"You think you're one of millions but you're one in a million to me." — Brad Paisley, "The World"

Warning: smut
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Chapter 50
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Maggie

The moment my eyes opened, I noticed one of many things: this was my first time waking up with a smile in nearly a decade. It was painted on my face as if it had always been there.

I shifted a bit in order to get up for the bathroom, but before I could, strong arms were pulling me right back in.

A giggle skipped out of me as I threw a look over my shoulder at Luke. His arm was holding me to him in a possessive grip, hand stroking over my naked stomach.

He shifted a bit, further dragging me back into him as he grumbled, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I have to pee, you idiot," I joked, my hand falling on top of his with a laugh. "Don't miss me too much, okay?"

His chuckle came out muffled against his pillow. "I won't because you're not going anywhere, but back in this bed and back in my arms." His hand slipped lower and lower, until my thighs clenched around it. I could feel him, already prepared, and rubbing against my backside. "I'm not done with you yet, Norris."

It took every ounce of willpower to tear myself away from his offer. We spent all night, as well as the morning hours in bed, and even when our bodies threatened to burn out, we continued on. Luke had been relentless. His stamina was beyond better than mine, but with the pleasure he was inflicting, I managed to keep up.

"I'll be right back," I offered to Luke, smiling back at the scowl growing along his handsome face. "I promise."

With a grunt, he lifted the covers that tangled us to each other. "You get five minutes, Norris. Five." He leaned up, his eyes still draped shut as he gripped my chin. "Wherever I find you is wherever I fuck you, you hear me?"

I chuckled, nodding. "I hear you." His lips pecked mine before he slowly dropped his arm.

Quickly, I grabbed his shirt, throwing it on. I didn't bother with much else since I planned on getting a shower in a second.

Just as I stood, I felt his hand smack me from behind. I jerked a glare back at him, but all I got in return was a innocent grin.

His husky drawl of a chuckle nearly had me falling back into bed. "Still have that staring problem, gorgeous?"

I rolled my eyes, dragging my gaze from him, and back to the bathroom. "Kiss my ass, bitch."

His cocky grin stretched wide. "I already did, Norris. More than once, actually. You need a reminder?"

I scowled back before slamming the door to his bathroom. At his laughter, I bit back a grin of my own. I'd hold it to him later, but for right now, my bladder was screaming.

After I finished brushing my teeth, I stepped up to the sink for a look at myself. The cool water ran over my hands as I stared back into my reflection.

Jesus.

Strands of hair were scattered in all directions, leaving an absurd look behind. My neck, chest, and even my jaw were covered in hickeys, as well as Luke's finger imprints in my stomach and thighs. When I turned, I saw the same love bites in my ass, and my back, as well as my cheeks being red and sensitive from him.

He had definitely lived up to his promise of fucking my mouth. I didn't admit it because of his ego, but I loved it just as much as he did. My jaw was a little sore and had an ache, like now, but it was something I wouldn't take back.

Even my legs were wobbly. It'd been a couple of months since I had sex, but damn. If he hadn't bounced between slow and passionate, and rough and fast, I was positive that I wouldn't be in lively condition, right now. Either way, each step that I took nearly had my trembling body crumbling from underneath me.

I decided to head to the kitchen for a quick refresher before getting my shower. I knew that Luke was probably counting down, but a part of me wanted him to take me in the kitchen. It was a win-win situation. 

The butterflies fluttered in my stomach the longer I thought on everything. Him. Us...if it even existed.

It had to. Luke had been pretty adamant on claiming me as his own last night, and every time that he did, I knew that I was doing the same for him. I couldn't help myself from doing so physically and emotionally.

Then again, he could have just been in the moment, full of lust and want and just saying anything.

But, this was Luke. Luke didn't just say things like that, and ever since I'd been around him, I'd never heard or seen him speak of another woman that way. Only me.

Whichever fact came out to be reality, though, I knew one to be true: I wanted Luke. Not just physically, and not just emotionally, but as a whole. Wholeheartedly, I wanted it all.

I didn't have an ounce of regret over what we did last night. Not at all. In fact, finally being able to put my fear aside and going after what I wanted was one of the most relieving things I'd felt in a while.

I'd never felt this way about anyone. I'd never felt like I'd found a best friend, an other half, a positive, and a lover until Luke. He managed to find every single feeling I never even realized existed.

