Unveil (Alchemy, #3)

by Elodie Hart

This book is for everyone who’s had to teach themselves sex positivity because it was never modelled for them. I see you.

Alchemy’s ruined me, obviously. That much is true. Sleeping with a nice, sensible guy after being fucked by the animals at the club is like trying to sate yourself with a cosy mystery after reading the most disgusting dark romance you can get your hands on. In a word… Underwhelming.

Fucking TikTok. You look up someone once to perform a little professional due diligence, and its algorithm won’t let you move on. It has the memory of an elephant and the unwelcome stickiness of gum stuck to the sole of your shoe.

Scale is everything. Opportunity is infinite. My capacity is finite.

I respect women. I adore women. I steadfastly believe they are our equals in some ways and our superiors in most.

But I love nothing more than indulging in a little scorching hot, consensual abasement of the female party, because shame is one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs I’ve ever seen.

‘Do I need to put you over my knee and explain monogamy again?’ he asks with a glint in his eye. ‘Um, pretty much, yes,’ she says, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

But I’ve never pitched like this. I’ve never wanted to impress anyone as much as I want to persuade this beguiling, enigmatic, beautiful woman that I am not a man to turn down. That I’m worth taking a chance on.

It’s that dratted Big Dick Energy again. I swear to God, BDE will get me on my knees far faster than any amount of model good looks. I’m

channeling my inner goddess is always a good way to prepare for going head to head with the patriarchy.

But I can only do that when you let go’—he leans in closer and enunciates—‘and embrace your shame. It’s only when you give into being dirty and shameless and wanton, and name your desires, and ask for what you need, that you can feel fully liberated. Am I right?’

‘You seem to have a certain impression of me, which I may or may not deserve. But know this. If you ever grant me permission to touch you, that will be it for me.’ Her eyes widen, shapely eyebrows arching in a silent question. I forge ahead. ‘I mean to say, once I touched you, I wouldn’t touch anyone else. No one. I know how to play, sure. But when I’m with someone I’m genuinely interested in, that’s it. Not out of obligation, but because that’s the way I want it. Do you understand?’

want to return to this conversation. I want to hear her view on every single topic. I could talk to her for years and never get bored. I want to help, to open any doors people have been too fucking stupid to open for her. To sing her praises from the rooftops of the City until she gets everything she wants.

‘Please,’ I tell her. ‘Please. Let me touch you. You’re extraordinary. I want to show you how extraordinary you are.’

It’s an angry kiss. A why the fuck did you make me wait kiss. A look how fucking good it is between us, you idiot kiss. An I can’t believe you were trying to deny this kiss.

‘Got it,’ I say mildly, holding my hands up in what I consider a remarkably good-natured gesture of defeat. ‘Now piss off, loves of my life.’

That I’m so fucking crazy about her that she’s earned herself a besotted, and devastatingly effective, slave for life.