Page 35 of Taming a Ruthless Heart

Her brow furrows, though the corner of her mouth twitches in the hint of a smile.“We did get carried away, didn’t we?”she says, but there’s something in her voice that’s off.It’s playful on the surface, but her eyes flicker, her smile not quite reaching them.There’s a touch of something unreadable in her gaze.She’s holding something back.My chest tightens at the thought that she isn’t fully here with me, even now.I’ve known Alexia long enough to recognize when she’s hiding behind a mask, but I don’t press.Not yet.Not when the moment still feels too fragile.

I need her to know that I don’t take risks like this lightly.“I’ve just had my physical exams done.Clean bill of health.”I lift a hand, rubbing the back against her cheek.“I should’ve been more careful, though.Sorry.I hope that’s okay with you.”

She looks away for a moment, her hand idly tracing a pattern on my chest, fingers dancing over the outline of a tattoo.But her touch feels distracted, like she’s somewhere else entirely.“It’s okay,” she says quietly, her eyes returning to mine—calm but distant.There’s a storm behind them, something she’s not ready to let me see.

What is it, Alexia?What are you hiding?I want to ask, but the words get stuck in my throat.She’s like a locked door I haven’t been able to open in years.

But she’s been through hell with Igor.It must be it that’s going through her mind right now.

“Don’t worry.”Her voice is steady, and I see something flicker in her eyes—something she’s not ready to say yet.“I’m clean too.”

The relief hits me instantly, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.“Good.That’s great, in fact.”I pull her closer, her warmth seeping into me as I tighten my arms around her.

Alexia nestles deeper into my embrace, her fingers continue tracing gentle patterns on my skin.But the way she stills slightly tells me there’s more she isn’t telling me.There’s an unspoken tension between us, a quiet hesitation in her touch, but I don’t push.Not now.Her heartbeat slows, matching mine, and I know, despite the doubts lingering in the back of my mind, that this moment between us is real.Whatever she’s hiding, I can wait for it to unravel in its own time.

For now, I’ll lock the real world out and pretend everything is fine.I squeeze my eyes shut, relaxing into her warmth.I relish the fact that I’m holding her against my chest again.My heart swells at the realization that I have my Sandy back where she belongs.And I’ll be damned if I let her go again.

After a brief, restorative nap, we stir back into consciousness and get up from the sofa.I find my pants, pull them up, and scoop Alexia into my arms.Her high-pitched shriek of surprise and delighted laughter sets a fire deep inside me.It’s like the last five years never happened.It’s like we’re still that man and that woman who fell in love and made plans for our happily ever after.

I press a hot, quick kiss on her smiling lips.“Tonight, it’s only you and me.There’s no world outside these walls.”She blinks a couple of times, her lips quiver, and for a moment, I see the uncertainty flickering in her eyes—the part of her that’s still unsure, still afraid of what happens when this moment ends.I want to say something to ease that fear, but instead, I slip on my dominant mask, leaning into the role I know too well.“Promise me,” I plead, though the words feel like armor, hiding the softer side of me she once knew.

She nods.

I lift an eyebrow.

“I promise,” Alexia murmurs.

“Promise what, pet?”

Realization gleams in her hazel eyes before she casts them to my chest.“It’s only you and me, Sir.”Her gaze flicks back to mine for an intense second.She dips her head and adds, “Nothing else matters.”

“Look at me.”When she does, I confirm my suspicions.She feels the same way I do about this moment.Yet I need to hear the words from her.“Alexia, no role-playing now.For this night, at least, I want us to be free and wild like we used to.Nothing is out of limits.You’re with me?”

“A hundred percent.”

I lean in and she meets my lips halfway.Time and space freeze as we devour each other in a hungry kiss.It’s part heartbreaking longing and part desperate hope.She tangles her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer.I crush her body against me, as if I could absorb her.

As blood rushes through my body, the control I’ve held onto begins to unravel.I pull away, gasping for air.For a second, I let my forehead rest against hers, as if I could hide the emotions flooding me—the fear of losing her again, the hope that this night could fix what was broken years ago.I force a smile, pushing down the flood of feelings.“Better take this upstairs,” I grunt, trying to sound in control, even as everything inside me teeters on the edge.

“Yes, Sir.”The naughty woman winks.

I break a couple of world records as I rush out of the room, down the corridor, and climb the stairs to my bedroom.Once inside, I lock the door behind us.Alexia slides down my body to stand in front of me, and we get rid of the few items of clothing we still have on.

“Be still,” I order, moving around her in slow steps, scanning her glorious nakedness.

Stopping in front of her again, I dip my head until my lips hover over the sweet spot under her earlobe.I take a deep inhale that fills my lungs with the heady scent of her arousal.“Intoxicating,” I whisper against her skin.

I straighten my back and smirk at the sight of the goosebumps raising the fine hair on her arms.Her hard nipples beg for attention.So I oblige.Rolling one between my fingers, I pull the other inside my mouth.Moaning, I suck at it like Alexia is the finest delicacy.

Because she is.

Taking pity at her strangled groans, I grant her some leeway, “You may move and touch me.”

She sinks her fingernails into the flesh of my shoulders as I switch sides.I pinch the now-wet nipple and cover the other with my lips.I flick it with my tongue while tweaking the other.My cock throbs in tandem with my sucking of her sweetness.

Her trembling body and rapid breathing indicate she’s nearing her limit.I know Alexia can come just from me playing with her breasts.I’ve done that multiple times in the past.I abandon them and take a step back.

Confusion and dismay flash in her eyes when they meet mine.

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