by Cara Carnes
She trusted him.
Zoey pushed the thought aside because it was too deep, too involved for her to contemplate. For now all she wanted was Gage Sanderson, the taste of him on her tongue.
Heat.
The sensation shot through her when she gripped his cock and shimmied her straddling position down his body, enough to give her room. Her heart pounded hard, but Gage’s deft touch kept her from worrying.
“You’re so beautiful, Zoey,” he whispered. He ran his hands through her hair and gripped her. The contact wasn’t for control, though.
She peeked up at him and flicked her tongue along the head of his thick, long cock. Each moan he emitted was a homing beacon, a heady rush of desire that stoked the embers of lust into a fiery ache between her legs.
She kissed, licked, and toyed her way from the head of his gorgeous dick to his balls, where she massaged and sucked. Gage’s grip in her hair tightened as his other hand reached for her, but she was a woman on a mission and would not be diverted.
“Something you should know, Sanderson,” she whispered as she pumped his cock. She paused to kiss the tip of his dick. “I love oral sex.”
The mischievous grin on his face made her heart clench. “I’m a fan of it myself. Have your playtime, Little Bit. Then it’s my turn.”
Oh boy. Zoey’s toes curled with the zing of anticipation that surged within her.
She played.
She stroked and massaged along his powerful frame as she sucked his dick. The muscled expanse that was Gage was her playground, one she intended to enjoy many, many, many times. Low moans and growls rose in the air as Gage surged off the bed as she deepened the sucking and pumping of his cock.
Zoey held on and glanced up at his handsome face. The fiery arousal within his dilated gaze ran through her like a heady dose of warm tonic. He reached for her again as his entire body tensed.
“Zoey.” The feral cry was loud, long, and everything she’d ever wanted as she savored his release.
“So good,” she whispered.
Her breathing was labored like she’d run a thousand miles when Gage clasped her beneath the arms and hauled her up. Laughter tumbled from her as he pinned her to the bed and claimed her mouth.
The war of tongues incited a pleasure-fest of touching. But he interlaced their fingers and held her hands firmly at her sides as he trailed a fiery path down her neck and across her shoulder.
Then down.
Her entire awareness centered on his deliberate, slow ministrations. Each lick quickened her pulse. He pinched and twisted her nipples just enough to make her cry out. But the relief she sought would have to wait.
A glimmer of playful desire flickered in his gaze when he looked down at her. Her stomach somersaulted, and her breathing grew labored. He cupped her breasts as their gazes locked.
“You’re such an amazing woman, Zoey. So passionate.”
Then talking time was over, and Gage proved he was way, way better at playtime than her. He stroked, nibbled, massaged, licked, and sucked every inch of her body until every nerve ending within her screamed for one thing.
Gage.
“You’re so wet for me,” he whispered from between her legs. “Come for me, Little Bit. I want to watch you come on my hand. Then you’ll get my cock.”
“Gage,” she growled as she reached for him.
He rubbed his thumb across her clit. The firm, deft contact detonated sensations as she exploded. Her entire body seized as Gage pleasured her with his mouth and fingers.
“I want you in me,” she begged.
As the clutches of bliss calmed enough for some semblance of awareness to return to her, Gage shifted positions and reached down to the pile of clothes. He made quick work of the condom packet.
Zoey helped him roll it on as she made a mental note to visit Logan first thing in the morning. The next time she felt Gage buried inside her, there wouldn’t be anything between them.
Emotion clogged her throat when their gazes locked. He leaned down and kissed her. The slow, deep kiss was different in its intensity, as if he’d somehow snuck into her soul and staked a claim.
He slid into her in the same methodical, slow way—as if freeze-framing every second.
“Gage,” she whispered against his mouth.
“I know, Little Bit. It’s okay, I’ve got you,” he promised. “I feel it, too.”
It.
It was a living, breathing thing that’d formed between them. Zoey couldn’t understand or define the sensations and awareness that’d taken root.
