Page 34 of Boards & Betrayal

Ally

The aftermath of my orgasm left me breathless, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I tried to steady myself. I looked up at Thomas, his face hovering above mine, eyes dark with desire. Even with the hint of grey at his temples, he looked so beautiful. It was the kind of beauty that seemed almost unfair—rugged and intense, softened only by the depth of emotion in his gaze.

My fingers moved almost on their own, tangling in his hair. The strands were softer than I remembered, and I found a strange comfort in the simple act of running my hands through them.

God, it was so easy to fall back into this.

Into him.

"Ally," he murmured roughly, his voice gravelly with the remnants of passion. The sound of my name on his lips sent a shiver down my spine.

Without thinking, I reached out and began to unbutton his pants. The fabric felt cool under my fingertips as I worked each button loose, exposing more of him to me. His breathing grew heavier, matching the urgency in my movements.

I reached in and pulled out his hard cock, the heat of him searing against my palm. Thomas sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes darkening with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.

"Fuck, Ally," he groaned, his voice heavy with desire. "I've missed you so fucking much."

I furrowed my brows as I began to stroke him, the rhythm of my hand mirroring the turmoil inside me. "I don't understand," I murmured, barely able to meet his gaze.

"What?" He managed to get out, his breath hitching with each stroke.

"I just… we were together three, maybe four weeks before…" I let my voice trail off, the unspoken words hanging between us like a fragile thread. "How can you miss something like that? Something that barely happened."

Thomas's eyes softened for a moment, a rare vulnerability breaking through his usual guarded demeanor. He reached up, cupping my face with one hand while the other gently wrapped around my wrist, stilling my movements.

"Barely still happened." His voice was gruff. "Because it mattered," he said simply, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "You mattered."

"And Ni?—"

Before I could say his name, Thomas pulled me into a searing kiss. His lips crushed against mine, a blend of desperation and longing that left me breathless. When he finally pulled away, his eyes burned into mine.

"I don't want to hear his name from your mouth ever again, you got me?" His voice was a low growl, vibrating through my chest. "Especially not before I fuck you."

I sucked in a shaky breath, my mind spinning. "I don't know... Is this a good idea? Thomas, I..." I looked away, my fingers trembling against his chest. "I can't just hook up. It's notin me. I don't want to do this because I don't think I can ask you for more than this."

His grip tightened around my waist, pulling me closer. "Oh, and I can? You stopped picking up, not me."

"I didn't?—"

"Excuse," he cut me off sharply. "I want you. I wanted you before and I want you now."

"But—"

"No," he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "No. I don't care about anything or anyone else. I said I want you. Isn't that enough?"

I searched his eyes, looking for something—anything—that might reassure me or confirm my fears.

"What more do I have to do to prove myself to you?" His frustration was palpable. "Marry you?"

A weak smile tugged at my lips as I tried to lighten the mood, though my heart wasn't in it. "Is that your way of proposing?"

The moment hung between us like a fragile thread, both of us teetering on the edge of something profound yet terrifying.

His expression softened for a split second before hardening again, as if he realized the vulnerability he'd just shown and immediately regretted it.

"Ally," he murmured, the intensity returning to his gaze, "I'm not playing games here."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself against the whirlwind of emotions inside me. It wasn't just about what we had or hadn't been; it was about everything that had happened since—the loss, the loneliness, the unresolved grief.

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