"Fuck, Valarie," he murmurs, his voice rough and needy as he pulls back just enough to tug my shirt up and over my head. The cool air hits my skin, but it's quickly replaced by the heat of his mouth as he dips his head, taking one of my nipples into his mouth, his tongue flicking over the sensitive peak.

I cry out, my head falling back against the couch as waves of pleasure ripple through me. His mouth is relentless, moving from one breast to the other, his hands still working my body as if he can't get enough. And I can't either. It's like I'm drowning in sensation, in him, and I don't ever want to come up for air.

But then he pulls away, his eyes dark and hungry as they meet mine. "Sit back," I manage to say, my voice trembling with the force of my desire.

He doesn't hesitate, doesn't ask questions. He just does as I ask, leaning back against the couch, his eyes never leaving mine as I get to my feet. I strip off my bra, letting it fall to the floor with my shirt, and then I'm sinking to my knees in front of him, setting a throw pillow on the floor between his feet. I feel a thrill of excitement as I kneel there, watching the way his chest rises and falls, the way his eyes darken as I slide my hands up his thighs, parting them just enough to settle between them.

I can see the way his erection strains against his jeans, the way the fabric is stretched tight over his arousal, and it sends a rush of heat through me. There's something incredibly powerful about having him like this, about knowing that I can make him fall apart with just a touch. I reach for the waistband of his jeans, my fingers brushing over the taut skin of his abdomen as I tug them down, along with his boxer briefs, freeing him.

Elias lets out a sharp breath as his erection springs free, and I can't help but admire the sight of him, hard and ready, slick with pre-cum. I take him in my hand, giving him a few teasing strokes, enjoying the way his muscles tense, the way his breath catches in his throat. And then I lower my head, my tongue flicking out to taste him, savoring the salty tang of his arousal.

He groans, his hand tangling in my hair as I take him into my mouth, inch by inch, until he's hitting the back of my throat. I can feel the tension in his body, the way he's holding himself back, trying not to thrust too hard, too fast. I pull back slightly, my tongue swirling around the tip of his cock before I take him deeper, setting a slow, torturous pace.

His grip tightens in my hair, his hips rocking in time with my movements, and I can feel the way he's trembling, on the edge of losing control. And I want that—I want to push him over, to make him lose himself completely. My other hand slides up his thigh, fingers grazing the sensitive skin just behind his balls, and he jerks, a low curse slipping from his lips.

Just as I'm getting lost in the feel of him, my phone pings from somewhere nearby. Elias's hand tightens in my hair, and I pull back slightly, looking up at him with wide eyes. His expression is dark, intense, and there's a wicked glint in his eyes as he reaches over and grabs my phone.

"It's Declan," he says, his voice rough with desire. "He's asking how your date is going."

My heart skips a beat at the mention of Declan, and I can feel a flush spreading across my cheeks. Elias's lips curl into a mischievous grin as he types something into my phone, his thumb moving quickly over the screen.

"What are you doing?" I ask, my voice breathless, my hand still wrapped around him, stroking slowly.

Elias doesn't answer right away, his eyes locked on the screen. Then he looks down at me, that wicked grin widening. "I'm asking him if he wants to see how it's going."

My heart races as I process his words, the implications of them, and a thrill of excitement runs through me. Before I can respond, the phone pings again, and Elias's eyes flash with something dark and feral as he reads the message.

"He said yes," Elias murmurs, his voice low, almost a growl. He looks back down at me, his hand still in my hair, guiding me closer. "Keep your mouth on me, but look up at me."

I obey without hesitation, taking him back into my mouth, hollowing my cheeks as I slide him deep, my eyes locked on his. There's something incredibly intimate, incredibly erotic, about the way he's watching me, about the way his body is trembling beneath my touch. I can feel the power I hold over him, the way I can bring him to the edge with just a few well-placed movements.

Elias's other hand holds up my phone, and I know what he's doing, know what he's capturing. The thought of Declan seeing me like this, on my knees in front of Elias, my mouth wrapped around him, sends a jolt of desire through me, and I moan around his cock, the vibration making Elias shudder.

