The Drazen World: Purgatory (Kindle Worlds Novella)

I stood with my legs slightly parted and my arms crossed over my chest.
Hunter's posture was the complete opposite. Leaning against the wall, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes, his mouth slanted down into a frown I wanted to kiss away with my lips. Defeated, almost ready to see me bolt and go.
Where would I go anyway, silly man?
Besides straight to Hell, of course.
"You should sit down, Gabby. This might take a while," he murmured, still not making eye contact.
"I'm fine. Go."
And he did.
"I was twenty-one when I died," he began, his voice monotone as though recalling someone else's life story.
"I was in a band, you know? We had just signed a contract with a mid-level label but still...it was our dream coming to life." Pushing away from the wall, he walked to the bed and sat on the edge, his eyes boring into mine and begging me to join him.
I did.
I uncrossed my arms, anticipating a novel of a story. Slowly, I made my way to him and instead of sitting beside him, I curled up on his lap. With my head on his shoulder and my arms around his waist, I listened to the deep timbre of his voice as the vibrations travelled straight to my heart.
" I was driving my heap of an old truck. The tires were barely legal, the breaks needed replacing and the suspension was shit. I figured with the cash we were about to get, I could get a newer model."
He took a deep breath, slightly bending down to kiss my forehead before he resumed his story.
"On my way to my band mates' beat down apartment, I could feel the truck was fucking up on the road. It wasn't far, but I didn't really have a choice. Again, I thought I'd have a new one in less than a week so I just did my best not to kill myself. Obviously, that didn't work out well."
I wanted to chuckle at his attempt at levity but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
"Anyway, it started to rain. Like the typical L.A. downpour that lasts about ten minutes and where you can't see shit during that time. I didn't think much of it. I was young and apparently stupid. Up ahead, I saw headlights coming but they were on my lane, sliding at an awkward angle. I tried to stop but my brakes failed. My instinct had me pulling the steering wheel away from the incoming car which isn't what I should have done. Go with the slide, I was always told." Hunter took a little pause, a breath for courage and gave me the final blow.
"My truck spun out of control and as I flew over the cliff, I felt everything move in slow motion. The other car slammed into the rocks on their side, violently."
When he stopped and didn't start back up, I lifted my head and looked at him, pleading.
"Tell me the rest, Hunter. I know there's more." I begged.
Reaching up, he pushed his thumb into my chin and slanted my head to perfectly align our mouths. His kiss was possessive and supplicating all at once. Rising to my knees, I straddled him, my forearms resting on his strong shoulders; our mouths dancing with pent up emotions we hadn't yet admitted nor ignored. Between each exploration of his tongue, he pulled back nipping and biting at my lips, owning me with his passion.
I hadn't seen Hunter dressed in anything other than his jeans and V-neck shirt but at that moment, I knew I'd get to see him. Naked. Vulnerable. Mine.
In a move worthy of a porn star, I reached down to the hem of his shirt and pulled it up in one swift move, breaking away from his kiss only long enough to allow the material to disappear. I took a moment to admire the raw, sensual beauty of his naked skin. The ink was perfectly designed, the tribal art, a testament to something a twenty-one year old would have tattooed. It was bold and made his lean muscles pop out even more. His arms, his shoulder and his pecks all adorned with some kind of ink. I loved the contrast, it made me want him that much more. Hunter's hands moved from my face to my hair, twining it between his fingers and pulling us apart.
"Stop. Look at me." He demanded. I obliged. I stared straight at him, my gaze unfaltering.
"I love you, Gabby. Do you hear me?" He was deadly serious, not an ounce of the carefree man I had first met.
"I do. I hear you loud and clear and Hunter?" I waited for him to acknowledge my incoming declaration. "I deserve to be loved. I am worthy of colors and music. I have earned the warm feeling of happiness that flutters inside me every time you're close to me. I've made mistakes but I'm a good person." Biting my bottom lip, I hoped my admission would be enough to convince him of my newfound revelation.
"Gabby..." There was awe in his voice. It was addictive, that type of reverence.
"Wait. Let me finish." Popping an eyebrow to show my sass, he chuckled and nodded for me to continue. "I was a mess down there. I was sick, I think. I needed to be loved unconditionally and what I missed all that time was that I was loved. By Darren, by Monica. By my parents. I thought I needed to be worshipped for my art. My music was everything to me, the perfection of it was my consolation. I could control music. People? Not so much."
"Gabby, wait. I have to tell you..." Placing a finger on his lips, I shushed him and smiled.
"When I walked out onto that pier, I did it out of spite. I wanted to punish Monica for