Page 19 of Threatened

It seemed like this had been a long time coming for her, and he wanted her to get it all out. Lord knew there were plenty of times since the accident he’d felt like doing the same. After all she’d been through with losing her sister, discovering that someone else had custody of the kids, and two brushes with crime in as many days, it was no surprise that she’d hit her breaking point.

Finally, she sniffled and pushed back slightly away from him. “I’m sorry,” she repeated.

He cupped her cheeks, brushing his thumbs over her damp cheeks. “First of all, please stop saying that. You have nothing to be sorry for. Secondly, I’m glad you got that out. It’s not good to keep things bottled up inside.”

She gave a sad laugh. “Says the man who represses everything.”

Gage winced. “Touché.” It was obvious that she was beginning to understand him. He should have seen that coming, given how open he’d found himself being with her.

Still, they chuckled together, and it felt good—along with the tears, it was cathartic. The moment seemed to pause then as they watched each other, the air between them thickening, and unnamed tension building.

Kylie pulled free at last, stepping back and running a hand over her damp hair. “I must look a mess.”

“No.” Gage couldn’t resist reaching out for her again and trailing the back of his fingers down her flushed cheek. “You always look gorgeous to me.”

“I do?” Her blue eyes darkened, and her pupils dilated. Her gaze flickered to his lips then down to his bare chest. “You aren’t so bad yourself.”

Twining his fingers with hers and bringing them to his lips, he said, “This is probably a very bad idea.”

“Hmm.” She reached out to trace her hand from his collarbone, over his pec, down his abdomen to the top of the white towel around his waist. The feel of her gentle caress shot heat straight to his groin. “Possibly the worst idea ever.”

Gage lifted her hand to his face and kissed her palm, ignoring the warning bells clanging inside his head. For this one night, for this one moment, he just wanted to forget. Forget his past, forget the pressures of the future. Forget everything except this night, this woman. Up at the nature preserve, he’d more than suggested they make love that night, and she hadn’t objected.

Did a home break-in and the tears she’d shed change that? Not for him, and he didn’t think for her either. He leaned in to nuzzle her neck, loving the way her head fell back to expose more of her velvet skin to him as he licked and nipped and kissed his way down her throat to her shoulder, nudging the strap of her tank top aside. “Does that mean you want me to stop?” Time seemed to slow as he waited for her answer.

Kylie slid her fingers through his hair, bringing their faces together. She nibbled on his lower lip, making him shudder against her. “Never. I want you, Gage.” She slowly backed toward the bed, drawing him with her.

He’d never been so happy to follow. “I want you too, Kylie,” he whispered as his body covered hers on the bed. Slowly, he cupped her breast through the thin cotton of her top. Her nipple pebbled against his palm as he circled it slowly with his thumb. “So, so much.”

In response, she wrapped her legs around his waist and ground herself against him, the heat of her nearly making him embarrass himself on the spot. They hadn’t really even done anything yet and already his cock was hard as a rock. He wouldn’t last two seconds once he finally got inside her unless he gained back some control. But that was close to an impossible task.

He quickly dispensed with her tank top and PJ bottoms, leaving her in just her lace panties. His towel joined the rest of the pile of clothes on the floor, then he stretched out beside her. Gage couldn’t seem to stop touching her as he kissed his way down to her nipples, taking one into his mouth while toying with the other between his thumb and forefinger. She writhed beneath him, moaning and clutching his hair and driving him insane with need.

Finally, he licked a path down the center of her abdomen, stopping to pay homage to her cute belly button, then traced the waistband of her panties with his tongue. The scent of her arousal drove his own passion higher, and he glanced up at her from where he lay between her spread thighs.

“Okay?” he asked, his voice rough with wanting.

She nodded and he slowly drew her panties down her legs until they joined the other items on the floor. He took a moment to appreciate her beautiful body before he kissed his way back up the inside of her leg until he reached her slick folds. Heaven.This was pure heaven. She was so hot, so wet, so ready for him. She bucked hard, holding him to her, as he circled her most sensitive flesh while inserting first one, then two fingers inside her. All thoughts of the accident, the break-in, anything else vanished, leaving just this moment, this night, this woman.

All too soon, she groaned, her body tightening as she tumbled over the edge into ecstasy. Gage continued to nuzzle her until she finally floated back down to earth. Then he kissed his way back up her body, pausing to kiss her lips before reaching for the condoms he kept stored in his wallet, which he’d left on top of the nightstand. After putting one on, he positioned himself between Kylie’s legs once more then entered her in one long thrust. She pulled him down for an open-mouthed kiss, wrapping her legs around his waist again and urging him onward.

It was too much. It would never be enough. Over and over, he withdrew almost to his tip before driving back into her wet heat, bringing them both closer to the brink. Then she arched and came again hard around him, and he was lost. His balls tightened and he drove into her one last time before his world shattered into a million shards of iridescent pleasure.

Wave after wave of bliss pulled him under until at last, he slumped atop her, careful not to crush her beneath him, his head in the valley between her breasts and her fingers tracing lazy patterns in his hair. Tomorrow, there’d be plenty of time for questions and worry.

Tonight, there was only the two of them, sated and sleepy, and curled in each other arms.

11

The next morning, Kylie woke up, and it took her a minute to remember where she was. Then the memories of the night before rushed back, and her eyes widened as she stared at the ceiling. The other half of the bed was empty, and the bedroom door was closed, meaning Gage must have gotten up with the twins already. Hazy sunshine filtered through the gauzy curtains covering the windows, and she covered her eyes with her arm.

She’d done it. The very thing she’d promised herself not to do. She’d slept with Gage. And not just slept with him; she’d fallen hard for him, had made love with him. Ugh. No matter how much she’d wanted him, still wanted him, she knew she wasn’t the right woman for him. He deserved someone whole and complete and able to give him a family of his own. Not her. Now, she’d complicated everything for both of them.

With a sigh she tossed back the covers and hurried naked across to the bathroom. A quick shower did little to remove the guilt she felt. As she brushed her teeth and pulled her wet hair back into a slick ponytail at the nape of her neck, she did her best to figureout where to go from here. She needed something to keep her occupied, but without her laptop, she couldn’t contact clients, couldn’t find work. Heck, she didn’t even have a driver’s license or a credit card. She was a mess. The only thing she had left in her life was the twins.

The twins.

God. What the hell had she been thinking when she’d decided to fight Gage for custody and adopt them herself? She wasn’t a fit mother. Christine and Tucker had been right to give them to Gage. He was strong and smart and reliable and responsible. The only thing she’d done since coming home from Japan was play the victim. Clearly, she was not the kind of person to raise kids. Not at all.

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