Chapter 50
50
U nder Alex’s steady and prolonged gaze, Leslie felt a heat creep up her neck, flooding her cheeks with color. It was intense and intimate, as if he was seeing past her physical form, straight into her soul.
Suddenly, she felt the urge to cover herself, to protect herself from the raw intimacy of his gaze, but something held her back. His dark eyes that always seemed to know just how to unravel her held her captive. There was no room for escape, not that she really wanted it. She was a moth drawn to his flame, willing to risk getting burned.
"Leslie, you are so beautiful. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen," Alex said.
He brought his hands up to cup her face. His touch was gentle, loving, as he leaned in to capture her lips in a sweet, lingering kiss.
His hands roamed her body, tracing the contours with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes. Every touch, every whisper of his skin against hers made her feel just as beautiful as he’d said she was.
The world seemed to slow as his arms swept under her legs and back, lifting her. She automatically curled into him, her arms snaking around his neck.
The short journey to the stone tub felt like a dream, the room spinning around her as she clung to Alex. She was conscious of the subtle changes in his breathing, the way his muscles tightened and relaxed as he carried her. It was a moment of surreal bliss, her world reduced to the man who held her in his arms.
He lowered her into the tub, and the water enveloped her in its embrace, soothing her weary muscles, leaching away the stress that had knotted itself deep into her body last night, maybe even all week. She let out a sigh of contentment.
Alex was at her side in an instant, his hand reaching for the washcloth and soap. As he washed her, his hands moved with a languid slowness that teased and tempted.
His hand paused at her chest, his fingers teasing her nipples into hardened peaks while his other hand continued its journey, dancing over her stomach, dipping low, making her squirm. But his touch remained teasingly light, a torment that made her ache.
"Alex," she breathed out.
His gaze met hers, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Ssh," he whispered, his thumb rubbing circles on her belly. "Relax, Leslie. Let me take care of you."
She gave herself over to the sensation, to the man she loved, and for the first time in a week, she truly relaxed. Eventually, however, she couldn’t bear even the small distance between them. "Join me. Please?”
Alex nodded, his gaze never leaving hers as he began to undress.
She watched in awe. He was a masterpiece, his body a canvas of sculpted muscles and detailed tattoos. When he was naked, she moved to accommodate him, and the water sloshed gently against the sides of the tub as he carefully slid in behind her. The sensation of his body against her was electrifying, his hard length pressed against her back.
His arms closed around her, pulling her flush against him as he immediately continued exploring her, tracing patterns on her skin that left her breathless and aching for more.
"Alex," she sighed, leaning her head back onto his shoulder. He responded by pressing soft kisses to her neck, his touch both soothing and igniting a fire within her.
Their world shrank to the confines of the tub, to the dance of their bodies, to the beat of their hearts. This was their sanctuary, their escape from the chaos outside, a moment of respite in their tumultuous journey. And for now, she wanted nothing more than to lose herself in him.
Feeling him, rigid and ready against her lower back, a surge of desire pooled between her thighs, an ache that demanded attention. On a whimper, she guided his hand to the apex of her thighs. He fingered her, slow and deliberate, his touch magic, turning her into a quivering mess of need within seconds. Every brush of his fingers was like a sweet torment, pushing her closer to the edge.
“Alex…so good…”
Alex was unrelenting, his actions growing bolder, his touch more insistent. Leslie reached behind her, her hand brushing against his firm length. His groan of approval vibrated against her skin, spurring her on. She began to stroke him, her movements mirroring the rhythm of his touches.
The feel of him, the way he touched her—it was heaven, and the warmth of the water, the scent of the oils, and the flickering candlelight only added to the sensory overload. Each touch, each gasp, each moan heightened the fervor between them, evident in the way the water was now moving around them.
Just as she felt herself teetering on the edge of release, Alex abruptly stilled his movements. Her eyes fluttered open in confusion, a whimper escaping her lips at the sudden loss of contact.
"Lean forward," Alex commanded.
