Chapter Thirty-Two

Ash

T he rising sun fills the room, creating a soft, golden glow that allows me to quietly observe Gage sleeping. His handsome features are simply breathtaking. His neatly trimmed beard contrasts with his tangled, unkempt hair splayed across the pillow. The fine lines around his eyes add a touch of character, making him even more attractive. Despite his jokes about his age, I couldn't care less about it. I like him just as he is.

I gently pull down the blanket from his chest, savoring the opportunity to secretly admire his attractive body while he sleeps peacefully. I'm on my side as I battle the inner urge to reach out and touch him. I want him to sleep a bit longer, as he works tirelessly in the bar and could really use some extra rest.

Last night will forever be etched in my memory as the most unforgettable night. He showered me with tender affection, ensuring my well-being, as he adored every inch of my body. I couldn't have found a better partner if I tried. In our own subtle ways, we both conveyed our love for each other. I wasn't quite ready to say the words out loud to him, but I wanted him to know that I'm all in and want to be with him.

The thought of telling him about my mom and the abuse is making me nervous as I worry it will tarnish his perception of me, making him believe I'm not deserving of his love because of my tolerance of Rich's abuse. Or that I'm weak because I never had the strength to go to the police and report what happened.

Mom's silence for the past few weeks has led me to believe that she either reconsidered or Rich uncovered something. I don't want to dwell on it too much. I'm in a good place mentally right now. I never imagined I would end up staying in Hope, but as the days turned into weeks, this place has gradually transformed into my home.

Yeah, it might not be my dream house with a spacious wraparound porch, but sometimes in life, you have to make compromises. And if being with Gage means living above the bar is the compromise I have to make, then I'll gladly accept it. My only regret is Jace, and the weight of it hangs heavily on my heart. I don't know if I'll ever be able to fix things with him. My messages to him remain unread, and I know that he's ignoring me after what went down between us on my birthday. I understand now that leaving Perry was the right choice for me, even though it meant perhaps losing Jace. But he knows where I am if he wants to mend our friendship. Stealing a final glance at the man who has managed to fill the void inside me with his mere presence, I quietly get out of bed, I don't really want to wash off our combined scents from last night, but I figure a shower will do me good because I'm feeling a little tender. The warm water will provide some relief. I head toward the bathroom and with a quick flip of the switch, I turn on the water, allowing it a moment to heat up.

After relieving myself, I head to the sink to brush my teeth, only to discover a huge love bite on my neck. There's absolutely no way I'm gonna be able to hide that. Good thing I don't have to work at the store today. I'll have to ask Jax how to cover it up.

Once I'm done at the sink, I eagerly step into the shower and let the hot water cascade over me, relieving the tension in my aching muscles. Then, as I surrender to the spray of water, I feel a pair of strong arms wrap tightly around my waist, causing me to startle.

"Morning, baby. Why didn't you wake me?" he purrs.

His lips gently graze my neck, eliciting a contented sigh from me. "Shit, that feels so good. And you looked too peaceful to wake." I press my body into his, and the unmistakable hardness of his erection against my lower back sends a rush of excitement through me as my own cock swells.

He whispers in my ear, his voice filled with tenderness, "Always wake me. I don't wanna miss a single moment with you."

I angle my head slightly, closing the distance between our lips as I kiss him passionately. His hands wander across my body until they finally reach my throbbing desire. I make a deliberate upward movement with my rock-hard erection, ensuring he understands my explicit request.

Breaking away from our kiss, he lingers behind me, his hands reaching for the shower gel. Squirting the soap onto the sponge, he creates a rich lather that he uses to cleanse every inch of my body meticulously.

When he's finished, I turn so my back is against his chest and I wrap my arms around his neck, feeling his hardness press against me as he slips between my legs and the crease of my ass.

My lust has reduced my mind to mush, leaving me unable to articulate exactly what I want. All I can manage is a desperate, "Please."

But I don't have to wait long. As he takes my cock in his soapy hand, he thrusts his dick between my thighs, giving the illusion of penetration. It not only feels naughty, but it's hot as fuck.

"You feel so damn good." I sound so needy, but I'm past caring.

"Yeah, is that what you needed? Want Big John to set you up for the day?"

"Yessss. You've spoiled me, and I've become addicted to it. I'll need it every day without fail. You've unleashed Pandora's box, and I've thrown away the key."

His deep rumbling fills my ears as he declares, "What my baby wants, my baby gets."

