Joshua returned ten minutes later with a plate of prime rib, asparagus, roasted potatoes, and set it down in front of Gage.
Gage leaned forward and inhaled before he sat back and licked his pretty lips.
“Smells great, Josh. Thank you.”
He unwrapped his cutlery from the cloth napkin, rotated his plate until the meat was at six o’clock and his vegetables at ten and two, and dug in.
There was no fumbling or uncertainty as he ate. He was so meticulous. So perfect.
Scar was staring, but he couldn’t stop.
Meridian narrowed his eyes at him before he turned away.
Zorion didn’t even pretend not to notice, which felt worse.
Gage chewed, swallowed, then let out a soft chuckle.
“Do you want a bite?” he asked. “You’re staring as if you want some.”
I do, but not the food.
Scar reached over and took an asparagus spear from Gage’s plate. He put the tip in his mouth and bit down, his gaze never leaving Gage’s face.
Gage didn’t react the way he’d expected.
He didn’t recoil or show any shyness. He just smiled and kept eating.
The conversations around them drifted in and out. Words about ports, timing, and exits shifting to background noise.
All he could focus on was Gage.
The way his lips closed around his fork, and how his throat worked when he swallowed.
Scar leaned in enough to warm the air between them, until their breaths mingled and his nose was so close to Gage’s throat that he could bask in that damn scent.
“Can I see you later?” Scar asked, keeping his voice low.
Gage turned his head slowly toward him. “See me and do what?”
That damn voice did something criminal below Scar’s belt.
“I wanna fight you,” he whispered.
Gage’s laugh was quiet, teasing. “You really that brave?”
Scar nodded, his forehead brushing Gage’s temple. “I wanna see what you got.”
“Time and place,” Gage said confidently.
He didn’t hesitate. “Midnight. In the Blacks’ training arena.”
Gage leaned an inch closer, and all Scar had to do was take his mouth—
The door opened again, and Adrian walked in.
Scar gritted his teeth at the feel of cold water dousing the heat that been simmering between him and his partner.
Adrian greeted them pleasantly, as if he belonged and hadn’t been an obstacle in Scar’s path since the beginning.
