Chapter 61
61
T he raw power that coursed through Leslie's veins as she wielded the cat o' nine tails was intoxicating but only because its source was pure love for the man asking her to do it. Every strike she delivered was a manifestation of her trust in him and his in her, a declaration of the intimacy they shared. This was them. This was their dance. This was their power exchange.
And yet, within the heady exhilaration of it all, she felt an incredible sense of safety. With Alex, she was protected. Even in this vulnerable position, of having to give him pain when the idea was so foreign to her, she trusted him implicitly. He was her rock, her confidant, her sanctuary.
She raised the cat o' nine tails for what felt like the hundredth time, his back crisscrossed with red stripes but no blood—she could never hit him hard enough to draw blood. Alex’s voice stopped her.
"Flour," he breathed out, raw and ragged. "Take me down."
The whip fell from her hand, dropped onto the floor, forgotten as she hurried to release him from the restraints. The moment he was free, he spun around, his eyes ablaze with a fierce desire that stole her breath away. In one swift motion, he lunged at her, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat.
His mouth crashed down on hers, the taste of him intoxicating. His arms slid around her, hoisting her up until her legs were wrapped around his waist. She clung to him, her fingers curling into the hair at the nape of his neck as she melted into the kiss.
His hand slipped between them, guiding himself to her entrance. A moan caught in her throat as he filled her, stretching her deliciously. Alex was an exquisite blend of strength and tenderness, and every movement, every stroke, was a testament to that.
He pressed her against the wall, his hips snapping against hers in a rhythm that was nothing short of primal. Their shared moans echoed around them. She was losing herself in him, in the way he felt, in the way he moved, in the raw passion that flared between them. She'd never known anything like this. This was euphoria, this was surrender, this was love.
The wall against Leslie's back was nothing compared to the man in front of her. Every thrust, every movement was a visceral promise that Alex was there for her. She clung to him, legs tightly wound around his waist, the only point of contact being his cock in her pussy, his torso pressed to hers during their savage lovemaking. His powerful thrusts sent shivers of pleasure radiating through her body, her cries echoing in the dimly lit room.
"Oh, Alex…" she moaned into his ear, her voice shaking with the intensity of her pleasure. "Please… harder."
A growl rumbled in his chest, a primal sound that meant whatever vestige of control he still clung to was slipping. With a grunt, he pounded her harder, his movements becoming even more forceful, driving her higher and higher until the room began to spin.
"Look at me, Leslie," he commanded, his voice raspy. Their eyes met, creating an electric connection that vibrated through her very core. The raw, unchecked passion in his gaze threatened to unravel her. Slowly, he curled his fingers around her throat and lightly squeezed.
"I love you," he panted between breaths, his words striking her more fiercely than any whip. She gasped, his confession not surprising but unexpected.
"I love you, too," she managed to say, her heart pounding in her chest, her world narrowing down to the man who was both fucking her and making love to her with such intensity it left her breathless.
They were dancing, a beautiful, harmonious dance that only they knew the rhythm to. And with each step, they drew closer to the edge. She felt him everywhere, in the way his body filled hers, in the way his gaze seared into her soul, and in the way his words echoed in her heart.
Finally, it was only fitting that they climaxed together. They cried out in unison, their bodies convulsing, their hearts pounding in a synchronized rhythm that echoed their shared release.
The world seemed to stop for a moment, as if holding its breath, paying homage to the raw intensity of their love. They clung to each other, two bodies made one in the aftermath of their passion, their breaths mingling in the dim light.
As she buried her face in the crook of his neck, his hands moved to stroke her hair, his touch as tender as his gaze. "I love you," he whispered again, his voice filled with emotion.
“I love you,” she said.
With their bodies still entwined, Alex gently lifted Leslie off him and away from the wall then carried her to the bed. The cool sheets beneath her were a stark contrast to the heat of Alex's body. She snuggled against him, her head finding its familiar spot on his chest. His heart beat in a rhythm that was becoming her favorite song.
She pressed a kiss to his chest, feeling him shudder beneath her. He responded by brushing a kiss to her forehead, his breath a warm, comforting presence against her skin.
"Alex…" she murmured, her fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw. "What made you change your mind?"
"Truthfully? I went to visit Mia’s and Lenore’s graves in Texas.”
“Lenore,” she breathed upon learning the name of Alex’s unborn baby. His little monkey that he had tattooed over his heart. “That’s a beautiful name.”
He kissed her forehead again. “It is. I told Mia about you, and I swear, if she could have kicked my ass from heaven, she would have. Then I talked to Lee, and well… It was like everything came into sharp focus. I’m still scared as shit of something happening to you, of not being able to protect you, of being the cause of you being hurt, but I couldn't bear the thought of letting the best thing in my life slip through my fingers."
