Ella

He’s free.

Finally, truly free.

Free of the judgment others laid on him.

Free of the burden of hurting me.

Even if it meant I had to lie about what went down in that compound, I have no regrets. Zero.

My love for him is not a lie.

Nor is his devotion to me.

There’s nothing anyone can tell me that’ll sway my feelings toward him or my need for him. I want him in my life, and nothing will ever change that.

Not even a courtroom full of people, seeking justice for what went down in that compound.

Even if they couldn’t put his father in jail, I wouldn’t allow them to take Cage in his stead.

He did nothing wrong. He’s innocent, just like I am.

And now he’s finally mine again.

As we walk out of the courthouse, I can’t stop holding him, desperately clinging to his hand with our fingers entwined. I refuse to let anyone’s opinion change my own, despite the barrage of questions from the reporters, asking me why I did what I did.

I didn’t say it on a whim. I’d made my decision a long time ago.

I would protect him at all cost … just as he protected me all these times.

He may be a beast, but he is my beast.

I won’t judge him for it.

He’s safe with me, in my arms, and he’ll always be.

Together we can stand through it all.

My mom and dad push past the people in front of us, giving us room to walk down the steps. Bo follows behind, keeping them at bay by repeating the same words.

“No comment.”

I’m thankful to have them here as I bring Cage back to the car, back to safety, back to where we belong.

Home.

I usher him into the back seat of the car, desperate to get away from it all. Mom and Dad quickly get into the front seat, and Dad starts the engine. Bo taps on the window, and I roll it down slightly.

“I’ll go back home, okay?”

“S-sure … t-thank y-you,” I say, smiling at him.

He nods. “Of course. That’s what friends are for.” The smile that follows warms my heart. He quickly gets on his bike and says, “See ya.”

Then he bikes off, and Dad drives off too.

I hold Cage’s hand all the way. I can’t keep my eyes off him. Can’t stop inching closer and resting my head against his shoulder. We’re okay. We’re finally okay.

He grabs my face with one hand, gently caressing my cheek as he kisses my forehead.

I don’t even care that my parents can see him do it.

I want them to know this is it for me.

He’s the one. I want nobody else.

But Mom can only smile at us as she gazes into the rearview mirror, and I know then that she’ll accept whoever I pick because I chose him with my heart.

I chose him, and he chose me. That’s all that matters.

* * *

When we get to my place, Mom and Dad drop us off without getting out of the car. Mom rolls down her window and says, “Well, I’m glad you got your happy ever after anyway.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say, giving her a kiss, and then I look at Dad. “You too, Dad.”

“My pleasure, honey. I’m just happy you’re happy.”

“You’re not coming inside?” I ask.

“I figured you two would like some private time.” Mom winks. “So we’ll excuse ourselves now.”

I blush as Mom waves, and the car drives off.

When I turn around, Cage has already walked to the front door, so I traipse behind him and quickly pull out the key. Smiling at him, I open the door and let him go in first. He breathes in deeply, staring at the walls and the floor before stepping in.

With his hand, he touches the walls as he saunters through the room slowly as if he’s savoring this moment. And I can’t help but watch him with admiration as he goes straight for the glass door, sliding it open to stare outside.

He takes off his shoes … and then his clothes. One by one, he tears everything off until he’s naked. Then he steps outside, into the sunshine, right into my garden. We’re lucky it’s closed off from the rest of the world with all these trees in the back because he’d make a lot of heads turn.

He wriggles his toes in the grass as he stretches out. And I can’t help but watch him from afar. Grinning, I wonder what he’s up to as he stares up at the sky.

And I know just the thing to do.

* * *

Cage

I stand in the open air, enjoying the wind brushing along my body. I love the smell of the forest, the taste of freedom.

However, when I hear a creak behind me, I turn around only to see Ella standing in the doorway … completely naked.

Her clothes lie behind her on the wooden floor inside.

