright. I’m so sorry.”
Why was I apologizing?
The question echoed in my mind as I held her close, feeling her body shake with sobs. I didn’t understand my reaction, and theemotions swirling within me were foreign and unpredictable. I had never cared about another’s pain, their tears, yet here I was, offering what little comfort I could. It made no sense.
Laurel calmed, her sobs easing as she took a steadying breath. I held her a moment longer, reluctant to let go, before finally pulling back to look at her. Her eyes were wary, heavy with apprehension. She pushed her damp hair back from her sweaty face, and I saw the sparkle in her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
I was lost. I had expected fear, revulsion perhaps, after those tears. But the smile, the brightness in her eyes, it threw me off-kilter.
And then, with a voice made hoarse from holding in her screams, she finally spoke. “I won.”
Chapter 20
Laurel
I hurried down the street, my heels clicking against the pavement as I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder. My body ached, and my mind felt like it had been put through a wringer. It was two days since I had won that damn silent challenge against Rex, and I never felt more lost.
I thought winning would give me some insight into his mind, maybe crack that impenetrable facade he always wore. Instead, it was like I built a wall between us, brick by fucking brick. The victory felt hollow, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Where the hell was he?
Rex's vanishing act drove me insane. He wasn't back at the apartment, didn't call, didn't even send one of his cryptic text messages. It was like he fell off the face of the earth, and I hated how much it affected me. I should have felt relieved, should have been able to retake full control of my life, yet I found myselfoddly… lost. For once, I even missed the control and schedule that the arrangement had brought into my world.
I stopped at a crosswalk, catching my breath. My hand trembled as I pushed my hair out of my face. I was exhausted, running on fumes and caffeine. Sleep was elusive; my nights were filled with replaying every moment of that challenge.
The memory of that evening with Rex flooded my senses, making my skin prickle. I never experienced such exquisite agony or such earth-shattering pleasure in my life. I wondered if it was like that for him, too. If it had practically turned his world upside down. That triggered more questions, though. How many women had he played that game with before me? I chased that thought away, though. There was no point in crying over the spilled milk.
When the timer rang, signaling my win, I expected Rex to explode with rage. Instead, it was me who shattered into pieces, overwhelmed by the intensity of what I had just endured. To my shock, he gathered me into his arms, holding me close as I trembled, tears flowing. For the first time since I had met him, I saw genuine concern in his eyes. The cool exterior I had grown accustomed to thawed, if only for a moment.
It didn't last, though. As quickly as it appeared, the warmth in his gaze vanished, replaced by something cold and distant. He pulled away, leaving me feeling more alone than ever.
Now, days later, I was still reeling from that encounter. The memory of his touch haunted me, along with the fleeting glimpse of the man beneath the mask. I couldn't shake the feeling that I saw something I wasn't meant to, and now he retreated even further behind his walls. Now, he was gone. Perhaps more than ever before. And that was enough to drive me insane.
I crossed the street, my mind swirling with thoughts of the crumpled paper hidden in my purse. Alain's number burned ahole in my pocket, his message echoing in my head: "We need to talk. It's important."
The familiar scrawl of his handwriting sent a jolt through me when I first saw it. Anger, fear, and a reluctant curiosity all warred within me. What could he possibly have to say that was so important? After everything that had happened in Paris, I should want nothing to do with him.
