Mia stuck her tongue out at him. “You know what I meant.” She slipped into the bedroom, changed quickly, and crawled into bed. A faint smile was on her lips as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Thirteen
Mia
My, how time flies. Mia couldn't believe that in just a few hours she would be walking across the stage to get her diploma. So much had happened in the last two years. She was almost raped, she got her heart broken, made some really bad choices, had her heart mended by the person who broke it in the first place, and finally admitted her feelings to the one person who meant everything to her. She knew, without a doubt, that Gage Delacroix was her mate. The first couple of weeks after she'd woken up from her night of drunken sex had been tense until she had her period, which meant if they didn't use a condom she got lucky.
True to his word, Gage stopped chasing other girls and focused on repairing the bond between them that his carelessness had damaged. He proved his loyalty and his love every day with little things. Sometimes it was just a message, other times it was a phone call, or a trinket he'd carved for her. Any time she surprised him by visiting him on campus, he was either by himself or hanging out with some of his frat brothers. He took her out every chance he got and their dates always ended with them both breathing heavy. At first she thought the reason he wasn't pushing for more than heated kisses and a bit of heavy petting was because he didn't really want her that way, but as time went on she realized he was waiting untilshewas ready to take things to the next level.
Mia smiled at her reflection. The dress she wore under her graduation gown was a deep crimson silk that clung to her body. She'd developed some curves in the last year or so and she knew Gage liked them, judging by the way he was always touching her when they were together. Beneath the dress she wore a red lace bra and panties with a garter belt and silk stockings. They were going to dinner after graduation and Mia had come to the decision that tonight she wasn't going to settle for just some heavy petting. She wanted to feel every inch of his hard body against hers. She wanted to feel him inside her as they crashed over the edge of release together. She was tired of going to bed with the need and desire burning through her.
“Look at you. Someone's got a hot date.” Julius winked at his twin.
Mia blushed. “Gage is takin' me to dinner after graduation.”
“Uh huh. And dat explains why you're wearin' a pair of 'fuck me' heels?”
Her blush deepened. “Dere not 'fuck me' heels. Dere just shoes.”
He snorted. “Please. I know what 'fuck me' heels look like. I might not be into girls, but I've seen enough of dem to know. Hey, I'm all for you embracin' your sexuality wit' da man you love. It's good to see you so happy.” He moved to her and kissed her cheek. “Come on, we've got a graduation to get to.”
“I still can't believe you're gonna go to da police academy. Dis is really what you want to do, isn't it?”
“Yeah. I've been tinkin' about it for a long time now.”
“I'm so proud of you for goin' after what you want. At least in one area of your life.”
“Don't start. Just cuz ever'one in da family accepts me doesn't mean ever'one else will. If I want to make it as a cop, I need to keep dat shit quiet.”
Mia rolled her eyes. “Times are changin', Jules. Bein' gay isn't as big a deal as it used to be.”
“Says da woman who doesn't have to deal wit' gettin' da shit beat outta her if she makes a pass at da wrong person.”
Mia sighed. “Fine. Be stubborn. But you can't go through life afraid of what others tink. Dat's no way to live, Jules. I just want to see you happy, too.”
“I know, sis. Maybe it'll happen, but I'm not gonna go riskin' my neck while I'm still tryin' to get my professional life goin'.”
“Just don't turn da chance away if it ever comes.” She looped arms with him and headed out to the boat for the ride into the city.
Gage
Gage stood outside Benjamin Franklin High School and watched as students arrived with their families. The ones he remembered from when he'd been a student there he nodded at, but his gaze kept moving over the crowd until he finally saw her. Every time he saw Mia, she took his breath away. In the year and a half since he'd almost lost her, she'd filled out the curves her body previously hinted at having. She'd gained more confidence in her art which in turn meant she was doing more gallery showings. He was so damn proud of her.
As he raked his gaze over the crowd he saw her and, once again, he was struck by her natural beauty. When most girls her age were caking their faces with makeup, Mia rarely wore any. Today all she had on was some eyeliner, a little blush, and some lipstick. “Hi there, Princess.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. She'd filled out in all the right places but she was still only a little over five feet tall, which put her at a foot shorter than him. He loved how petite she was, though. Petite and curvy.
“Hi. You look nice today. Got all dressed up just for me?” She smiled warmly at him.
“You know it.” Gage winked at her then turned to the others. “Mr. and Mrs. Lafluer.” He nodded at her parents. It had taken time for them to warm up to him again after he'd hurt Mia so deeply.
“It's good to see you, Gage. Are you sittin' wit' us?” Eliza asked.
“Dat's da plan, if it's all right with you and Mr. Lafluer.”
“A'course it is. Come on. We need to get to our seats.”
“I'll be right behind you.” He turned to Julius and held out his hand. “Congratulations. I hear you got into da academy? Dat's pretty impressive. I hear it's not easy to get accepted right away.”
Julius grinned. “Yeah, I did. I busted my ass to make sure I could pass all da physical tests. Dis is what I want to do, be a cop, do some good for da people of New Orleans.”