I swallow at the sight of her. She’s beautiful. So pretty … and all mine.

She slowly walks toward me through the grass, licking her lips as she approaches me. I smile and stand tall, waiting for her to come. I could take her at any time, but that’s not what I want right now. What I want is for her to take control of her own needs. That she’s certain she wants me.

But I see no hesitation in her eyes as she stands before me. They only flicker with joy and excitement … with love.

Her fingers entangle with mine, curling up until we’re holding hands. She tiptoes closer and softly pecks me on the cheek. My eyes can’t help but follow hers as they go down to my cock and trail all the way back up again, lingering on my abs. She bites her lip as she gazes up at me, and then she whispers into my ear.

“Take me, Cage. I’m yours.”

It’s all I need to know.

All I need to let the beast out of its cage again.

I nudge a strand of loose pearl white hair behind her ear and grab her face, kissing her deeply. Hard. I take her mouth with mine, my tongue dipping out to lay claim to her. I want her, body and soul. Completely mine.

She wraps both arms around my neck and pulls me in, desperate for more, and I answer her plea by kissing her faster, more aggressively. My hands can’t help but slide down her sweet curves, clutching her ass to pull her closer to my body.

“Mine,” I growl against her lips, and she grins.

“Yours …” she mumbles, and I smash my lips to hers again.

I can’t help myself because that word sets me off like nothing else.

I let my hands loose on her body, caressing the small of her back with one while squeezing her tit with the other. I plant kisses all over her neck and all the way down to her chest where I suck on her nipples until they’re hard.

My mouth draws a line all the way down her body until I reach her belly, and I place kiss after kiss until she’s giggling. I love the sound of her voice, but I love the feel of her belly even more.

“Mine …” I repeat as my tongue slides down between her slit while I sink to my knees in front of her. I want to lick her, taste her on my tongue, and have her come all over my mouth.

I suck and lick, alternating with kisses until she’s shaking on her feet.

Moans leaving her mouth make me hard as a rock, but I persist, wanting to give my woman everything she needs.

She’s more important to me than my own cock.

Her pleasure is my pleasure.

So I let my tongue do all the work, circling around her clit until she grasps my hair, pushing me into her pussy. I love it when she does that; when she’s not afraid of what she wants.

I keep kissing and licking her until I feel her body quake, and I hold her steady. She clutches me, moaning loudly, and then I feel the orgasm roll through her. She shivers as I hold her tight, sucking up all her sweetness. Fuck, she tastes so good. I want to do this every single fucking day for the rest of my life.

As she pants, I pull her down toward me. Quickly, we sink to the ground, still kissing, still embracing. I can’t stop touching her and neither can she. We’re locked in place by our desire to be together, no matter the cost.

As I bury my face in the nook of her neck, I push my cock into her sweet, wet pussy, unable to control myself. I grab her wrists and pin them above her head, our hands clutching as I make sweet love to her.

I may be an animal … but I’m her animal.

Only for her.

So I kiss her as hard as I can, fuck her as hard as I can, own her because she’s mine and mine alone.

She greedily accepts every thrust I give her, wrapping her legs around me as I plow into her. Our mouths are almost unable to unlatch, even to take a breath. As I plunge in, my tongue dips out to lick her wherever I can, wanting to taste her very essence.

I fuck her hard and deep on the grass, letting the world know she’s mine. I don’t give a fuck that we’re outside; it only adds to the rawness of it all and how much we want each other. How much I need her.

I roar out loud and come as I bury myself deep inside her, my cock pulsing with need. Again and again, I jet my seed, filling her up until I’m sated. Until we’re both sated.

But I don’t roll off her or pull out. I want her to know I’m here to stay. And I shower her with kisses, endless kisses everywhere; on her mouth, jaw, nose, cheeks. I don’t stop until she giggles and practically begs me.

But I won’t ever stop loving her.

My girl. My woman. My Ella.

She belongs to me.