I continue to rut into his soapy, wet hand, chasing the feeling of overwhelming desire.

"Are you gonna come for me so I can release myself all over your ass? Remember, this hole is mine now. If it ever needs filling or your dick needs tending to, you know where to find me, sweetheart."

"Mhm," I nod. Damn, dirty talk is gonna be the death of me. "Faster," I beg, frantically fucking into his hand while clenching my ass cheeks around his length. Each clench elicits a groan from Gage, and I know he's on edge, too.

Within seconds I burst into a thousand fragments, scattering across the shower wall as my orgasm rips through me, muscles growing limp and unsteady, my entire body turning into jelly.

My crease is pounded relentlessly by Gage, his teeth digging into my shoulder as I let out a sharp cry. With three powerful thrusts, he releases a primal roar, his body convulsing behind me. The remnants of his seed trickles down my inner thighs. Our bodies are still trembling with pleasure as we slowly descend from the heights of our shared climax, holding onto each other for support.

Gradually, I rotate within his embrace, taking a little step back so the water washes away any evidence. "How are you feeling?"

"Actually, I think it's my line," he says, grinning mischievously. "You've had your backside pounded not once, but twice, within the last twelve hours."

"Only twice?" I wink. "So, I guess Brian's services are no longer required now that you have me?" I joke, but quickly cover my mouth as I realize my mistake.

"Brian? What ain't you telling me?" he frowns.

Shit, I totally forgot he's clueless about me finding and naming Brian. Jesus, me and my big mouth. "Well... um... when I first moved in, I sorta found your... friend."

"Friend?" He looks even more confused. "You're gonna have to be a bit more specific cause I'm lost."

"Your dildo, okay? I opened the drawer over there," I blurt, gesturing vaguely in its direction. "I was being nosy. When you knocked on the door, he slipped from my hand and got stuck on the floor. In a moment of resourcefulness, I may have used your missing toothbrush to help me pry him up. Just so you know, he sticks to the floor really well."

Gage bursts into uncontrollable laughter, his whole body shaking as tears stream down his face, while I stand there with my arms crossed, trying to hide a pout.

"It's not funny. That jerk smacked me hard on the head, and now I'm tempted to toss him in the trash."

After wiping the tears from his eyes, he reaches over to turn off the water. As he does, he leans in and places a heartfelt kiss on my lips. "So, the shampoo to the head was a smokescreen?" he chuckles. "And you named him?"

"Yes. And it served me right for being nosy," I pout.

"If you keep sticking out your bottom lip like that, I might just have to scoop you up and carry you straight back to bed for round three."

Our eyes meet, and then we both lower our gazes, noticing the stirring of my cock.

Gage raises his eyebrow in question as he looks back up at me.

"Nope, we don't have time," I laugh. "You need to get ready to open the bar," I say, and then gesture at my neck. "And I need to text Jaxon about covering this up."

"Looks good. Why are you covering it up?" He puffs out his chest, inspecting his creation, looking just a little too proud of himself.

"Because when I come to help you in the bar later, I don't want to share all my personal details with Paige from the church choir."

"We don't have a church choir," he laughs, his voice filled with amusement. "Or anyone named Paige in this town."

"You know what I mean." This bond we share is new, something I want to protect and keep only between us.

"Aww, you're cute," he says as he pulls me into a tight, wet hug. "Okay, you do what you need to, but just know later tonight I'll be undressing you to claim what's rightfully mine, so be prepared for that."

"Do you know how sexy you are when you get all demanding?"

"I mean…"

"Don't answer that." I shake my head. "C'mon, let's dry off before we freeze!" I give him a quick kiss and then hop out of the shower. Once dressed, Gage heads down to the bar and I grab my phone and head to the living room.

Nestled in Gage's cozy corner of the sofa, I text Jax a picture of the mark on my neck, and he promptly responds that he'll be right over. I'm flipping through the channels when my phone goes off again. This time it's not Jaxon, it's Unknown .

UNKNOWN:

Hey there, it's mom.

Hey, how's it going?

UNKNOWN:

Good. I think I can reach you in a couple of days. If I can meet you somewhere, do you still have that cash?

Talk about getting straight to the point. I guess she's making the effort to leave Rich, and I did say I'd help her out.

Yeah, I got the cash. Can I call you? We can go over your plan.

UNKNOWN:

Not a great time, just about to finish my break. Let's talk when I see you.

