by L. A. Fiore
“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he whispered into her hair.
Her arms tightened around him, not really believing he was there even feeling his hard body pressed against her. “If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me.”
Gage chuckled and felt a tap on his shoulder. He lifted his head, causing Tilly to loosen her hold on him. He saw the older woman standing next to him, her husband a few feet behind her. “Seeing the love between the two of you makes my day.”
Gage’s eyes moved to Tilly’s, he grinned, then looked back to the woman. “Thank you.”
She put a hand to Tilly’s shoulder and added, “No, thank you.”
Gage smiled at the woman before she walked away, her husband following behind her.
Tilly wasn’t paying attention; her focus hadn’t left Gage. She’d missed his voice; she’d missed his face. She muttered lowly, “A weekend isn’t going to be long enough.”
Gage’s attention moved back to Tilly at her words. He stared into the hazel eyes he thought of everyday. He felt like he could breathe for the first time in three weeks, never realizing how much walking away from Tilly had truly affected him.
“A lifetime wouldn’t be enough, sweetheart.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. He knew it wasn’t a smart idea in the middle of a crowded hotel lobby, but he didn’t give a shit. What he wanted… maybe even needed, was finally in his arms.
She realized why she’d jerked when her husband had held her. He wasn’t Gage. She knew it at the time, but being here now...this was where she was meant to be. She wasn’t sure what to do with that, they were giving themselves only a weekend, but it was stupid to lie to herself. “I tried,” she whispered. “I really did try to find happiness, like you asked.” She lifted her gaze to see those dark eyes looking down. “But I’m only completely happy with you.”
Gage grinned as he watched her lips move. Lips he loved watching… loved kissing. “You think we’d draw a crowd if I fucked you right here?” He muttered, before placing another kiss to her lips.
She grinned back. “Yes, but the longer we stand here, the less I care.”
Gage stepped back, took Tilly’s hand and picked up her bag sitting next to them. He held it tightly as they waited for the elevator. He brought their connected hands to his lips when they ascended. He held them against his heart as they walked down the hallway to his room. It was at the door to his room that he lost all reserve and turned Tilly, putting her back to the door. He dropped her bag, pushed into her, lacing his fingers through her hair, his head bent as she moved up on her feet, meeting him halfway. His lips brushed softly over hers, a groan leaving his mouth. He stared into her eyes before taking her mouth in a heated kiss. Tilly didn’t hesitate to open for him, both pouring into the kiss how much they’d missed each other over the past few weeks. A whimper caught at the back of Tilly’s throat as he pushed his hardening cock into her. Her hands gripped the sides of his shirt to keep steady. Their tongues tangled with passion, feeding off one another. They broke apart, breathing heavy. One set of brown heated eyes met hazel ones. Gage reached for the key card in his back pocket and unlocked the door. Turning the handle, it opened, causing Tilly to stumble back. Their eyes never left one another. Gage bent, grabbed her bag and tossed it into the room.
With his hand on her stomach, Gage pushed Tilly the rest of the way inside, and he followed. His foot went to the heavy metal, slamming it shut. Tilly couldn’t take her eyes off him, her body ached watching as he crossed the room to her. Gage wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. His head descended, taking her mouth with his. Her lips parted, their tongues touching. Now, it was intense, each pushing the other to get deeper. Tasting, moaning, groaning as they both dueled for power, harnessing the want. Hands began pulling frantically at each other’s clothes. Gage found the buttons on Tilly’s blouse tedious, so he pulled the material apart, buttons scattering to the floor. Tilly’s hands grabbed at his tee, pushing it up his body. Their lips parted only long enough for her to yank it over his head. Gage’s mouth went to her neck, kissing and nipping at the soft flesh. Tilly’s arms wrapped around Gage’s head, tilting her own to give him better access, a whimper of need escaping her parted lips.
“Fuck.” Gage’s voice was husky, laced with his own need. “I’ve wanted to do this since the first time I saw you.”
Tilly gripped his hair, pulling his mouth from her neck, running her tongue along the column of his neck. “I wanted you to do this the first time I saw you.” Her words raspy and heavy, Gage groaning as her tongue moved up.
