Minnie sighs and says, “Yes, please.”
When he takes it off, Gage tosses it across the room haphazardly. The sharp lines of his profile are striking, proud. The twist of his cruel mouth, the one that brings so much pleasure to her body. The very same mouth that speaks words ofadoration. “Of all the kinky things to do, only you would come up with doing it inthatmask. God. You are somethin’ else.”
Minnie fusses with her hair, trying to get it piled up on the top of her head. “It was a mad plan, but I needed to see you in it again. I needed to have a positive experience to erase the old one haunting my memory.”
Still lying on top of her, Gage cracks a smirk as he nuzzles her nose. “I get wantin’ to see me in it again, butfuckingin it? Minnie, you’re a savage.”
“I’m glad you think so!” Minnie beams.
He laughs and kisses her, noting how pleased she seems by the comment. His gaze becomes serious, and his kisses slow, lingering against her lips as he takes his time tasting her. Minnie sighs, enjoying the sweet attention. She can smell herself on him.
After enjoying a slow kiss, Gage pulls back. “Seriously. Are youreallyalright?” He sounds worn, weary. Unsure. “I didn’t…I didn’t scare you too much, did I?”
She helps him take off the hoodie, the one he claims he’s sweating in. Runs her palm over his chest, across his tattoos and his muscles. Admiring the strength in him. She presses her tongue against his skin, tasting the salt of his sweat as he stifles a groan of desire. “You were suitably terrifying…but…I’m fine. It was…” she trails off, not certain she should say it out loud.
His eyebrow quirks curiously. “It was what?”
Her face feels hot. “It was cathartic. I liked it. I wanted you. Even with the mask on.” Maybe even because of the mask. Not that she’s going to admit that out loud to anyone,ever.
Holding her close, he brushes his thumb over her lip, searching her expression for any sign of falsehood. After a moment of lying there, Gage asks, “Do you think we should burn it? The mask?”
Minnie props herself up on his powerful chest, looking down at him curiously. “Why do you think we should burn it? Think you’ll be tempted to use it again? Hold up some banks?Hm?” It seems he’s not joking with her, though.
His muscles shift under her hands, warm and firm. “I don’t want it. I want to bury that part of my life, Minnie. Don’t you see that? I want to be someone new, someone better. Someone who can deserve you. I don’t want any part of that Skull Mask.”
She considers his words for a moment. “You want to hold a funeral for your mask? Build a pyre and everything? Seems dramatic. How about we just put it in my Mary Shelley room? It will fit the goth décor.”
He barks with laughter then. “We are sure as hellnotdoing that.”
“Why not? When Ariel comes to visit, we can position it so that it stares down at her all night. She’ll be positively disturbed!” The more Minnie thinks of it, the more she likes it-
“Yeah, how about no,” Gage replies, arrogant grin finding its home on his mouth again. “Burn it or bury it. Those are the damn choices.”
Minnie pouts, but finally agrees. “Yes, alright, fine.” It’s likely what a sane person would do, after all.
There’s a momentary silence as Gage chews over something. Then-
“Does this mean…do you forgive me for not telling you?” His tone is lost, unsure. “I don’t know where we stand now. After this.”
The question is pointed, and Minnie finds herself unsure of her own answer. The betrayal she felt seems less now, faded since she’s had time to digest his reasoning for omitting the truth when he figured it out. He was wrong and he admits it. He held no malicious intent in omitting the truth; he simply feared how he would admit the truth to her.
Carefully, she asks, “You really didn’t know until I told you?”
“I swear, I didn’t.” He shakes his head. “You have no idea how long this has been weighing on my shoulders. I knew I’d have to tell you eventually, I just didn’t know how. The fear of losing you was too great.”
Minnie nods. “I don’t know if we are at forgiveness yet. Notcompletely. But, we are at acceptance. I accept you, Gage. I accept the truth of our pasts. I want us to continue forward together. I want to give us a chance. More than a chance, honestly.”
Tension seems to ooze out of him, hearing her words.
“Besides,” Minnie says playfully. “I really like how Marlin grills. If I toss you aside, I can’t experience more of his fine grilling.”
“He’d be flattered to know you’re dating me just to enjoy his grillin.’” After a moment, Gage quietly asks her. “Do you know which mask he was?”
“I’ve figured you all out now. He’s the Evil Clown,” Minnie says with confidence. “Hands down. He drives like he’s stealing something at all times.Dreadful. Chase is the wolf, naturally, because I don’t mind him so much.” She remembers the day he came over to check on her and give her cinnamon rolls; despite their past crimes, these men still have hearts.
“And Red?”
Well, except him.
