My breath leaves my lungs in one slow, shaky exhale.
God.
I can't think. Can't move. All I can do is nod.
"Okay," I whisper, voice trembling but sure. "Take it."
The second the words leave my mouth, he moves.
Aleksandr's hand slides from the counter to the side of my face, his fingers firm beneath my jaw as he tilts my chin up. His mouth crashes into mine with full force, lips pressing against mine so hard I gasp—but he doesn't pull back. He uses that gasp, deepens the kiss without hesitation.
His other arm curls around my waist, tugging me flush against him. My chest meets his, and I feel everything—hard muscle, steady breath, heat radiating through his clothes. The contrast is overwhelming. I feel smaller pressed up against him, like I've been swallowed whole.
This isn't sweet. It isn't careful. It's a kiss that feels like possession—like he's claiming me and I'm letting him.
His hand at my jaw holds me in place as his mouth moves against mine, and it feels like he's starving. Like I'm the only thing he's ever wanted to taste.
My hands hesitate in the air before finally finding his chest. They settle there, fingers twisting into the fabric of his shirt like it's the only thing keeping me upright.
His lips part mine, and I freeze for half a second—but then his tongue traces the seam of my mouth, coaxing me open.
I let him in. I can't stop myself.
My breath stutters in my throat, and he kisses me harder. His mouth moves over mine like he's trying to brand me, to carve himself into memory. And he does.
Every part of me lights up.
This is my first kiss, and it's nothing like I imagined.
There's no awkward hesitation. No second-guessing. Just Aleksandr—steady, sure, all-consuming. He controls it. Guides me. And I can't do anything but hold on.
My fingers clutch tighter against his chest. His heartbeat thuds steadily beneath my palms, while mine feels like it's about to rip out of my body.
Then his teeth catch my bottom lip and tug—firm, intentional, just enough to make me gasp again. Not rough. Not violent. Just enough.
He holds it there, for a beat, before letting go and brushing one last kiss against it.
And then he pulls back, chest rising and falling, his forehead resting lightly against mine.
We're both breathing hard.
I suck in a sharp breath; the intensity of the moment makes me feel like I just ran a marathon. My lips buzz where his were, my entire body humming with electricity.
This is what he meant. Is this his destruction? Is this him ruining me? If it is, sign me up. I want to give him more. I want to give him everything.
I am falling, collapsing into him when he pulls away and leans his forehead against mine.
Nervously, I lick my lips, and freeze when the taste of metal spreads across my tongue.
My eyes widen as I realize—he bit me. Not hard enough to hurt, just enough to leave a mark.
His eyes lock onto the blood on my lip, and a smile—dark and panty-droppingly deadly—spreads across his lips.
"You're already bleeding, Lily," he taunts, his voice a low purr that makes my knees weak.
Before I can respond, he leans in and licks the blood off my bottom lip, his tongue warm and tender against my skin.
"Oh," I whisper, my tongue tracing over the space he just cleaned. "It's okay. No biggie."
