58.

Aeryn stirred in her sleep, her body heavy with exhaustion from recent events. The soft rustling of fabric against her skin was the first thing she noticed, a gentle reminder that she wasn’t in the cold, desolate space where she had last seen Jack. She inhaled slowly, the scent of something warm and unfamiliar flooding her senses. It wasn’t until her eyelids fluttered open, that she realized she was no longer in that place of terror. Instead, she found herself wrapped in a thick duvet, the softness of the bed beneath her a stark contrast to the cold, hard floor she had last been on.

For a moment, she blinked, trying to make sense of the surroundings. The soft light in the room bathed everything in a muted glow, and that’s when her eyes fell on him—Alex, lying beside her, his presence unmistakable. His body was half-covered by the duvet they shared, and the proximity of him sent a warm flush through her body. She gasped, her heart stuttering as she realized how close they were.

Alex's eyes opened slowly, almost as if he had been waiting for her to awaken. A slow, lazy smile curved his lips, and before she could react, he reached out, gently gripping her chin between his fingers. “Good morning,” he whispered, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine.

Aeryn’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she immediately tried to pull back, embarrassed by how her body was reacting to him. But Alex’s fingers held her firmly in place, his touch both commanding and gentle. “Stay,” he murmured softly, his lips brushing against her nose.

Her breath hitched, the warmth of his proximity making her dizzy. She felt the duvet fall lower, her body reacting to his presence in ways she couldn’t quite control. “Alex…” she started, but her voice trailed off as he leaned in, pressing his lips against hers with a tenderness that took her breath away.

He kissed her slowly, savoring the moment, and Aeryn felt herself melting into him despite her initial hesitation. The tension between them had always been there, simmering beneath the surface, but now it was undeniable. When he finally pulled away, his eyes locked with hers, the intensity in his gaze making her pulse quicken.

“Will you be able to take me?” he asked in a low voice, his forehead resting against hers. His words sent a tremor through her, a mixture of fear and desire coursing through her veins.

Aeryn’s lips parted, her heart racing in her chest. She had no words, only the heat of his body next to hers, the gravity of his presence pulling her in. After a moment, she nodded—just a slight movement, barely perceptible, but enough for Alex to understand her consent.

He watched her intently, his gaze softening as he brought his lips to hers once more. His hands trailed down her body, slow and deliberate, as if giving her time to adjust to every touch. Aeryn gasped, her senses overwhelmed, and before she knew it, he was guiding her to lay back onto the bed.

Alex kneeled at the edge, his powerful figure looming over her, but the look in his eyes was nothing short of reverent. He didn’t rush, didn’t push her any further than she was ready for. Instead, he bent down, his lips pressing a soft kiss to the top of her foot.

Aeryn shuddered at the sensation, her breath catching in her throat. It was such a small gesture, but the intimacy of it—the tenderness—nearly undid her. “Alex…” she whispered again, but this time there was no hesitation, only the raw vulnerability of what was happening between them.

He looked up at her from where he knelt, his eyes locking with hers once more. “You are everything to me, Aeryn,” he murmured, his hands caressing her calves, his touch light but electrifying. He kissed her ankle next, his lips brushing against her skin with a reverence that made her blush even deeper.

She wanted to say something, anything, but her voice wouldn’t cooperate. All she could do was watch him as he worked his way up her leg, each kiss igniting something deep inside her. By the time he reached her knees, she was trembling, her heart racing in her chest.

Finally, Alex rose, his body hovering over hers, and he kissed her again—this time, more deeply, more urgently. Aeryn responded in kind, her hands finding their way to his back, pulling him closer as the heat between them grew. Every touch, every kiss, felt like a promise, a silent vow that neither of them needed to speak aloud.

As the tension between them reached its peak, Alex’s voice broke through the haze. “Are you ready for this, Aeryn?” he asked softly, his lips brushing against her ear.

She nodded again, her breath hitching. There was no going back now, and she didn’t want to. The tension between them had built for so long, and now it was finally reaching its breaking point.

With one last look into her eyes, Alex kissed her once more, and this time, there was no hesitation, no uncertainty. Only the two of them, together, as they finally gave in to the tension that had been building for so long.Alex's hands moved over Aeryn's body with deliberate slowness, as though savoring every inch of her skin. She gasped at the light pressure of his fingertips, feeling the warmth of his breath against her ear as he whispered, "You're beautiful like this."

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, every nerve on edge as he explored her, touching her in places that made her tremble. She could barely form a coherent thought as his mouth found her neck, trailing soft, hot kisses down the length of her throat. Her breath hitched, the soft moan that escaped her lips betraying how much she wanted him, how much she needed this.

"Alex..." she whispered, her voice unsteady as his hand slid lower, tracing the curve of her hips. She could feel the growing tension between them, the undeniable pull of his touch driving her wild.

His mouth found hers again, claiming her in a kiss that was slow and deep. She melted into him, her body arching into his touch as his fingers grazed her inner thigh. The heat that spread through her body was intoxicating, making her toes curl as she bit her bottom lip, trying to hold back the sounds that threatened to escape.

He pulled back slightly, his gaze locking with hers, intense and filled with desire. "I want you to let go, Aeryn," he murmured, his voice low and commanding. His thumb brushed across her lower lip before moving down her body once again. "I want to feel every part of you."

Her pulse quickened at his words, her body trembling with anticipation as his hand slid further down. When his fingers finally brushed against her, she gasped, a sharp intake of breath as pleasure shot through her.

"Alex!" Her voice came out in a broken moan as his fingers worked against her, moving with a steady, rhythmic pressure that made her whole body tense. Every touch sent waves of heat radiating through her, building in intensity until it was all she could focus on.

He kissed her again, his tongue gently teasing hers, but his hand never stopped moving. The pressure between her thighs was growing.