Chapter 21
chapter twenty-one
I sigh as I walk out of my second to last class of the day. There are only two weeks left until graduation, and they can’t come fast enough. The stress is skyrocketing as I start studying for finals. I’ve got three job offers on the table and I have to pick one in the next week. One is in Seattle, one is in Miami, and the other is in fucking Italy. And I have no idea which one I’m going with.
Needing ten minutes to destress, I find my way to an alcove. I have twenty minutes until my next class starts. A little bit of mind numbing fits the bill perfectly.
I pull out my phone, and a cat’s grin spreads on my face when I see that Alec has posted a new video. I tap on it, and settle back for something spectacular.
The song has been trending all over lately. I’ve seen a dozen videos with it already. It’s something sultry and deep, about doing wild things to declare your love for someone. Alec starts out standing with his mask on, in front of a mirror. And there’s my mask, lying on the bathroom counter of our tiny little dorm bathroom. He reaches for it as the music comes to a crescendo. His eyes close with longing as he picks it up and holds it to his chest.
The music drops. The lights go out.
And then everything flashes red. And suddenly Alec is shirtless.
And holy fucking shit.
He has a tattoo of a butterfly, one that matches the design of my mask, on his chest, right above his heart.
Alec doesn’t have any tattoos. At least he hasn’t until now.
And it’s of my mask. My butterfly.
Alec leans into the mirror, his hand pressing against it. And slowly, a wicked smile curls on those painted lips.
The caption reads “Got a surprise for you when you get home.”
My heart is hammering.
Holy shit.
Alec got a tattoo. Of… me, essentially. For all of his followers to see, for the rest of forever.
My eyes drink in the design, tracing the lines and curves that now mark his flesh. It's a brand, a silent shout-out to the commitment we’ve made to each other.
"Like what you see?" his voice growls through the screen. He winks directly at the viewers, and the video begins to replay.
“You wicked man,” I grin, shaking my head as I click into the comments.
It's a torrent of emojis and exclamations, every user giving their two cents on Vice’s new ink.
Doesn’t get much more off the market than that.
She better have said yes.
Just going to go off myself now.
I love him and Mariposa together!!!
Finally, something positive.
Look how much happier he is now. Look back at his old videos before Mariposa. He’s like a totally different man.
I’m about to scroll back to his old videos to see if they’re right, but someone calls out my name. My head snaps to see Jess waving at me. "You coming?"
"Right behind you," I say begrudgingly as I climb to my feet and follow after her.
It’s a very long day. I’m having the hardest time concentrating when Alec’s posted video and the revelation of his new tattoo are running through my brain. But, finally, my last class dismisses. With a quick, clipped pace, I set out to the doors and finally off to the dorms.
I shove through the throng of students, my heart thumping a reckless rhythm. Need coils in me, sharp and demanding, every step quickening until I'm all but running back.
When I burst through, the air shifts, charged with anticipation and the scent of something electric—like ozone before a storm.
Alec is there on our shared bed, the one stuffed into the corner of our tiny little space. His face is still smudged with black, little lines marking where the edges of his mask touch his skin. His arms are folded above his head, his ankles crossed at the heels. Of course he’s shirtless. And of course he’s left his famous red lights on, casting the entire place in a lusty glow of scarlet.
“Let me see it,” I say the words burning my insides. A wicked grin curls on Alec’s lips at my statement. I drop my backpack beside the door as I shove it closed and cross the room in three long strides. I climb onto the bed, one knee on either side of Alec. I trace my hand up his stomach, my eyes taking in every detail and valley. Until, finally, they stop at the fresh ink staining his skin.
It’s exactly like my mask. Every curve and line. That’s my mask.
“That was a bold move,” I say, arching an eyebrow at him. “The internet is losing its fucking mind.”
“Good,” he says as he grabs my wrists, taking my weight, and lowering me until my lips meet his. His tongue is demanding, his kiss desperate, as if it’s been weeks since he last saw me instead of hours. But look what he did in those hours. “You like it?”
I lean back, my eyes returning to the tattoo. My face burns and my stomach does a little backflip. “I kind of can’t believe you did that.”
“But do you like it?” he questions as he arches a brow, demanding I answer his question.
I bite my lower lip to fight the stupid grin that wants to take over my face, and I nod.
“Yeah?” he questions again, not totally convinced.
“Yeah, I… I love it, Alec,” I say, my tone softening.
He smiles, something wild and a little crooked and daring. Fuck. I love his smile. I love everything about this man. His brilliant mind. His creativity. His sharp tongue. His wicked hands. His perfect cock. The way he makes me feel. The way he cheers and leads me on. He’s my perfect match.
“What’s going through your head?” he asks as he brings his hand to the side of my neck. He brushes his thumb along my jawline.
“Just how much I love you,” I confess, taking the path of honesty.
He leans me forward, and kisses me. “I love you too, Salem Winters.”
Who ever would have guessed, that we’d carve out this beautiful little life together? Alec Vanderholt, who grew up traveling the world, heir to the diamond industry, who had a fleet of nannies and tutors, would settle into a tiny eleven by thirteen dorm room without issue? He’s meshed into my life perfectly. It’s tight in this little dorm, but it’s temporary. Two more weeks, and we’ll move on to where ever I decide to take a job.
“I’m thinking Italy,” I say as I look down at him. “Think you can make things work there?”
And Alec’s smile grows all the bigger. “I’ve been hoping you’d pick Italy. You’re going to love it there.”
I roll my eyes at him, because of course he’s already spent time there. Alec just laughs.
“But yes, to answer your question, I can make things work there. I’m always going to be remote with LenseClip. And I can hire more remote employees.”
He’s already hired four employees in the last three weeks. LenseClip is blowing up at an unbelievable rate. It almost seems silly that Alec is technically still a university student for another two weeks.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” I tell him as I trace a finger over his chest, the opposite side of the fresh tattoo. It still breaks my heart, the fact that Alec was never told those words by his father. They haven’t spoken since Alec beat the shit out of him. He hasn’t taken a dime of his money.
“Thank you for seeing it in me,” he says tenderly. And I see how much he means his words. “Thank you for putting up with my asshole phase and giving me a chance.”
Three and a half years, that’s how long I put up with Alec’s asshole phase. Though I was a pretty big one myself.
Instead of replying, I reach for the item sitting on the nightstand, and strap my mask on my face. Alec grabs his from where it lays on the bed and puts it in place.
“Let’s show the fans just how much I like your new tattoo.”