Page 133 of The Misfit

His breath catches as I slowly sink to my knees, maintaining eye contact. This is new territory for us—me taking control and initiating this level of intimacy. But that’s what tonight is about, isn’t it?

New beginnings. New trust. New love.

“Salem,” he breathes, his hand cupping my cheek. “You don’t have to?—”

“I want to,” I assure him, turning to press a kiss to his palm. “Let me take care of you for once.”

His eyes flutter closed as I undo his belt, his breathing quickening. I can feel the tension in his body, the way he’s holding himself back. Always so careful with me. Always so mindful of my boundaries.

“It’s okay,” I murmur, nuzzling against his hip. “You can let go. I’ve got you.”

A shudder runs through Lee’s body at my words, his fingers tangling in my hair. I can feel the moment he surrenders, truly letting himself be vulnerable with me. Having this much power over someone I love so deeply is a heady feeling.

I take my time, savoring every inch of him. The pantry fills with the sounds of his ragged breathing, soft moans escaping his lips as I worship him with my mouth. His hips twitch, fighting to stay still, always so careful not to push too far.

“It’s okay,” I murmur again, pulling back to meet his gaze. “You don’t have to hold back. Not with me. Not anymore.”

Something breaks in his expression—relief, love, desire all mingling together. His hand tightens in my hair, guiding me back to him. This time when I take him in my mouth, he lets himself move and feel without restraint.

Watching him come undone is beautiful. Knowing I’m the one who brought him to this point. Knowing he trusts me enough to let go completely.

When he finally comes, my name on his lips like a prayer, I feel a sense of pride and deep satisfaction. I’ve never seen Lee so undone, so vulnerable. His chest heaves as he catches his breath, eyes still closed, head tipped back against the pantry wall. I rise slowly, pressing soft kisses along his body as I go.

“Salem,” he murmurs, pulling me close. “That was …”

“I know.” I nuzzle into his neck. “For me, too.”

We stand there for a long moment, just holding each other, basking in the afterglow and the intimacy we’ve created. Lee’s hands trace gentle patterns on my back, and I can feel his heartbeat gradually slowing beneath my palm.

“I love you,” he says softly, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “So much.”

“I love you, too,” I reply, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. “Thank you for all of this. For trusting me. For letting me see you like that.”

A slow smile spreads across his face, tender and a little awed. “Thank you for trusting yourself. For taking control. For showing me a new side of you.”

I feel a blush creep up my cheeks, but I don’t look away. Because he’s right. This is a new side of me. A bolder, more confident version that I’m still getting to know.

“It felt good,” I admit softly. “Being the one in control for once.”

Lee’s smile widens, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. “Oh yeah? Well, don’t get too used to it. I still have plans for you tonight.”

A shiver of anticipation runs down my spine at his words. “Is that so? And what exactly did you have in mind?”

Instead of answering, Lee spins us around, pressing me back against the pantry wall. His lips find mine in a searing kiss that leaves me breathless. When he pulls back, his eyes are dark with renewed desire.

“First,” he murmurs, trailing kisses along my jaw, “I’m going to return the favor. Show you just how much I appreciate what you just did for me.”

He nibbles down my neck. “Then we are going to go see Ely and Sebastian’s baby since they have been cloistered up. Sebastian being overprotective until Bel put her foot down about seeing her niece.”

His mouth raises and switches to the other side. “After that, I’m taking you home, undressing you, and we’ll spend the night trading control. How does that sound?”

I shove at his chest a little and make him meet my eyes. “Does this mean I get to peg you?”

He sputters, and then tilts his head like he’s considering. “Salem Masters, am I turning you into a wild child after all? How do you even know what pegging is?”

I clear my throat, heat creeping into my cheeks. “Well, I did some googling about bisexuality, and well, that came up a little bit.”

He grabs my hand and tugs me out of the pantry. “New plan. Go see the baby, go home, and I want to see what kind of porn you’ve been watching without me.”

My heart feels full as he practically shoves me into the car, and we drive away. I can still taste him on my lips, and I snatch up the iced tea he has waiting in the cup holder. It seems like I’m in for a long night.

The End