My eyes widen and he chuckles.
“I told you what I want, Cal. I wasn’t fucking lying.” He stands then, his cock tenting his swim trunks. He doesn’t seem remotely bothered by it as he leans forward and kisses me hard.
On his lips, I taste my own arousal and it makes me feel wanton. Needy for him all over again.
Gage looks at my body appreciatively. “You’re too damn sexy. All these curves,” he says, almost regretfully as he fixes the bottom of my swimsuit and reties the top.
Then, he adjusts himself and pulls in a deep inhale. “Well, this is the cave.”
I laugh, almost confused by how quickly he’s shifted gears. Eyeing the bulge in his trunks that can’t be concealed, no matter how hard he tries—no pun intended—I say, “Take me home, Gutierrez. We’re just getting started.”
Relief washes over his expression. “Oh, thank fuck,” he says, reaching for me. He scoops me up into his arms and steps from the cave into the bright sunshine of the beach. Turning away from the huddles of people, he races toward his apartment.
“You know, if you ran like this in games, you’d have smashed some records,” I tease.
“She’s got jokes,” he mutters, not even out of breath as his feet leave the sand and find the wooden planks leading to his apartment.
I grin at him. “This wasn’t supposed to happen, Gage.”
He shakes his head, glancing down at me. “This was always meant to be, Cal. You’re just catching up.”
Then, we enter the air-conditioned apartment. Gage strides directly to his bedroom, tosses me in the center of his bed, and flips his chin at me. “Take those scraps of fabric off that hot body.” He pushes his swim trunks down his thick thighs and kicks them off his foot. His cock springs free and I gasp at the size of him. He smirks knowingly. “I see you need my help.” He reaches forward and tugs on the ties of my bathing suit.
The whole thing falls away in a blink.
Gage’s grin widens. “You ready for me, Cal?”
“I am,” I say, leaning up on my elbows. And his gaze snaps to mine sharply. Because we both know that I’m admitting to more than just this, than just sex.
I’m ready for Gage. For the future he wants to create. For the confessions he shared with me.
I want it all too. Even if I’m scared. Even if I’ll stumble. I want Gage Gutierrez in my life in all the ways he’s claiming me in his.
“Thank fuck,” he murmurs again.
Then, he crawls over me, presses me down into the mattress, and kisses me hard. Our kisses are slower this time, our touches exploratory. Our movements unhurried and languid and lazy.
Gage brings me to the crest again. His eyes drink me in as I come apart, his name a swear on my lips. When he reaches for a condom, I touch his wrist, stopping him.
“I’m on the pill. And I’m clean,” I say, meaning it. If I’m going to do this with him, I’m going all the way. If Gage truly wants a future with me and I’m accepting everything he’s offering, then I don’t want any barriers between us.
“You sure, Cal? Because this… It’s for real, beautiful.”
“I want you, Gage. I want everything you told me. I want fifty-years-plus and a family laughing on the beach.” My voice cracks as I admit it because…it’s a dream I gave up on years ago. Until Gage made me believe in it again.
A ferocity glints in his eyes as he rolls his lips together and nods. Then, he kisses me. Deeply, passionately, thoroughly. He enters me on a sharp thrust and we both cry out, our backs arching. Gage stills, our gazes snap together and hold, and our mouths seek each other out.
We kiss again—slower this time. Gage rocks in and out of me, our bodies coming together beautifully. We climb upward, teeter on a delicious crest, and break apart in unison.
“Fuck, Callie,” Gage exhales.
I wrap my legs around him, pulling him deeper inside as he orgasms. “You chose me, Gage,” I remind him.
“Hell yeah, I fucking did,” he growls in my ear as his body relaxes over mine.
I laugh and press a kiss to his temple. “No take-backs.”
“Not in a million fucking years,” he promises.
