Page 165 of Villainous Rise

I locked my ankles tighter behind his back as he increased the pace.

“God, Annie,” he growled against my neck. “The way you feel around me—so fucking tight.”

My pussy clenched at his words, drawing a hiss from between his teeth. I was close already, embarrassingly so.

“I can’t—“ My voice broke as he changed the angle slightly, hitting that perfect spot with each thrust. “Cipher, I’m going to⁠—“

“That’s it,” he murmured. “Come for me, Sparks. Let me feel you.”

I cried out his name and his rhythm faltered as I came with him following me over the edge, his body jerking against mine as he emptied himself inside me.

For several heartbeats, we remained suspended in the fog, our panting the only sound besides the distant crash of waves.

Slowly, he began our descent. The fog parted beneath us, revealing the dark beach below. My legs were still wrapped around his waist, his cock still inside me as we touched down on the sand.

Cipher lowered us both to the ground, easing me onto my back. The sand molded to my body as he braced himself above me.

I shifted uncomfortably, grimacing as I felt grit in places it definitely shouldn’t be.

“I have sand in my dress,” I frowned, tugging at the bunched fabric. “And probably everywhere else.”

Cipher laughed softly. His eyes glittered with amusement, his hair a wild mess from our flight and my fingers.

“You’re the one who suggested we play,” he reminded me, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

“I didn’t suggest we roll around in the sand like animals,” I grumbled, but there was no real heat behind it. My body felt too boneless with satisfaction to summon proper indignation.

Cipher pulled out of me with a satisfied exhale, then rolled onto his back, tugging me on top of him. I collapsed against his chest, my limbs heavy and uncoordinated.

“Cold?” he asked, wrapping his arms tighter around me when I shivered.

I nodded against his chest. His tux jacket offered minimal protection against the ocean breeze, especially with my dress hiked up around my waist and my underwear wherever they ended up.

“We should probably move,” I murmured, making absolutely no effort to do so. My body felt deliciously used, pleasantly sore in all the right places.

Cipher’s hand traced lazy patterns on my bare thigh. “Probably.”

Neither of us moved. His heartbeat thumped steadily beneath my ear, gradually slowing to its normal rhythm. The sound was comforting.

“Are we good?” he asked after a moment.

I considered the question, tracing a finger along the edge of his shirt collar. “As long as you don’t dance with other women like you want to fuck them against the nearest surface, then yes.”

Cipher caught my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm. “Deal. Though remember, I’m a good actor. I actually wanted to throw her through the wall.”

I snorted. “Well, you were very convincing.”

He pressed my palm against his cheek, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “I know.”

“What about you?” I asked, lifting my head to meet his eyes. “Are we good?”

“We are.”

There had been the smallest hesitation before his answer, so small that most people would miss it. I stroked his cheek with my thumb, feeling the slight roughness of the beginnings of stubble beneath my fingertips.

“Are you sure?” I pressed. “Because that didn’t sound like you’re good.”

Cipher’s jaw tightened beneath my touch. “I’m good with us. When your charade with Valor is over, I will be.”