Past boyfriends, past flings, and late-night hookups, none of them had even a fraction of what Luke had gained. He had me, whether he wanted it or not.

I'd bring it up later, though. For right now, I would focus on the thing that we both so desperately craved from one another: each other. I wasn't sure when the time would come to bring it up to him, but I would, nonetheless.

I rounded the wall to the kitchen, my smile so big, it hurt. Despite how frail my body was, I could have sworn I was walking on cloud nine, right now. It felt freeing just to be honest with myself for the first time, and I hoped that Luke felt the same.

Just as I looked up, a gasp of shock slipped from me at the sight.

Kade was leaned against the counter, a pop-tart in one hand, and his phone in the other, with one of Luke's drinks beside him. His eyes jumped up at my yelp, but not an ounce of surprise followed at the sight of me.

I blew out a sigh of relief. "Jesus." My hand sprung to my chest to calm its burn. "You scared the shit out of me."

He flicked his head at me, placing his phone down behind him. "My bad."

I nodded slowly, daring my heart to slow back down. "It's cool, but uh...how did you get in?"

I suppose it was odd for me to be asking him how he got into his best friend's house, but I did, anyway.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a key. He shook it in the air with a shrug. "Levi and I both have one. Fucker always barges into our houses, so I always do it to him just to piss him off. I should have knocked this time, though." He nodded at me, again. "Sorry."

I waved it off, stepping forward to get to the fridge. "No, you're fine."

Kade moved out of my way, turning his back to me since I had to bend over for the juice. He waited until I was finished, turning back around to face me with the same cool glare along his face that was never really a glare, in particular.

It was funny how often I teased Luke about it. Him and Kade both had natural resting bitch faces that only Kimberly and I managed to break into; Levi was the only one with the natural boyish charm.

I raised my eyes to Kade, again. "Luke's still sleeping, but I can go get him, or something..." I pointed in the direction of his bedroom, my cheeks pinching red. I looked like a mess, and I was wearing Luke's shirt. It was pretty obvious what had gone on in the past couple hours. "Or, I can tell him that you stopped by."

Kade crumbled the wrapping from the pop tart, tossing the rest back into his mouth. "Nah, I don't want to interrupt. I came by earlier, but I heard you two and left."

I paused, hinging my jaw shut to stop it from dropping. "You did?" My voice barely lingered above a whisper.

Fuck. I nearly broke the glass as I pulled it out of the cabinet.

He bobbed his head, black strands grazing his eyes before he swept it back. "Whole neighborhood did. I barely even made it back to my car without throwing up." His light brown eyes held a sizable amount of humor, but with his expression, a stranger would never know.

I grasped the cool carton of orange juice, my eyes falling to the kitchen island. I tried to think of a response, but none came.

He had heard everything for himself, and I was sure that he'd probably told Levi, who told Raven, who then told Kimberly. This was bad. This was really bad.

I started with, "Kade—"

"Nah," he shrugged my excuse off, tossing the wrapper in the trash. "You don't have to explain shit to me. It's none of my business."

A small fleck of relief hugged at my worries, but it wasn't nearly enough to sustain me. I nodded, anyway, pouring the juice into my glass.

He leaned up from the counter, nodding at me. "I'm gonna go and get Kimberly some breakfast before she wakes up, though." His eyes skipped to the door, then back to me. "We're going to be heading to the lake house, soon. Luke already knows the address, but I'll remind him to give it to you, too. You can come by anytime you want, even stay a couple nights or longer if you want. I'll stock the house with your and Raven's favorite foods and shit, so don't worry about any of that. I know Kimberly missed the hell out of you both."

I lifted the glass to my lips, nodding with appreciation. "Thank you." I knew that he didn't care for me too much before, and I didn't him, either, but he was trying to be nice for Kimberly's sake. I could respect that, and could even admit now that he wasn't too bad.

He bobbed his head, shoving his phone back into his pocket. Without another word, he turned his back to me. He was practically one foot out of the door, before I called to him.

"Hey, Kade," my voice fell back to a normal tone when he paused. "Can you...can you not tell Kimberly about this?"

I didn't want her or Raven to know just yet. They were already being left in the dark about everything else, but those same things somehow connected, and led back to my father. I needed to get my murderous parent out of the picture before I did much else.

Kade remained still, but I noticed the way his back muscles tensed through his shirt. "I don't lie to my girl, Maggie."

