Page 10 of The Flame of Carson
“Nothing bad, I promise,” She started.Fortifying herself with another swallow of wine, Stacey faced him and continued, “For nearly two years now we've been...I guess dating.Yet, in that time we've never really established what we are to each other.”
Gage's brow furrowed, “You lost me somewhere.”
“Well, what are we?Are we friends with benefits?Lovers only?Boyfriend and Girlfriend?We've never talked about this, and I think it's because we had that distance barrier almost as a buffer.I was in New York, and you were here, but now that distance isn't an issue, what are we?In the last almost two years, I felt like we’ve got closer, you know?”Stacey explained.
Now Gage understood, or he thought he did anyway.He took a sip of his own wine before sitting their wine glasses on the coffee table.He took her hands in his and faced her.“Stacey, since we started this relationship, I have been faithful to you.I want you to know that right now.”
She squeezed his hands, “Same here.”
“I figured that much.You don't strike me as the type of woman who sleeps around.As for you and me and what we are...I thought you knew what I wanted.”
Stacey felt her gut clench.Was she wrong?“W...what do you want Gage?”
“You.Stacey, we're lovers, we're friends, but I want us to be more.Boyfriend and girlfriend doesn't even begin to describe us.I want you to be mine Stacey.Be my woman.”Gage stated.
Stacey released his hands and threw her arms around his neck.“Yes Gage.God, I was scared for a second there.I thought maybe you didn’t want the same thing I did.I want to be yours Gage.But on one condition.”
“What’s that?”he asked, pulling back to meet her gaze.
“If I’m your woman, then that makes you, MY man.”She replied with a sassy wink.Stacey let out a shriek when she suddenly found herself in Gage’s arms straddling him.
“Your man, is it?”He challenged.Chewing on her bottom lip, Stacey nodded.“I accept your condition.”
Stacey opened her mouth to reply but Gage’s lips were on hers once more silencing her.She whimpered as he made the kiss hotter.Pinning her body against his, ravaging her mouth.She went to wrap her arms around him, but he was having none of that.Enveloping her wrists in his hands, he cuffed them behind her back, pinning them at the small of her back making her moan as heat lanced through her.God, she loved how strong he was and how he would display it with her.Right now, she really, really loved the feel of his lips and tongue against her neck.
“Stacey.”
“Gage.Please.”
Gage suckled at her neck, “Please what?”
“I want you, Gage.Take me to bed.”she pleaded, her hips bucking.
“Yes ma'am,” he moaned.
Shifting his hold, Gage stood.His cock throbbed when Stacey locked her legs around his waist, her core pressed against him.Kissing her again he stalked from the living room, down the hall, up the stairs, and toward his bedroom.The door kicked firmly closed behind him.Tonight, he would lose himself in his woman and he would make sure she lost herself in him in return.He wanted to leave no doubt that he was hers and she was his.
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Hours later, Gage layin bed holding Stacey to his side.He tilted his head and just studied her in the moonlight that was filtering through the windows.When he had first met Stacey he never once thought that she would be his for longer than the weekend.Yet the cosmos seemed to think otherwise and now here they were.No more long-distance calls or visits.They could see each other whenever they wanted.It made him smile knowing they could further explore what had been building between them over the last almost two years now.He hadn’t been lying when he told her they were so much more than boyfriend and girlfriend.Gage dropped a soft kiss on her forehead before he held her a little tighter.
“I better get going.”Stacey said.
“Do you have to?You could always stay the night.”Gage replied.
Stacey sighed and slowly sat up, “I’d like to, but I should spend the night in my new house tonight.Until today I’ve been staying at a hotel until my furniture and stuff were delivered this morning.”
Gage sat up and leaned against his headboard, turning on his bedside light as she climbed from the bed and began looking for her clothes.“Damn woman, you sure are a vision naked.”
Stacey looked up and laughed pulling on her dress, “You’re not so bad looking yourself.”He grinned.When he started to get out of bed, she stopped him by raising her hand.She sat at his side and leaned in, giving him a tender kiss.“I’ll see myself out.If we can’t get together later this week, I’ll see you bright and early Saturday morning for our bike ride.”
“I’m looking forward to that.I’ll call you in the morning.”
Stacey nodded, caressed his cheek as she gave him one more kiss than she was standing and heading for the door.Gage sat in bed and watched her.After she left the room, he listened to the sounds of her heels on his hardwood floor.He couldn’t stop himself and after hearing his front door open and close, he slid out of bed, moved to his bedroom window that faced the front of the house and looked down.As if sensing him, Stacey turned and looked up.She waved before climbing into her car.And just like that, she drove off into the night.
Once her taillights faded from his view, Gage turned from his window.A content smile played on his lips as he slipped back into bed.Laying back against his pillow, Stacey’s scent enveloped him.That spicy floral scent that was her clung lightly to the pillow and sheets.God, he loved the fact that now he would have the chance to fall asleep surrounded by her smell more often.If not with said woman in his arms.He reached over to click off the light when his phone dinged.Picking it up, he smiled.
