Page 44 of Broken Truths

He groans, the almost painful sound emanating from his chest like it hurts him to hear me say this. I stop grinding against him and lean back to peer into his eyes. “I won’t break.”

“I saw you broken once,” he says. “I didn’t like it much.”

The memory of my then professor walking into my room to find me having a panic attack on the floor assaults me. I don’t know what’s changed, but my father’s death hasn’t affected me as much as Dee’s did. It’s just made me harder, like I’ve grown a full-body shield.

“I hate to be the girl who has three boyfriends and uses that fact as a threat against one, but if you don’t fuck me, Alaric, I’ll go fi—”

He twists my arms behind my back and holds them, a fierce look coming over his face.

“I came in here because I wanted you.”

He stands, and I clench my thighs to keep attached to him. Turning, he lays me out on the bed again. He spreads my knees wide, slowly pumping into me with strokes that make my toes curl.

“I’ve wanted you,” he admits. “I think about you at work. I don’t like being away from you.”

I arch my back, moving against Alaric’s cock as much as my position will allow.

“You should lock the door and think about me. We can have phone sex. Or better yet, video chat me. I’ll call you professor,” I taunt.

He moans, then drops his gaze, watching as we come together time and time again. “God, I’ve wanted this.”

His hands smooth up my rib cage, then back down, gripping my thighs. He’s exactly who I needed. Oliver would’ve been too careful. It’s possible Leo would’ve been too rough, but Alaric? Perfection.

We stay like that for long minutes, like watching the waves crash against the beach. He never deters from his mission, rewarding me every time he sheathes himself inside me, hitting the spot that makes me want to come out of my skin.

I start to shake, the promise of the big relief barreling my way. “Professor, I’d like that orgasm now.”

He feathers a light touch across my skin, then circles my clit with the pad of his thumb.

“Oh, God.”

“Mmm.” His movements increase ever so slightly. Not enough to break his rhythm but enough to spark my pleasure to a new height.

How is he this fucking good?

He circles my clit again and again until I’m coming off the bed. I implore him with my eyes, but he’s determined to let this play out for as long as it takes.

Luckily, my body doesn’t make me wait. I fall off the precipice, my pussy spasming, clenching Alaric’s dick. He leans over, clenching the sheets while gritting his teeth. “Fuck yes, Eden.”

He jackhammers into me for a few more strokes until his whole body convulses, then he collapses against my chest before moving his fingers through my hair. “You’re so fucking perfect.”

I lift up, giving him a barely there kiss against his lips. “You stole my line.”

“Sleep with me tonight.”

I nod, embracing him for a moment before he backs away, pulling out. We take turns in the bathroom and then I find myself curled against his side, watching his perfect chest move up and down with his breaths.

“I’ve made a decision about my sister,” he finally says.

I prop myself up, leaning my head against my palm and splay my other hand across his chest. “Are you going to see her?”

He shakes his head, and I try to keep my shock to myself. He went through all that trouble to track her down…

“I’ve decided, no matter what I want, this is the best thing for her.” He swallows, a swathe of pale moonlight from his window the only light illuminating him. “I’m glad I found her,” he says. “I’m glad I know she’s alive. I’m glad I know that she’s okay. But if I go to see her, I’ll be bringing her into this world, and no one deserves that, especially not a woman.” He shakes his head. “I’m not saying what my parents did was right, but maybe they actually saved her. She could’ve ended up like Delilah. Or you.”

His words slice through my chest as if opening a hole that was only sewn together with invisible thread. I press my lips into a thin line, willing my emotions to stay locked inside. “That’s brave of you, Alaric.”

“I don’t know about that,” he admits. “With everything that’s going on, it seemed selfish to introduce myself to her. What if another Knight found out and decided to use her against me? I’m going to tell the private investigator to destroy all of our communications.” He closes his eyes for a long time. So long that I think he may have fallen asleep, but all of a sudden, he opens them again. “Maybe when all of this is over, I can have a shot at a real family. With or without her. But I’m not going to bring anyone else into this shitshow.”

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