"You're not technically lying," I corrected, shaking my head. "You're just...not telling her something." I nearly chuckled at my own argument; how hypocritical could I be? "I mean...not for long. I'll tell her everything, soon. I swear." I stared at his back, silently pleading.

Not a word came from him. I saw his back relax back into its neutral state, but that was it. Instead of giving an audible response, he continued on through the door until it clicked shut after him.

I blew out a tensed breath. I didn't know what that meant, but he didn't give a yes, or a no. I'd try my hardest not to lose my mind until I had a confirmation, though.

Time was ticking, I knew that. Each second was precious, and I couldn't keep up with the lies the longer they fell down.

"What did I tell you would happen if you weren't back in my bed, Norris?"

I jerked around with a gasp of surprise. Luke was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his bare chest, feet tucked comfortably over the other, and a smirk lifting even higher at the corner of his lips the longer he studied me over.

For a moment, I was frightened he heard Kade and I's conversation, but by his natural expression, I guessed not. Nonetheless, the sight of him filled me with more relief than anything.

My lips tilted into a mischievous smile. "I'm sorry, but..." I shrugged. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

A hand stroked at his jaw as he approached me, a challenge swinging through his eyes. "Is that right?"

I hummed my response, but just as I placed the glass in the sink, the goosebumps crept along my skin.

A giggle slipped from me as he placed a palm on the inside of my thigh, digging it into my skin to drag me back into him. "You need a reminder, then?"

Hell yeah. "I think so." My stomach tingled with excitement as the weight of his palm went to the middle of my back.

His other hand curled around my throat. "Fuck, Maggie," he hissed. "Seeing you in my shirt is—"

"Okay, Shakespeare," I huffed, shoving his hand lower. My body was aching for him, despite how much I got last night. "Shut up already and—"

His hand squeezed at my throat, while the other bunched his shirt into a fist. "What did I tell you about this smart ass mouth of yours, Norris?" A quick shove to my backside had me bent over the sink.

My only leverage was the counter, but with his grip, I was sure I wouldn't fall. "Something about you absolutely loving it because it—"

"Maggie." Luke shoved his leg in between my own, then stuck a hand in between my thighs, and with one shove, parted them even further. "Shut up." Sparks shot through me from the bottom up as his lips climbed up my spine. "Keep your thighs open." I could feel the burn of his stare as he observed the hickeys on the skin of my ass. "And stick this pretty ass of yours out for me again."

My body was mechanical in following what he said. My stomach did tricks when he ran his cock against my folds, barely dipping the head into me. It didn't take long for the familiar lust to flood me out.

He ran the tip of his cock in circles over my clit, until it was throbbing underneath. A chuckle came from him as I attempted to further myself back on it. "Fuck," I heard him mutter. "Trust me, I want it as bad as you do, Maggie, but..." His words trailed off into a morph of a curse as I backed into him. "Fuck, angel, hold on. I gotta get a—"

I couldn't. At this point, I was tempted to turn around, and jump the motherfucker myself. But then the tip of him disappeared inside of me, causing the both of our moans to fall under the others, but it was only short lived when he pulled back out.

"We need a condom," he hissed out, despite fighting his own claim when he pushed the head back in, again. His huff was a equal mix of frustration and desire. "Condom. We need a fucking—"

Hell. I rolled my eyes, this time, reaching in between my legs to guide him inside of me.

"Shit..." He drawled out a curse. "With the way you're squeezing down on me..." he mumbled out, tightening his grip around my shirt until the material was digging at my nipples as he sunk right back into me with another curse. "What the fuck are you doing to me, Maggie Norris?"

My nails were already beginning to dig into the counter, rather it be from my frustration or how fucking good he felt inside of me. "I'm trying to get you to fuck me, already—"

By his shirt, Luke yanked it, as well as my body back until his cock was buried inside of me, while thrusting his hips forward so that it all came at me at once.

And, it did. Pleasure and insanity wrapped me in their luscious embrace immediately.

Luke pushed me forward, his hand going around my throat so that he could trace over the hickeys. His other hand tossed my hair over my shoulder.

Both hands went to my hips, in a grip so that his fingers were digging into them. They tightened, holding me in place so that he could fuck me to the hardest, most aching pace. It provided the perfect mix of it all for me.

