Beneath his gaze

Almost there

Alexander

She’s lighter than I anticipated, her smaller frame fitting in my arms like it was meant to be.

Her pomegranate scent clings to the air. It matches her.

Sweet. Tangy. Vibrant.

Everything I’m not.

I can’t resist the gentle caress of her thigh.

Softer than I remember.

Her long lashes fan across her cheeks, her beauty mark prominent from this angle. She looks even more angelic if that’s possible.

“I had to.” I say softly as I place a kiss through the mask to her curls.

“You would’ve regretted going with him.”

My heavy strides draw some attention.

“Neighbors.” I growl under my breath before I head to my car.

A glance over my shoulder. No one close enough. Good.

Black with heavily tinted windows.

I open the passenger door and settle her inside, buckling her in.

Can’t have her breaking.

Not yet.

I check the child lock on the door for extra measure.

Good.

No getting out if she wakes up early.

I reach into the glove compartment and produce a set of handcuffs. Fastening one around her wrist to the overhead handle above the door.

Precaution.

I reach for her, fingers brushing her jaw, tilting her face just enough.

“Sleep tight, princess.”

My hand pauses at the edge of my mask.

For a moment—

I consider it.

Then slowly, deliberately, I lift it. Just enough.

Cool air brushes my skin.

Her warmth follows.

I lean in, close enough to feel the ghost of her breath against my lips.

Not her mouth.

Not fully.

Never that easy.

I press a kiss to the corner of her lips—right at the curve.

Lingering.

Measured.

My stubble grazes her skin as I pull back, lowering the mask into place again.

The urge hits again.

Sharp. Immediate.

Just once more.

It would be easy.

My grip tightens slightly against the door, jaw setting as I force myself back.

No.

Because once isn’t once with her.

It never is.

She smells like something untouched. Something that doesn’t belong anywhere near me.

And I’ve already taken more than I should.

I shut the door with more force than necessary.

“f**k” I curse under my breath. My hand coming up to move my hair from my mask in frustration.

“Think Alexander!” I chastise myself as I round the car and get in.

I don’t bother with a seatbelt before I take off.

My anger getting the better of me. Pressing down harder on the throttle than needed.

I need to get her out of here.

Somewhere I control.

Somewhere she can only depend on me.

My gaze shifts back to her, just for a second.

The slow rise of her chest. The silk clinging, outlining more than it should. The slit of her dress riding higher with every shallow breath.

My grip tightens on the wheel. A low, unwelcome heat coils through me. Immediate. Sharp. I shift slightly in my seat, jaw tightening as I force my focus forward.

Not now.

Not here.

My tongue drags slowly over my teeth, frustration biting harder than the want itself.

Waiting is the worst part.

Not taking…waiting.

My eyes flick back to her again despite myself.

Still.

Soft. Unaware. Mine.

My hand flexes against the steering wheel.

“f**k…” I mutter under my breath, forcing my gaze back to the road.

Not much longer. I tell myself.

Just as the thought crosses my mind I see the red and blue lights in my rear view mirror.

“f**k!, ” I curse again, louder this time.

I look over at her.

So f*****g close!

I could just…

I shake my head. It’ll draw even more attention if I run.

I slow down gradually, trying to draw out the moment of inevitability. Indicating to the left I quickly produce the key to the handcuffs.

Once unlocked, I drop the cuffs low, out of sight.

I slip off my mask and slide it down between my seat.

Easy access.

I don’t look at her this time.

Before the police officer taps on my tinted window the mask slips back on.

Not the kind you wear physically but the kind I use.

Every. Single. f*****g. Day.

Rolling down the window my face doesn’t move as I look at him.

“Evening officer.”