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𝐌𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄

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Sunshine sat cross-legged on her bed, her fingers danced across the keyboard as she scrolled through pages of medical forums and articles. The words "false positives" flashed on the screen, and with each click, relief washed through her. She clung to the notion that the test could be wrong, that this was all a mistake. Yet, in the back of her mind, the nagging truth lingered: she had experienced almost all the symptoms.

Unless she was the next Virgin Mary, something else had to be happening with her body. The absurd thought made her snort quietly, shaking her head in disbelief. Religion had never been a guiding force in her life; it always felt too distant, too abstract. But now, with the knowledge that ghosts were real, her mind spiraled with unanswerable questions. If spirits existed, what else was possible? Was there a God watching over all this chaos? And, of all people, would that God seriously pick her to carry out some divine miracle?

The thought felt ludicrous, and yet, the uncertainty gnawed at her. She shook her head again, trying to shove the idea out of her brain. The rational part of her screamed that there had to be a logical, medical explanation. 

A sudden knock at her door shattered the silence, jolting her out of her spiraling thoughts. Her heart leapt in her chest as her body flinched, startled. She hastily slammed her laptop shut, its screen fading to black just as Tate's head appeared in the doorway. 

"Hey," 

Sunshine forced a smile. "Hey," she replied, hoping her voice sounded steadier than she felt.

"Can we talk?" Tate asked as he hesitated in the doorway. 

Sunshine straightened her posture, trying to shake off the heaviness in her chest. She nodded, her throat suddenly dry. 

Tate stepped inside, the door shutting behind him. He settled onto the edge of her bed, a few inches away, and for a moment, they both seemed lost in their thoughts. 

"I wanted to check on you," Tate finally said, his voice soft. "After everything... you know, with Violet."

She gave a small nod, forcing herself to stay composed despite the rising lump in her throat. Her fingers fidgeted in her lap as she tried to keep her emotions at bay. "I'm okay," she managed but the lie tasted bitter on her tongue.

"Did I do something wrong?" Tate asked gently. 

Sunshine couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, her eyes shifting away.

"No..." Sunshine whispered, shaking her head as if the simple action could erase the turmoil churning inside her. Despite her words, she was burdened by emotions she couldn't fully comprehend. 

Every time she looked at Tate, it was like looking at two different people—two distinct realities. One was the boy she was falling for, the one who made her heart race, who made her want to giggle and kick her feet like a school girl. The other was the boy who had taken fifteen lives in cold blood, something she couldn't ignore now matter how hard she tried.

She recalled Billie's words. Tate didn't remember how he died, or even that he was dead. That knowledge was something she clung to, a small sliver of understanding she couldn't let go of. 

Maybe it wasn't entirely his fault. Maybe there was more to it than she knew. For a brief moment, the tension in her shoulders eased, as if the weight of what he'd done could be softened by his ignorance. But that relief never lasted long.

And then there was the secret she carried—a truth that knotted her stomach and twisted her insides with guilt. His sister was dead. Constance had told her not to reveal the truth. How could she keep something like that from him? If it were her own sister, she would want to know. She would need to know. 

How could she reconcile these things? How could she look him in the eyes, knowing what he had done and knowing what she was hiding from him?

Tate swallowed hard. "Sunshine... something's changed in you... toward me," he murmured, his eyes searching her face for a hint of what she was feeling. "You're distant, cold."

He looked down at his hands, as if trying to gather the right words. "I don't know what I've done but... I'll leave you alone from now on, if that's what you want." His voice faltered, and when he glanced up, his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Is that what you want?"

Her heart clenched painfully at his words, her bottom lip trembling. She shook her head, fighting to keep her emotions in check, but the lump in her throat only grew.

"You know why I'd leave you alone? Because I care about your feelings more than mine." He paused, taking a shaky breath. "I love you."

The tears Sunshine had been holding back broke free, spilling down her cheeks. His confession pierced through her defenses, crumbling the walls she had so carefully constructed around her heart.

"There, I said it—not just on some piece of paper," Tate continued, his voice thick with emotion. He reached for her hand, holding it between his. "I would never let anyone or anything hurt you. I've never felt that way about anyone."

Something shifted inside her, a surge of raw emotion that she couldn't quite explain. Maybe it was because she was a sad, broken girl, desperate to feel loved. Or maybe, in some inexplicable way, she wanted to be the one who loved him—through all the dark, twisted parts of his soul.

