Page 28 of Savage Salvation

Memphis, unlike me, is able to respond, and he moves to drop to the floor, sitting next to Gage. But he doesn’t say a word. And I understand why. It’s a different pain than I felt, but it’s a pain that won’t ever be relieved by words. Nothing will pull the pain out of him or rid the thoughts he wants to forget from his mind.

I should rid myself of this room, but I don’t. I can’t bring myself to go to him because that would mean I care about him. Yet, I can’t make my feet walk out of this room. Instead, I take a few steps back and drop into a chair that I clear debris from before I take a seat. Staying doesn’t feel right. But neither does leaving. Because somewhere inside me, I know there’s a part still clinging to the memory of what he used to be. The kind boy he was when we were kids. When my mom was here. When the world actually made sense.

21

Gage

The motherfucker is dead. It’s been hours, but the news still sends a sting through my limbs that makes me want to throw something, hit something—anything to relieve the tension. And I had. But since I dropped to the floor, I haven’t moved. Memphis was next to me for quite a while, then he ultimately scooted back near the wall. But my attention has been on her since she drifted off to sleep. She eventually tucked her feet under her and curled into a ball in the chair. She’s supposed to be in bed. That was what this stupid shit was about. At least what I told myself it was about. As much as I wanted her to be comfortable for one night, I wanted her near me. And now she is. But I haven’t moved closer out of fear of her retreating. Because when she stayed, it meant something to me. More than it should.

She stirs a bit, her arms wrapping tighter over her front, her body slightly shivers as she burrows down in the chair. And it’s that sight that gets me on my feet. The sight of her. I stand, looking to her for a few seconds when I hear a low throat clearing and turn to look at Memphis.

With a slight smile on his face, he whispers, “The unicorn came to you.” He slowly stands, stepping next to me. “Don’t fuck it up.” He goes to move away before he looks back to me and I want to knock the pity off his face, but I know it’s from a place of concern. Only I don’t need pity for my father’s death. I’m free of the bastard. The world is free of him. It should be a good thing. It is a good thing. “I’ll be here if you need me. Just say the word.”

I give him a slight nod. Because it’s all I can manage at the moment. I can’t let myself get started again. The only thing that slowed my roll was the sight of her standing in the doorway. And I don’t want to see the sight of her leaving. Not now.

The door softly closes, signaling that Memphis is gone, but I remain in place for another minute before I walk to her. As gently as possible, I slip an arm behind her knees and the other around her back and lift her up.

She wakes with a startled gulp, her hands pushing against me. There’s a frantic fear in her eyes when she looks up to me. “Put me down.”

“I’m going to. Under the comforter so you don’t freeze to death.” Walking to the bed, she squirms to get away from me.

“Put me down, Gage. I can fucking walk.”

“Of course. Couldn’t possibly need anything from me.” I release her, and her feet hit the floor, her hands steadying on my arms before quickly letting go of me.

“Nothing’s changed, Gage. I still hate you.” She turns to walk away. Again.

She’s seen me at one of my weakest moments and won’t let me do something as mundane as carry her a few feet to the bed. None of this should be surprising to me. Kinsley won’t give in just because I’m weak. Because she’s not. But fuck, I don’t want her to leave me here.

Just before she’s out the door, I grasp her arm and pull her to me, instantly taking her mouth with mine. There’s a second where she hesitates, then she’s kissing me back. Her body forms to mine in an instant, but I feel her pulling away.

“Use me, Kinsley. Hate me. I don’t fucking care. Just let me taste you.” My lips drop to her neck, suckling, kissing, tasting her skin. Her body responds to me, but her mind is still battling. She’s scared. And I’m fucking terrified too. But my greatest fear is that I’ll never capture her soul. That’s the impossible feat. The unicorn that I need to make feel again. “Stop fighting what you want.”

“Gage.” Her exaggerated groan of my name intensifies when my hand grips her ass, squeezing and pulling her as close to me as I can get her.

“Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll stop. Tell me you don’t want my mouth on your pussy, licking you until you’re coming on my tongue.”

The tips of her short fingernails dig into my shoulders and hold on tight, her teeth clenching as she says, “You’ll never stop running your fucking mouth long enough for that.”

A deep, throaty laugh rises from my chest. That’s her conceding to her need. Admitting to herself that she craves me and will finally indulge me in providing pleasure that only I can bring her.

Reaching for the hem of my T-shirt, I pull it over my head, and her hands return to my skin, digging in with the perfect pressure, as my mouth covers hers, only leaving long enough to pull her T-shirt over her head. My fingers hook in the waistband of her pajama pants, my knuckles rubbing along the skin of her stomach. “I haven’t heard you say please.”

“And you’re not gonna fuckin’ hear it.” Her tone is angry, but her mouth barely leaves mine long enough to say it.

I don’t need the word. I just need her. Removing her pajamas bottoms and panties, I toss them aside then grasp her bare ass in my hands and lift her. Her legs instantly hook around me, the heat from her pussy driving me insane as I rock against her, wishing the barrier of my damn jeans wasn’t there but enjoying the way her hips rock, rubbing against me. A smile rises on my lips as I give her tongue one final stroke, tasting it before dropping my mouth to her neck as I set her down on the dresser.

Moving down, I take her nipple in my mouth, sucking greedily as my fingers find and twist the other. When she tilts back, her shoulders moving against the mirror, her fingers slide into my hair, gripping as I move lower until my head is between her thighs. Darting my tongue out, I lick across her pussy, and her soft gasp drives me wild. Sliding my hand on her smooth skin, I look up to see her watching me rub my fingertips along her inner thigh before sliding inside her as I drag my tongue over her clit. Suckling, licking, nipping slightly at the delicate flesh, my fingers pump inside her.

Her hand tightens in my hair, yanking me with the motion as her hips rock and holds me to her. And fuck, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than between her thighs, stroking her pussy. When her back arches, she sucks in a quick breath and holds it as her body tenses. Eyes snapping shut, her pussy clenches around my fingers. Fuck, she looks so sexy. I watch her ride out her orgasm, slowly dragging my tongue over her, savoring her as I withdraw my fingers. Dropping my mouth lower, I take a long, slow lick over her, memorizing the taste of her on my tongue. Fuck. I’ll never get enough of her. I’ll always need more.

Her eyes slowly open, and I see her coming out of the trance. No. She won’t pull away now. I move my mouth to hers, thankful when she kisses me back. Grasping a handful of her hair, I relish in her. The taste of her on my tongue, the taste of her tongue on mine. But she’s slowly slipping away. I can feel it.

“You can’t leave now. I need you to stay.” Fuck. Why did I say that aloud?

“You did that on your own. I don’t owe you shit,” she says, defiance in her voice. That’s the Kinsley I know, the one I need. But here with me.

My smile must piss her off because her hands shove at my bare chest, and I clasp her wrists in my hands. “I want you to stay so you can keep me warm. That’s it. I wasn’t asking you to suck my dick.”