Gage (The Player Book 6)

by Nana Malone

  She immediately shoved the thought aside. No. She wasn't going to ruin this like she did last time. She wasn't going to worry about it. She was going to continue to have fun and let the chips fall where they may.

  Sixteen

  Gage was nervous. Had he ever been so nervous after a date before? He wanted to kiss her so badly on the roof of the complex. Especially when she got her first basket. She'd squealed and jumped on him. It would've been the perfect moment. But, he didn't want to push it. He’d been so proud of her. Not necessarily for the basket, even though that was still pretty impressive, considering it had taken her an hour and a half to finally get one. But more about the way she threw herself into everything. Letting go, for once.

  “Well, this is you,” he whispered

  “Yep, this is me.” She shifted on her feet. Played with her keys before sliding the key into her lock. “Thanks for tonight. For coming to my dad's stupid party, and then also for the basketball. I had fun. Like real, honest-to-God fun. For once I wasn't worried about how I looked or being perfect, or getting it right. So, I needed that.”

  “I know you needed that. I think you're pretty great. I also think you're too hard on yourself.”

  She licked her bottom lip. And honest to God, Gage was jealous of her lip. He wanted her tongue on him. His cock twitched. Down, soldier. Not that kind of night. But then she surprised him.

  “Do you, uh, want to come in for a drink of water or something?”

  Water? Water was not what he wanted at the moment. But he was also not going to be an ass. Even though he wanted to hold her. And kiss her. And see if she felt as good as he thought she did. But what he wanted more than anything was to keeping hanging out with her. He didn't want the night to end. “Yeah, I worked up a sweat during that one-on-one game.”

  She exhaled a long breath. “Okay. Cool. Water.” She opened her door and let them in, tossing her purse on her desk, popping on the light. She went straight to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, proffering it.

  He glanced at the water bottle she offered, and then slid his gaze back to her eyes. “Fuck it.” He pulled her to him, digging his hands into her hair, hesitating only a half a breath before kissing her. With a surprised gasp, she parted her lips, and Gage slid his tongue inside, tasting her. Letting the memories of the other night wash over the two of them.

  He wanted that night back. The part of the night where she'd kissed him back. The part of the night where his cock nestled right up against her heat and she rocked into him. Yeah, he was desperate for that night back. But he was also desperate to repeat that kiss in the pool.

  Becker dropped the water bottle and immediately wound her arms around his neck. With a frustrated growl, he scooped her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  They were a tangle of tongues and teeth and hands. His hands fisted tighter in her hair as he angled her to give him better access. The moment she locked her legs around him, his other hand gripped her tight ass. And—holy fuck. Her ass filled his hands. Holding her like this, he had her positioned just where he—

  Becker levered herself up, bringing her sweet center directly over his dick, and he shuddered. Oh, hell. He marched her directly to bed, before he eased them both down on it, laying her gently back. He didn't release her lips as he reached behind him, took hold of one of her feet, and yanked off one of the tennis shoes she was wearing. She repeated the action on the other one, and then she dug her heels into his back.

  He drew back for a moment. As she whimpered, he murmured, “Don't worry, I'm coming right back. But, I figure, maybe you don't need extra layers.”

  She gave him a sweet smile and lifted her arms. He was more than happy to tug the sweatshirt up over her head, then her arms, and toss it to the floor. Beneath, she wore a long-sleeved T-shirt from Billings. His hands shook, he wanted her so bad. He finally had her in his arms. He didn't want to make her run. Because he didn't want her just for tonight, he wanted her here for a while.

  What the hell was that? The knowledge of that hit him in the face like a brick. He didn't just like her. And it wasn't just about today, or just about the fact that she was helping him study. It was more than that. He liked being around her. He liked spending the day with her, volunteering. He liked her. Yeah, sure, he never would've met her if he hadn't needed a tutor, but now that he had her, he wanted to keep her. For a while. She was the only person that he felt relaxed with.

  He dipped his head again to kiss her. She smiled sweetly before their lips met. With his hand, he teased up her T-shirt, brushing his thumb over her skin. She was so, so soft. He could melt into her.

