He drops his head down into the nook of my neck as his thrusts become more frenzied. His body is massive, looming over mine, working deeply, his muscles clenching and releasing as pleasure builds higher and higher in his system. The sight is pure perfection. He is pure perfection. Our skin slaps together as his movements before far more frantic.
I feel a strange, tight sensation building in my belly.
William runs his hand down my leg, inching it higher. Then he tilts his hips and oh, I feel a shock of desire invade my body. I cry out, clawing at his back, needing it to just find me and take me over that edge. William reaches between us, finding my clit. He makes a few firm yet soft circles over the hard bud, and I lose control. Like a bomb, I explode. It starts off right in my core and slowly works its way out, until it’s going right down to my toes. I’m whimpering William’s name, arching my back, running my nails down his back, all while taking every second to enjoy this pure bliss.
William rasps out more foreign words, and his hand goes down, clutching my ass as he drives harder and faster. His large body is glistening with sweat and his long, thick, beautiful hair is falling down around his face, making him look like a pure yet completely fragmented angel. I reach up, cupping his cheeks, inhaling the scent of him and our sex combined.
At my touch he stiffens and lets off a ragged, pained groan.
Then he jerks and cries out my name. Not Number Thirteen, not Beauty, but my name...Emelyn.
Then we’re slumped against each other, panting, sweaty, and oh, so beautiful. I tangle my fingers into his hair, tugging him down to me. His lips find mine, and he parts them with his tongue, sliding deep into my mouth for a kiss that has my mind spinning. He hooks his arm around me, and rolls us, turning so he’s facing me. It’s a perfect, deep, amazing moment and I know there’s no going back for me now. He’s managed to dig inside me, and I don’t want to let him go.
Then I open my mouth, and I ruin it all.
I lift my hand, stroking the damaged skin around his eye. He tenses, but he lets me do it. Beneath my fingertips, it’s bumpy and uneven. I stare into his eyes and whisper, “You’re beautiful, William. There’s nothing about you that’s imperfect.”
Like a switch goes off, his entire body stiffens and he jerks backwards, his body suddenly gone from mine.
“What did I tell you about lying?” he growls, his voice throaty.
He gets out of the bed, jerking his pajama pants on and pacing towards his desk.
I’m shocked. Why would he ever think that I would lie about something like that? Doesn’t he see that I can see past one, tiny flaw? “What makes you think I’m lying? Maybe I care about you, William. Did you ever consider eveg dthat?”
He spins to me, glaring. “Of course you do. I own you.”
I feel like I’ve been slapped in the face. My entire body jerks and my mouth opens on a gasp. His words, they burn—right to my very core.
“Why would you believe I couldn’t see past the damage?” I manage to croak out, patting my hands over his bed to find my clothes.
“If you had said I think you’re a good man, I would have accepted it. If you had said I think you’re a beautiful soul, I would have accepted it. I will not accept that you can find this,” he jerks his finger at his face, “beautiful. There is nothing beautiful about it.”
“Don’t you think that’s my choice to make? Don’t you think it’s up to me if I choose to see past it, and find the beauty that’s there? Don’t you think I get a say so if I decide to love you, William?”
He straightens and jerks his arm towards the door. “Leave, now.”
I shake my head, confused. “What?”
“I said leave, Number Thirteen.”
Not Emelyn. My body stiffens and I scurry out of the bed, angry, ashamed, and hurt. He’s pushing me away because he can’t accept that I just might be able to see him for what he really is, instead of what he tries so hard to make me see. He has taken a beautiful moment, and he has crushed it into the ground. He took the feeling away, and replaced it with reality.
“Push me away as much as you want,” I whisper, pulling my clothes on. “Nothing you say will change what I have already decided.”
“I’m looking for a lover, Number Thirteen. I’m not looking to be loved. You are looking for something that isn’t there if you think I can ever give you more. I am not the kind of man to ride up and change your world with one kiss, with one fuck. I am the darkness in the shadows; I’m the one no one wants to see. I’m the faded man.
“You’re the sunshine. Your laugh is the reason some people continue to fight each day. I can hold you, I can kiss you, I can cherish you, I can claim you, but I cannot love you...”
“I think you’re wrong,” I manage, even though I’m trembling so much my jaw clatters together.
“When you learned about love, what did you get taught?”
“I don’t know,” I murmur in a small voice. “You don’t let me remember.”
He takes a step forward. “Well, here’s what I learned. Love is only one element that a person holds inside them. Combined with another person, it is strong enough to get through a great lot of things, but when other elements come into play, like greed, lust, anger, and jealousy, that love is no longer enough. And the funny thing about that is that no one ever just has love, Number Thirteen. We’re all filled with a mix of elements, and when those elements combine they create humans. I do not trust, nor do I give myself to anyone. I am a simple few elements, Number Thirteen. I am determination, I am control, and I am power. I do not mix, I do not remove, and I do not add. I will care for you as my lover; I’ll give you everything you need, but asking for more is pointless and a waste of both our time.”