Even after the use of all of that energy last night, there was no difference in him. His thrusts were moving with an unrelenting pace, only setting the path to my orgasm. Our skin to skin contact was echoing through the kitchen, only building at the tingles in my stomach.

He placed his face in the crook of my neck, a line of kisses going into place. "Where'd my girl's attitude go, Norris?"

Past my moans, I managed to recover a bit of myself through the butterflies too, but it was weak, "Up your..." Those same words melted right back down my throat as Luke drew back, then rolled his hips forward until his full length was filling me up. "Fuck."

His fingers crept down my stomach, causing the skin to only grow hotter from under his touch. I thought my body was tilting off its axis, when his fingers twitched along my clit, causing my knees to want to give out.

My hips were already following his moves, but with the way he was fucking me, it was making my movements sluggish. It was hard, but I shoved all of my energy into fucking him back so that we'd both be addicted.

By the way his fingers firmed into my ass, I knew I was fucking with him the way he was me. If it weren't for the ball of pleasure knocking me off my shit right now, I would have taken more satisfaction in it.

"You're driving me crazy, Maggie," he cursed in my ear, his breath falling into patches. I heard it break into a groan as my walls gripped at his length. "I can't even fucking think straight, anymore."

I nodded because it was the same in my ballpark. My moans were falling in between pants and curses, and whatever the hell else. I couldn't stop.

His huff came quick, and he pushed me back into place, over the counter before he took over the pace, wrapped my shirt in a fist, and started to fuck me with an unrestrained power behind it. Fuck. Fuck.

"Don't stop," came from me in a breathless set. "Please don't stop, Luke."

I had never begged for shit when it came to sex before. If anything, the guys were so damn boring or unfulfilling that I found myself counting down the expected seconds in excitement, just to leave early.

But, Luke. Fuck. The man had me. He fucked like an animal, and never grew tired. Even after we slept together all those years ago, I still had him in the back of my head sometimes when I was wanting to relieve myself.

My want for him was still in the millions, but it was different, too. This time involved a much more emotional connection than it did back then, and I was sure that was was what had me craving him the way I was, now.

I was beyond words, so to let him know that I was still here, I squeezed down on his cock until I heard the gravel of his curse bounce through my eardrum, his head falling to my shoulder, before I felt his movements slow.

A complaint bubbled on my lips, but Luke lifted me up by my waist with a smack to the ass to get me up. The familiar chill of the counter pressed into my flesh as he placed me down on top of it.

By my thighs, he yanked me half-way off the counter, earning a gasp of surprise that he caught with his lips. At the same time, he shoved my legs apart, wrapped them around his waist, and thrusted himself back inside of me.

Black spots flashed over my vision. That overwhelming feeling was just waiting for the right moment to meet his so that it'd have a better impact, but with the way he was moving, I didn't have much faith in myself. Not at all.

My muscles tightened until I was having to bury myself into his neck to stop from falling off the counter. I came so hard, it took my mind and body alike over until I was crying out Luke's name as if it were the only one I ever cared to know.

"Goddamn, Maggie." Luke groaned at the feel of it, purposefully dragging out his thrusts to string me along. "Fuck. Keep screaming for me, Norris."

Either of my arms went around his neck for leverage, even with their shakiness. All I could do was scream into his neck as he continued to fuck me.

He tightened his arms around me, keeping one hand behind my head to stop me from slamming it against the cabinet as he roughened his thrusts up. "I know, beautiful, I know," he whispered against my temple, pressing a kiss there. "It's okay. You take all you want from my cock and you take all you want from me, angel. It's already yours. It's all yours."

His breath broke against me, which meant that he was close. I still recognized it, even after us not physically being together for two years. I had heard enough of it last night.

I held onto my next crashing, despite it being one of the most difficult tasks I'd ever encountered. To help, I focused on the feeling of his cock plunging in and out of me, and retracing over the hickeys on his neck with my lips.

But then he ran his thumb over my clit, and the feeling trapped me, the heat beginning to bite at my skin from the inside out the longer his hands were on me. My eyes squeezed shut at the torturous pleasure of it all.

"Let me feel all of you, beautiful," he murmured, before snatching a kiss. His words made me instinctively tighten around him, and it seemed to break him the way it did me.

He deepened our kiss, his moans mirroring mine. They went down my throat, giving me enough energy to ring another surge of pleasure through me until I was giving out as much as I took when he gave himself to me.