He unclasped her bra; Tilly moving, so he could rip the lace from her body, her insecurities giving way to the need she had for him. Gage’s head moved to her breast, roughly taking a nipple into his mouth. Sucking deep, Tilly worked the button and zipper of his jeans, while he toed off his sneakers.
“Oh God,” Tilly moaned when Gage bit down on the tight bud. The sting coursing through her body landed between her legs.
Gage yanked at the button on her jeans, her hands moving to help him, as his moved to his own. Both rid themselves of their jeans, Gage’s foot tugging Tilly’s jeans free from her body as he took her mouth. His tongue dove deep, and she met his passion with her own. Their hands went to the last of the material that separated them. Tilly let out a screech that coasted down Gage’s throat when he lifted her and dropped them onto the bed, Tilly falling on top of him. He rolled, capturing her beneath him. His mouth moved from hers, down her neck as he bit at the sensitive flesh. Tilly arched, pushing her breasts into his chest. A hand moved down her side, skating across her stretch marks and lower. Gage slipped his fingers between her folds, wet coating the digits.
“Jesus.” His voice was raspy. He inserted a finger, hooking it and rubbing her spot.
A strangled moan ripped from her throat, her hips rose, pushing into his hand, gyrating against it. “Yes.” She breathed raggedly, feeling a pleasure she’d never had before at the hand of someone who understood her body, knew what she needed and wanted to give it to her.
“That’s it,” Gage breathed, looking down at Tilly. Her eyes hazy and focused on him. “Ride my fingers.”
Tilly circled her hips, grinding down on his hand. Gage inserted another finger, swirling it before hooking them and teasing her. “Right there.” Her breath heavy, her hands gripping his biceps.
“Yeah,” He breathed, watching her eyes as she surrendered to the need.
“Yeah,” She answered on a broken moan, her legs began to tremble, her nails digging into his flesh as she edged closer to orgasm. Gage pushed his fingers as deep as he could, a thumb to her clit, pushing down on the bundle of nerves.
“God, Gage, yes!” Tilly screamed at the intensity of her orgasm as it rolled up from her toes and into her pussy, pulsating around Gage’s fingers.
“Fuck,” Gage whispered, watching the beauty of Tilly riding the wave of her orgasm.
Gage’s mouth took Tilly’s as he settled between her legs. His hard cock nudging at her entrance. Her legs wrapped around him, feet twisting and resting on his ass.
He lifted his head, glanced to his jeans on the floor, muttering, “Condom.”
Her legs tightened around him, her voice laced with need. “No condom.” Her eyes held his. “I’m on the pill.”
Gage didn’t even let his mind wander any further as he was caught up in the moment. Wanting to watch her face as he entered her, he kept his eyes to hers. Slowly, he pushed forward, her heat enclosing around his cock. His jaw clenched with the snug fit of her pussy around his cock.
“Yes,” Tilly hissed when Gage fully seated himself inside her, her legs tightening to hold him there. “You feel so good.” She panted breathlessly.
“Jesus, so do you.” He pressed a hard kiss to her parted lips, her panting breath grazing over his lips. Gradually he pulled out, watching the heat in her eyes, and drove back in, not holding back when she arched h
er back, feet digging into his ass, pushing into him. Forceful plunges, Gage fucked Tilly hard. Thrust after deep thrust, both lost in one another. The world fading around them. The worlds that always lingered deep in each other’s minds, where they were never allowed, never came to the forefront as they immersed themselves in their own needs and wants. Feeling the green grass beneath their feet. Basking in the glow of the sunshine. Smelling the sweet scent of flowers.
With her nails digging into his biceps, Gage drove deep.
Tilly looked into his eyes, mouth parted, breaths heavy with moans. “Yes.”
“Fuck.” Gage groaned.
It only took minutes for Gage to bring Tilly to another release before finding his own and coming deep inside her. Falling into her, holding his weight on an arm, their breathing steadied.
Gage slipped out of Tilly and fell to the side of her. Throwing his arm over his eyes, he muttered, “Fuck.”
