Page 49 of Caged in Flames

Jude pretends to be fishing while Charlie pretends to be a fish on his hook.

It's bizarre, but it sort of feels right. In any other world, where the girl we can’t help but gravitate to was never brought down, this could be what we all need. Each other.

It’s not real though, only temporary. I push through that thought and pretend anyways.

When the festival ends, I take the girls back to school. I drive for Jane since both of the ladies seem to be completely worn out considering they both had to lean against me just to make it back to the car.

Nix is tilting up against the door, half asleep, by the time we pull into the parking lot.

Jane tells us goodnight and heads off to her room, the usual bounce nowhere to be found.

Helping my girl out of the car, I pull her arm across my waist and put my arm over her shoulder. "Is that invitation to sleep over still up for grabs?"

"Absolutely. I hope you don't mind if I take some time to rinse the day off though." She yawns but seems to be getting a second wind.

"Not at all. Mind if I rinse off when you're done?" A cold shower. A freezing cold shower.

She shakes her head as we walk into her room. "I'll try and hurry."

"No rush, baby." I kiss her forehead and make myself comfortable on her couch, turning on something mindless for entertainment.

Half an hour later, Nix comes into the living area in an oversized shirt, but I can't tell if she has anything underneath.

I want her in one of my shirts. Definitely with nothing underneath. The idea of pulling her closer to me and running my hand underneath the material…

That’s what I want to fall asleep to. Who I wanna wake up with.

I run a hand over my buzzed hair and think about the ice-cold water waiting in the bathroom. I let her know I'll be right out.

After a quick, freezing shower, I walk out only wearing my boxers. The lust in Nix's eyes sets my body on fire.

"You want to watch something? Or head to bed?" She asks it so casually that I wonder if she just wants to go to sleep. Then she winks at me. Fuck it.

I head over to the couch and lean down to kiss her with everything burning inside me. She moans and her hands start roam over my chest, passing over the dog tags hanging from my neck. I bend down enough to grab her by her thighs.

Lifting her up, I start to walk her to the bedroom.

I drop her down on the bed before she gets any ideas about taking control. Nix has made it clear to me more than once that she is ready for more on a physical level, and I need to respect that she knows her own boundaries.

Giving her another kiss, I run my hands up her sides lifting her shirt as I go.

Fuck. The only thing left on her is a pair of plain white panties that she makes look sinful.

"Gunner, please tell me you're going to fuck me." Her voice is pleading.

I chuckle at her. I love that this strong woman sounds desperate for me.

I kiss her collarbone and she moans. I want to record that noise and play it on repeat. Use it as my ringtone so everyone knows I’m the one who made it happen.

She starts to squirm and goes to move her hands down my back and pull me closer. I grab both of her arms and pin them above her head. She complies so easily. I take her head in both my hands. "Be good, baby. I want to worship you."

The sound she makes goes right to my dick.

I kiss my way down her body. Pulling one nipple between my teeth, I flick it with my tongue. Every single inch of her tastes like honey, and I want more.

My kisses turn to nips down her body as I work my way down. Soon I'm licking up the wetness between her thighs.

"Fuck, baby. Do you know how good this pussy tastes?" I can't hear her answer. I circle her clit with a finger, and a shiver moves through her. I move that same finger to her entrance, and she pushes her hips up.

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