Love?
She gasped at the realization as he powered into her.
The slow, deep strokes became hard, pounding thrusts that dragged every breath from her lungs. “Harder, Gage.”
He growled and shifted their positions to pin her beneath him. Knees to his shoulders, she cried out as the thrusts became deeper, harder. Everything she’d needed and so much more.
The release was a tidal wave that dragged them both under almost at the same time. She clung to him and surrendered to the euphoric feeling.
Gage collapsed beside her and kissed her lips. “Fuck, woman, you almost killed me.”
“It was your fault for being so damn good in bed. You really are a ninja.”
He grinned as he rose from the bed. “Be right back.”
She sighed. How was he even moving? She wasn’t sure she even had arms and legs anymore. They might have exploded or something. Her eyes drifted shut, but the bed dipped with his weight before she could surrender to the need for sleep.
“It’s almost sleep time, Little Bit. Just want to get you cleaned up,” he whispered.
Warmth ran along her pussy. She sighed in contentment and spread her legs a bit more as Gage ran a warm, wet washcloth across her skin. By the time he was done, her entire body had melted into the bed.
He chuckled and kissed her lips. “I’m gonna grab a quick shower. Be right back.”
“How are you even moving? Clearly I need to hone my ninja skills to keep up with you.”
His amusement rumbled within the room as he went into the bathroom. Zoey’s entire body was goo. Far too sated to move, she smiled as the shower turned on. Tomorrow she’d help wash his back. Tonight she’d get a few snoozes in before he returned.
Dobby hopped up on the bed and did his requisite four prances around the edge before settling atop her stomach for a kneading session. By the time she’d had enough, he curled into his position beside her head on the pillow.
Eyes closed, she sighed her contentment. “I’m in over my head with him, Dobs. I hope to hell I figure out what I’m doing before I screw it up.”
She hadn’t asked him to stay, but Gage wasn’t leaving. He needed the emotional connection he felt with her, the touch of humanity not related to his former life. Working with Addy’s team and seeing their bond with her made him regret what he’d once thought he had with his military team.
Dwelling on the past didn’t undo what’d happened or change that it’d permanently altered him. Maybe Jesse was right. The bastard had mentioned Doctor Sinclair and said the woman was a good listener. She didn’t judge.
He’d never considered working his shit out on a couch while some overpriced shrink listened to him whine. But he’d had enough time to see Mary and Jesse and a lot of the other people he knew and respected healing because of Sinclair. Maybe she wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.
Fuck knew he was ready to change something. He didn’t want to miss out on having what Dylan, Jud, and Dallas had found. The men were disgustingly happy with their women.
Gage laughed as he shampooed his hair. He should’ve dragged Zoey in to wash his back like she kept promising. The little minx had way more than his back on her mind, though, if the amusement in her gaze had been any indication.
Blood surged southward at the thought.
He was all in with her. Good gamble or not, he wanted to see what could develop between the two of them. With the threats against her either dead or l
ocked up in the holding area downstairs, they could both relax and enjoy getting to know one another.
A trip to his mom’s wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Guilt ate away some of the happiness the thought brought. Little Bit never talked about her family. He suspected the relationship wasn’t a close one, but it was about time he started ferreting out a little bit more of what made Zoey Danson tick. Then he could set about proving they were meant to be together.
By the time he’d showered and toweled off, exhaustion rode him hard. The only thing that had kept him functioning the past several hours was knowing he would be crawling into bed with Zoey and holding her tight.
He flicked the bathroom light off before he opened the door so he wouldn’t wake her. The rhythmic sound of her breathing filled the room. She’d kick his ass if he teased her about the adorable way she snored and sometimes drooled. Or the way she flopped over into him and pounded his chest with her fist like he was a pillow.
So fucking sweet.
Adorable.
Fuck. He was sinking fast when it came to Zoey.