Slowly, his movements died down until they were nothing at all, but our reactions remained the same to each other. Addicted.

A shaky breath flew past my lips as I tried to recenter myself back to reality. I hadn't even realized how deep my nails had gone into his muscles until I dropped my hands.

Luke paid them no mind. He grabbed them, just to kiss them.

"Maggie," he said, his breath labored, his arms caging me into the best spot.

I ran past my burning lungs to get out a, "Yeah?"

I smiled as he went for my lips, next. Before they locked in with the other, he whispered against them, "I never, ever, want to let you go."

***

Luke toweled his hair, sending the strands all over the place as he flicked his head at me. "Get that memory back, yet, Norris?"

He was lucky I needed to give my body time to recharge before I went another round. "For now." We had spent so long in the hot shower together, the room was starting to spin.

He passed a cocky grin my way, turning his back to me to grab a shirt. "Good girl." He disappeared inside of the large closet only for a moment before returning to me.

Before he got the shirt on, he fell to me, again. I caught hold of his lips without hesitation, returning the desire I'd failed to tuck away these past few weeks with him.

It was something. Even without sex, his lips were one of the main things that kept me so soothed. I didn't think I could ever tire of them.

He leaned back just to drop feather light kisses to my collarbone, mumbling against it. "I know it's late as shit for this, but..."

I glanced at him curiously.

His sigh tickled at my skin. "The moment I had you under me last night, my mind went blank. I didn't use a condom every single one of those times or today, either. I never ended up finding the strength to pull out, either. I've never in my life forgot shit like that before, but you..." His head dipped as he blew out a jagged breath, chuckling. "Jesus, you fucked me up so bad, I couldn't think about shit else but you."

Oh.

I laughed, tracing through his damp hair. "It's cool."

He paused, leaning up to show the shock on his expression. "You on the pill?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm not."

A startled and confused expression passed over his face before he shrugged, lifting himself up. I expected a curse, maybe even an outburst, or something along those lines, but he just went back to dressing like normal.

I lifted myself by my elbows, looking to him. "You're not gonna freak out or anything?"

"No?" He cast me an odd look, shoving a leg into his pants sleeve. "Why would I? I more than trust you."

I chuckled. "Okay, then." My head fell back against the comfort of his pillows, but I continued to watch him.

I did think it was quite adorable that he was so calm about getting me pregnant, but he didn't have to worry about it. As badly as I wished we both could, I knew better than to live in a fantasy.

"Why aren't you freaking out, though?" he returned before his lips pulled into a shit-eating grin. "Unless you want a little me running around town?"

I burst into a fit of giggles. "Absolutely not. One of you is enough to sustain the world forever, trust me."

Luke chuckled, throwing his shirt on before nodding to me. "Seriously, though. What's up with you?"

I let my hand graze against my stomach, a shaky smile falling through. It didn't take long to fall into a frown.

My gaze moved from him, dragging up to the ceiling. This was simply something else in the midst of which my father had ripped away from me. I never thought I'd have to bring it up, or really share with anyone.

When I had sex in the past, I'd let the guy wear a condom for protection, and with Xander, I just did it to stop the questions, but with Luke, I didn't think. I trusted him to be clean, and I knew I was, and I'd gotten so lost in our emotions, I hadn't thought anything past wanting every piece of him.

Luke was waiting for my answer, his expression full of curiosity.

I shoved out a sigh, averting my eyes to the ceiling. "I can't have children," I told him, attempting to keep my voice steady. "There's no possible chance, or a miracle baby. No chance at all. Just...zero." My hand lifted, forming the number to break through the tension, but just as it went to fall, Luke grasped it.

His eyes softened at me as he lowered a kiss to my knuckles. He knelt down to eye level, never dropping my hand.

His other hand fell to my hair, stroking it away from my face. "I'm sorry, Maggie. I shouldn't have asked—"

I stopped him, turning to fully face him. His expression remained just as caring, his attention alert to anything I wanted to give.

I offered a sample of a smile. "No, it's okay," I said, softly. "I found out a couple years back, and it was just..."

My eyes fell as that familiar shame hit. My skin burned under the truth, of how badly I had been tainted and used.

Luke shook his head, his expression glazed over with patience. "You don't have to tell me right now, Maggie. Everything is on your time here. I'll take anything you want to give me."