Leslie obeyed, feeling the air around her cool as he extracted himself from the water. She watched, her eyes wide, as he stood up, water cascading down his muscular form, his skin glistening under the dim light.
He disappeared from her view momentarily, returning with a pair of soft towels. He wrapped one around himself before moving towards her with the other.
There was an air of reverence as he carefully dried her, his movements tender. She felt the soft fabric of the towel brushing against her skin, the warmth of his hands seeping into her through it.
Once they were both dry, Alex lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently then joined her, pulling her against him. She felt his heart beating against her own as he traced lazy patterns on her back, his hand occasionally moving to tangle in her hair.
He kissed her, tasting of the sweet Prosecco they'd shared earlier.
I love you, Alex.
She barely held the words back. This man, with his complexities, his hidden vulnerabilities, and his overwhelming capacity to love and cherish, had irrevocably stolen her heart.
"Lay on your back," Alex murmured. Her body obediently moved to his command. Then his hands were at her thighs. He flicked her clit. She moaned as he expertly applied pressure in all the right places. Then he slipped past her folds and pushed into her. One finger, then two, sliding in and out of her, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her.
Slowly, his lips made their way down to where his fingers were playing. His breath was hot against her as his tongue found her clit. The sensation was overwhelming, the dual stimulation of his fingers inside her and his tongue on her clit making her buck her hips.
His fingers never faltered, his rhythm unyielding, even as his mouth explored her, teasing, sucking, driving her to the edge. The warmth of his breath, the slickness of his tongue, the firmness of his fingers, all melded into a blend of sensations that threatened to drown her.
"Alex," she gasped, her fingers tangling in his hair. Her body was on fire, her senses heightened, every nerve ending alive and buzzing. It was all too much and not enough, a maddening paradox that had her writhing under his touch.
He responded with a hum, the vibrations against her clit making her squeal. His gaze was locked onto her, watching her reactions, feeding off her pleasure. There was something incredibly erotic about his focus, about his unwavering determination to unravel her.
Every stroke of his fingers, every swirl of his tongue, was pushing her closer to the edge. And when the climax hit, it was with a force that stole her breath, her body arching off the bed, her cry echoing around the room. Her vision blurred, her body trembling as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her.
Her breath was ragged, gasps and moans echoing off the stone walls of their room. She needed more, needed him.
"I need you," she managed to pant, her eyes locked on his.
"I'm right here, Leslie."
"No," she breathed, her hand reaching out to cup his cheek, the bristles of his stubble prickling her palm. "I need all of you. Please, Alex."
Understanding dawned in his eyes, darkening them further. She saw immediately his hesitation, that moment where his worry threatened to take over. She braced herself for him to pull away, but instead he shifted, crawling up the bed until he was hovering over her. His body was a blanket of warmth, the muscled expanse of his torso pressing her into the mattress, the hard length of his cock throbbing against her thigh.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice gruff with desire, the weight of the question apparent in his eyes.
A surge of resolve washed over her, eradicating any last speck of uncertainty. She knew what she wanted, what she needed. She had never been more certain of anything in her life.
Alex was her first crush and her first love.
It seemed only fitting that he be the one to take her virginity.
"I'm sure, Alex," she answered, her hand moving to stroke his cock. He groaned, his head dropping to rest on her shoulder as he allowed himself to relish the sensation. “Please. All these years, I’ve wanted it to be you.”
She had been careful not to push him, giving him the time he needed to come to this decision on his own. And now, under the romantic glow of the candle-lit room, amidst the delicate scent of roses, they were about to cross a line from which there was no return. It didn’t mean he’d change his mind and they’d be together. Given the things he’d shared with her last night, she understood more than ever how powerfully he’d barricaded his heart. But she didn’t care.
She wanted all of Alex. Here. Tonight.
“Baby girl, thank you for granting me this honor.”
As he spoke the gallant words, the depth of his gaze held her captive. His hands cradled her face as he kissed her, slow and passionate, his lips moving against hers in a sweet surrender.