Chapter 7
chapter seven
The clock ticks relentlessly, its soft sound echoing through the small back room of the library. I'm hunched over my textbooks, scribbling notes with a fervor that borders on manic. The pressure of mid-terms is enough to make anyone crack, and I feel like I'm hanging on by a thread.
"Thought I’d find you here." I startle hard at the voice behind me, and turn to see Alec as he strides into the room, his eyes locking onto me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
"Dammit, you scared me," I breathe as my heart tries to return to its natural rhythm. “But I’m glad you’re here. We really need to make up for lost time.” I close my notebook and reach for my laptop, relieved that we’re finally going to get back to our project.
Alec shifts his weight from one foot to another. And when I pay attention, there’s a sudden vulnerability in his eyes that grabs my undivided attention. It’s not our project that he has in mind. "I hate that you know about Vice," he admits, running a hand through his blond hair. "But I'm also kind of glad now."
"Really?" I ask, surprise seeping into my voice. The last thing I expected was for Alec Vanderholt to open up to me.
He nods, swallowing hard. And fuck, I’ve never seen this kind of struggle behind his eyes. He’s in turmoil right now, fighting himself about what’s going through his mind right now. But I see cracks forming in his normal icy fa?ade. "I'm never myself, Salem. The rich boy asshole act is just that. Nobody knows me. But, now that you know my secret, I… fuck.”
I watch him, wondering what’s going through his head. He’s clearly struggling, and I’ve never seen Alec struggle with anything.
“Now that you know, I want to be around you, Salem. It's... refreshing."
Wow. I kind of can’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. "Lonely at the top, huh?" I say somewhat stupidly, trying to comprehend Alec's apparent loneliness despite being surrounded by people who idolized him.
"Something like that," he agrees, his gaze locked on mine. With every passing second, it deepens. And there’s something new there, something I’ve never seen in his eyes before. Something that makes me sit a little straighter and shift in my seat. “What you said last night… I can’t get it out of my head.”
Instantly, I feel myself blush and panic starts climbing my esophagus. “Alec, that was confidential. I?—”
"I want to help you explore your desires,” he cuts me off. And the look in his eyes is dead serious. “Ever since you told me about wanting to explore yourself, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. About you."
My heart skips a beat, and I grip the edge of the table, steadying myself. "Is this some kind of joke, Alec? Because if it is, it's not funny."
"It's not a joke." His voice is firm, leaving no room for doubt. "I can't get you out of my head, Salem. I’m starting to feel a little obsessed."
I swallow once, my brain struggling to process his confession. This is Alec Vanderholt – the rich, untouchable heir we're talking about. He shouldn't be saying these things to me, yet here he is, baring his soul in the backroom of a library.
"Maybe that's the wrong word," he says, rubbing the back of his neck. "But there is something between us. I don’t give a fuck about anyone else in school, yet you always draw something dramatic out of me. And I’m constantly aware of where you are. And now… you’re in my head, all the fucking time. I want to see where it goes."
"Are you serious?" My voice wavers, but I force myself to maintain eye contact. "You expect me to believe that you, of all people, want to help me… explore? We're not exactly friends, Alec."
"Who says we have to be?" He smirks. "Maybe it's better this way. No expectations, no strings attached. Just two people exploring what they want."
My heart races as the weight of Alec's words sinks in. A heat flushes my cheeks and travels down my neck, pooling in my chest. I can't believe I'm feeling this way about Alec Vanderholt, the one person who always seems to push my buttons in every way possible.
“What about Victoria?” I point out. Just saying her name makes my stomach sink, and I know that’s a bad sign.
“What about her?” Alec asks, his tone instantly sounding annoyed and defensive.
“Come on, Alec,” I say, barely able to resist rolling my eyes. “The whole school knows you’re expected to marry her when you both graduate.”
“Trust me, I have zero plans of marrying that viper, ever,” he says firmly. The look in his eyes is dark. And I believe him. “I have zero interest in Victoria. The expectation may be there from our families, but Victoria is… boring.”
I study him, searching for signs that any of what he’s saying isn’t true. But it’s in every tight muscle of his body. “I believe you,” I finally admit.