He takes the picture, and I can see the satisfaction in his eyes as he hits send. The idea of Declan receiving that photo, of him seeing me like this, only makes me more determined to make Elias fall apart in my mouth. I double my efforts, taking him deeper, my tongue working in tandem with my hand as I bring him closer to the edge.

The room is filled with the sounds of Elias's ragged breaths, his moans growing louder with each passing second. I can feel him getting closer, his body tensing, his hips starting to rock more insistently. He's losing control, and I love it. I love knowing that I'm the one doing this to him, that I'm the one who's making him fall apart.

He swears under his breath, his hand tightening in my hair as he starts to lose himself in the sensation. "Valarie," he groans, his voice rough, strained. "Fuck, Valarie, you feel so fucking good."

His words send a rush of heat through me, spurring me on as I take him deeper, my hand sliding up his thigh to cup his balls, adding just enough pressure to push him over the edge. His hips jerk forward, and I can feel him start to come, his release spilling into my mouth, hot and thick. I swallow him down, my eyes locked on his, savoring the way his body shudders with each wave of pleasure.

Elias finally pulls away, collapsing back against the couch, his chest heaving as he catches his breath. I sit back on my heels, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, my own breath coming in shallow gasps. The intensity of the moment still lingers in the air, thick and charged with desire.

He looks down at me, his eyes heavy with satisfaction and something else—something deeper that I can't quite place. He reaches out, his hand sliding through my hair with a gentleness that surprises me after the intensity of what just happened.

"You're something else," he says, his voice low and full of awe.

I feel a warmth spread through me at his words, a sense of accomplishment mixed with the lingering heat of our encounter. But there's also a nervous flutter in my stomach, a reminder of the conversation we need to have, the boundaries we need to set. I try to steady my breath, my thoughts racing as I consider how to broach the subject.

Elias seems to sense my hesitation because he sits up, tugging me gently by the arm until I'm straddling his lap. His hands rest on my hips, holding me close, and I can feel the heat of his body seeping into mine. His expression softens as he looks up at me, one hand brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

"What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" he asks, his voice tender, but there's a seriousness in his tone that tells me he knows there's more to discuss.

I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I was just thinking about... everything. About how this is all new territory for me, for us."

His hands tighten slightly on my hips, grounding me, his gaze steady. "It's new for me too, Valarie. But I meant what I said earlier. I like you, and I'm willing to figure this out, whatever it ends up being. But we need to be clear with each other, with Declan too."

I nod, relieved that he's on the same page. "Declan said he'd like for us all to sit down and talk, figure out some ground rules. I think it's a good idea, especially since... well, things are getting more serious."

Elias tilts his head slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Yeah, I can see how that would be necessary. It's not just about sex, though, right? There's more to it than that."

His words hit me in a way I wasn't expecting. He's right—it's not just about sex. It's about the emotional connections, the trust, the communication that's going to be essential if this is going to work. I nod again, feeling the weight of the conversation settling over me.

"Exactly," I say softly. "It's about making sure we're all comfortable, that we're all on the same page. I don't want anyone to feel left out or blindsided."

Elias's thumb strokes gently over my hip, his gaze thoughtful. "I'm in, Valarie. Whatever this is, I'm in. But you need to be honest with me, with Declan, with yourself. If at any point it feels like too much, or if things change... we need to talk about it."

I swallow hard, the reality of his words sinking in. This isn't going to be easy, but the fact that Elias is willing to be open, to communicate, makes me feel more secure, more certain that this is something I want to explore. "I promise," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Elias leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips, a promise of his own in the tenderness of his touch. "Good. Because I really like having you in my life, Valarie. And I want to keep it that way."

His words settle in my chest, warm and comforting, and I can't help but smile. "I like having you in my life too, Elias."

For a moment, we just sit there, wrapped in each other, the room quiet except for the sound of our breathing. The intensity of the moment has passed, replaced by a softer, more intimate connection that feels just as powerful. Elias's hands are warm on my skin, his touch reassuring, and I feel a sense of contentment that I haven't felt in a long time.

Elias's hand skim up my ribs and I'm overly aware that I'm still topless. He smiles up at me. "Now, where were we?"