Oh, okay. But you're good, right? Rich has no idea you're leaving?

The bubble bounces around for a bit, so I know she's typing.

UNKNOWN:

He doesn't know. Tell me where you are, and I'll work out how to get there.

Her words pull up a vivid memory of the first time I desperately tried to convince her to leave. When I arrived home from work one afternoon, I found her sitting in the living room, tears streaming down her face after another heated argument with Rich. With only two hundred dollars in my pocket, I knew it might be just enough to escape town. She fully supported the plan, her words ringing crystal clear: "Tell me where you want to go, and I'll figure out the best way to get us there."

I left to fill up the van with fuel while she packed up some essentials. To my surprise, when I returned after just thirty minutes, I discovered her high as a kite and Rich sitting on the sofa, smoking, with a sinister grin on his face.

With my instincts in overdrive, I know better than to confess that I'm in Hope, so I find a pizza place in Waterville and text her the address. It's a little over an hour away by car, allowing for some distance between Hope and our meeting. If she refuses to return with me, I need to make sure she can't easily find out where I'm living. She may already have a plan to distance herself from Rich. I'm currently uncertain about the better choice: allowing her back into my life after the pain she's inflicted or encouraging her to start a new life on her own. Nevertheless, the prospect of seeing her fills me with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Keep in touch with me, alright? Give me a heads-up once you've left.

UNKNOWN:

Okay. I have to go, Ash.

Bye, stay safe.

She doesn't respond after that, but I don't have much time to think about it because someone's at the door. When I open it, Jax is standing there with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Fuck off," I say.

"I didn't say anything," he smirks as he walks past me to the sofa.

"You don't have to say it; your face says it all."

"Sure, sure. Come on, let's sit and I'll show you how to cover it." He pats the sofa, and I go sit next to him. "Although it looks like you got mauled by a tiger. I'm not sure this foundation will do the trick."

"I'll throw on a hoodie before I head to the bar later. I'd rather not have everyone see it. Can you just tone it down a bit?"

"I'll give it my best shot. Turn toward me."

I sit sideways on the sofa as I watch Jax open a black zip-up bag, revealing a mirror, a round tub, and two mysterious tubes. "What is all this stuff?"

"This is primer. You gotta put it on first for the foundation to stick properly. I picked out this liquid foundation that I think will match your skin tone perfectly. And this little tub is setting powder to keep it all in place."

"Why do you have all this stuff, and how do you know how to use it?"

"Being a photographer, I quickly learned the importance of having products readily available when photographing people. You never know when a last-minute pimple might make an appearance. I have a friend, Gabby, who practically lived in my apartment when I was in New Hampshire. She was always up to date with the latest products and would teach me how to use them. You'll meet her at some point when she visits."

"That's really cool that you know all this stuff. How do you find Hope compared to your old life?"

"A million times better. I'd only go back to my hometown if it was a genuine emergency."

"So, even if you have nothing to do with your family anymore, you'd still go back if you had to?"

"If it had anything to do with my father, I would avoid going back. But if it was for my mom? Then yeah. Sounds harsh, but that man ruined so much of my life with his controlling ways. Despite always siding with him, Mom finally defended me when it mattered. I think she also uncovered some truths about my father in the process."

A trace of sadness lingers in his smile. Despite their flaws, there's something about our moms that makes us keep coming back. It's a relief to know that I'm not the only one who feels some ‘ mom guilt .' I consider telling Jax about Mom and our plans, but ultimately, I decide to stay silent.

With his smile back in place, he says, "Alright, let's get this monster covered up, while you give me the lowdown on how it got there."

"You really wanna know how Gage railed me into the bed?"

"Oh God, the thought of Gage being naked. Never mind, I don't want to know."

We can't help but burst into laughter together.

Once we regain our composure, he says in a serious tone, "Just tell me he treated you well, because you deserve nothing less."

Stupid happiness fills my face at the mere thought of him. "Yeah, he was really loving, and it was just... perfect."

"Aw, look at you! I'm so happy for you. I've said it before. Gage's cockiness doesn't change the fact that he's a good guy. Seeing you two so in love makes Max and me happy, too."

"Thanks. It means a lot that you can see it, ‘cause I really care about him."

"Being in love is the best feeling," he says, a faraway look in his eyes and a dopey smile on his lips.

"I agree. Okay, let's get this taken care of, because I really need my fix of him."