Play of Love: The Gladiator Players Box Set

by Gray, Khardine

  "Me too." He smiled. "I think we should stay the night."

  I did too, but a sudden awareness filled me setting off the butterflies in my stomach.

  "What about Lucy?"

  He smiled. "Don't worry about Lucy, I. I knew we were likely to do this." He held my gaze, and I searched his desire filled eyes.

  Lucy may have thought they'd stay over but I was certain I wouldn't be aware of the intense passion that surrounded us like a tangle entity.

  "We can go back if you want to."

  I shook my head. "No. I want to stay the night."

  It was the kind of passion that could render a person mindless and powerless. Mix that in with the excitement of being in Venice and I was agreeable to anything.

  "Then ... we should find a good hotel." His eyes sparkled as he held me.

  "Yes." I agreed.

  We instructed the gondolier to take us back towards the city center since that was where we recognized. It also had a variety of hotels to choose from.

  As like with everywhere we'd been in Italy Gage went all out, but this time he chose the grandest hotel we could find that looked like somewhere royalty would stay, and then he asked for the best room they had for me.

  I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen.

  "I'm just down the hall if you need me," he said.

  We'd both gone into my room because he wanted to check to see if the room was okay, and check he did as if he was carrying out an inspection.

  "Gage this room is too extravagant." I shook my head at him. I would have been just as happy in a single bedroom with a nice view. This one was luxurious with a king sized bed decorated in burgundy and gold sheets that complimented the colors of the furniture. The most striking feature, however, was the large archway that led out on to the balcony. This held a spectacular view of the city.

  "You don't like it?" He looked concerned.

  "I love it. It looks like a room for a princess, Gage." I meant that to sound sarcastic, but he nodded in agreement.

  "Yes. Then it's perfect, Princess." He smiled down at me and reached out to touch my face. "And there are no lizards. I checked. I don't think there's much of them in Venice with the water, but you can never be too careful." He glanced over at the window and scanned the area. I noted that it was the first time he hadn't joked about the whole lizard fiasco. Now he seemed focused on making sure I didn't come across anything that scared me. He walked over to the window and checked the curtains thoroughly before making his way back over to me. "If you see anything strange at all come and get me. Doesn't matter what it is you just come, or call me and I'll come to you."

  "Gage I'll be fine, and trust me if I see anything strange I will be down that hall in seconds." I laughed.

  "Don't just tell me that to make me feel better Evie. I'm being serious. You see something, or someone strange you come straight to me."

  I had to laugh and shake my head. "What strange person will come into my room?"

  "Exactly, so don't even question it just run."

  I had to admit that I liked how protective he was of me, and that he'd literally get my whatever I wanted. I also liked his high opinion of me. It felt like he was doing his best to make up for the past. The past was something I hadn't thought about since ... well, honestly I hadn't since that night we walked around Rome.

  This man who stood before me was new to me. Someone who'd captured my heart, which I thought solely belonged to music. Somewhere along the line, he'd made his way into my heart, and all I felt was him.

  I moved closer to him, stood on my tiptoes and put my arms around him. "Thank you, Gage."

  He held me to him, and when I pressed my head to his chest I could hear the rapid beat of his heart. Like everything about him, it sounded like music to my ears. When I looked up, he met my lips with a soft kiss that quickly intensified as my tongue stroked his. However, to my surprise, he stopped and pulled away.

  "I can't." He looked worried and seemed to have a sense of caution about him I hadn't seen before.

  I looked at him not quite understanding his rejection. "I'm sorry."

  Had I done something wrong?

  "No, no it's me whose sorry." He paused and looked at me, biting the inside of his lip. "When we're at the villa I can control myself better because my grandmother's in the house. Here..." his gaze intensified and his blue eyes turned a shade darker as he stared at me with desire brimming within them.

  I understood immediately what he meant.

  He pulled in a breath and continued. "Here, we're alone, and if I touch you one more time, I'll lose it. I... don't want to spoil this." He motioned from me to him and when he rested his hand at his heart something gripped at mine.

