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One slow drag and his hand closed around my breast. A low snarl followed as he lowered his head. Warmth closed around my nipple on the outside of the sheer nightdress. He dragged the straps down. Heavy breaths warmed my skin.

Still I shivered.

I reached up, running my fingers through his hair. I wanted Alaric undone. I wanted him messy. I wanted him unhinged for me. That ache between my legs ignited with the thought. I lifted each hand letting him slide the nightdress from my body, leaving nothing but the sheer panties and my scars behind.

He cast the garment aside, letting it hit the floor beside the bed and rose upwards. My God he was beautiful. Big. Powerful. Dangerous. He worked the buttons of his shirt, then dragged it over his head. Hard muscles flexed with the movement. But it wasn’t his body I was drawn to.

It was his pain.

Scars marred his chest. Some round. Some thin white lines.

Old.

Violent.

Familiar.

My fingers lingered over one.

A knife?

A bullet?

God.

He held my stare and reached for his belt, working the clasp, then the button of his trousers. My touch stayed there, trailing over the scars, to the hard muscles. I didn’t want to leave him, rising as he moved off me. With a slow slide of his zipper his trousers fell. Black boxers and sheer panties were all that stopped us.

They never stood a chance.

I lowered my hand, sliding under the elastic as I lowered my head and kissed his chest.

“You’re not the only one who’d undone here.” I murmured, trailing my lips over his warmth.

The fire crackled.

The storm raged.

But nothing else existed.

Just him.

Just me.

Just this.

I dragged his boxers down and kissed his chest. A lick of his nipple and he groaned. His hands went to mine, pushing his boxers lower. I’d never seen a man like this before.

Never so vulnerable.

Never so… real.

Never mine.

He seemed to understand, rising up as his underwear hit the floor. Amber flickers cast shadows over his body. He stood there, letting me see. Letting me feel.

“My God, you’re beautiful.” My hands followed my gaze.

A low chuckle escaped him. “Beautiful isn’t the word I would’ve chosen, little one.”