Page 20 of Mean One

“My mother,” I choked back tears, “was burned alive in that house, and Gus simply sat back and watched.” I dropped her neck as she fell forward. “I could’ve saved her if it wasn’t for you. We had come home just in time, but Gus and his band of misfits jumped me, keeping me from helping her. I had to sit there and listen to her screams as they beat me, May.” I bent down, yelling into her ear. “I listened to my mother cry out for help, calling my name as he beat the fucking shit out of me! And why? Because he didn’t want to get caught! And when you realized what was happening, what did you say?”

“Please,” she begged.

“What did you say?” I screamed as she tried to cover her ears.

“I only said those things to make him stop! I never meant them!”

“Ha!” I snapped back, pacing the room with absolute fury. “You told him I was nothing!Nothing!” My eyes landed on the axe. “And now, that’s all you will be. Nothing.”

“Crispin, please!” She rose to her knees. “If you want to kill me, fine, but I swear to you, I didn’t know. I tried to stop him. After you ran away, I tried to find your mother, but it was too late.”

My heart ached as I clutched my chest, the overwhelming trauma and old scars ripping open, flooding me with emotions.

“The fire department arrived and tried to make me leave, but I refused. They had to physically drag me from your home. Once the fire was out, I searched the rubble for her, but it was too late.” She sniffled as I closed my eyes and sat at the foot of her bed. “Your other mother was distraught, too heartbroken to do anything, so…” She stood, cautiously approaching the bed as she kneeled and reached for something underneath. “I—” She held a little black box close to her chest, gazing up at me. “I saved what I could of her remains.” May extended her hands, offering me the box.

Her remains?

I hesitated, taking the box and lifting the lid. Inside was a small, silver antique urn covered in an etched filigree. On the front of it was a small plaque with my mother's name inscribed across it.

“You-you did this?” I asked, touching the urn.

“I knew you’d want to keep her safe, not buried in the ground. You always hated the idea of your mother one day becoming worm food.” She wiped her eyes. “I was going to give it to you, but you never returned. So, I’ve kept her here with me all these years, hoping that, one day, you’d come back for her.”

“May.” A tear slipped down my cheek as my heart completely broke. “I didn’t know.” My eyes met hers.

“I know we hurt you, Crispin. I can never make up for what happened, but you must know, I always loved you. I never meant for any of this to happen.” Her hand reached out, trembling as it touched my chest, moving my fur as she smiled at my tattoo. “I meant every word that day. You have my heart, always and forever.”

“May,” I choked out, sliding from the bed and embracing her, hugging tight as I cried into her neck. “I’m so sorry.” She sobbed with me, hugging me back as we unleashed years’ worth of pain and guilt.

“I’m so sorry, Crispin. I wish I could’ve saved her.” I stroked her hair, knowing in my heart that she meant every word.

Chapter 12

May-Martha

Crispin slowly pulled awayfrom me, wiping his eyes as he stared at his mother’s urn. I exhaled, relieved I was finally able to tell him the truth. It didn’t matter if he forgave me; it only mattered that he knew what really happened and was reunited with her remains.

“You know,” he breathed, lifting his head as he looked at me with a smile. “After all these years of believing the worst, I really thought that when I saw you again, it would just click, that killing you would be so effortless, would fill the hole I’ve been drowning in all this time. But the moment I laid eyes on you, well, my heart skipped a beat, just like it used to.” My own heart leaped at his words.

“Crispin.” I sweetly touched his hand. “I never stopped loving you.”

He sighed. “As much as I tried, I don’t think I ever stopped loving you, May-Martha.” He leaned in close, and my breathing picked up as I remained still, waiting.

“What about Max?” I asked, immediately regretting the question. He simply smiled, his mouth now an inch from mine.

“I could never love her the way I love you.” Crispin kissed me then, years’ worth of agonizing torture and longing bubbling to the surface. My heart nearly erupted as I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he gently laid me on my back. “It has always been you, May,” he rasped, ripping a gasp from my throat as he tore at my dress and lingerie. My body yearned for him, missing the way he touched me, the way kissed me, the way he felt inside me.

“I want you,” I whispered, pulling him closer. “I need you, Crispin.” I kissed him again, running my tongue along his as he moaned into my mouth. “Take me,” I begged. It had been too long; I didn’t want to waste any more time.

“Fuck, May,” he whined, pulling his cock from his pants. I watched as it grew, aiming for my aching pussy. “This must be a fucking dream.” He pushed inside me, moaning as he forced himself deep, my mouth wide and gasping at the size of him. “You’re a fucking dream.” Crispin suddenly quickened his pace, pounding into me as his mouth trailed down my neck and falling to my exposed breasts. His tongue flicked my hardened nipples, sucking them hard before he bit down, tugging them roughly.

“Not a dream, baby.” I wrapped my legs around his waist, moving with him, our bodies one. “This is real. I’m real.” I arched into him as he moaned against my chest, his tongue tracing my matching tattoo. “I love you,” I cried, my climax burning beneath the surface.

The simple truth broke him as he roared, coming inside me, fiercely thrusting as fast as he could go, shaking my body as he filled my cunt. I tried to hold on to my orgasm, listening to him moan, smiling because I knew this was what he’d wanted, what he’d needed.

“What’re you grinning about?” he huffed, slowing his pace. I wiggled my hips, grinding into him as he twitched inside me, still sensitive.

“Nothing. I’m just trying to live in this moment a little while longer.”

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