Page 50 of Red My Lips

“Just hold me,” I say pitifully. He leans down to press his lips against mine, kissing me softly.

“I am going to hold you—I’m going to hold you, hug you, and kiss you until the smile is back on your face. Then I’m going to hunt down the reason for your tears and laugh while I destroy it.” Desire rolls over me at the passion behind his words. I lean up to recapture his lips, my tongue tangling with his.

“Not tonight,” I say against his lips. I slide my arms around to clasp behind his neck as he reaches down to pick me up and support me by my thighs, wrapping them around his waist. I bury my head into his neck as he carries me through the house.

Entering the bedroom, he lowers me onto the bed. When he moves to straighten, I use my arms around his neck to pull him closer, kissing him again. Gage’s mouth moves with mine, letting me take the lead as I channel all of my anger and frustration. My nails dig into his skin, clawing and scratching at his neck and shoulders. The emotions swirling through me, potent and dark, pour into him—and he takes it all, gladly, hungrily, and begging for more.

When I finally fall back, my arms letting go to land on the bed beside my head, Gage doesn’t let up. His lips trail across my face, peppering kisses along my jaw, cheeks, and the tip of my nose. His strong fingers work to unbutton my pants as his mouth moves across my chest, nipping and licking my cleavage. He climbs off the bed to kneel in front of me.

Taking great care, Gage pulls off my shoes and presses kisses to the inside of my ankles, his teeth sinking into my flesh with love bites that send arousal shooting through me. His mouth moves up my legs, paying special attention to my thighs. When he hooks his thumbs into the waistband of my pants to drag them down my legs until they fall to the floor, his mouth follows its path. Once he reaches my toes, he makes his way back up.

“Gage,” I say, hating how my voice shakes. Luckily, I don’t have to say anything else. He just knows.

“It’s time for bed, baby,” he murmurs, pulling back the covers for me to climb under, wearing only my t-shirt and panties. After putting his gun on his nightstand and switching off the light, he climbs into the bed and wraps himself around me. He lets out a gratified sigh and presses a kiss on the top of my head. We lay together in silence for a while, but it doesn’t last long.

A strong hand slips under my jaw, tilting my head up until I meet his dark gaze. The city lights filtering through the parted blinds cast deep shadows across his angular face, enhancing all of his beautiful, sharp edges. He’s a mercenary eager to do my bidding.

“I need you to talk to me, baby. Tell me what happened.” It’s a plea and a command. His thumb strokes my jaw tenderly, coaxing me to comply.

“The police called,” I say finally, forcing the emotion back enough to get the words out. “About Tommy.”

Gage remains silent as he listens and waits for me to continue, the ticking of his jaw the only reaction to my words. “Apparently, they think that the amount of blood at his apartment means that my brother is dead. They say they don’t have any more leads, and the case is now cold. He’s assumed dead, and they won’t be looking for him anymore. They’re giving up on him.” I let out a humorless laugh as a fresh wave of anger hits me. “I guess a gambling junkie with a perpetual losing streak and a habit of running from his debts isn’t at the top of their priority list.”

I shake my head, blinking past the tears of frustration streaming down my face freely. “He’s dead—I know it, you know it, the fucking cops know it. I didn’t expect them to come to his rescue. But the least they could do was find his body. Give me something to bury, something to say goodbye to. He wasn’t much of a brother, but he’s all that I had. He was my family. They might not think Tommy deserves closure, but I sure as hell do.”

“You’ll get your closure.” It’s more than an assurance. It’s a promise. “One way or another.” His dark words settle some of the animosity swirling inside me. I can’t help but lean up to press a lingering kiss on his lips.

“Get some rest, pretty girl. Tomorrow’s a new day to make the world fall to your feet.” He brushes the hair out of my face, cupping my cheeks and gently brushing the tears away with the pads of his thumbs. I nod against his hands.

When he lets go and wraps his arms around me, I lay my head on his chest and settle in. The steady beating of his heart is calming, our rhythms syncing. “Goodnight, Reaper,” I whisper.

This is where I belong.

Chapter Twenty-One

Gage

I sense her before I open my eyes—can feel the weight of her lush body against mine. The scent of her cherry blossom shampoo fills my lungs with each breath as my nose presses deeper into her hair. I want this smell to be bottled in an oxygen tank, so it’s the only thing I ever have to breathe. The only sound she makes is the soft inhale and exhale as she sleeps. Our bodies are tangled together—hers supple and soft against my hard angles as she lays on my shoulder. When feeling her isn’t enough, I open my eyes.

There she is.

Waking up to see Jill in my bed feels like the universe finally makes sense. She’s mine, whether she wants to admit it to herself or not. After fantasizing what it would be like to have Jill be the first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning, the real thing is so much fucking better. It’s unreal.

She’s unreal.

There’s nothing more beautiful than Jill when she’s fired up and blazing through the world, but there’s something about watching her sleep. She’s peaceful, innocent, and delicate—but not weak, never weak.

I like looking at her this closely. I can lay here and count every one of her long, dark eyelashes. I can trace the pout of her full parted lips and feel how many breaths pass through them. I can see the tiny heart-shaped freckle on her left, makeup-free cheek.

This is where she belongs—in my home, in my bed, in my arms. Soon, we’ll be lying in our home, in our bed. We can live here if she likes this house. If she wants to live somewhere else, I’ll buy her whatever house she wants—a penthouse, a townhouse, a mansion in Winnetka. Hell, I’ll even buy her a permanent residence in The Raven so she can hang out with Lana all day. It might take me a few hands of poker, but I’ll give Jill her every whim. My girl loves to live life on her whims.

Jill’s eyes haven’t opened yet when she murmurs, “I can feel you staring.”

“You’re stunning. It’s easy to stare,” I respond, unrepentant. Her lashes flutter slightly before she opens those haunting green eyes of hers and fixes them on me. Having her eyes on me makes me feel like the most powerful man in the world.

I fucking like it.

“Good morning, gorgeous.” I press a kiss to her forehead.

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