"Look," Alec says, his voice low and steady. "I know you and I act like we hate each other. Our lives are completely different, and that won't change. But if we're both honest with ourselves, there's something here, some kind of... connection." He pauses, searching for the right words as he takes a step toward me. "I want to explore that, no strings attached. Just you and me, raw and real."
His eyes lock onto mine, intense and vulnerable at the same time. Despite the fact that we've spent most of our time at Westcroft at odds with each other, I can't deny the truth in his words. As much as I hate admitting it, I've become a little obsessed with him too – the way he carries himself, the secret life he's been hiding, and now, his unexpected honesty.
But this isn’t exactly simple. When it comes to sexual partnering, there’s a lot to consider.
“Are you clean?”
Oh fuck. Sometimes my frankness can be really, really embarrassing.
Alec arches an eyebrow at me. One that’s impressed I’ve asked the question, one that’s intrigued that I seem to be considering. “I haven’t had sex in over four months. And if I’m being honest, I’ve only slept with four women my whole life. Being an heir makes you cautious of people’s motives.”
Surprisingly, that makes sense. “I’ve only ever had sex with two guys, and nobody in two years. So, I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say I’m clean.”
A grin is taking over his face. He’s gotten me to confess this much, I have to be taking this seriously.
Am I?
What the hell is going on?
“How about birth control?” Alec asks.
I shake my head. “Not in over a year.”
“Would you like me to get you some? There’s always condoms, but, I know some women want something a little more reliable, or double protection.”
That’s… surprisingly considerate.
“I can pick some up tomorrow,” I tell him, knowing where on campus I can talk to a doctor and get it the same day. “I can ask how long until it’s effective.”
He arches a brow again. “Does this mean yes?”
I fold my arms over my chest, and bite the inside of my lip. Am I seriously considering this? With Alec Vanderholt? Who the hell am I right now? And why is my adrenaline surging and everything in me is begging me to say yes?
“I’ll make you a deal,” I say, already blushing before I even confess the words. “A man has never made me orgasm. Honestly, never even gotten me close. If you…” I take in a breath because my heart is absolutely racing at my audacity in saying all of this. “If you can get me off, you’ve got a deal.”
Something dark and mischievous and feral takes over Alec’s eyes and the smile on his lips is positively wicked. “Oh, you’ve got yourself a deal, Salem Winters.”
My heart rate spikes. Fuck. I’m in it now. "But if you ever breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll make sure the whole school knows about your little masked adventures." I take on as an insurance policy.
“Understood,” he says with a grin, extending his hand to seal our agreement. As our hands meet, the electric charge between us is palpable, sending shivers up my spine.
"Let's get one thing straight," I say, trying to regain control of the situation. "This doesn't mean we're friends, or that we suddenly like each other. We're still enemies, just...enemies with benefits."
"Works for me," Alec smirks, and I can't help but notice how his blue eyes seem to darken with anticipation.
"Good," I say, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Alec turns and shuts the door. He drags the half bookcase in front of it, effectively blocking anyone from entering.
Oh. Fuck. He means right damn now.
"Alright," Alec says, his voice low and steady as he slowly walks back toward me. "What do you want right now, Salem?"
Instantly, I clam up. My brain wants to shut down. The shame and guilt I’ve felt when it comes to sex my whole life comes roaring to the surface. I hold Alec’s eyes as he crosses the room, only a few steps away, but already I feel myself shutting down.
This is never going to work.
Who did I think I was? Certainly not repressed Salem Winters who can hardly even touch herself without feeling all kinds of guilty.
“I…” I stutter, unable to make the words come.
Alec stops right in front of me, and I’m astounded by the knowing, understanding look in his eyes. He hooks his index finger and raises my chin, making me look into those icy blue eyes. “You can say it, Salem. Trust me, I am dying to do anything you tell me to. So, what do you want?”
My heart is racing. But with Alec’s encouragement, my brain starts sorting through my thoughts. It's an intoxicating sensation, knowing that I have the power to dictate what happens next. I swallow down my fear and try to let my newfound curiosity guide me.
"Touch me." The words leave my lips, raw and honest in their simplicity. A flicker of surprise crosses Alec's face, but it's quickly replaced by a villainous grin.
"Where?" he asks, as his hand slips down to run down the back of my arm. Goosebumps instantly flash across my skin.
"Everywhere," I breathe out shakily.
"Greedy girl," Alec murmurs, his breath ghosting across my cheek. "But that’s what I was hoping for."
