Page 28 of Skin

When he told me he loved me, I didn’t have the depth of experience to understand that he could really mean it. Butunderstandingwasn’t necessary. I couldfeelit on a visceral level, inside my body, inside my bones, in the way he looked at me, the feel of his touch against my skin.

And it didn’t take me long to tell him it right back.

“I love you too,” he says. I close my eyes and allow myself to be given over to him in every possible way.

I feel like I’mdreaming.

“Sweet Avery,” he growls, kissing my forehead, my lips, my neck, “you are still so perfect. So pure. So beautiful.”

He pushes into me over and over, his hands roaming over my body reverently and with care and precision until I shudder under him.

“Yes girl, make your pussy suck up every last drop of me,” he growls, and I becomeintoxicated, pushed over the edge as we cum together.

The room hangs heavy in the silky blue evening and he showers me with kisses, and love, and everything I ever wanted but didn’t know where to look.

I didn’t have to look. He found me anyway.

He rolls away from me carefully, reaching over to pull the blankets over us.

“Avery,” he starts, “I have to tell you something because I don’t want you to look at the news tomorrow and be surprised. I want to tell you before you hear it from somewhere else.”

I feel a knot form inside my throat as my body heats, anxious energy suddenly pumping through me. But I try to push it away.

“Gabe, what are you talking about?”

He reaches for my face and pushes my messy hair behind my ears. My skin tingles at his touch.

“I’m not really supposed to tell you this, but the DA’s office is handing down indictments tomorrow morning for the people who run the massage parlor. Apparently this thing goes pretty high up, and there’s some important people involved.”

“W...what?” I ask, completely puzzled.

I thought that place wassohidden, so shrouded. So off the grid

“How?” I add.

“The DA’s office has been building a case against them for alongtime. And it’s not just political opportunism for once, either. I mean, granted, the head DA is looking for this to be a career-maker. He’s going to run for governor. But this is going to be a huge victory for the state. And for us.”

“Gabe,” I start, the corners of my eyes prickling with tears, “that is wonderful news. I...part of me feels guilty for being able to get out. There are still girls there. So many girls still there.”

“We are going to get them out of there,” he says, taking my face in his hands. “We are going to get themout of there.”

“Are they going to get into trouble?” I ask, my heart thrumming. I feel frantic almost.Almost. But the look in his eyes tells me it is going to be okay.

“No,” Gabe says surely. “They are survivors, not criminals. The arrests have already been made. All of the girls are going to have immunity. They are being offered counseling and services if they want them. And you did nothing wrong, my Avery. None of the girls did. You remember that.”

I swallow thickly and press my face into the crook of his neck.

“Gabe, how can I ever thank you?”

He wraps me up, and I feel warm. And safe in his arms. And I feel everythinggoodin this one moment.

“Avery, I only need one thing from you. Only one thing in this world. Just be mine forever.”

“I will,” I breathe as he kisses my forehead. “I will be yours forever.”

THE END