15. Aurora

15

Ilie there, trembling in the aftermath, my body still humming with the intensity of being fucked by a masked stranger. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but it's not out of sadness—far from it. The sheer perfection of what we shared is overwhelming, and I can't help the flood of emotion that threatens to spill over.

Gage shifts uncomfortably beside me, his brow furrowed. "Don't... don't start crying," he mutters, his voice low. "I don't do well with that."

I blink, surprised by his reaction. Surely he must understand that these are tears of joy? Tentatively, I reach out to touch his arm, hoping to convey the depth of what I'm feeling.

But Gage recoils, sliding out of me with a sharp intake of breath. "Shit," he hisses, running a hand through his hair. "I should... I should go."

I prop myself up on one elbow, my heart racing. "Wait, Gage, please. I'm not?—"

"No, I can't," he interrupts, his eyes wild. "Normally, I'd just... I'd just strangle you to make the crying stop, but I..." He shakes his head, a look of panic crossing his face. "I can't do that. Not with you."

The words send a shiver down my spine, and I'm not sure if it's from fear or something else entirely. He basically just admitted he is a murderer. I watch, mesmerized, as Gage tucks his cock back into his jeans and zips them up, his movements jerky and erratic.

I stand and rush toward him. "Wait." Grabbing his arm, I steel my expression. "I'm not some silly girl crying. It was just an overwhelming experience in a good way."

His fingers wrap around my throat, tightening just enough to make my breath catch. Gage's eyes bore into mine, a mix of confusion and barely contained rage swirling in their depths.

"Are you fucking insane?" he growls, his grip tightening. "I just told you I would normally strangle some bitch for crying, and you're trying to stop me from leaving?"

My heart pounds in my chest, a heady mix of fear and exhilaration coursing through my veins. I know that any sane person would beg for their life right now. But something about Gage's raw power only draws me in deeper.

"I'm not afraid of you," I whisper, my voice hoarse from the pressure on my throat. "I know you won't hurt me."

His grip falters for a moment. "You don't know that," he snarls, his face inches from mine. "You've got no idea what I'm capable of."

I hold his gaze, refusing to back down. "Then show me," I breathe, my body trembling with a dark anticipation. "Do it. Choke me. I want to feel your power."

For a long moment, Gage stares at me, his expression unreadable. I can feel the tension in his body, the barely restrained violence simmering beneath the surface. His fingers flex around my throat, and for a second, I think he might actually do it.

But then, with a frustrated growl, Gage releases me, shoving me away from him. I stumble back, gasping for air, my skin tingling where his hands had been.

"You're fucking crazy," Gage mutters, raking a hand through his hair. "You've got no idea what you're getting into."

Meeting his gaze head-on. "I know exactly what I'm getting into," I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through me. "You can't see me as some delicate flower, Gage. I can handle whatever you throw at me."

His eyes narrow, a predatory gleam flickering in their depths. "We'll see about that," he says, his voice a low rumble. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

I watch with bated breath as his eyes darken behind the mask.

"If you hadn't shown up, little one," he growls. "I'd have carved that student to pieces." He steps closer, looming over me. "Starting with her pretty face, I'd have peeled the skin off layer by layer until she begged for death." His eyes glint with a feral intensity. "And then I would have buried my knife in her guts, over and over, until she stopped moving."

I shudder, both from fear and a warped sense of excitement. The idea of Gage's hands drenched in blood, his predatory eyes locked onto his vulnerable prey, gives me a rush. I know how sick I am. I've known it for a while now.

"But you're here now," he continues, his breath hot on my cheek. "And I can't stop thinking about how I want to mark you, claim you as my own." His fingers trail down my arm, sending shivers across my skin. "You've gotten under my skin, Aurora. I can't get you out of my fucking head."

Gage's words send a jolt of adrenaline through me. I want to see the monster he keeps hidden, to feel the full force of his darkness.

Slowly, Gage reaches into his pocket and pulls out the wicked-looking knife he had pressed against the girl's throat. The blade gleams in the dim light, and I can't help but stare, transfixed.

"Do you know what I could do with this, little one?" he murmurs. "I could open you up, slice into your delicate flesh, and watch you bleed." He steps closer, the knife hovering dangerously close to my skin. "Would you like that, Aurora? To feel my blade against your body?"

"Yes," I breathe. "I want to see the monster inside you."

Gage's eyes widen, and for a moment, I consider whether he'd kill me. But then, with a sharp intake of breath, he lowers the knife, his expression a mixture of desire and revulsion.

"Fuck," he growls, running a hand through his hair. "You don't know what you're asking for, do you?"

I reach out, my fingers brushing against his arm. "Then show me," I whisper, my gaze unwavering. "I'm not afraid, Gage."

Gage stares at me for a long moment, his eyes searching my face. Then, with a resigned sigh, he grabs my wrist, his grip bruising. "You asked for this, Aurora," he says, his voice laced with warning. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Without another word, he drags me deeper into the forest's shadows. The knife glints menacingly in his other hand. I can feel the adrenaline coursing through me, my body thrumming with a dangerous anticipation. Whatever Gage has in store for me, I'm ready to face it head-on. I've taunted the monster, and now I'm about to see it in all its terrifying glory.