Tilly lay beside Gage, sated, but still, she wanted more. She never knew it could be like that. Her body still hummed, there was a pleasurable ache between her legs. She could grow addicted to him, but even riding that high, she felt the heavy weight of what they’d done. She reached for him, her arm skating across his abs. He grabbed her hand and laced their fingers. She held on tightly to his, knew he was thinking what she was. Her voice was soft when she whispered, “I don’t regret it.”
The tone in her voice, the words she spoke had Gage swiftly removing his arm from his eyes and lifting up on an elbow. Looking down into her glazed eyes, Gage told her, “Fuck, Till, I don’t either.” He squeezed their connected hands. “I just don’t know how in the fuck I’m gonna be able to leave you.”
She didn’t want to think about that. It had been unbearable before at the hint of what could be between them, but now, going through the motions of her life knowing what they could have together... “I can’t think about that. Not now.” She held his stare. “We’re here now. I’ll take whatever I can get with you.”
_______________
Gage and Tilly were walking down Walnut Street toward the cafe on the corner. Tilly stopped at a window display.
“That’s beautiful,” she uttered, moving in closer to get a look at the hand painted vase. The violet and fuchsia flowers filling most of the handblown glass.
Gage moved toward the window, but halted his steps when he heard called out, “Tillian Forester is that you?”
Tilly froze at first in surprise and then dread. She recognized the voice. How hadn’t she thought about him being here?
Gage rotated quickly to see Kenny Milner moving his way. “Gage Sutherland?” Kenny said, a smile lifting his lips.
“Kenny,” Gage said and put a hand out. “Good to see you.”
Kenny looked beyond Gage. “Was that Tillian?”
“Who?” Gage asked, his eyes drifting to behind him to find no one standing there.
Kenny moved to the side, his eyes moving around the street. “Tillian Forester, the woman standing next to you.”
Gage shook his head, lying out his ass, and responded, “No one was next to me.”
“Yes,” Kenny said in a harsh tone. “There was a woman standing right next to you.”
Gage shrugged, shaking his head. “If there was, I didn’t notice.”
“Hmm,” Kenny said.
Gage looked over at Kenny Milner. How in the hell did he know Tilly? And of all the people he knew surrounding the convention, she got spotted. “Who’s Tilly?”
“Tillian,” Kenny corrected.
“Yes, sorry, Tillian,” Gage said, internally berating himself before taking a deep breath through his nose.
“She works for me,” Kenny offered.
“Really?” Gage questioned, drawing his brows, inquisitive on this knowledge he forged on. “What does she do?”
“I hired her a couple of weeks ago to do designs,” Kenny said, his shoulders moving back, his chest puffing out.
Kenny was a good guy, always had been. The problem was, Kenny wanted what everyone else had. He had always been polite to Gage, but he had heard through the grapevine that Kenny had wished his business was as successful as Gage’s.
“That’s great.” Gage smiled. “She any good?”
“The best,” Kenny told him with confidence.
Gage knew Tilly had a degree in design, had no doubt that she was great at it, but he wanted to laugh at Kenny trying to one up him. Instead, he smiled and teased, “Maybe I’ll steal her from you.”
“Impossible,” Kenny smiled. “I’m sure she wouldn’t know who Gage Surtherland was if she fell into you.”
Gage tried. He really did, but he couldn’t hold back the rumbling laugh that escaped his chest. Kenny joined him, not even knowing what was so funny.
Gage sobered, patted Kenny on the back and said, “You know what, you’re probably right.” He moved a step away. “Maybe we can grab a beer over the next few days.”
“I’d like that,” Kenny said. “Like to pick your brain about a few things.”
“Okay, then we’ll make it happen,” Gage told him and went on, pointing to the small store he figured Tilly ducked into. “Gonna go shop now.”
Kenny started walking backwards. “Have fun.”
Gage tossed a hand in the air. “Oh, I will.” He smiled and entered the small shop.
The bell above the door sounded; his eyes roamed the shop and caught Tilly hiding behind the display of beer steins. He moved to the back of the shop, where she was, talking as he went.