  I thought I saw his heart reflected in his tender gaze and I wondered if he could see mine too.

  "You couldn't spoil anything." I breathed.

  "I can't risk it I. I want you to trust me and I know this thing between us happened really fast, but maybe the years before now was the slow part, and time was just waiting for us to find a way back to each other."

  The beauty of his words reached into my soul as they cascaded over me. I wanted to believe that too. I did believe it. How else could I explain the way I felt about him?

  A soft smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "I don't want you to be scared, and I want you to feel the same way about me as I do about you."

  "How's that?" I was desperate to know.

  "I'm crazy about you I. Completely crazy." He didn't even hesitate to tell me.

  I reached up and touched his face loving the feel of the smooth skin along his jawline, loving the feel of him and that I could be this way with him.

  "I feel the same way about you Gage." I gazed into his eyes which sparkled on hearing that. "And I trust you, and I'm not scared anymore."

  He gazed down at me, and I watched the heat return to his eyes. This time when he lowered to kiss me I held on to his shirt and kissed him back with the same need he showed me.

  The kiss sang through my veins and sent the pit of my stomach into a wild swirl. It turned hungrier and greedier and soon it wasn't about the kiss. It was heightened with the fiery needs of possession, like soldering heat that joint metals together.

  All I knew was that right now Gage was all I wanted, and a shudder of desire shot through my body at the thought of him. For the first time in my life I felt complete, like I had everything I could ever want.

  His hot lips left a trail of fire as he moved from my lips and kissed down my neck. He kissed down to the edge of my shoulders and pulled the tiny, spaghetti straps down at the same time that his hands roamed intimately over my breasts. Blood pounded in my brain, leapt from my heart, and made my knees tremble.

  When he swept me up into his arms and carried me to the bed, I lost my mind. There we tore at each other's clothes until he was just in his boxers and I was barely in my bra and panties.

  I wanted to admire his perfect, amazing body some more with his impressive tattoos. I wanted to appreciate the beauty of him and savor the thought that he was mine, but he gave me that cheeky smile of his and pulled me even closer so he could finish taking off my bra.

  I marveled at myself and my lack of awareness as my breasts spilled out, but realized it must have been because he'd already seen my naked.

  I watched in fascination as Gage gave my body a bold, sweeping gaze, his pupils darkening with desire. Then he lowered to my breasts and smoothed his lips over my tight, taut nipples drawing me deep into his mouth, and taking his time as if he was savoring the taste of me. Instinctively my body arched towards him, and passion rippled throughout me sending my mind into an oblivion of bliss.

  He moved to my left breast and did the same thing, alternating between the two and sending me spinning further into the arms of pleasure.

  "Are you ready?" he asked, his breath whispering against my lips.

  I could just about manage to nod.

  He moved back, and I took the moment t
o admire him fully, taking in the perfect planes and contours of his chest, arms, and shoulders. I watched as he stepped out of his boxers and my breath got caught somewhere between my sternum and my heart as he revealed his massive cock, standing before me like a glorious masterpiece. When he reached for his wallet in his trousers and took out a condom, I stopped him.

  "I'm on the pill." I told him. "I... trust you."

  He held my gaze on hearing that, and his eyes brightened. I was about to say something else, but the words were lost as he took hold of me once more and parted my legs.

  As he entered me and their bodies joined as one, I completely lost my myself and the world was filled with music. My spirit floated out of my body and was elevated to a plane of existence that existed outside the realm of reality. He held on to me as he pumped harder and faster driving me closer to ecstatic bliss. Eons seemed to pass of that intense pleasure.

  I gripped onto him, and he took my hand as the first wave of orgasm hit. I heard myself call out his name. Heart pounding, body quivering, I saw stars and felt like my skin was on fire. When it hit me again energy coursed throughout my. Passion burst where we were joined and their bodies shuddered within its grasp.