Her heart soared at his words, and she cuddled further into him, her arms wrapping around his middle as she buried her face in his chest.
"So does this mean…we’re together?" she asked, her voice muffled against his skin.
He tightened his hold around her. "If you'll still have me.”
She pulled back just enough to look at him, her eyes meeting his. "I wouldn't want anyone else. Ever."
A smile spread across his face, reaching his eyes and lighting up his entire being. “I think we already established that. And I need you to know, I cared for Mia, but she wasn’t the love of my life, Leslie. She couldn’t be because you are.”
At his heartfelt confession, she felt tears sting her eyes. “You’re the love of my life too, Alex.”
He leaned down to capture her lips in a tender kiss, his fingers threading through her hair as he pulled her closer.
As they lay there, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, Leslie felt a sense of completion. She was finally where she belonged. In Alex's arms. Forever.
Alex hugged Leslie tighter to him. Suddenly, the words were spilling out of him. "Leslie," he started, taking her hand in his. "I have been through a lot in my life. I've made mistakes, I've had my heart broken, and I've experienced things I never thought I would. But every single one of those moments led me to you."
She blinked at him, her green eyes wide. He continued, "You, Leslie, have shown me what it's like to really live. You've challenged me, you've loved me, and you've accepted me, all of me, without any reservations. I didn't know I could be this happy until I met you."
He took a deep breath, feeling a strange mixture of nerves and excitement. "I don't want to live my life without you. I want to wake up next to you every morning, and I want to fall asleep with you in my arms every night. I want to face every challenge and celebrate every victory with you. I want to love you for the rest of my life, Leslie, and I don’t want to waste another second apart from you. Marry me?"
She was silent for a moment, her eyes glistening in the dim light. He watched her, holding his breath, waiting for her response.
Finally, she broke out into a wide grin. "You just proposed to me in a sex club," she said, laughter bubbling from her lips. Her eyes met his, sparkling with love. "It's so us... yes, Alex, I will marry you."
His heart soared, relief flooding through him. He pulled her close, kissing her fiercely. She loved him, all of him, and he couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life proving to her just how much he loved her in return.
Later…
Alex was all smiles as stood next to her in her mother Bunny’s brownstone where one of her extravagant gatherings was underway. The evening had been an overwhelming mixture of food, laughter, and reconnecting with Leslie's vibrant family. As Leslie chatted with her sister Deena, Alex focused on the sun pendant necklace she wore, the one he’d bought her in Italy. When they’d went back to her place after the night he’d proposed, she’d walked to one of her drawers, handed him the pendant and turned her back so he could put it on her. She hadn’t taken it off since. He wondered if she might exchange it with the gift he planned to give her tonight, but either way she’d be still be carrying part of him wherever she went.
As the night wrapped up, Branden, Leslie's older brother, made his way over to them. He extended a hand toward him and when Alex took it, he pulled Alex in for a big hug, one Alex returned.
“I always knew I could trust you with my sister, Alex,” he said. “Even when she told me she was waging war to win you, I wasn’t scared for her but you.”
Alex watched as Leslie playfully shoved at her brother.
Branden’s fiancée, Cara, joined them and gave both Alex and Leslie a hug as well. Branden looked at Cara like she was every treasure in the world rolled into one. He hoped it was the way he looked at Leslie but it’s exactly how he felt.
After he’d won Leslie back, he’d told Branden everything about Mia and Luca. He had a right to know, the right to decide whether he wanted Alex to continue working for him, even for one day longer. Branden’s reply had been instantaneous. “You trust this Luca?”
“I do,” Alex said.
“Then I trust him, too.”
And that was it. And it was huge. Branden was just as protective of Cara and his family as Alex was of Leslie. So for Branden to still trust him after what Alex revealed… It was humbling. It was amazing. It was further proof, when Alex was feeling low, that he was a good man, because only a good man could have both Leslie’s love and Branden’s loyalty.
They enjoyed the rest of the evening with Leslie’s family and her friends. Their friends. When they finally left, the vibrant energy of New York City was pulsing around them as they walked side by side. He had her close to his side, his arm draped around her waist, their strides perfectly in sync.
Her eyes, sparkling with contentment, were focused on the cityscape around them. Every now and then, she would point out a quirky store or a café. When they passed an adult shop with a theater inside, Leslie glanced at him, a playful gleam in her eyes. "You interested in catching a show?" she teased.
He chuckled lightly at her proposition. His mind was already painting a different picture, a more intimate one. “Yes,” he said, his voice low and filled with intent. “But we’ll need to go to my place. "
A spark of surprise flickered across her face, quickly replaced by a knowing smile. "Oh? And why's that?"
"Because," he whispered, leaning closer to her ear, "I'm only interested in you putting on a show for me."