Chapter Twenty-Two
Jill
I sense their presence over my shoulder before I see them.
Someone’s here in my room with me.
Walking into my apartment after a shift has never been ominous before. I work nights more often than not, and I’ve never been afraid of the dark. But now that it’s just me and someone lurking in the darkness, alarm bells are going off in my brain.
Trying to remain relaxed, I slowly slide my hand under my pillow. Dread settles in my stomach like a ball of lead when I’m met with nothing but cool fabric.
“Looking for this?” The deep voice is punctuated by the metallic sound of my switchblade springing open. “You should find a better place to hide it. Under your pillow is very predictable.”
I turn to face Gage, where he sits on my vanity chair in the corner of my bedroom.
“What are you doing here?”
“You told me to show you what I’ve got.”
“So you decided to break into my apartment?” I ask, unimpressed. He shakes his head with a smirk, his intense eyes smoldering at me.
“I’ve been in this apartment every single night for the past five months.” His head tilts, dark eyes glittering. “Tonight, I let you see me.”
There’s no way.
So many small moments flood my brain—all those mornings I woke up swearing I could smell him in my room, the way painkillers and water were always waiting for me on the nightstand, waking up with a clean face without remembering taking my makeup off. I knew I was giving my drunken-self too much credit.
“You’re lying,” I say without conviction, doubt taking over.
“You keep your vibrator in the fridge, there’s a sparkly taser in your third dresser drawer, and you keep your stash of poker tips in the vent behind your vanity.” Gage’s eyes burn into mine, reaching into my body to steal my soul. And this time, they catch a hold. “The first thing you do when you get home after a night out is take off your bra. You sleep like the dead. Once your head hits the pillow, nothing can wake you—a tornado, a fire alarm, not even having your makeup taken off.”
Every word that leaves his mouth has a thrill running through me, my mind racing as I process. He’s been here. There’s no denying it, as much as I want to. When I was awake, Gage was always in the corner of my eye and in the back of my mind. While I was sleeping, he was in my living room and my kitchen. He was in my bedroom.
I want him in me.
The image of him standing over me, nothing but a dark shadow, while I slept, has arousal pooling between my legs. How his unrelenting eyes must have touched every part of me while I was completely oblivious, unconscious. Did he touch himself while he watched me? Did he touch me?
God, I want him to touch me.
What does he want from me?
He holds up the knife and takes a step forward—my responding step back has me pressing against the wall. “What were you planning on doing with this, little devil? Bleed me dry like the others?”
His question has the blood freezing in my veins. This feels like a trap, I’m not admitting to anything. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I should be insulted that you lump me in with those scum-suckers.” Holding the blade up to the light, he gazes at it thoughtfully. “But the look on your face when you sank this blade into them was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen—you’re a fucking goddess. If letting you cut me open means I get to put that look on your face, then don’t stop cutting until my heart can no longer pump blood for you to spill. And take your time so I can enjoy it.”
The oxygen is being sucked out of the room with every syllable that passes through his lips until I’m light-headed.
He saw me.
Eyes widening slightly in surprise, my lips part to inhale a short gasp at his confession. His heavy attention lowers to my mouth.
“I like your lipstick. This color is going to look beautiful smeared on my cock. Who is it?” He leans closer. “Jonas?” Swiping his thumb down my bottom lip to smear it, he tilts his head thoughtfully. “No, Vince.”
My eyelids flutter at the revelation, adrenaline and desire flooding through me. “You know about that?”
“I know everything.” The longing in his gaze slices through me until I can hardly take it.
He sees me.
“Why are you telling me all this? Why now?” I ask, shaking my head. It doesn’t make sense. I can’t wrap my head around it. I can’t trust it.
“You wanted to see what I’ve got, so I’m showing my hand.”
“What game are you playing, Gage?”
This time, he doesn’t smile at the sharp, threatening edge in my voice. The sober expression remains on his devastating face, silencing any skepticism picking in my brain. His eyes hold mine in a passionate connection that even death couldn’t sever.
“No more games, Jill,” he says, and I feel it so deeply in my chest it almost hurts. The discomfort is delicious. “There’s no life without you, and I’m done wasting time pretending there is. My dark soul’s found its match. I’m here to collect.”
“Soulmates?” The word leaves my mouth softly and it tastes good on my tongue.
“Soulmates, twin flames, my other half—call it what you want. We’re created for each other. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you.” His hand circles my throat as he inches closer until we’re chest to chest. I know he can feel my heartbeat thrumming against his fingertips. “Tell me you feel it.”
