27. Gage

27

One month later…

Iwrap my arms around Aurora as we settle into bed in our trailer in the newest town, Redwater. Her presence hasn't felt intrusive since we left Glendale, which has surprised me. I'm not used to sharing my space with anyone, yet she fits like a missing puzzle piece.

"Will you tell me about your childhood?" she asks softly.

I stiffen, my muscles tensing.

Aurora senses my discomfort and adds, "I can tell you about mine, too."

I take a deep breath, knowing that sharing this part of myself is a step toward healing. With Aurora by my side, I feel a glimmer of hope that I can confront the demons of my past.

"My stepdad was a monster," I begin, my voice barely above a whisper. "He beat me and my mom regularly. When I was eight, he beat her so badly that she died."

Aurora gasps, squeezing my hand gently. "After that, he started raping me because he didn't have anyone to ‘satisfy' him. It went on for four years until I couldn't take it anymore. I killed him."

Aurora pulls me closer, her embrace providing a comfort I've never known. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that," she murmurs. "No one should have to endure such horrors at any age."

"What about you?" I ask, intrigued to learn more about the girl who has shattered the walls around my heart. A heart I thought no longer beat.

She clears her throat. "My father was a sick man," she says, her voice trembling. "He used to make me touch him and suck him off when I was just a little girl. He would touch me too, in places no child should ever be touched."

Rage boils within me, and I clench my fists. "I'll kill him for that," I growl, my voice low and dangerous.

Aurora shakes her head, a sad smile on her face. "I've got no idea if he's even alive or in jail or anything about him. My mom cut ties with him when she caught him abusing me, but she died in a car crash when I was eighteen, leaving me homeless."

My heart aches for the pain and loss she's endured. I pull her closer, wanting to shield her from any further harm.

"Thankfully, Charlotte provided me a place to stay and helped me get back on my feet," she continues, her voice filled with gratitude. "Without her, I don't know where I'd be today."

Silently, I vow to protect Aurora from anyone who dares to hurt her again. She's been through enough pain and deserves only love and safety. I may be a monster, but I'll be her monster, protector, lover.

"I'm here for you now," I promise, my voice rough with emotion. "No one will ever hurt you again, not as long as I'm breathing."

Aurora nuzzles against me, her warm breath tickling my skin. "I know," she whispers. "I feel safe with you, Gage. Despite everything, I know you'd never let anyone harm me." She sighs. "You know, I think my past is why I'm so screwed up when it comes to sex." She glances up at me. "I tried dating vanilla guys," she confesses, her voice soft and vulnerable. "But nothing ever got me going. The only thing that really turns me on is thrill or adrenaline."

I nod in understanding. "I get it," I reply, my voice rough. "Sometimes, the only way to feel alive is to dance with death."

Aurora's eyes widen, and I can see a flicker of excitement in their depths. "Exactly," she breathes, her hand finding mine and squeezing it gently. "I need someone who can push me to the edge, someone who isn't afraid to take control and dominate me."

"I'll always be that someone," I growl, my free hand reaching up to caress her cheek. "I'll give you the roughness you crave, the danger you need."

Aurora leans into my touch and nods, her eyes shining with a vulnerability I've never seen before. "I want that too," she whispers, her voice tender. "But for tonight, I just want to be with you differently. To explore your body sensually. To make love."

Stunned by her words, my mind reels with the implications. Making love has never been something I've considered; the very concept is foreign to me. But as I gaze into Aurora's eyes, I see a depth of emotion that terrifies and exhilarates me.

"I love you, Gage," she admits, her voice barely above a whisper.

Those three words hit me like a freight train, knocking the air from my lungs. I've never been loved before, never even thought myself capable of being loved. But here she is, this beautiful, broken girl, offering me her heart.

I swallow hard, my throat dry. "I... I love you too, Aurora," I choke out, the words feeling strange on my tongue.

She smiles a radiant, genuine smile that lights up her entire face. Slowly, she undresses me, her hands gentle and reverent as they explore my tattooed and scarred skin. I shiver under her touch, my body responding in ways I never thought possible.

I follow her lead, my hands trembling as I remove her clothing. She's a vision of beauty. I trail kisses down her neck, savoring the taste of her.

We take our time, exploring each other's bodies with a tenderness I didn't believe I was capable of. Every touch, every kiss, is filled with a depth of emotion that takes my breath away.

Positioning myself between Aurora's trembling thighs, I press my cock against her entrance. She arches her back, offering herself to me, and I slowly push inside.

The sensation is unlike anything I've ever experienced. I'm used to fucking hard and fast, claiming her with a violent urgency. But right now, I want to savor every moment, to make this moment mean something.

She gasps, her hands grasping my arms as her head falls back. Her expression is pure pleasure, and I know I'm giving her what she needs.

I thrust, but this time it's different. I'm still hard, but a depth of emotion drives my movements. It's like I'm making love to her soul, not just her body.

In my mind, the psychotic thoughts still linger. I imagine choking her, watching the life fade from her eyes. I see flashes of cutting her, marking her flesh with my knife. But these thoughts don't scare me.

I lean down, my lips hovering over her ear. "I love you," I growl, my voice thick with desire. "But if you ever try to leave me, I'll hunt you down and make you pay."

She moans, her nails digging into my back. "I'm not going anywhere," she pants. "I'm yours, forever."

Hearing those words, something shifts within me. A door has opened, revealing that I desire Aurora's body, heart, and soul. All I need is to possess her completely, for her to be mine.

I thrust harder, faster, driven by this newfound need to claim. Aurora matches my rhythm, her hips moving in perfect sync. We're connected in a way that defies explanation, two broken souls finding solace in each other's arms.

As our bodies move together, I feel a rush of emotions I don't fully understand. I'm simultaneously experiencing joy, sadness, hope, and despair. I'm terrified and excited, vulnerable yet powerful.

I feel exposed, laid bare in a way I've never been before. My past haunts me, my demons whispering in my ear. But instead of pulling away, Aurora pulls me closer, her love and acceptance engulfing the darkness.

"I see you, Gage," she whispers, her eyes gazing into my soul. "All of you. The good, the bad, and the monstrous. And I love every part."

I break inside. My walls crumble, and I fall to pieces. Tears sting my eyes, but they don't fall. I haven't cried since I was a little boy. She sees the darkness, accepts it, and loves me anyway.

I lose myself in her, my body moving instinctually as my mind surrenders to the pleasure. I feel the familiar coil in my lower abdomen, signaling my impending release. But this time, it's different. This time, it's not just about the physical release. It's about the emotional connection, the unity of two souls becoming one.

"Aurora," I grunt, my voice strained as I hover on the edge of climax. "Fuck, I?—"

"I know," she breathes, her eyes filled with love and understanding. "Oh God," she breathes, arching her back. "Come with me, Gage."

I do. I surrender to the pleasure, to the love, and to her. With a roar, I release, my body shaking as I fill her with my cum, while she convulses around me. Her walls clenching and milking my balls.

We're both breathless for a moment, our hearts pounding in sync. I gently pull out and collapse onto the bed, holding her close. She snuggles into my chest, her soft curves fitting perfectly against my hard frame.

I kiss the top of her head, inhaling her scent, and let out a contented sigh. I'm at peace. The darkness is still lurking in the corners of my mind, but it no longer has a hold on me, not with Aurora by my side.