Without thinking, she reached out, cradling his face in her hands. Her fingertips grazed his damp cheeks, brushing away the tears that had fallen. A deep longing tugged at her chest, pulling her toward him, as if this moment was the only thing that made sense in the chaos of everything else.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she searched his eyes. Leaning in, she pressed her lips softly to him, and in that instant, the world seemed to stop. Tate's arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, and Sunshine melted into his touch.

Sunshine pulled away slightly, locking eyes with Tate. This was the moment she had been waiting for—a point of no return where everything else faded into insignificance. With a steadying breath, she stood up, pulling Tate's gaze along with her as he turned his head. 

Standing in front of him, she gazed down into his deep, almost black eyes. Sunshine brushed her fingers gently through the mess of his hair, tucking it away from his forehead.

She grabbed the hem of her dress and with a swift pull, she removed it from her body, letting the fabric fall to the floor. Sunshine felt a rush of vulnerability. She was laying herself bare, not just physically but emotionally.

Tate's eyes roamed her figure, but there was no sense of judgment in his gaze. Instead, it was filled with reverence, awe even, as if he were seeing her for the first time. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed

"Are you sure?" he asked, searching for any trace of doubt or hesitation in her eyes.

With a gentle nod, she leaned closer, the distance between them shrinking further. "I'm sure," she whispered as her lips brushed against his.

Their lips met, and Sunshine moved between his parted legs and Tate's hands found the back of her thighs. She placed her hands on the back of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair as they explored one another's lips, their kisses softening and swelling with every breath. 

She had imagined this moment a million times before, but each fantasy had always centered around Tate—his dimmed smile, his touch, the way he made her feel. In her mind, it had been a dream, an unreachable desire that felt so far away.

But now, it was real. 

And nothing could compare to the sweet yet salty taste of his lips, still tinged with the remnants of the tears they had shared together. Every kiss carried that lingering trace of their shared pain, binding them in a way words never could.

Sunshine's fingers traced the collar of Tate's green flannel before she pushed it down his shoulders, exposing the soft fabric beneath. He surrendered to her touch, letting the flannel slip to the bed.

Tate pulled away from their kiss, rising to his full height. Their eyes locked as he slowly removed his gray shirt, revealing his chest and the subtle definition of his muscles.

Every inch of his skin seemed to glow in the soft light of her room, and Sunshine's fingers found their way to his bare skin, tracing the lines of his shoulders and down his arms. 

Sunshine looked up at Tate through her lashes, moving her hands away from his body. Her fingers fumbled behind her back, deftly undoing the clasps of her bra and letting the fabric slip away.

Tate's eyes lingered on her figure, tucking her long hair behind her shoulder. He lowered his head to her neck, and Sunshine felt the warmth of his breath against her as he kissed the spot right behind her earlobe.

Sunshine licked her lips as Tate's hand rested possessively on her jaw, his fingers gently tilting her head to the side, granting him better access.

He trailed hot, lingering kisses along her neck, each one deeper than the last. Her pulse quickened beneath his mouth as his lips danced their way up her jawline, teasingly halting just inches from her waiting lips. 

"Get on the bed," 

Sunshine nodded, unable to find her voice as nervousness overtook her. She did as he instructed, settling herself onto her bed, her head sinking into the pillows and her knees bent in an inviting position.

Tate kicked off his converse before he climbed onto the bed, positioning his hands on either side of Sunshine's head. He looked down at her and she couldn't help but smile up at him.

Sunshine reached up, placing a hand on his cheek, the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips grounding her in the moment. Her thumb brushed against his bottom lip, savoring the softness as she took in the way his eyes devoured her.

He really was here, wasn't he? The thought echoed in her mind. Everything she knew about ghosts made her half-expect her hand to pass right through him, as if he was just an illusion. But he wasn't. He was solid, real. His presence was undeniable, as tangible as the way her heart raced when their skin touched.

Tate placed a light, feather-soft kiss on her lips before he trailed kisses down to her neck, continuing his descent down between her breasts. His lips found her belly button, planting a tender kiss that made Sunshine suddenly acutely aware of her body. She felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over her as she became aware of how much her body had changed.

He looked up at her, his expression earnest and full of adoration, as if he could sense her hesitation. Tate lifted himself onto his knees, his hands sliding to the sides of Sunshine's underwear. 

Slowly, he began to drag the fabric down her thighs, the tension in the air thickening. A rush of heat overtook her but alongside that warmth, an unwelcome sensation crept in—a familiar feeling that made her blood run cold.

