He nods, his rhythm never faltering as our fingers work in tandem, lifting the barriers between us.The masks fall away, and suddenly it's just us, Gage and Skye, naked in every sense.His eyes, no longer shadowed, burn into mine with an intensity that steals my breath.
"There you are," he whispers, cupping my face with one hand."Beautiful."
His expression is raw, vulnerable in a way I've never seen before.His hips still as he stares down at me, something shifting in his gaze.
"I've missed your face," he murmurs, tracing my cheek with his thumb.
The words hit me like a physical blow, tender and devastating.I reach up to touch his face, my fingers mapping the sharp line of his jaw, the way his eyes crinkle slightly at the corners when he looks at me like this.
"I've missed you too," I whisper back, the admission cracking something open inside my chest.
He moves again, slower now, deeper, his gaze never leaving mine.Without the masks, every expression is laid bare, the way his breath catches when I arch beneath him, the way his eyes flutter closed when I clench around him, and the way he bites his lip to keep from making sound.
"I can't get enough of you," he says, roughly."I've tried to stay away, tried to be responsible, but…"
"Don't," I interrupt, pulling him down for a kiss."Don't think about that.Not tonight."
He groans into my mouth, the kiss desperate and consuming.His pace quickens again, each thrust hitting exactly where I need him.
"You're so perfect," he breathes as he breaks the kiss, his thumb still stroking my cheek."So fucking perfect for me."
The familiar tension builds low in my belly, every nerve ending sparking.
"I'm close," I gasp, my fingers digging into his shoulders.
His hand slides between us, thumb finding my clit and circling with just the right pressure."Come for me, Skye.I want to feel you."
The combination of his thumb and the way he's hitting that perfect spot inside me sends me over the edge.I cry out his name, my back arching as waves of pleasure crash through me.He doesn't stop, working me through every pulse and tremor until I'm shaking beneath him.
"That's it," he growls, his own control fraying as I clench around him."God, you're so beautiful when you come."
His rhythm becomes erratic, desperate.I can see he's close in the way his jaw tightens, the way his breathing becomes ragged.I pull him down for another kiss, pouring everything I can't say into it.
"Come for me," I whisper against his lips, echoing his words back to him.
With a low groan, he buries himself deep and falls apart, his whole body tensing as he finds his release.I hold him through it, wrapping my legs tighter around his waist, keeping him close as he pulses inside me.For several long moments, we stay like that, his forehead pressed against mine, our breathing gradually slowing.
"Fuck," he whispers, voice raw.His weight settles fully against me, a delicious pressure that grounds me in this moment.
When he finally rolls to his side, he takes me with him, keeping us connected.His fingers trace idle patterns on my back as we face each other, masks discarded, nothing left to hide behind.
"That was..."he trails off, searching for words.
"I know," I say, because I do.It was more than just sex.It was acknowledgment, surrender, maybe even a beginning.
His eyes search mine, vulnerability flickering across his face.
"Stay," I whisper before I can stop myself.
His eyes search mine, something soft and surprised flickering across his face."Are you sure?"
I nod, running my fingers through his hair."Please."
He tucks me against his chest, our legs tangled together.His heartbeat pounds steadily under my ear, gradually slowing as we lie in comfortable silence.His fingers trace lazy patterns on my bare back, sending pleasant shivers down my spine.
For the first time in months, I let myself relax completely.His arms around me feel like home and danger all at once.I trace small circles on his chest, marveling at how natural this feels despite everything that makes it impossible.
"What are you thinking about?"he asks, voice drowsy.
