┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

Purgatory

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Chapter 38: Purgatory (Aaron's POV)

We reached the bed and I sat her down, sliding her heels off, letting them drop to the floor. I kissed her while she slowly moved back on the bed without breaking it. I went to undo the buttons of my shirt but found her hands already there and working on them. "Vanessa," I mused, "you want it bad." 

"I thought we already established that," she huffed, pushing the shirt past my shoulders. 

I took it off, throwing it onto the floor before reaching for the pants. I had to break the kiss and move off the bed to push them off but she was right there, kneeling at the foot of the bed, grabbing the back of my neck and pulling my lips back to hers. We kissed like that for a while, neither one of us daring to break it and ruin the moment or shatter the spell. I tightened my hold on her hips, pulling her against me even harder. 

She let out a soft moan against my lips and I damn near lost my mind. 

I have never wanted anything in this world as badly as I wanted Vanessa Juliette Griffin. I wanted to kiss her all the time, even as I kissed her, all I thought about was kissing her. I wanted to kiss her until I was sick of it, until I was dying, until my very last breath... I wanted to be with her. 

"Aaron," she mumbled against my lips before pulling away and resting her forehead against mine. "Aaron, I think I—"

"I love you, Vanessa," I cut her off, beating her to it. "I fucking love you." 

She stared at me, catching her breath. 

"I think I've always been a little in love with you. But I love you today more than I loved you yesterday. And I'll love you tomorrow more than I love you today. I love you so much. So much that sometimes I think it's a punishment, sometimes I think it's a blessing." 

"Aaron..." 

"I have to say it. Sometimes I think you'll be the death of me. My damnation, maybe. And sometimes I think you'd be my punishment in purgatory. But then I think that would be a reward..." 

Her lips twitched and she cracked a smile, then a small smile. "I have never in my life heard someone use the word purgatory to confess their love." 

"Well, there's a first time for everything. I never thought I'd use the word purgatory to tell you I love you. But then again, I never thought I'd be capable enough to love you at all. I love you. More than I know I do." 

She smiled, biting down on her bottom lip, and then rested her arms around my neck. "I love you," she whispered. "So much more than I think I do. And I already think I love you a lot. Aaron, I love you. I want to do all the things we've done back in New York. I want to kiss you without an audience, I want to hold your hand even when we're alone. One day, I want to quit my job and travel the world with you. And then put up all our pictures on the fridge in our apartment." 

I smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

"I love you. Even if you're my damnation, even if you're my punishment in purgatory," she chuckled, struggling to hold in a laugh. "I want to be with you for as long as you will have me. And I know... I know you don't believe in always. But you said I can be your first and last always, right?" 

I nodded slowly. "Right." 

She nodded too. "Then I will be." 

We're good together in a way I didn't think we were. We fit together in a way I never imagined. 

She really is my finish line. 

She stared at me a little longer and then laughed, kissing me. "Purgatory," she laughed against my lips. 

"Hmm," I hummed, "we're a match made in damnation and purgatory. We'll make it through everything. Every fight, every argument. I never want you to go to bed angry with me. We'll argue, I know we will, we always do. But I promise, Vanessa, I will love you every fucking day for the rest of my life. More and more each day. I'll love you, even more, when you say you hate me." 

"Except I never have and never will truly hate you," she smiled. "I love you, Aaron." 

"I love you, Nessa." 

"I love it when you call my name. Nessa or Vanessa, it makes no difference," she grinned as I leaned in and kissed her. I lowered her to the bed and she bit my bottom lip gently, whispering, "I had to get you back for today." 

I chuckled, moving down to kiss her neck. I trailed kisses down her neck while using one hand to push her thighs apart. 

"Do you have a condom?" she panted softly. 

I froze, blinking realization. "N-no. I didn't think we would... No," I huffed. 

She watched me in amusement. "Do you want to see something?" 

"What?" 

She rolled onto her side and reached over to the nightstand, pulling the drawer open and retrieving a condom. I took it from her as she held it out for me. 

"Where did you get this?" I chuckled. 

"The hotel provided them. I mean, this is a couple's suite, so..." She shrugged nonchalantly. 

"Weird hotel," I laughed, ripping the packet open with my teeth. 

"Really?" she mused, resting her arms around my neck. "I like the hotel. It's very convenient," she teased as I pushed her legs apart again. 

"Very convenient indeed," I nodded while laughing softly. I stopped before entering her. "Vanessa—" 

"I'm sure, Aaron. I swear on my damnation." 

I smiled, kissing her. I kissed her slowly, taking my time. I wanted to distract her with it but not too much. Only enough to take her mind off the pain or discomfort in case she felt any. 

She sucked in a sharp breath as I pushed my hips forward while holding hers down with one hand. She let out a moan as I drew back before pushing forward again. 

