Page 88 of Silver Secrets

Her eyes met his. “They understand. No one is mad at you. No one blames you for this situation. Everyone… and yes, I mean everyone… just want you to be safe. So we have to close ranks for a while. We protect our own. Okay?”

She gave a weak nod. “Okay.”

Gage’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his chest. “I don’t believe you believe that, Sloane. Try again.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, sir.”

Gage groaned, which was exactly the response she was hoping for. “Are you trying to tell me you need a bit of a distraction before we go to this party?”

“Maybe.” She playfully dragged her finger across his chest in erratic circles while she bit at her bottom lip. “I’ve been thinking that maybe we could move on from voice guided orgasms.”

“Oh, yeah?” His enthusiasm made Sloane laugh. “Not that those aren’t my favorite things, but what did you have in mind?”

“Maybe we can work on some more touch exposure tonight? After the party?”

“I love the sound of that.”

“Good. But for now, maybe you could kiss me?” she whispered.

“You don’t have to ask me twice, Red.”

Sloane wished she could have thought of a sassy remark, or a witty little thing to say in that moment, but as soon as Gage’s lips pressed to hers, her mind went blank. His fingers threaded through her hair and she stood on her tiptoes, her arms wrapping around his back trying to bring their bodies closer together.

“Whoa.” Her breath sawed in and out of her chest as the tingles in her fingers and toes danced around like lightning bugs.

“Whoa indeed. Can we try again? But with you calling me ‘sir’ this time?” He winked.

She laughed, dropping her head to his chest. “I wish we could, but we’re about to be late to the birthday party. But I’d very much like to pick things up here when we get back tonight.”

“I like the sound of that.”

* * *

“…Happy birthday, dear Sage. Happy birthday to you. And many more!” The group of friends gathered around a tutu-clad Sage, who was staring wide-eyed at the big birthday cake in front of her. Lily stood on one side of her highchair, with Gunner on the other. Both had tears streaming down their cheeks as their daughter face-planted right into the frosting.

“Way to go, Sage!” Hawk laughed.

“I can’t believe she’s already one. Where does the time go?” Lily’s watery voice carried over the group as Gage turned to help Sloane finish cutting the sheet cake everyone else was going to enjoy.

The afternoon flew by in a flurry of sugary treats, wrapping paper, and more laughter and light than they’d had in a long time. He’d only had the chance to throw a birthday party for Mikey twice. The second time wasn’t even actually on his birthday. It was two weeks later. They’d gotten stuck overseas on a mission that went sideways and then upside down. It was a miracle he’d even made it home in one piece that time.

If only he could have traded that miracle for Melody and Mikey.

A hand landed on the upper part of Gage’s back.

“Thank you for being here today.” Lily smiled as she stepped next to him. “I know it’s not the easiest thing to celebrate right now while things are so scary with Sloane, but it means the world to me, and to Gunner, that you guys would be here.”

“Wouldn’t miss celebrating your girl for anything, Lily. I hope you know that.”

“I do. You’re the best uncle to Sage. Don’t tell the other guys I said that. Hawk thinks he’s in the running, but have you seen him holding her? It’s like he’s got a bomb in his hands. Still. I mean, I understood when she was a newborn, but she’s sturdy now.”

Gage laughed. “Yeah, it’s hard to ever picture him settling down and doing the dad thing. But I probably won’t hold that top spot anymore once you put together the absolute noise-maker of a toy Sloane and I got for Sage.”

“That’s okay. Seeing her smile is worth all the noise in the world.”

“Yeah, it is. Those smiles are worth everything, aren’t they?”

Lily nodded, and for a moment, silence fell between them.

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