Page 30 of Gage

“Yes, they have one of the brothers. He was following us, and the FBI was waiting for him. He pulled a gun on them, and then he told them he was going to kill me and my family,” I explained. Oliver has Sammy and the girls, so they are safe.”

“How much is this going to cost us? We don’t have enough money to hire three Guardians from the Golden Team…”

Gage interrupted him. “We aren’t doing this for money. We protect a lot of people because it’s what we do.”

“If you’re sure, then thank you. I’ll do whatever River says. Keep both of you safe. Will the FBI let us know when it’s over?”

“Yes, Agent Frye will call and keep us updated.”

17

Lori

We droveuntil the sun went down before getting a room. As we walked inside, I noticed the large bed. I’m sorry, this was the last room they had. I’ll take a blanket and sleep on the floor.

“Gage, stop talking. Come over here and kiss me. This is our fourth date,” I said, as my arms went around him. His musky and inviting scent wraps around me. My lips are feather-light as they run along his stubbled jawline. I know those whiskers will leave their mark on me tonight. I can feel myself getting wet just thinking about it.

His groan in the back of his throat is low and sexier than hell. His hands instinctively find my hips, pulling me against him with a gentle yank. The hardness of his body contrasts deliciously with the softness of his voice.

“This is unwise…” he murmurs, “you just left the hospital.”

“One kiss,” I whisper as I drag my fingers down his jawline to his lips. My voice drips with seduction as I coax him to give in to his desire.

With a deep sigh, he pulls me closer, leans down, and devours my lips, I felt when his resistance finally shatters. His lips crash into mine, hungry and demanding. It’s a mingling ofbreaths and souls, a dance of lips and tongues. He grips me tighter, pulling me even closer as if trying to meld our bodies into one.

And just like that, the world fades away. No more running from serial killers. The rhythm of our hearts, the heat of our bodies. We are lost in waves of sensation. There is nothing but Gage and myself, and how our bodies come together in a searing connection.

The kiss escalates, and a mixture of pent-up longing and raw desire releases like a dam breaking. The world tilts and swirls around us, but all I’m truly aware of is Gage.

The way his mouth moves against mine, gentle but demanding. I can feel how hard he has kept his feelings buried.

His fingers splay against my lower back, anchoring me to him. I sigh into his mouth, letting myself get lost in the sensations. His other hand gently slides up my spine, sending tiny electrical sparks on my skin. When he buries his hand in the tangles of my hair, his possession turns primal.

The slight tug of my hair elicits a moan from me, which seems to fan the flames of his passion even more.

I loop my arms around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer. With our bodies flush against each other, every hard line of his frame, every rapid beat of his heart, is imprinted on mine. The heat between us escalates, a force of nature threatening to consume us both.

His taste is intoxicating. Each brush of his tongue against mine sends jolts of electricity through me, alighting every nerve ending.

Pulling back slightly, Gage rests his forehead against mine. We pant, trying to catch our breath. His eyes, dark with desire, search mine, seeking and finding a reflection of his own passion.

“You make me feel things I’ve never felt before.” His voice turns rough and ragged, filled with emotion he’s still trying toprocess. I smile, leaning in to steal another quick, soft kiss. Likewise,” I murmur against his lips.

Gage claims my mouth again. Our breaths mingle as we give in to desire. His strong hands grasp me fiercely even as his lips devour mine. I relish the struggle and the way his restraint snaps.

Neither of us will be satisfied with just one taste.

The rough texture of his stubble grazes agonizingly against my skin, causing a raw burn; I knew I would have marks all over my body. He trailed down my neck and ignited with promises, feeding a fire deep within me. My head tilts back, surrendering to the trail of kisses that blaze a path to my collarbone.

The warm gust of his breath teases the vulnerable hollow of my throat, and my skin erupts in a wave of goosebumps, each a testament to his touch. Every cell in my body screams for more, craving more. Needing more.

And then his lips find mine again. The world blurs, the connection so electrifying that my knees buckle beneath me. Gage reaches down and picks me up, holding me in his arms.

“I promise to be gentle,” he whispers against my lips.

“Don’t be too gentle,” I whisper back.

18

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