Page 51 of No Mercy In Red

“Connor, please,” she breathed, wrapping her legs around my waist, pulling me deeper, closer.

I moved slowly, rocking gently into her, each thrust deliberate, tender, careful. My lips trailed across her skin, gentle kisses pressed into collarbone, her shoulder, her throat. Her hands slid over my back, clutching tightly, like she was holding on to me for dear life. This wasn’t fucking, it was lovemaking. It was quiet, gentle, intimate in a way I didn’t know sex could be. She whimpered softly beneath me, her eyes filled with trust and vulnerability as she whispered my name like a prayer. I buried my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply, overwhelmed by the scent of her, the softness of her skin beneath mine.

“I’m here, Max,” I whispered against her throat, my voice shaking. “I’ve got you, I’m all yours.”

“Connor...” she gasped, her breath hitching as her body tightened beneath me. Her hands gripped me tighter, pulling me impossibly close as her orgasm gently rippled through her. “I love you.”

“I love you, Maxine,” I breathed out, feeling myself shatter in response, holding onto her as tightly as I could, as if she might vanish if I dared let go.

Afterwards, I held her close, her head resting against my chest as she listened to the steady thump of my heartbeat. I traced my fingers overher bare back, soothing her gently, promising her silently that I was never letting go.

“You make me feel safe,” she whispered softly, breaking the silence. “You’re the only person since my dad who ever truly has.”

My heart swelled painfully. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure that never changes.”

She smiled softly, lifting her head just enough to look at me. “Promise?”

I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, my heart full and aching at the same time. “Always.”

She settled back down, her breathing growing steady, her body finally relaxing fully against mine. As sleep slowly claimed her, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, knowing this was exactly where I belonged.

No matter how dark, twisted, or broken our paths had been, in this moment, it all made perfect sense. Because Maxine was my beginning, my end, and my everything in between. I couldn’t remember life before her, and I couldn’t imagine a life without her. If she died, I would be a step behind her, my soul following hers no matter where it ended up. And if I died first, I’d watch her from the other side, waiting for her to join me once again.

And now, she knew exactly how true that was.

Chapter 38

Max

Iwas pacing around my apartment, nerves knotted tightly in my stomach.

Lara was on her way over, and it felt like I hadn’t seen her in months, even thought it had only been days. I knew today would be hard, emotional, and full of truths that I wasn’t sure I was ready to reveal. But Lara deserved them, she deserved everything. The knocking on the door sliced through the silence making me jump slightly. Connor gave my hand a gentle squeeze before opening it to reveal Lara, who looked remarkably brighter than the last time I had seen her. She had a small smile on her lips at seeing Connor.

“Hey, Lara,” Connor greeted softly, stepping back to let her inside.

She glanced between Connor and me, eyebrows raised, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “Hey stalker, totally didn’t expect to see you here.” She replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.

He chuckled softly, giving her a hug and a kiss to the top of her head. “Ah, there she is, the sarcastic asshole I’ve grown to tolerate.”

I huffed a laugh as he moved back to my side and gently wrapped an arm around my waist.

“Well, I’m sure you girls have a lot to talk about, so I’ll give you some space.” He leaned down, placing a soft kiss against my lips. “Call me when you’re done?”

“Of course,” I whispered, looking up at him, warmth spreading through me.

“I love you,” he murmured softly, brushing my hair back gently.

“I love you too,” I replied. The words easy, genuine, and more powerful each time we exchanged them.

Lara gasped audibly, eyes wide, her jaw dropping dramatically. “Wait—what the actual fuck? When did that happen?”

Connor laughed, giving her an amused look. “Yeah, you two really have a lot of catching up to do.”

With another soft smile my way, he headed out, gently closing the door behind him. I watched him go, a soft smile lingering on my lips before I finally turned to face Lara, who was standing there with her hands on her hips, eyes sparkling with a curious blend of amusement and disbelief.

“Okay, first—WHAT?!” She burst out, quickly crossing the space between us, gripping my shoulders dramatically. “I leave you alone for like five seconds and suddenly you’re saying I love you to each other?”

I laughed softly, despite the tension in my chest. “Yeah, it’s kind of... a lot. And it’s definitely more than a five-second story.”

---