“I—” My brain is short-circuiting as it spins, races, trying to process what’s happening. Emotions swirl through me—panic, excitement, lust, elation, doubt—until I’m not sure which one will catch hold.
Gage has challenged me, has matched me at every turn. He’s proven to be my equal in every aspect of my life. He takes everything I throw at him eagerly, giving it right back to me and begging for more. The darkness twisting inside him matches mine, edge for edge, like pieces of shrapnel born from the same catastrophe.
Desire has never been a question; I want him, and he’s very clearly always wanted me—needed me. And at some point, I started needing him and there’s no going back.
But is that enough? Can I trust this?
Trust him?
Gage waits in complete silence for me to speak, not moving a single muscle. I open my mouth to respond. Unsure of what will come out, I let my instincts take over.
“I feel it.” The statement rings in the silence, the truth of it rippling through me until it settles in my bones.
I’m his, and he’s mine.
I feel it.
Twin flames.
“Now tell me you’re mine.”
“You’re mine,” I smart, making him grin. His grip tightens on my throat, pulling me in closer and liquifying my insides.
“I am.” His deep voice washes over me, his dark gaze piercing the soul that’s now entwined with his. “Until the heavens crumble and there are no more lives to be lived.”
When did this happen? When did he become the lifeblood coursing through my veins?
Leaning up, my lips clash with his. The need is too strong. I can’t help myself—I don’t want to. Gage devours me like it’s his life’s mission to take as much pleasure from me as he gives.
And he gives so generously.
Lifting up my dress, the mesh panties are torn from my body without a second thought. His grip around my throat tightens possessively as his other hand strokes my greedy pussy. I’m so fucking wet right now—my arousal drips down my legs, coating his hand as he toys with me. I moan against him, needing more as my hips shift in search of his wicked fingers.
Gage’s tongue dives in to dominate my mouth as his fingers give me what I want. Three fingers plunge into me, stealing my breath against his hold. He swallows my moans, my breathing turning heavy as he curls one of the fingers inside me as they pump in and out to stroke that spot deep inside me that ignites every nerve ending in my body.
The pleasure is building, threatening to swallow me whole until I’m nothing but a memory. Feeling the wave building inside me, Gage pulls back to look down at me. My eyes open to lock on his, gasping against the pleasure slicing through my body. And as I reach the peak, the strong fingers around my throat tighten to restrict my air until the edges of my vision blur and my head is dizzy.
And I’m falling.
The orgasm washes over me, and I’m dragged into the undertow. Every nerve ending fires at once, a sequence of fireworks burning hot and bright. My body is reeling, completely overtaken as I surrender to the bliss. My hand necklace stifles every gasp and moan that passes through my lips.
Gage soaks it all in like he’ll never get enough—every moan, every shudder, every panted breath. His focus remains locked on me, the object of his every desire, eyes ablaze and muscles taut. As the orgasm fades, his hand on my throat loosens, and I can’t help but miss the pressure of it as I drag in the air greedily. My body melts between the wall behind me and the wall of muscles keeping me upright.
Gage doesn’t hesitate to take full advantage of my pliance while I recover. He reaches for the hem of my dress and tugs it over my head before tossing it behind him, completely forgotten. Next goes my bra, leaving me completely naked.
“Fucking hell,” he growls, shaking his head. “I will never get tired of looking at you.”
“I want to see more of you,” I demand, some of my strength returning as I reach for his clothes. Gage’s hands work with mine to shed his clothes as I push us away from the wall and toward the bed. He stalks backward until he reaches the bed, shedding his underwear before lowering onto the covers gloriously naked. His body is a work of art, powerful and beautiful. And sinful as hell.
As he scoots back on the bed, I’m following. Climbing onto the bed, I don’t stop until I’m straddling him. My throbbing pussy is desperate to be filled by his thick cock as it strains towards me, hard as steel. When I lean forward to kiss Gage, it’s in a frenzy. Our lips clash, tongues tangle, and breath mingles. His teeth nip as my lips suck, our hands frantically feeling every inch there is to explore and praise.
Reaching between us, I wrap my hand around the pulsating boner pressing against my stomach. Gage shifts and squirms as I begin to stroke it.
“Keep teasing me like that, and you won’t like what happens,” Gage warns between clenched teeth. A smirk tugs at my lips, my fingers toying with the sensitive tip as it weeps for me.
“Won’t I?” I question, thinking of all the deliciously wicked things he might do to me.