He climbed into the bed and wrapped an arm around her, settling his head behind her.
Pain shot up along his jaw.
What the fuck?
A hiss followed by a feral growl sounded near his ear.
Son of a bitch.
He leaned back and flicked the bedside lamp on. Dobby sat curled atop the riotous river of pink and purple hair covering the pillow.
“Sorry, dude. That’s my space now.”
The cat howled his displeasure as Gage picked him up and gently set him on the ground near the bed.
“Dobby? What’s wrong, baby? Come back to bed. Momma’s sleepy.”
Gage chuckled as he slid back into bed and stretched out against her back. Zoey tensed within his embrace.
“What are you doing? You aren’t Dobby.”
“Sleeping,” he whispered against her ear. “Get some rest while you can. Tomorrow’s going to be chaos.”
“There’s another pillow in the closet. I’ll get it.” She pulled against his hold around her waist, but he held on. “Gage, let me up so I can get you a pillow.”
“I have one.”
“No, that’s my pillow. Dobby shares it.”
“Not anymore.”
She turned. Gaze narrowed, she glared. “What do you mean by not anymore?”
“Spent my life waiting to want this with someone,” he replied. The admission escaped from a vault he’d locked away long ago. “Grew up with a single mom and three big sisters. I learned the importance of physical contact and showing someone you care early on. You don’t ever take it for granted once you find it. That’s what my granddad taught me.”
Gage tracked her swallow and leaned in to kiss a trail along her throat. “Such beautiful, soft skin.”
“Gage.”
“I’ve been so busy worrying about keeping you safe from the shit going down I didn’t realize how much I want this.”
“Gage.”
“More than a few nights,” he admitted. “I’m thinking you do, too. Otherwise you wouldn’t be giving me shit about a pillow.”
“Routine is important to Dobby. You can’t dump him on the floor and expect it to be okay.” Her eyes widened. “What’ll happen when you decide you like someone else’s pillow better than mine?”
“You’re scared.” He cupped her face and noted the watery depths of her gaze. “Someone hurt you bad enough to make you scared of where this is going.”
“Mom never stopped trying,” Zoey whispered. “She always thought he’d love her.”
Fuck. Gage drew her against him and ran his hands through her hair.
“She was a Wednesday night fling while his wife went out with her friends. I was the accident that drove him away,” Zoey admitted. “She tried to hide the hurt from me, always said he’d see what a good thing he was missing.”
“Sweetheart,” he whispered. “I’m ashamed to admit a lot of men are total dicks. He didn’t deserve a good woman like your mom or you.”
“You don’t know she was a good woman.” Zoey looked up. Tears glimmered in her eyes.
“Bullshit.” He wiped a tear away as it fell. “It would’ve taken a strong and wonderful woman to raise such a beautiful and brilliant daughter like you. Any man who didn’t see that was blind.”
“She chased him for years until he moved to Oregon with his wife and kids,” Zoey said. “After that she spent her time chasing the bottom of bottles.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. What happened to her?” He stroked her cheek and waited through the silence.
“I was six when she met Sherman. He was a computer teacher at the local community college where she’d signed up to take a class. The love was immediate on his part and never quite struck on hers,” Zoey said with a hesitant smile. “They married within six months. I was calling him Dad in seven.”
Tears glimmered in her gaze. There was more, and it wasn’t pretty. Gage kissed her temple. “Where are they, Little Bit?”
“Mom died of liver failure when I was sixteen.” She swallowed. “I wasn’t a match.”
Gage kissed her forehead and held her closer. “And Sherman?”
“He never remarried. I tried to get him to move on, but he had everything he wanted. He’d loved and he had a daughter. What more could he want?” Tears tumbled down her cheeks. “We moved to Boston, and he got a job at a community college there. His sister and her husband were wonderful. They were all the family I had.”
Gage kissed them away.
