“I’m so glad our parents aren’t that bad with our dating life,” Beth says to Gage.
The three of us move to a high-top table near the bar, and the second I’m in his orbit, Gage’s cologne envelops me. Just like the first time I sensed it, it makes me dizzy—hypnotised and seduced.
“Don’t you agree, brother?” I look at Beth, trying to act as if I don’t care for his answer, but she just stares at him while he stays silent. Unable to control myself, I follow her gaze, finding Gage already staring down at me. Jesus, is it hot in here?
“Gage?” Beth calls.
He finally looks her way. “Yeah?”
I look down at my hands, where they rest on the table, feeling Beth’s attention on me.
“Nevermind,” she says. “Looks like Tenley needs me already. I’ll be back, but don’t wait for me to start having fun. It’s a party after all.”
I look up in time to see Beth bob her eyebrows, then disappear into the crowd.
“Have you told anyone about—” I stop, not knowing what to call exactly what it is we’re doing. Dating? Do weekly meetings at a sex club equate to that? Sleeping together? Technically, we haven’t done that either.
“No,” Gage says, and I want to ask why. But more importantly, I want to know where he stands. Where this is going. Does he want more? Because I do. “You really do look beautiful. I swear, you take my breath away every time I see you.”
My face must give away my confusion. It’s so different when we’re alone—he’sso different. It’s getting harder not to want this version all the time. Gage’s finger brushes against mine, where it sits on the table, hooking around the pinky.
He clears his throat, almost nervously. Unexpected for a guy as big and imposing as he comes across from the outside. But I know more of what’s underneath. “Maybe we should have brought this up sooner.”
Oh god. He’s gonna say this is nothing. I’ve gotten carried away. I should have listened to Beth from the start. “What’s up?”
“Are you okay with just keeping things between us, at least for now? It’s just that… I don’t date. I wouldn’t be surprised if my family assumes I’m celibate. With the excitement of Caleb and Lex, I don’t think I can handle that kind of attention on my personal life. Even from my family.” He sighs. “It’s not that I don’t want that. But putting myself in a vulnerable position is scary. I haven’t had much practice with opening myself up to that in a long time. If ever. But lately, the alternative feels much scarier.”
“Which is?”
“Missing these moments with you.”
I turn my hand over in his, letting our palms touch, and my thumb runs over the rose tattoo on top. “You miss me… sometimes?”
“I miss you most of the time.”
I look at the drink in his other hand. “How many of those have you had tonight?”
He huffs in amusement. “Why?”
“I’m not used to this sweet and flirty side of you.” I smile.
His fingers move between mine, a teasing whisper of touch making my stomach flip. “I don’t have a sweet and flirty side.”
“Hate to break it to ya, Grim. But yes, you do.”
“No.” He closes his hand fully around mine now. “This is just an Isabelle side.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
I bring my other hand to his, tracing the lines of his tattoos so I don’t have to look him in the eye when I ask my question.
“Why haven’t you tried to sleep with me?” We’ve done things at the club, and I’m not complaining, not at all, but I am curious.
“I don’t want the first time we sleep together to be at the club.”
“So why haven’t you asked me to come to your house?”