I nodded, my chest caving in under the pressure of it all. Not because I was relieved, but because I felt like I was holding myself back.

I trusted Luke more than anyone. Not an ounce of judgement had fallen from him since he found me that night of the attack. I didn't think that'd change, now.

At least, I really hoped it didn't. I hoped that the day he found out everything, he'd still see me in the same light. That he wouldn't be disgusted, or sickened by me. It was the biggest wish I'd ever made in my life.

If my life was taken in these next few weeks, then I could at least say that I had the courage to actually trust someone with a real part of me.

I couldn't let my father take that away from me, too.

My lips rolled under the other until I parted them. That shame and embarrassment remained, no matter how badly I wished for it to flee. But, Luke's reassuring, patient expression held me over well-enough.

My words came out much quieter than intended. "I found out a couple of years ago. I was forced by the court to have a bunch of tests done for more evidence against my father. And, well..." My throat swelled as my eyes fell. It's okay, Maggie. It's okay. "Obviously, a grown man's body isn't made for a little girl's...and, it was too late for the doctors to even attempt reversing what was done to mine, so I can't...I'll never be able to..." I didn't even realize I was crying until Luke's thumb swiped at my cheek to catch a tear.

I couldn't finish. It hurt, even without the physical pain being there any longer. Just speaking about it threatened to tear me into pieces. It'd been so long since the words left me, they barely even sounded like actual words to me any longer.

Luke moved forward, immediately pulling me into his arms. One hand went to the back of my head, holding me to his chest. The other sat in the middle of my back, rubbing in comfort circles.

"Fuck," he whispered, kissing the side of my head. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Maggie."

I clung to him for relief, my body shaking. I wasn't sure if it were relief that I'd gotten it out, or fear at the reminder. Either one overlapped the other without any proper direction.

"I promise," Luke whispered, his arms trembling against mine. "I promise you, Maggie. They won't touch you, again." As soon as his grip started to tighten, he pulled back, either hand falling to my cheeks. His thumb stroked over my skin, his eyes darkening with conflict. "They won't ever hurt you, again, you hear me?"

My head bobbed in understanding. I did, and for the time, I think I believed it.

Soft fur ran against my arm, and I placed it with a face, quickly.

I chuckled, sniffling as I turned to face Fang. His heavy head was in my lap, big eyes gazing up at me. I knew that he couldn't understand the situation, but he could have fooled me by the way he was looking at us.

Through my tears, I managed a smile. "What are you up to, cutie?" He nearly head-butted me as he leaned up, leaving a sloppy kiss to my tear-stained cheek.

With a chuckle, I continued to stroke his fur while I looked to Luke, who had gone silent.

His eyes were already on me, his lips pulling down into a frown. His expression lacked any other readable emotion except an icy glare. A fiery rage sat high behind those dark blues, his jaw muscle bouncing back and forth. Behind it all, I saw the thing that made me frown, in return.

Immediately, I stood from Fang, stepping closer to Luke. "Stop it."

He blinked, as if he were in a trance. "Stop what?"

"Looking at me like that," I shot back, my voice falling with exhaustion. "Like...like you feel bad for me."

This was the part I despised the most. The changes. The sympathetic looks. The stepping cautiously out of fear I'd break in two at the wrong statement, or question. It was exhausting. It was so exhausting.

I still remembered all of the coverage from the court cases. Granny had tried to keep me sheltered from the news articles, but I managed to find some a couple of years back. I still remembered the comments under them.

Feeling bad, and treating me as if I were a broken piece of glass didn't help a thing. It happened, a couple 'I'm sorries' and 'you're in our thoughts' didn't change shit.

It didn't take away a thing, because at the end of the day, I was the one who was violated before I could even count to the number ten. I was the one who was still stuck with the trauma. I was the one who had to try to physically and mentally recover. I was the one who had all of those visits and tests with the hospital and the psychologists.

It was me. None of those thoughts and prayers were willing to stick around for that part. It didn't do shit, but make me feel as fragile as I'd spent years convincing myself I wasn't.

Luke shook his head, moving closer to me. His hands went to mine, squeezing. "Maggie."

My eyes raised to his.