His fingers skim along my jawline, brushing down my neck and sending shivers down my spine. It's a light touch, barely there, but it's electrifying all the same. My skin tingles with anticipation, hungry for more.
I can’t believe that Alec Vanderholt is touching me. And that I’m shaking for it, filled to the brim with anticipation. Alec .
"Tell me how this feels," he whispers into my ear as he continues to trace the contours of my body. His hands graze my shoulders, my arms, my sides—careful and deliberate in their exploration.
"Good," I admit, my voice barely a sigh. "But I want…” Embarrassment stops my tongue.
“Please tell me what you want, Salem,” he says so softly, it reaches down into the softest depths of me and brings out the truth.
"Take off your shirt," I say, swallowing hard as I muster up the courage to voice my desire. Fuck. I can’t believe those words just came out of my mouth. And directed at Alec Vanderholt! "I want to see you."
"How about you do it yourself?" he challenges, a wicked grin forming on his lips. His tone is playful but serious, daring me to take control.
With hesitant hands, I reach out and grip the hem of his shirt, pulling it up slowly. My heart pounds in my chest at the thought of touching him, of feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips. As I lift the fabric higher, revealing the toned muscles of his abdomen, I can't help but let out a shaky breath.
"Go on," Alec urges softly, his gaze never leaving mine.
Finally, I lift the shirt free of his body, and I'm left staring at the chiseled planes of his chest and shoulders. It's like seeing one of those Greek statues come to life, all smooth, golden skin and sculpted muscle. But unlike those cold marble figures, Alec is warm and breathing, his pulse quickening beneath my touch.
My fingers trace the contours of his body, exploring the ridges of his abs and the subtle dips where muscle meets skin. Alec's eyes slide closed, and I can tell that he's enjoying my touch just as much as I am. His breath hitches slightly as my fingers slip lower, trailing over his bellybutton until they hit the waist of his pants, and I can't disguise the thrill that shoots through me at the sound, knowing it’s me who is making him react like that.
"Kiss me," I whisper, emboldened by the vulnerability I see in him.
His eyes fly open, and I see consideration in them for a moment. And I get worried I’ve crossed a line, overstepped some boundary he forgot to voice.
But then Alec leans in, cupping his hand behind my head, and his lips find mine with an intensity that takes my breath away. Alec’s hands wrap around my body, pulling me closer. His tongue begs for an invitation and I let him in. I gasp in a breath, the sensation of him saturating into every corner of my being. My hands roam over Alec's chest and back, reveling in the feel of his skin against mine. This is more than just a kiss – this is a wild gasp for air from two suffocating people.
Alec breaks away from the kiss, his lips trailing down my jaw and neck. He nips at the sensitive skin there, sending shivers down my spine. I let out a soft moan, unable to contain the pleasure that courses through me.
My heart pounds in my chest as Alec effortlessly lifts me, setting me down on the edge of the table. The cold surface sends a shiver up my spine, but it's nothing compared to the heat burning between us. He looks at me with an intensity that would make anyone else cower, but I can't bring myself to look away.
"Alright, Salem," he says softly, taking control of the situation. "I want you to tell me what feels good, okay? I want to know exactly what you like."
His fingers trail along my collarbone, electricity sparking beneath his touch. I nod, unable to find my voice. His hand moves lower, grazing the curve of my breast. The sensation leaves me breathless, and I can't help the little gasp that escapes my lips.
"Like that?" Alec asks, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
"Y-yes," I stammer, never having been so acutely aware of my own body before.
"Good," he murmurs, continuing his exploration. He trails his fingers down my stomach, sliding to my hips, then down my thighs – each brush of his fingertips sending waves of desire through me like ripples on a pond. Despite our animosity, there's something undeniably intimate about this moment, both terrifying and exhilarating.
"Tell me what you want next, Salem," Alec whispers, his eyes locked on mine.
"I…” my brain is struggling to form coherent words, and my heart is too scared to voice what it wants. “I don’t…”
Alec grabs my chin, forcing my eyes to his. “Anything, Salem. I will do anything you ask me to, and I will not balk or hesitate. So. Tell. Me. What. You. Want.”
Holy shit.
The intensity radiating off of him leaves zero room for doubt that he means what he says. So, mustering everything I’ve got in me, I ask for what I’m dying to have. “I want you to touch me down there.”
