In my mind, I hear him groan, his body leaning closer as he whispers,You’re so fucking wet.
I move the vibrator, focusing it on my clit, picturing his finger rubbing me there, firm and insistent, his gaze sharp on my face, watching, making sure I liked it, making sure I was right there with him.
Gripping the sheets, I moan. I'm so close, teetering on the edge of something that feels like reclamation and surrender all at once. My hips rock against the vibrator and I'm there, right there, completely consumed by Mason—by the intensity ofhim, the safety of him, the terrifying vulnerability of wanting someone this much after so long in the dark.
In my mind, Mason nuzzles the side of my face, his lips close to my ear as he says,My pretty girl. Come for me. Come for me and then I’ll give you more.
“Yes.” I’m so close. I grip the pillow over my head and cry out. “Mason.”
19
MASON
I'm completely undone—my hand moving faster now, my breathing harsh and ragged in the darkness.
Through the scope, I watch her body tense. Watch her back arch off the bed. Watch her mouth form words I can't hear but can imagine.Yes.Please.More.
I want to be the one making her feel that. I want to be the one between her thighs, making her shake and gasp and come apart, to hear my name on her lips when she shatters.
FuckI want to hear her say my name.
My grip tightens. My rhythm turns brutal.
She's close—I can see it in the way her movements become erratic, desperate. Her head thrashes against the pillow. Her thighs tremble.
When she comes, it's beautiful and devastating. Her entire body goes taut, her mouth open on what I know is a cry of release, and I lose it.
I come hard, shooting over my hand as I bite down on a groan. The pleasure is so intense it's almost painful—wave after wave, fueled by the image of her falling apart on her bed.
For a moment, I can't move, I can't think. I can only stand here in the darkness with my hand wrapped around my spent dick, watching her collapse back against the sheets.
She's breathing hard. So am I.
Slowly, reality filters back in. What the hell did I just do?
I lower the scope with shaking hands. My jeans are still open, my dick still half hard, my release cooling on my skin.
This isn't reconnaissance. This isn't tactical observation. This is me crossing a line I can never uncross.
I exhale silently. I've already made my choice. I'm committed now—to her.
Hell—who am I kidding? I have been since the first time I saw her. She’s owned me completely, and there's no going back from that.
Whether she wants my protection or not.
Whether she trusts me or not.
Whether it's right or not.
20
LILY
My body is still trembling as I collapse back against the sheets, my chest heaving, my thighs trembling.
I’m a mess. I’m dripping and sticky and still quivering, not entirely satisfied. Usually a release is just that—a release—and then I go back to business as usual.
This was not that.