He squeezed, again, draping a kiss to the sides. "Listen to me," he said, softly. "You went through so, so much that you should have never had to endure. It's so fucking unfair that I can't help feeling sad about it, but that's not it. If anything, it pisses me the fuck off, and makes me want to go out to find and hunt every single those fuckers down." He kissed our hands, again, before releasing it. He lifted one of his again to stroke at my hair. "But, it doesn't change how I look at you, or what I think of you. It doesn't change you. If anything, it makes me so fucking proud of you because you found the bravery to share it with me."

His gaze softened at me. "There's nothing in this world that could ever change you for me. The strongest, bravest, and most beautiful girl in the world." A kiss to my lips this time. His own pulled into a soft smile at me. "And, I've got her all to myself. There's nothing, but happiness in that. Having the strongest girl in the fucking world will always, and I mean always, be my biggest gift and my best miracle."

My eyes stung with tears as I listened along. His words hung with nothing, but honesty, so much of it that I found my mind tugging toward his idea of my beauty. And, for the first time in fifteen years, I was pretty sure I was seeing it, too.

"I just..." I puffed out a strangled breath, sniffling. "I don't want anything to change. I want you to act normal, I want to be normal. To freak out about a 'maybe baby', and all of that normal people shit." I waved it off with a strained chuckle.

I knew it sounded crazy, but it was one of those things I'd accepted about myself. Most people freaked out at the idea of an unplanned pregnancy, but I'd always envied them for even having the fear. They didn't realize how truly lucky they were.

I didn't even want children right now, and I wasn't too sure if I ever would. But, either way, it wasn't fair for the choice to be ripped away from me the way that it was. It wasn't fair. None of it was.

Luke tilted my chin so that he was staring at all parts of me. His eyes studied over mine, carefully. I tried to swipe at my cheeks, but he did so for me.

"You want normal?" he questioned, his head tilting. "For us to freak out, and shit like that?"

I nodded. "I do. I-I know it sounds crazy, but—"

His hands fell from me, entirely. He backed up, one hand shoving through his hair. His soft expression shifted to one of pure distress a second later.

"Shit, Norris," he hissed. "I can't have a baby."

I blinked back at him, startled. "W-what?"

His dread only worsened. "And, you!" he waved a hand over my confused figure. "How in the hell could you skip your pill? Are you even sure that it's mine?"

He broke out of character for a quick second, a sly wink being thrown my way. It wasn't until then that I got his intentions.

I fought a grin, laughing through my tears. "You're the idiot who didn't use a condom, dingus."

He turned his back to me, either arm caging his head in as he shoved out a frustrated breath. "Fuck. Fuck." His arms fell. "A baby, Maggie! A whole baby. And, with you."

I covered my laughter with a frown, despite how badly it wanted to break free. "Yeah, and you're definitely daddy material, right?"

"You weren't saying that last night," he grumbled under his breath, running a hand down his face. "Think, fucker, think."

He whipped around me to me a second later, stepping forward. Either hand grabbed mine, tightening his grip. His eyes widened at me in all seriousness. "Plan B. We can go and get a Plan B. Those little fuckers of mine are swimming though, so we have to hurry."

I yanked my hands away, dramatically. "What?" This was getting too good. "Plan B, are you serious?"

His expression fell with disappointment. "What the hell else? Best you'll get out of me is a couple happy meals, a hundred dollar gift card for graduation, and a birthday card every other decade."

I feigned a gasp, my hands falling to my flat tummy. "You son of a—"

"Oh, come on," he snapped over me, his hands rising to my wrists. "I'll even get you a drink to take the pill with. What the hell else could you want?"

My head shook. I had to bite my lip to stop from laughing. "Are you kidding me?" I gawked, rubbing at my stomach. "Hell no. I'm going to have the time of my life running those deep pockets of yours dry. Granny always told me to lock you rich boys in."

Luke let out a curse, falling to the bed with a groan. He cupped his face, shaking his head. The tattoos along his arms constricted as he dropped them. "I'm fucked. I'm so fucked."

I offered a shrug. "Last night, you surely were. Had you whimpering my name in my ear so long, I thought you were praying for a minute."

Behind a seal of amusement, Luke dropped his hands, a look of disbelief following. "I'm serious, Norris."

"So am I," I returned, looking down to my stomach. "We're gonna love daddy's black amex, aren't we, honey?"

Luke darted his tongue in his cheek to stop from laughing at me. "Think about it, woman! We can't have a kid." He shoved a frustrated hand through his damp strands of hair before looking to me. "Look, fuck the drink. I'll take you out to dinner if you want."