“Inside your pussy.” He’s lost his patience. All sense of control is gone. “Now.” His command sends a new wave of desire crashing over me, and I can’t stop from obeying.
I don’t want to.
“I’m clean,” I sigh, guiding him to my entrance. I don’t want to deal with a condom right now. I can’t. I need him—bare and raw.
“I’m yours.” The meaning behind those two words has me all but swooning. He’s clean, and he’s mine. All mine.
Sinking down onto his cock until I’m filled to the hilt, nothing between us has my eyes rolling back in my head. Our moans echo in the room as I roll my hips. Bouncing up and down, I build a rhythm that makes my head spin. Gage’s hands grasp my waist, guiding me up and down as he mutters praise like a prayer that would make God jealous.
As the friction builds, his desire takes over. Gripping my hips, he powers into me, matching my speed with powerful thrusts until I’m holding on for dear life. Pulling me down to lay on his chest, he leverages his hold to push in deeper. His big cock drills into me so hard and deep there’s no escaping the orgasm as it explodes through me.
Nestling into his neck with a loud cry, I shatter into a million pieces. Euphoria drenches me through to my bones, melting me from the inside out. Gage doesn’t stop moving, his thrusts hungry and unrelenting as he chases his own release. When it hits, it’s cosmic.
Every thick muscle in his powerful body tenses as his bliss hits him like a Mac truck. My name leaves his lips like a Hail Mary as he comes. Each stroke feels deeper as ribbon after ribbon of his hot cum fills me.
When he finally slows to a stop, he holds me there—wrapped around him, chest to chest. Our labored breath matching the racing of our hearts. We stay there, unable to move—unwilling to move—for a long moment. Seconds stretch into minutes as we remain completely and utterly intertwined.
“Where the hell have you been my whole life?” I say finally. And I am a little pissed, because why the fuck didn’t he find me earlier.
“Getting ready for when I found you,” Gage’s murmured words vibrate over me.
“You took your sweet fucking time.” My sweetening tone softens the sting of my sharp words.
“I’m sorry, baby.” I can hear the smile in his voice. He rolls us over until he’s leaning over me, brushing my messy hair from my face. When he finally pulls out, I can still feel him inside of me—rooted so deeply that he’s a part of my being.
“I’m gonna go get a warm washcloth.” He presses a soft kiss against my lips, his muscles tensing as he prepares to get up. But I stop him before he makes it an inch by wrapping my arms around him.
“Don’t bother,” I say, hitching my leg around his hip. “Something tells me that was only round one for tonight.”
“You don’t have to convince me, little devil.” Falling onto the bed, Gage pulls me against his side. Laying in silence, my brain races to process everything that’s happened over the last two hours. And while I’m mentally sorting, a thought occurs to me.
“How do you know? About them?” I ask curiously. He knew about the men I’ve killed, knew them by name. Gage’s eyes lower to meet mine.
“I followed you.”
“For how long?” My eyes narrow.
“Longer than you think,” he states, unashamed. A smile pulls at my lips as lust swirls inside me at the thought.
“You’re a sick freak,” I say, fighting my grin. Gage’s astute eyes smolder, a smirk crossing his face.
“You’re turned on,” he points out. I don’t deny it. There’s no reason to.
“You watched me kill them?”
“Yes.” The admission comes out so nonchalant. It’s like he’s been expecting this entire conversation. “Watching you makes me hard.”
“How hard?”
“That look on your face,” he groans, shaking his head. “I came every time.”
Reaching over him to grab the knife off the nightstand, I lift it up. “You liked watching me cut them with this?” He nods. The urge to use the blade in my hand to draw his blood is suddenly overwhelming, and I know he sees it written all over my face.
“Do it. I know you want to.” Gage bites his bottom lip and smiles as I open the knife. The metal gleams in the light, dangerously beautiful. Dragging the knife across his decorated skin, my eyes trace the way the flesh slices beneath the blade. Blood springs to the surface of the two-inch incision, creating a dark pool against his darkened chest.
“That look, right there. Jesus Christ.” His deep groan vibrates beneath me. I can feel Gage’s eyes on me as I run the pad of my finger over the wound and lift it up to the light. The deep red liquid coats my finger, vibrant and beautiful. Pressing my pointer finger to my thumb, I rub my fingertips together to get a better look at the pure crimson against my skin. It’s the prettiest color red I’ve ever seen—deep, rich, and all mine.
“It’s so pretty.”
“I’m going to look so fucking good on you.”
“You already do.”