“Dad taught me everything he knew about computers, gave me everything he had,” she said as her lower lip trembled. “I took courses at the college to stay close, but he’d been older than Mom when they met. He collapsed in his classroom one day. He died in the hospital after a quadruple bypass.”
“Boston General,” he whispered, remembering the way she’d reacted in the hospital.
Zoey nodded against his chest. She likely didn’t have any other family than a man who’d raised her like a father and his sister. “That’s why you’re so drawn to TJ.”
“I know what’s it’s like to get an insta-family. I was younger, but not much. My family was way smaller, too. A dad, his sister, and her husband. They never had kids.”
Gage laughed. “No wonder you were so overwhelmed when you first arrived at The Arsenal. This place must’ve looked like a zoo to you since you weren’t raised in a large family.”
She glared up at him. “That’s not very nice to say.”
“No, but things are making sense now, Little Bit. No wonder you’re throwing so much attitude. You have a lifetime stockpiled. No siblings. Fuck, you’ve got bigger balls than me. I would’ve run the other direction if I wasn’t used to big, crazy families.”
“Your family was big?”
“Three sisters and a single mom, but Ma was from a big, boisterous family that believed in hugging your loved ones every three seconds. Warning, initiation into the Sanderson clan is a trial by hugging. If you aren’t squeezed to death in the first hour, you passed the test.”
Zoey ran a hand down his chest. “You think I’ll meet them?”
“Things keep going the way they are, yeah. Sooner than later. I’ve wasted a lot of years fighting, killing, and skulking in the shadows watching everyone around me fall in love and live the life I wanted.”
“Why didn’t you go for it?”
“I was dirty,” he whispered. She squeezed his arm, but he kept going. “That’s what I thought. A man who’d kill his own team didn’t deserve happiness. I deserved a firing squad or worse. I didn’t deserve a loving wife and a houseful of kids.”
“Houseful?”
“Four, maybe five.”
“Wow.”
Gage grinned at the glimmer in her gaze. “You want babies.”
“Maybe,” she said softly. The smile on her face screamed yes.
But it was too soon to think about babies a
nd picket fences. They had assholes to question in lockup and loose ends to tie up. Everything would wait, though. He ran his hands through her hair.
“You have a hair fetish,” she accused.
“With you I’m acquiring a lot of fetishes,” he admitted. “I’ve got a thing for leggings now, too.”
“Funny, I’ve got a thing for commando pants.”
Gage laughed. “Commando pants?”
“Yeah. All those pockets in your pants. The way the material clings to your ass and thighs,” she whispered. “I’m a big fan.”
“You’re a nut.” He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. “But you’re my nut, Little Bit.”
He kissed her until she relaxed against him. She rested her head on his chest as he massaged her scalp and down her neck. He closed his eyes and matched his breathing to hers.
“Thank you for saving Jade.”
“He’s going to be okay,” Gage said, knowing she needed the words again. “They’re transferring him to Logan’s care as soon as he’s stabilized.”
“Good. Then this will finally be over. I just hope they can link Cherling to the auction stuff somehow.”
“That’s doubtful. He’s too smart to get caught up in that mess,” Gage commented. “At least he’s been arrested for abuse.”
“It won’t stick,” she whispered. “Men like him are Teflon-coated.”
He wished to hell that wasn’t true.
“Tomorrow’s going to be bad, Little Bit. I’m handling interrogations, and I need you to stay away. I don’t want you seeing that side of me, not when whatever this is between us is just getting started.” He kissed her softly.
“I can’t stay away. It involves me.”
“Yes, but it’s far more complicated. He won’t break with typical interrogation tactics. The alphabet soup wants their pound of flesh, but they need answers. What was Ian’s involvement in the dirty operations? In the Collective? Has he sold sensitive information to enemy governments?” He let her mull over the questions.
“You’re going to have to get creative with him,” she said.
“Yeah, and it won’t be pretty.”
“Sometimes pain isn’t the answer. Psychological terror gets more results.”