My head whipped up, a serious expression falling over my face. "With mozzarella sticks?"

His head bobbed, immediately. "I'll buy you your own damn mozzarella stick brand if you go and take the pill."

I pretended to think it over, gazing at Fang, who was using his own leg as a chew toy. I looked back to Luke with a nod. "That's all you had to offer, rich boy."

I couldn't help myself. I scooted closer to him, immediately going for his lips. There was nothing but gratefulness, and appreciation for him being so considerate, and playing this whole thing out. They cushioned against mine, immediately catching up to the kiss before I pulled back.

Luke appeared dazed from the kiss, his expression heavy. He shook hisself out of it, his gaze shifting into a glare. "Fuck no. You're not about to tempt me, again. Once we get this pill in you, we're done."

Laughter skipped away from me as I gazed down at him. Luke stood up, grasping his wallet and phone, then heading for the door.

"Wait." I followed after him, confused. "Where are you going?"

A smirk perked his lips. "We're going to get that pill."

I blinked at his back, before hurriedly following after him. He was serious about this. I was more than grateful for it.

He managed to help me feel better over a part of myself I deemed wrong and dark. Instead of worsening that feeling for me, he'd helped me find something light in it.

It made me more than happy to feel a sense of normalcy for once, even if it were just pretend. He had made me more comfortable with myself in a span of short time than anyone else had my entire life.

I loved it.

We continued on with the storyline until we got to the drug store. As soon as were in, he pulled me along with him to the aisle where the medication was.

He stood behind me, arms crossed as he tapped his foot. "And, don't think you're gonna pull a fast one on me, either, Norris. I'm gonna sit my ass right beside you until I see you take it."

I rolled my eyes, yanking one of the containers from the stand. "I hope you know you just ruined my plan for a Ferrari, dingus. How could you sleep at night knowing that?"

"With a glass of cool milk, and a NyQuil."

Giggles left me as I shook my head. I heard him fumble with something behind me before we headed for the self-checkout. I didn't expect him to actually be so serious about this, but when I saw him pull out his card, I knew he was.

I hadn't even realized until he stepped up that he'd gotten a small teddy bear, my favorite drink, and a pack of skittles. My heart warmed at the sight, but once he caught me looking, he rolled his eyes.

"Don't get any ideas, Norris," he teased, bumping into my shoulder as he inserted his card. "This is for me; I'm stressed the fuck out."

He handed the bag with the bear and candy to me, but held the medication in his own. His other hand fell to my own, squeezing it.

I chuckled, nodding. "I wouldn't think of it, rich boy." His own laugh followed as we walked back to the car.

As soon as we were in, he turned to me, a glare set in place. "Take it. Now."

Rolling my eyes, I tore at the packaging. With an exaggerated stretch of a sigh, I shrugged. "Well...here goes all of my free shit."

"Norris."

My eyes jerked up to him. "Change your mind?"

Luke had left character, a silly grin dazzling his face. "Throw it out the window."

Laughter tore from my throat. I couldn't help it. I threw the pill outside, my stomach clenching from humor.

All I caught sight of was Luke's admiration before his lips were on mine. His hand gently cradled my face, only intensifying the pressure of emotions. A satisfied sigh poured from either of us, my hands covering his.

He tore away, softened eyes gazing back at me. "Was that real enough for you, beautiful?"

My eyes fluttered open enough to catch view of his handsome face. "It was." I nodded, lazily. "It was perfect." My fingers stroked through his strands, my chest lifting with relief. "Thank you, Luke. Seriously."

I didn't think he realized how much I meant it. It was so hard obtaining self-respect when it'd been stolen for so long. It was even harder pretending to have said self-respect when I'd never even had sight of my true self in the first place.

But, with Luke...there was no faking it. It was just me, and Luke was the one to make sure that I claimed right to her. And, for the first time, I actually felt comfortable enough to.

He left a series of kisses against my face, finally leaving a final one to my lips. They remained in a crooked grin that melted my heart. "Now...I think that I said I owe a certain brat of mine mozzarella sticks and a dinner, didn't I?"

My arms hung over his shoulders, a large smile rising. "You promised a brand. Don't think you can play me out of my smarts, rich boy."

Luke chuckled, a nod following. His arms drew me into a comforting hug. "I wouldn't think of it."