  Becker arched into the caress, and he wanted more. But then a niggling thought wormed its way into his mind. The things she said about Daniel. Gage pulled back. His voice was husky when he spoke. “That's okay?”

  Becker nodded and reached for him.

  He had to smile. “I'm going to need the words, Becks. You sure you're okay with this?”

  “Yes. I'm okay with this. Just keep kissing me.”

  He grinned. “Bossy much?” But he did as he was told and kissed her again. She slid her tongue over his, and he shuddered. Every cell in his body was firing electric currents. Frying his synapses. He couldn't even think. All he wanted was more.

  More of her tongue. More of her hands digging into his hair like they were now. More of her. He slid his hand over her belly button and up, tracing a path over one rib, another, then another. Oh God, he was so damn close. He just wanted to—

  And then Becker arched into the caress, whimpering. She wanted him to do this. Gage slowly eased his thumb up over the cup of her lace bra, brushed it over her nipple, and she bucked, a shiver running through her body.

  Oh, hell, yes. He liked that response. He did it again, and a low, strangled sound broke through, as if it was torn from her throat. He liked making Becker spin out of control. This was what he had been feeling for weeks. He wanted to see her. He wanted his mouth on her. Was that a no-go zone?

  If this were any other girl, he’d for sure assume that they were having sex. But this was Becker. And yes, he wanted to sleep with her, but he also wanted to take his time and remember every moment of this. “Can we lose this top?”

  She nodded vigorously, this time helping yank it off. Gage's gaze pinned directly to her bra, and the swell of flesh trying to escape its confines. But Becker's attention was on something else. She was sliding her hands over her shoulders and into his suit jacket, shoving at it, trying to get it off his shoulders.

  “Okay, okay, I get it. Let me help.” He yanked the damn thing off, nearly dislocating his shoulders in the process. When he went back to her, she shook her head.

  “Shirt, too.”

  Gage couldn't help the shit-eating grin that spread over his face. He'd meant to be suave, but with Becker gazing up at him hungrily, screw playing cool. His fingers fumbled. When he finally had his shirt off, she stared, and then licked her lips. Gage couldn’t help but show off a little as he crawled back over her body. “See something you like?” He teased her lips with his, even as she nodded.

  “I mean, I have eyes. Like, I finally get the six-pack thing. It's very appealing.”

  Gage laughed. “How academic of you to notice my abs.”

  He sat back a little to give her access to touch. And touch, she did. She traced her fingertips over his abs, and the wave of lust rushed straight to his dick. The damn thing wanted out of his jeans, and he wasn't going to let that happen. Because the moment that happened, he would forget to take his time. He wasn't rushing this. They were going to take their time. And also, you can't. The points, dipshit. Fuck.

  “I mean,” she said, interrupting his musing, “this is legitimately something you could use to wash clothing.”

  “Now that you've been touching, can I touch some more?” He liked her hands on him, but her fingertips kept trailing far too close to his belt. If she went near his buckle, well, his dick was coming out. And he'd be begging he
r to touch it. Right now, the monster was tamed…for the most part.

  The damn thing twitched again, demanding release. Yeah, yeah, we'll get to you. First her. Becker lay back again, wrapping her legs around his waist, pulling him back to her. He kissed along her jaw and her neck, nuzzling her skin. She smelled so damn good. Honeysuckle. Nothing frilly, nothing over the top. Just sweet, and a little spicy, and all Becker. He paused just over the swell of her breasts, and palmed her fullness. Thumbing his finger over the right nipple.

  “Oh, my God, Gage.” Her hips arched into his, and he bit back a curse. He rolled his thumb again, which produced more moans from her. He wanted to taste her so damn bad.

  Leaning over her, using his teeth, he tugged the lace down, revealing one dark, cocoa-colored nipple. He blew on the tip and she made a choked, strangled sound. “Gage, please.”