I moved a little faster but stopped, taking a few breaths. I stared down at her as she opened her eyes. 

"What's wrong?" 

"Nothing," I answered, "I just need a fucking minute or I'll lose my mind. This is our first time together like this, I don't want to ruin it. I want this to be perfect for you." 

She bit down a smile. 

"I want this to be your damnation." 

She chuckled, nodding slowly. "Okay. I'll take it." 

I took another breath before kissing her as I started moving again. Every other moment, she'd lift her hips and meet me there. Or she'd dig her nails a bit into my back. Or she'd a press a kiss to my shoulder. And every time she did, I lost my hold a little on reality. 

Then I'd remember that she was real. And she was here. And she was mine. And I could touch her and hold her and do everything I've ever wanted to do with her and to her. And she would let me. I'd kiss her and she'd pull me in deeper. I'd thrust forward and she'd draw me in closer. I was coming undone right in front of her, she was unraveling me. And I loved every second of it. 

"Aaron," she breathed out. 

"Fuck, mon amour," I grunted. Fuck, my love. "Tu me tue. Je ferais n'importe quoi pour toi." You're killing me. I'd do anything for you. I pressed a kiss to her jaw, then right under her ear. "Tu es preciosa," I mumbled, changing languages, realizing she wouldn't understand French. You are gorgeous. 

I heard her chuckle at the change. "En español suena bien en tu lengua." Spanish sounds good on your tongue.

"Gracias," I smiled against her lips before kissing her harder. "Casi," I mumbled. Almost. 

"Aaron," she whispered, her nails digging a little deeper but not enough to hurt. She was being careful. She let out a sharp gasp and then took in a shaky breath, her body going taut with mine as we fell over the edge. 

I leaned down and kissed her, hearing my heart pound in my ears as I stopped moving but stayed inside of her. I slowed down the kiss before pulling away so we both could catch our breaths. 

She let her head rest on the mattress and I rested mine on her shoulder, pressing a soft kiss to it and getting a hold of myself before I pulled away. She was still catching her breath as I slipped into my briefs. I went to my suitcase and grabbed a spare t-shirt, walking back over to her. She had an arm draped over her eyes while her chest rose and fell with even breaths now. I grabbed her ankles, pulling her to the edge of the bed. She let out a squeal, sitting upright. 

I chuckled, pecking her lips before pulling the shirt over her head. 

She slipped her arms through it before taking my hands and pulling herself up to her feet. She stared at me, pink clouds coating her cheek. "I will, um..." she cleared her throat, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

I nodded, smiling in amusement. "Go," I chuckled. 

"Yeah," she murmured, heading to the bathroom and closing the door behind her. 

I laughed softly, pulling on a pair of sweatpants and leaving the shirt off. I lay back down on my side of the bed after turning the lights off. In my head, I was reliving everything that just happened when she opened the door and came back out. 

Her cheeks were still flushed as she got into bed with me but she seemed more put together too. I grabbed her waist, pulling her into me. She threw one leg over mine like she always does and pushed my hair back, grinning. "Aaron." 

"Yes, my love?" 

She blushed harder. "How much Spanish do you really know?" 

I laughed, "A lot, I told you. Almost all of it. It's not too different from French." 

"Really? In that case, I should know more French too, don't you think?" 

I tucked her hair behind her ear, brushing a kiss to her forehead. "Vous faites," I whispered, "essayer de comprendre." You do. Try to understand. 

"Estoy intentanda," she mumbled in Spanish. I am trying. 

"See, you do understand some of it." 

She looked up at me. "Your mom told me something in French today. At the beach." 

"She did?" 

"Hmm. Let me try this," she cleared her throat. 

I watched with amusement, trying to mask it as best as I could. 

"Tu es..." she began hesitantly. You are... 

I nodded encouragingly. 

"Mon... ligne d'arivée?" 

I stared at her, feeling a stutter in my heart. "Am I?" I whispered. 

She nodded. "If that means 'You are my finish line' then yes. You are," she smiled. 

"It does," I nodded briefly. 

"Then yes, you are, Aaron. Tu es mon ligne d'arivée," she whispered against my chest, resting her head and closing her eyes. 

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 38

This chapter had SO many cheesy moments oh my god

but what's a romance book without some cheesy moments yk

anyways, this book *sniffles* will have about two more chapters, that's including the epilogue. Maybe three. But we have to say goodbye to Aaron and Vanessa soon you guys. That makes me SO SAD this might be my favorite book I've ever written and I know I say that a lot but Aaron and Vanessa are hands down my favorite couple, at least in the top three.

BUT

An ending always leads to a new beginning so we will have another book coming out right after this one! It's another travel book too since I miss writing those, I'll be announcing its details, the plot, and the tropes in it soon

next chapter: home