Page 130 of Steel Beauty

Alex’s lips trail down my neck in a deliberate, tantalizing path, his warm breath sending a cascade of shivers over my skin. When he gently tugs at the strap of my gown, a spark ignites deep within me, growing into an undeniable flame.

Our eyes lock, an unspoken exchange passing between us—vulnerability, passion, and something even deeper.

Piece by piece, we shed the barriers between us, each article of clothing removed with deliberate slowness, savoring the anticipation of what comes next. The brush of bare skin against fingertips feels electric, each caress filled with tenderness.

Alex guides me gently onto the bed, his movements unhurried, his touch steady. His warmth surrounds me as he positions himself between my legs, bracing himself with his strong forearms on either side of my head. Our gazes never waver as our bodies unite in a passionate embrace, becoming one in both heart and soul.

Our bodies entwine, moving in a synchronized rhythm of pure bliss. Every touch ignites a fire within me. As he penetrates deeper, I wrap my legs around him, drawing him nearer. Our breaths become one as our motions intensify, lost in the overwhelming euphoria of lovemaking.

My throat constricts, and a hot flood of tears threatens to spill from my eyes. I tightly shut them, desperately trying to hold back the overwhelming emotions that threaten to engulf me. The heaviness of the moment presses on my chest, making it difficult to even breathe. Despite my efforts, tears escape from the corners of my closed eyes, streaming down and dampening my hair as they fall.

My heart swells with love for Alex. I reach out and cup his face, drawing him close to me. Our eyes connect in a powerful gaze. “I never knew love could be so painful... yet so breathtakingly beautiful,” I whisper, pouring my love into him with every word.

“I don’t know how to let you go,” Alex says, placing a kiss against my lips.

Our bodies intertwine, reveling in the deep connection as he moves in and out of me with an indulgent pace. We savor every touch, every movement, every kiss. Our bodies dance together in flawless harmony, my hips eagerly meeting his as waves of pleasure begin, guided by our all-encompassing love for each other.

A tidal wave of sensation builds, cresting higher and higher until it bursts, radiating through me in waves of tingling warmth. My breath catches, and the words spill out unbidden. “Oh God, I’m coming.”

My release unravels him. With a deep, guttural moan, Alex tightens his grip on my hips, his movements becoming more urgent, more raw. One, two, three more thrusts and he finds his release inside of me.

When the storm finally subsides, we collapse into each other, our bodies still tangled, our breaths mingling in the quiet intimacy of the moment. No words are needed; the depth of what we’ve shared speaks louder than anything we could say. For a moment, time feels frozen though the relentless pull of its march forward haunts the edges of my mind.

A wistful smile tugs at Alex’s lips as he pulls me closer, his arms wrapping around me in a way that feels both protective and soothing. The intimacy of this moment, the quiet connection between us, eases the ache of what we both know is coming.

We savor every fleeting second as though it might be our last. A silent understanding passes between us, a shared promise to treasure this love, to hold it close even as the world demands we let go.

As the quiet settles, melancholy remains, but it’s softened by something stronger.

Our love.

Chapter34

Magnolia Steel

The office is unusually quiet,the typical hum of voices and ringing phones replaced by a calming midday stillness. As I sink into my chair, the rare solitude feels like a reprieve—a chance to breathe.

But quiet moments like this come with a cost: they leave room for the thoughts I’ve been trying to outrun all morning. Only two days remain in Sydney, and the time I’ve shared with Alex feels like grains of sand slipping through my fingers—no matter how tightly I try to hold on, it’s slipping away too quickly. The thought of leaving, of returning to Charleston and pretending this never happened, is a truth I can’t bring myself to face.

I need clarity—someone who truly knows me, someone who can help me sort through the mess of emotions I can’t seem to untangle on my own.

I pick up my phone, scrolling to Violet’s name. Each ring stretches longer than the last, fraying the edges of my resolve. Just as I’m about to hang up, her familiar voice cuts through the line.

“Mags!” Violet’s unmistakable Southern drawl wraps around me like a hug. “You caught me just in time—I was about to head out and meet a guy I matched with.” Her laugh bubbles through the phone, light and teasing. “Lord help me if he’s anything like the last one.”

I laugh despite myself, shaking my head. “Meeting up with a stranger? Bold move. Don’t you remember how the last time ended?”

Violet’s laugh is carefree, brimming with her usual confidence. “Oh please. Like you’ve got any room to talk,Miss Charleston-Dating-Julius-Caesar.”

I can’t stop the grin that pulls at my lips. “Touché. But, for the record, my guy’s not much of a mystery anymore.”

She hums, her amusement clear even through the line. “All right, fair enough. Now spill it, darlin’. What’s goin’ on with Mr. Bazillionaire?”

I take a deep breath, letting the words tumble out in a rush. “I love Alex so much it scares me. I didn’t expect any of this, and now the thought of leaving him feels impossible. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. He sees me—truly sees me—in ways no other man ever has. But he wants more than I think I’m ready to give. What if I never feel this way again, Vi? What if he’s the one, and I walk away?”

“Oh, honey. It sounds like this man has shaken your whole world. And yeah, that’s terrifying, but love like that is so rare. It doesn’t happen every day.” She pauses, her words deliberate. “So let me ask you this, Mags. Are you letting fear run the show? Because it feels like you could be holding back to protect yourself.”

Damn if she doesn’t know me to my core.

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