Page 11 of Losing Hope

She turned to hang the phone up and smiled when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her, followed by warm lips up against her cheek.

“Good morning.”

She turned in his arms and rested her free hand against his chest, bringing her eyes up to meet his. “Good morning toyou.”

He leaned down and kissed her, his lips feathering over hers before pressing more firmly, his tongue stroking her bottom lip as he pulled away. “I guess I should call the rental company.”

She felt her heart dip just a little in disappointment at the thought of him leaving and couldn’t help the frown that appeared. Although she barely knew him, she was surprised at how much she wanted him tostay.

His eyebrows shot up, and his head tilted in confusion. “What? Don’t call the rental company?”

“Yes, of course, you need to call them. Do you have the number? We can look it up if you need it. I’m sure there’s a phone book in one of these drawers.” She moved to walk around him to make herself busy looking for the phone book, but he grabbed her wrist gently and pulled it so she was facinghim.

“Sayit.”

Her brows creased, and her eyes narrowed. “Saywhat?”

He took a step closer, and she could feel the pulse in her wrist increase as he did. When he licked his lips and dragged his eyes up her body, Hope stifled a low moan before meeting his eyes with her own. “Say it, Hope.”

She shifted nervously and looked away, huffing out a breath. “I’m not sure what you want me to say, Gage,” she mumbled, hoping he wanted to stay as much as she wanted himto.

He leaned even closer and grazed his lips lightly over hers. “Tell me you want me tostay.”

Her eyes widened, and Hope held on to her anticipation, looking up at his face again, trying to read him. “I… You must… I…”

A sly grin fell on his lips as he shook his head. “I what? I must? Is it that hard to askme?”

Could he possibly see how badly she wanted him to stay?Flustered and not wanting to give in so easily, she told him, “I barely even know you.” She desperately needed to gain back some of the ground she had lost with her earlier stutter.

“But do you want to? Because I’d really, really like to stay and get to know you better.”

Unable to hold it in any longer, a smile broke across her features, her eyes lighting up. “You would?”

He nodded slowly, his eyes still locked on hers. “I would.”

“But, what about your car? Don’t you have a plane to catch this morning?”

He stepped forward until his body was flush with hers, his hand releasing her wrist to slide around her waist and hold in her place. Her head tilted back as she looked up at him, her eyes never leavinghis.

“Flights can be rescheduled. Tow trucks can be called. I don’t have anywhere I need to be until Wednesday.” His voice sounded low, dark, and needy.

“Oh.” Her voice was soft even to her own ears, coming out breathy and more relieved than she wanted to leton.

Gage’s eyesdarted to her mouth as her tongue flicked out and ran quickly over her plump bottom lip before her teeth captured just the corner in a bite. Her lip was pink and puffy against the white of her teeth, and he wanted nothing more than to replace her bite with his. Instead, he brought his free hand up to cup her face and used his thumb to pull it free. He leaned in and swiped his tongue lightly over the part of the lip she had been grasping. When he felt her suck in a quick breath at his touch, he flicked his eyes back to hers, growling lightly. “Sayit.”

Her response came out like an exhale, filled with enough lust and wonder and need to match his own. “I want you tostay.”

“Why didn’t you just say so?” His grin was instant and victorious before he covered her gasp of surprise with his lips, silencing any further questions or doubt she may have had. He felt her blanket slide down her body, knowing she’d finally released the death grip she’d had on it, and let out a satisfied groan as she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening theirkiss.

His hands trailed down her body before coming to rest on her ass. Tightening his grip, and without tearing his lips from hers, he hoisted her up onto the island behind her. She gasped as her skin hit the cold marble, giving him just enough time to yank his shirt quickly over his head before slamming his lips back on hers. Their tongues danced together in a swirl of mixed desire, their moans echoing against the kitchen walls.

He slid his lips from hers and began trailing them softly down her throat, one hand moving to cup lightly around her breast, his fingers teasing the nipple. Her head fell back, her nails grazing across his back as she arched into his touch. He hissed at her assault, sucking her peaked nipple into his mouth, eliciting a low ‘Oooo’. Her nails moved from his back to grasp onto the scruff of his neck. He couldn’t help the grin forming at her response to him or the raging hard-on tenting the sweats.

Reaching down with one hand, Gage pushed the pants off his waist then used his feet to push them down and out between his legs, moving his mouth off her nipple and down her taut stomach as he did. He used his other hand to gently push her back against the cold marble until she was lying flat, her body open and exposed to him. She looked up at him from under heavy lashes, lust heady in her stare. He scanned the length of her body, really seeing it for the first time, given the darkness of the night before, and marveled at its perfection.

Her long hair fell in waves, creating a yellow halo around her angelic face and kiss-swollen lips. Her perfectly rounded breasts rose and fell quickly with each excited breath she took, exposing a flat, rigid stomach. Her legs were long and lean and bent at the knee, while her feet braced on the counter, toes painted the perfect shade of pink. Her legs were open just enough to allow him a view of her pussy, which glistened with evidence of her want andneed.

He ran his hand down the length of her body, stopping at her core before running his fingers through her lips, both of them groaning at the touch. He slid one finger inside her and began moving it slowly in and out, pushing her legs open wider, kissing down the inside of her thigh.

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