Can what he’s saying be true? Do they see me as more than their friend and boss? Do I see them as more?
Gage jerks my hips to the edge of the desk, rubbing his hard cock against my pussy through my shorts. “Shit,” I moan, rocking my hips.
“See? Your body wants it,” Gage says huskily, just as affected as me. He sinks into the kiss, rocking his hips. I want to rip his clothes off and see what Gage is made of.
“Alessa, we need…oh. Shit. Sorry,” Gia, my bar manager, stutters out before slamming the door behind her. I didn’t even hear her come in.
Fuck.
I groan. “Please tell me that did not just happen.”
“It did,” Gage chuckles and takes a step back. I want to jerk him to me to finish this, but I also know I need a minute to process. He rubs his knuckles down my cheek. “When your mind gets on board with your body, just know we can make this work.”
He kisses me on the forehead before leaving the office, softly shutting the door behind him. I lay back on the desk with a groan, letting my mind run wild. He left the decision in my hands now that he also threw his hat into the ring.
Why now? Why would he bring this up once I was involved with Leo? He’s hadyearsto say something, and so has Ryder. But they both waited until I’m…whatever I am with Leo.
Just the thought of his name brings so much guilt I can barely swallow, but then comes anger because he lied to me. There’s nodenying I love him, but if I truly love him, would I be able to kiss Ryder and Gage? Is Gage right about Dex and Holden too? I need to think about this rationally.
Ryder is my best friend. We know each other inside and out. He is my go-to for advice or someone to talk to. Wenevercrossed that line until last night. I can’t deny how my body responded to him, begging him to take it further. Truthfully, the only thing that stopped me was Leo.
Gage came into my life when he was ten, and I was eleven. He had an instant connection with Ryder and me. Gage is my person when I need to laugh or just do something stupid to let go. People underestimate Gage because he’s cracking jokes or goofing off, but I see the real him. The guy that will do anything for anyone he cares about without a second thought.
Dex was one of my dad’s lower guys when he first appeared. When I met him, I was seventeen, and something about his grey eyes drew me in. He was open, easy to laugh, and quick to smile. After Perez’s guys grabbed him the night he got the scars, he changed. He barely talks and can’t stand to be touched. He’s my voice of reason, the one I can go to, and we can have a rational discussion to figure out pretty much anything. He’s also the one who pushed me away all those years ago.
Holden can’t even look me in the eye for more than two seconds. I don’t know what happened to him for the four years he was locked in that room, but I know it’s not good. He was emaciated, bruised, and scared of every sound. Until four months ago, he didn’t even leave his office unless he was going to bed. We took all his meals in there until Ryder put his foot down one day and made him eat with us. He’s done it ever since. I can count on him for any information I need, and he never asks questions. He will just go to his office, and I have what I need within hours.
And Leo, I don’t even know where to start. I couldn’t get him off my mind. What we shared these past four months went up in smoke when I found out he was a Perez, and I’m still not sure if I can trust him. Why hasn’t he tried to get away? Can I trust Evander andMateo? Leo is the epitome of the perfect boyfriend. He is understanding, affectionate, a good listener, and he spoils me to no end.
“Fuck,” I groan, sitting back up on the desk. I wasn’t getting anything else done today.
I am going to find Gage and kick his ass for filling my head with this shit.
Then I’ll find Ryder.
Chapter 7
Ryder
Ifinally kissed Les. She was responding beautifully, and then I felt the moment she froze. Bad timing on my part? Probably. I’ve harbored a crush on her since we were young, but I never wanted to step over that line and lose years of friendship. I’ve sat back and watched her run through every guy for random hookups, finding my own to pass the time, listened to her talking about it indetailto Gage, watched her back, made sure she never got outed as The Black Demon, and the list goes on. Always the best friend, Ryder.
The Ryder, who’s been in love with his best friend and couldn’t tell her.
I thought Leo would be the same. She would hook up with him once and be done. But then she saw him again, and I knew something was different. I’ve sat back for four fucking months watching her get closer and closer to him, and then this motherfucker betrays her. I would have put a bullet between his goddamn eyes at the beach house if it wasn't for her. Instead, this prick is locked up in this house. The only peace I have is that she hasn’t been near him. I see the sad as fuck looks she gives him, but she won’t be alone with him.
I wanted to talk to her, but she was gone by the time I got done in the gym, taking off with Gage, leaving me with babysitting dutyagain. At least he stayed out of my fucking hair by staying in his room.
I hear the door open from the garage behind me from my seat at the kitchen island and can’t help looking over my shoulder.
“You’re clinically insane. You know that, right?” she asks Gage, kicking her shoes off.
“You still haven’t given me a good reason why it wouldn’t work,” he says, kicking his own off. “Think of the possibilities.”
“Yeah, the possibility of one of you killing…” she stops mid-sentence, stopping in her tracks when she rounds the corner and sees me sitting there.
Gage plows right into her. “Damn, Les, if you want me to feel your ass, all you have to do is ask,” he says, running his hands down her thick hips.
She elbows him in the stomach, making him grunt. “Go away. I’m done dealing with you today.”
