She runs her hands all over my back and shoulders, massaging and kneading the sore muscles. It doesn’t take long until I sink further into the mattress, limp as a noodle. She stretches out on my back, crossing her arms under her chin on my shoulder blades. “How are you doing, Leo?” she asks, and I know she doesn’t mean from the massage.
“I’m fine, Baby.”
“A lot has happened. It’s okay if you aren’t.”
“Baby,” I say and roll so she slides off my back and I can look into her eyes. “I’m fine. I promise.”
“Okay,” she says softly, pecking my lips. “Did you want to go with me?”
“Of course.” I would take any chance to spend time with her.
Her smile lights up her face. “Good. I’ll let you get ready, and I’llbe downstairs.” She pecks my lips again before sliding off the bed and slipping from the room.
As much as I want to lay around with her for a while, I know she’s busy. With that thought in mind, I finally drag my ass out of bed and head to the shower.
I step under the spray and process everything that’s been going on. I’ve come to terms with the person she is; to be honest, she’s still the woman I met that first night, just a little rougher around the edges.
I took my first life and handled it okay; I don’t know if that’s a good thing. My only consolation is that I did it to save Ryder, but something tells me there would be many more if I continue on this path with them.
Things have changed between Gage and me but in a good way. I don’t know what exactly he wants from this, and I don’t want to ask him because I’m not sure either. What if something happens between him and me, like we just don’t work out, and I’m still with Alessa or vice versa? What kind of disaster would that cause? I like Gage, and I know it went way beyond simple attraction after yesterday. I don’t want to think about anything going wrong between Alessa and me. The thought sends a sense of despair through me so deep that I can feel my lungs seize up. There’s no doubt that I’ll never let that girl go. Gage, either.
Another thing plaguing my mind is that I’m not sure what my job is here. I worked hard for what I had in North Carolina, and my brothers consulted me with their businesses, but I needsomethingthat’s mine. I refuse to make my brothers or Alessa think I’m living off of them. It’s something I need to bring up with both of them. I can’t stay cooped up in the house all day, waiting for one of them to take me somewhere. Maybe I can talk to her about it today.
I quickly finish my shower, brush my teeth, and dry myself off. Wrapping the towel around my waist, I walk back into my bedroom to find something to wear, but I’m not alone.
Gage looks up from his position sitting on the side of my bed, letting his eyes slowly follow a water drop sliding down my chestand disappearing into my towel. I clear my throat, and his head jerks up. Instead of being ashamed for getting caught staring, he just grins.
Fuck, he’s sexy.He shows off straight white teeth and deep dimples when he grins, giving him an almost boyish appearance with his mess of wavy hair. Gage is all man, though.
He stands up from the bed and slowly walks toward me. “I wanted to talk to you about yesterday.”
Something about the way he says that makes dread settle in my chest. “What about it?”
He looks over my shoulder, refusing to look me in the eye. Does he already regret it? He seemed fine last night. What changed? Determination is written all over his features when he looks back at me. “That wasn’t a one-time thing,” he says finally.
“Okay,” I say slowly, hoping he will elaborate.
He runs his fingers through his hair, making it stick up even more. “Yesterday and the cabin between you and me. That wasn’t a one-time thing.” He steps closer until he’s standing right in front of me. “Truth be told, Baby, I’m fucking addicted.”
His admission sucks all the air from my lungs. I know this is what I wanted to know, but I don’t know how to process it now that it’s out there. When he calls me baby, it does something to my insides, and I don’t think he uses that term loosely. He advances, walking me backward until my back hits the closed bathroom door. It’s what he did the first time we kissed, but it isn’t meant to be threatening this time.
“I’m not just talking about the sex either.” He swallows, and I realize he’s actually uncomfortable admitting this. Something I didn’t think Gage could get. “I want to be all in with you if that’s what you want too.”
I search his eyes for the truth, and it’s staring right back at me. Gage wants a relationship with me beyond what we already have.
“I want that too,” I surprise myself by saying, but it feels right. “I’ve never dated a guy before, though.” I don’t know why I’m explaining that to him; he already knows.
He laughs. “That makes two of us.”
One of my eyebrows shoots up. “Never?”
He shakes his head and runs his knuckles down my cheek. “I’ve never wanted a relationship until Les and you.”
“You’ve never been in a relationship with anyone?”
He shakes his head again. “Nope. I was fine on my own, just playing around until Les was ready, and then you came along.”
“You’ve waited on Alessa?”