  Well, she didn't have to ask him twice. He wrapped his lips around her nipple. She dug her hands in his hair, pulling him tight to her chest. She tasted like fucking heaven. He continued to palm and pinch the other nipple, bringing it to a hard peak. Becker moaned, softly calling his name over and over again. “Gage, Gage, please… Oh, God.”

  He shifted to her other breast, even as his hands slid behind her back to the clasp of her bra and set her breasts free. With his lips around her nipple, and his finger and thumb deftly unsnapping her bra, he moaned with satisfaction. She was so full. He wanted to spend hours just worshipping her breasts. But as he dragged his mouth over to the other nipple to pay proper attention, a shrill ringing filled the room. Reluctantly, he dragged his head up. “Is that you?”

  Becker blinked open her eyes. “I don't know. Ignore them. Maybe they'll go away.”

  Okay. Maybe she was right. Maybe they would go away. But when he tried to get lost in her again, the loud buzzing kept going and going, and he couldn't just ignore it. He'd filled himself with her scent, her taste, but the buzzing sound came again, more insistently. And it didn't stop.

  “Fuck, I'm sorry. One second, let me just turn it off.”

  He scrambled off her bed, and dragged the phone out of his jacket's inside pocket. He glared at the display. Gramps. Holy shit. Those three missed calls were the ice bucket he needed to bring them back to present. “I think something is wrong.” Becker was off the bed and snapping on her bra, struggling to get her arms back into her T-shirt.

  “What's the matter?”

  He hit the button to call the number back, wrapping his other arm around himself. His grandfather answered on the first ring. “Gage, where the hell have you been?”

  “Gramps, what the hell is wrong?”

  “You need to come home. Now.” His grandfather hung up. And the air whooshed out of Gage's lungs.

  Becker rubbed a hand on his back. “What's the matter?”

  “I have to go home. I think it's my dad.”

  But he couldn't move. All he could do was stand there and stare at the phone.

  “Come on. Sit down. I'll help you.”

  As the numbness encroached on the barriers of his consciousness, Gage could only watch as Becker pulled out her laptop, and booked him a train. He really should drive when he was upset.

  He was in shock by the time he left Becker's room. All he knew was he had to get home. He'd missed calls from Echo, and Fox. But he really didn't want to talk to siblings right now. He just had to get home and see his dad. Becker had found him a flight that left in three hours. He was just going to head back to his place, grab a change of clothes, and change his damn shoes, then be out. Unfortunately for him, he ran into Daniel on the way out. He gritted his teeth and tried to get away with just a nod.

  “You don't live in this dorm.”

  “Nope,” was all Gage had the energy to muster.

  Daniel narrowed his gaze. “Oh, right. Becker. How long are you two going to do this whole thing? How long until you realize that she's never gonna put out? And when she does put out, she's lousy. She just lays there like a fish.”

  Gage ground his teeth together. His hands curled into fists. One hit. Just one hit, and he could release the pressure building inside him. Just one hit and he’d wipe the smug expression off this asshole’s face.

  “Shut your trap, Sanchez. You think I can't see the way you look at her? That desperate-stalker shit that you’re doing? It stops now. We're on the same team, but I won't hesitate to bury you if I have to.”

  Daniel grinned. “The best part of that whole statement is that you think you could.”

  As much as Gage wanted a good, old-fashioned fight so he could hide the emotion behind the anger, he didn't have time for that shit. He had to get home to his father. “You know what? You're not worth it. Besides,” he said with a shrug. “I got the girl in the end. And you're the one who's still pining for her.”

  Seventeen

  Gage was exhausted. The flight to San Diego was only an hour, but holding himself together had drained all his energy. He didn't bother looking for any of his siblings at the airport. He hadn't texted anyone the information. All he'd done was come home. Besides, what would he have said? How bad is it, how much time does dad have left to live?

  His father had been improving. By leaps and bounds every day. Every time he talked to him, he was better. But still, Gage was scared shitless. Maybe that was a false hope.

  He snagged a cab at the train station, and sat back for the forty-minute ride to Rancho Santa Fe. Traffic was a bitch, and, of course, he couldn't sit still. Plus, the stupid cab was a Prius, so not much legroom in the back.