"Where, exactly?" he prompts, a devilish smirk playing on his lips.
"Between my legs," I say, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.
"Like this?" Alec asks as he slides a hand up my thigh, sliding beneath my skirt, stopping just short of my most sensitive area. I let out a needy whimper, encouraging him further.
"Please, Alec," I beg, abandoning any pretense of pride. "Please, just touch me."
"Your wish is my command," he murmurs.
I gasp as he pushes my panties aside and slips a finger inside me, the sensation both foreign and intensely pleasurable.
“Your so fucking wet and so damn tight,” he says, his words a purr.
“More,” I breathe out, not allowing my brain to stop my words from saying what I really want.
He arches a brow slightly and grins. He watches me closely, his eyes never leaving my face as he works another finger in, stretching me gently. The friction sends tingles up my spine, and I can't stop the moan that escapes my lips.
"Fuck, Salem," Alec breathes, clearly enjoying the effect he's having on me. "You have no idea how much I've fantasized about this. To see you like this... Damn, it's intoxicating."
“Really?” I can’t help but ask, because holy fuck! Alec Vanderhold has fantasized about finger fucking me? But my entire world returns between my lets as he grins and nods, and picks up the pace as he slides his fingers in and out of me.
His words send a thrill through me, making me feel powerful and vulnerable all at once. I grip the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white as he continues to work his magic. And it gets ten times better when his thumb presses directly on my clit and he begins making small circles, pushing me closer and closer to the edge.
As our eyes meet, two enemies united by mutual desire, I know that we've crossed a line that can never be uncrossed – and I'm not sure I want to go back.
My breath hitches as Alec's skilled fingers change up their rhythm, bringing me closer to the edge. The sensation is overwhelming, and I can't help but cling to him, my nails digging into his broad shoulders.
"You’re so damn close,” he breathes, his voice low and almost teasing.
I don’t answer. But a needy noise escapes my lips and I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment at my own vulnerability.
"Good girl," he murmurs, the praise sending a shiver down my spine. "Now let go."
With that final command, my body detonates.
It rips from my toes to my scalp, racing through my entire body with the force of a lightning bolt. A cry escapes my lips as my head tips back, and I should be worried about people overhearing, but I’m so fucking gone I don’t even notice my volume.
My entire body trembles as I reach my climax, waves of ecstasy washing over me. Alec doesn't stop his ministrations, prolonging my pleasure until I'm gasping for air and trembling with aftershocks. I feel delirious. I feel blind. I feel like the human embodiment of bliss.
“Fuck, Salem,” Alec says as I collapse into him. “You did such a good job.”
He slowly removes his fingers from inside me, causing a wave of disappointment to wash over me.
I press my face into Alec's neck, both surprised and ashamed that I allowed myself to give in to him so completely.
But holy fuck. A man just made me come. And it hardly looked like any effort from him. Who knew Alec Vanderholt had magic fingers?
But I know what that means now.
We made a deal.
If Alec could make me come, I’d agree to his insane proposal.
"Come to my apartment tomorrow night," he instructs, his tone casual but firm. "We'll continue this then."
"Okay," I agree quietly, still reeling, still a little out of my mind from the intensity of what just transpired between us.
Alec releases me from his grasp, and I reluctantly slide off the table, my skirt sliding back down into place, my legs shaky beneath me. With a smug grin, he leans in, and presses the softest of kisses to my lips.
“Somehow I knew you’d be fucking perfect.”
Utterly speechless, I just stand there.
All casual cool and calm, he turns. He retrieves his shirt from the floor and pulls it back on. He unblocks the door with an air of nonchalance and strides out of the room, leaving me hot and bothered in his wake.
As I gather my things, trying to regain some semblance of composure, I can't help but wonder what the fuck I've gotten myself into. My rational mind knows this is a terrible idea – getting involved with someone like Alec Vanderholt, someone who infuriates me and challenges me at every turn. Yet, there's a part of me that craves the raw, unfiltered connection we just shared, and I can't deny that it's awakened something within me – something that I'm both excited and terrified to explore.
"Tomorrow night," I whisper to myself, a strange mixture of wild anticipation and trepidation settling in my chest. "What the hell did you get yourself into, Salem?"