“Guess who I just bumped into?” He spoke loudly. The employee, and the only other person in the shop, watched him with a smile on her face. “Your boss, Tillian.” Gage kept on as he watched Tilly move from behind the display. “When were you going to tell me you started working for Kenny Milner?” He stopped when he was an aisle away from her, both facing each other in what seemed like a standoff.
Tilly tried to look behind Gage to make sure Kenny wasn’t going to come strolling in, but he was blocking her way. She turned her attention to him, his words finally registering. Unlike him, she didn’t bellow when she replied, “I had better things to do than talk about Kenny Milner, though I did have plans on telling you because you’re the reason I have the job.” She started to bite at her thumbnail. “I should have realized he’d be here. Why the hell didn’t I realize that?” She wasn’t asking him; she was talking to herself. “I was distracted, that’s why. Had Gage on the brain,” she muttered then looked back at Gage. “He’s gone?”
“Gage on the brain?” He repeated, with a smile, and crossed his arms over his chest. “That happen often?”
It took a second for Tilly to switch gears, still fretting over almost being caught; it was his smile that pulled one from her. She moved her gaze down his body before she answered, “All the time.”
“Oh yeah,” he muttered, starting slow and steady steps toward her. “Funny, cause I have the same condition, but mine’s called Tillian on the brain.” Gage stopped in front of her, uncrossed his arms, wrapping one around her waist, and pulled her to his chest, knocking the breath from her with his quick move. With his mouth nears hers, he whispered. “Maybe we can help each other cure that shit.”
Breathing grew difficult having his body pressed against her, but she managed to say, “Not sure there’s a cure, but we should exhaust every option.”
“I agree,” he replied with a raspy voice before he pressed his lips to hers.
Lost in each other they had forgotten about the young woman behind the counter. “That was…” Gage and Tilly’s head whipped in her direction. Gage let Tilly go, but reached for her hand, lacing their fingers, the young blonde held their attention. “So hot.”
Gage looked down at Tilly, she looked up at him, and he winked. “You get this one, I got the last.” He told her, talking about the older woman who commented on them.
Tilly didn’t take her eyes from Gage when she called to the woman. “We’re here all weekend, don’t forget to tip your waitress.”
Gage smiled at Tilly as the girl behind the counter began to laugh. He squeezed her hand, his eyes stayed to hers when he shouted to the woman, “That vase in the window, I want it.”
“Of course.” The woman bopped from behind the counter, a huge smile on her face as she passed them to grab the vase from the window.
Gage and Tilly never moved, their feet planted where they were, their eyes to one another, smiles on their faces. The world around them rushed by, but they both stood still, lost in each other.
_______________
“Yeah, I’ll be down in a little bit,” Gage said into the phone as he watched Tilly enter the room from the bathroom. He could get so fucking used to her walking into a room, coming toward him. Watching the way her hips swayed with every step she took. His eyes moved up, taking her in until his eyes meet hers.
“You there?” Dom called.
“Shit, yeah,” Gage said and told him, “Give me a few, I’ll be down.”
“Okay,” Dom said but didn’t sound convinced that Gage would be down to the bar anytime soon. “See you.”
Gage tapped the screen, tossed his phone onto the couch before dropping down onto the bed. “We gotta go down soon. I have to meet up with my guys, or it’ll look suspicious.” Gage laid on his side, head in his hand, eyes to Tilly standing at the edge of the bed. “I think I have a plan,” he told her.
She was distracted watching him, the way he moved, his body, his voice. She couldn’t help think about earlier and the vase he’d bought her. It wasn’t just an affair, at least it sure as hell had the makings of being so much more. She tried not to think about that, not during their limited time together. His gang, she wasn’t sure how that was going to work, but losing even a few hours with him wasn’t an option. She climbed onto the bed, liking how his eyes went darker watching her. “What’s this plan?”
He watched her crawl toward him on her knees, and his cock twitched. She sat back on her heels as his eyes went to between her legs. “Jesus, Till.” He shook his head. “Not sure we have enough time for me to fuck you,” he uttered the last, his eyes moving up her body, his cock growing as they did.