Images of the Rubber Man invaded her thoughts, threatening to tarnish the purity of the moment they were sharing. Sunshine felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach, but she quickly pushed those thoughts aside. Taking a deep breath, Sunshine focused on Tate's gentle touch as he lowered himself to place a heated kiss on her inner thigh. 

Sunshine's head fell back against the pillows when his tongue made contact with her clit. Her breath hitched at the sensation and her fingers instinctively intertwined with his blonde hair, feeling the softness of the strands against her skin.

As Tate's tongue moved in slow, deliberate strokes, a soft moan escaped Sunshine's lips, her body trembling beneath his touch. His free hand began to glide upward, the roughness of his fingertips contrasting with the smoothness of her skin as they trailed along the curve of her hip. 

With every flick of his tongue, her body reacted, and as his hand caressed higher, reaching her stomach, she felt the tension build. His hand made contact the soft skin of her breast, his thumb grazing her hardened nipple as he massaged the supple flesh.

Pleasure overwhelmed her, a wave of sensations crashing over her as he inserted a finger in her wet heat. The room spun around her, and all she could focus on was him slowly pumping in and out of her. A string of pleasurable cries escaped her lips, bucking her hips slightly as she felt the pressure in her abdomen build. 

But just as Sunshine teetered on the edge of release, Tate suddenly pulled away. A playful smirk curled at his lips as he looked up at her.

"Not yet," he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

Sunshine whined, her body trembling with frustration, her breath coming in shallow, rapid bursts. She locked eyes with Tate, silently pleading for more, her body aching from the sudden denial of her orgasm.

Tate's smile widened as he drank in the sight of her, vulnerable and desperate beneath him. His eyes darkened with something deeper, more primal, as his fingers traced a slow, teasing line along the soft skin of her inner thigh. 

Her body responded instinctively, a soft whimper escaping her lips as she arched into him, craving more of his touch.

Tate lifted himself up, his eyes never leaving Sunshine's. With a swift tug, he undid his belt and tossed it aside, the sound of the leather hitting the floor barely registering as Sunshine was flush with need. In one fluid motion, he shed the last pieces of clothing, his body now fully exposed to her.

Sunshine's eyes widened as she took in the sight of him. She wondered how it could even fit but before she could say anything he lowered himself on top of her, wedging himself between her spread legs. Tate moved slowly, inserting himself into her, but still giving her a moment to adjust. 

Sunshine winced at the sharp sting of pain as Tate stretched her, opening up her walls to accommodate for his size. His lips moved tenderly against her collarbone, trailing soft, reassuring kisses along her flushed skin. 

Tate paused, sensing her tension. His lips lingered against her neck, his breath warm. "You okay?" he whispered softly, his voice filled with concern.

"Mhm," Sunshine gave a small nod, biting her lower lip as she willed herself to relax. 

Tate nodded as he slowly built up his rhythm, his touch firmer yet still tender. The pain began to ease, replaced by a slow, building pleasure. Sunshine let out a shaky breath, her fingers gripping tighter as her pleasure began to crest again.

His lips brushed against her neck, leaving a trail of heated kisses that made her arch beneath him. The pressure inside her built with every passing second, her moans growing louder, more urgent.

He kissed her deeply, their lips meeting in a passionate, breathless exchange. Sunshine moaned into his mouth, her voice muffled by the kiss but filled with pure pleasure. 

Sunshine's body tensed as she felt the familiar heat coiling low in her abdomen, spiraling upward in waves that made her toes curl and her head fall back into the pillows. The sensation was all-consuming, her body trembling as she clung to him, lost in the moment.

Tate's grip on her outer thigh tightened, his fingernails digging into her skin. Sunshine gasped, her hands clutching at his back, feeling the muscles tense beneath her fingers.

The mounting pleasure was overwhelming, her senses blurring as the pressure became too much to bear. She let out a soft, breathless moan, knowing she was on the verge of release. "Tate," 

"I know," Tate whispered against her lips, pushing her even closer to the edge.

In that moment, everything around her disappeared—her thoughts, her worries, the pain she'd been carrying. All she could feel was him, and the white-hot pleasure flooding her entire body. 

Her vision blurred, stars dancing at the edges of her sight as she finally reached her peak. A soft cry escaped her lips as her body trembled beneath him, consumed by a rush of pure, dizzying nirvana.

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