  When they finally pulled up to the familiar estate, he exhaled a long breath. It felt good to be home. But how would it feel without his father? He didn't want to go inside. Didn't want to see his father dying. But there was no way he wasn't going to get to say goodbye.

  After he paid the cab, he dragged his bag out of the car and trudged up to the front door. He didn't bother ringing the doorbell; instead, he used his key. “Hello, is anyone here?”

  Bryce's wife, Tami, was first in the foyer. “Gage? What are you doing here?”

  He frowned at her. “Gramps called, so I hopped on the first plane. Where's Dad?”

  Tami frowned, and then she cursed low. “Shit, Gage, I'm sorry. You should come into the kitchen.”

  Gage dropped his bag and followed her, musing that she was almost as familiar with this house as he was. “What's going on? Where is everyone?”

  As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, he realized everyone was there. His grandparents, Bryce, Dax and Asha, Fox and Sasha, Echo and Cole. And there was another guy there, who looked vaguely familiar. He was hanging back, closer to Fox. But what struck Gage the most was that his parents were also there. “Dad? Holy shit, you're okay?”

  His father walked around the kitchen island and came to give him a hug. It wasn't as strong as it once was, but, it wasn't weak, either. His father's color was good, too. He still had the dark shadows under his eyes, but he looked better than the last time Gage had seen him.

  He pulled back. “Gage, it's good to see you. I'm sorry that you rushed here, though.”

  “Thanks for that.” And then Gage forgot himself. “Will somebody tell me what the fuck is going on? I've been worried sick for four hours. What's happening? Clearly, Dad is okay.”

  Gramps stepped forward. His head was tucked down a little, almost sheepishly, which was unusual, considering their grandfather's brash personality. “It seems no one else understands the gravity of the situation. And everyone thinks I may have overreacted, and overstated the seriousness.”

  Gage recognized the non-apology for what it was. “Gramps, you called me hours ago and told me I had to come home. I assumed that Dad—”

  His grandfather cleared his throat. “Again, nobody agrees with me on that call.”

  His grandfather was not helping. Gage turned his attention to his parents. “Dad? Will someone just tell me what's happening?”

  But it wasn't his father who answered. It was Fox. “It seems Gramps doesn'
t like me airing his dirty laundry, so we called an emergency family meeting.”

  Their grandfather's face went bright red, and their grandmother sat silently on the windowsill, her arms crossed, and refusing to look at Gramps. That was unusual. The two of them were usually united, together. Actually affectionate. “Fox. What?”

  His brother grinned. “Let me introduce you to Ransom Cox. He's our cousin.”

  Gage's gaze flickered to the guy, and he looked at him through new eyes. Now he knew where he knew the guy from. Oh, hell. He looked a lot like Fox. Minus the bright-blue eyes they all got from their mother. “Excuse me?”

  His brother continued. “It seems that right before the Olympics where Gramps and Grams met, Gramps had someone else. Some girl he met and knocked up. She had a kid. One that Gramps has never acknowledged. Ransom is her kid. Hence, our cousin.”

  Gage's gaze flickered around to his siblings, and their respective significant others. He wished he'd taken Becker up on her offer to come with him. “So, Gramps, you called me to come home because you've got a kid and a grandkid none of us knew about? Because we have a new cousin? Jesus Christ. I thought something was wrong with Dad.”

  His grandfather frowned and waved his hand. “No, no, no. Of course not. But this is important. Your brother—” Gramps pointed a finger at Fox. “—opened a can of worms. He invited this boy to this house. He's not my grandson.”

  Against the far wall, Ransom Cox shrugged. “You can deny it all you want, old man, but the paternity test is right there. You're lucky I don't want anything from you. Hell, I don't even want acknowledgment. I only came because Fox insisted that I should meet the family.” Ransom nodded at the majority of them, ignoring Gramps. “So far, the lot of you have been cool. But honestly, I don't need this mess.”

  Gage knew about the rumors, of course, but the reporter who'd broken the story had gotten fired, so some of them had died down. He didn't think it would pan out. “Nice to meet you.”