Page 81 of Silver Secrets

“Yeah,” he laughed, patting his stomach. “I think I need to stop with all the pie, though. Dolly’s gonna have me gaining twenty pounds here soon if I don’t.”

“I’m going to put my dishes in the sink. Can I take that for you?” She gestured to the plate in his hand.

“Sure. But just leave them there. I’ll wash ‘em up once this episode is over.”

Sloane walked the dishes to the sink, pausing for a second before she turned the hot water on and added soap to a sponge. She was enjoying making their way through the seasons of Gage’s favorite show, but something inside her was feeling restless. They’d become predictable in the time since she first had to move in with him. Finish work in the afternoon, train in the gym, figure out dinner, and then sit down to enjoy whatever they made, or more often ordered in, while watching a few episodes of his show.

Then they’d clean up together. Gage would bring out his laptop and work while Sloane got ready for bed. They’d fall asleep together, her curled up on his chest and him with his strong arms banded around her, keeping her safe.

And that was the thing. She did feel safe. She felt safe when they held hands. She felt safe when they kissed. God, she felt so safe when his fingers skimmed up her arm, or pressed into the small of her back when they walked through a doorway…

Sloane bit her bottom lip as she rinsed the sudsy plate in her hands. The desire pooling in her belly was going to force her to make a decision soon and she knew what she wanted. She needed to try. To push herself more. To give herself to Gage. The butterflies in her stomach were exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

Slipping down the hallway, Sloane moved towards the bedroom. In the background, she could still hear his show playing, but she knew Gage wouldn’t be paying attention. He’d be worrying about her until she went back out there. So she needed to be fast.

Her hands rifled through the drawer she’d taken over, once filled with Gage’s socks, now overflowed with her bras and panties. She was a practical woman, but had a set or two that really made her feel good. Powerful. Seductive.

When lace appeared from the back of the drawer, Sloane grabbed it, running to the closet to take one of Gage’s button-down shirts into the bathroom to change.

“Sloane? Everything okay?”

“Yep,” her voice squeaked as she stepped out of the bedroom, feet padding across the hardwood floors.

She stopped and leaned against the wall, rolling the bottom of his shirt between her fingers as the shoulder slipped down, revealing the lacy strap of her bra.

“Red, my god.” Gage stood up from the couch, clearing his throat. “What’s… all this? What’s going on?”

“I thought we could… work on my touch exposure.”

The look of surprise on his face would have been comical if she weren’t so nervous.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Would you mind sitting back down?”

“I think I can manage that.” She watched him sit on the couch as the butterflies in her stomach took off like a hurricane. They stared at each other across the space of the living room until she finally got up the courage to move.

With each step, Sloane gathered a bit more of the fabric from his shirt into her fingers, raising the hem higher and higher on her thighs. She watched as Gage’s eyes dropped to her legs, moving up inch by inch as she stepped closer to him.

“Sit back,” she whispered when her toes bumped into his. He obeyed instantly. Her nerves spiked for a moment as she thought about what came next, but she pushed them away. It was not the time to back down. She was moving forward with Gage. Not only was she wildly attracted to him, he was massively supportive of her boundaries. She was safe with him. It could work. She’dmakeit work.

“What can I—” Sloane slipped her finger over his lips as she climbed onto his lap.

“I just want to see…” Her fingers lifted, raking through his hair and scratching down his neck as she wiggled her hips.

“I’m gonna need permission… now, Sloane,” he groaned.

“Permission?”

“To touch you. Tell me I can. Tell me how I can touch you that will make you comfortable.”

“Hmm. Why don’t you start with my hips?”

“Over the shirt, or under?”

“Under, Clark.”

Gage’s light touch set her skin on fire. Oh, shit. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so turned on. And his hands were only on her hips.

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