  I pulled in a sharp breath as Gage stilled against me and muttered inaudible curses as he gripped tightly onto my waist, then he lowered next to me and placed a possessive arm around my waist.

  Sweat ran down my neck clinging to my already damp hair. I attempted to speak but still found myself unable to. His choppy breathing matched mine, and as I rested against his chest I could hear the thundering of his heart. My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to leap out of my chest.

  He ran his hands over my hair and turned in to face me.

  "Do you want to do that again?"

  I could barely catch my breath, but I knew I wanted him. I nodded. "Yes, we need to."

  A lascivious smile washed over his handsome face, and I giggled as he picked me up and pulled me on top of him.

  Chapter 12

  Gage

  * * *

  I rolled over and reached for Evie but couldn't feel her. Instead, my hand came away with nothing and smoothed over the silk bedsheets. I opened my eyes and closed us again quickly as the bright sunlight beamed down on me. It was too much.

  I shaded my eyes and looked about the room, but I couldn't see her. There was no sign. Panic bolted me upright, but the minute I sat up the door opened, and relief washed over me when she came in.

  "Evie."

  She carried a tray containing croissants, all sorts of little pastries, and a glass of orange juice.

  "I wanted to get you breakfast in bed." She smiled sweetly.

  "Thank you but, you went out by yourself?" I couldn’t help the worry that filled me.

  "Just downstairs. I was all right," her beautiful eyes sparkled.

  "Come here." I reached out to her. She set the tray down on the bedside table and came over to kiss me. Then she moved back. "Where are you going?"

  "I have to finish this." She pointed to her notebook on the desk by the archway.

  I straightened up and frowned. "Evie, how can you be working at a time like this?" She giggled and bounced over to the desk. "Evie."

  I slid off the bed, pulled on my boxers and made my way over to her.

  "Six more lines and then I'm done." She beamed.

  "This man can't be without his woman." I grimaced shaking my head making her laugh. I slipped my arms around her and kissed the hollow in her neck. Last night I'd decided it was one of my favorite parts of her, along with several other parts.

  We'd made love all night. How many times I couldn't tell for sure, I'd lost count after the fifth. It was unreal and incredible, and I knew I'd never have enough of her as long as I lived. There would always be more and more because my Evie was endless.

  "I'm here." She giggled as I rested my chin on the top of her head, inhaling the sweet smell of her. She reminded me of roses and soft summer days. "But six more lines."

  "Of what? What is this?" I released her and picked up the book.

  It was full of musical notes. Anyone would think that having grown up in a house with constant music I'd at the very least know how to read it. To me, it was like some ancient dead language. The book was practically full but for one page.

  "It's you," she replied, but I didn't quite understand what she meant.

  "What's me?" I smiled.

  "That is what I hear when I'm with you." She explained pushing a lock of her silky hair behind her ear.

  I looked down at the book wanting to make some sort of joke about what I might sound like. But I found I couldn't. I didn't know what to say. It was the most meaningful thing anyone had ever said to me or done for me. It made me feel valued and special like I meant something to her.

  Looking at her confirmed I did.

  "This is me?"

  "Yeah." Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me. "I'll play it for you when it's finished."

  "This is beautiful Evie."

  "I hope you'll like it," she replied. "Gage Force."

  I smiled at that and set the book back as she pressed her hands against my chest.

  "I will. Is that what you called it?"

  "Maybe."

  I stroked the side of her face and gazed down at her beauty. The sun picked up the lighter green parts of her eyes and almost made them look transparent. "Last night was amazing Evie."

  Her cheeks flushed with that rosy color I loved. "It really was."

  "What do you want to do today?" I knew there was a lot she still wanted to see in Venice.

  She leaned forward, kissed the center of my chest and came away with a saucy smile. "Spend the day with you."

  "Doing what?" I liked this side of her, and the sexy look that filled her eyes. I liked that I had the privilege of seeing it and it was all just for me.

  "Stuff." She blinked, eyes hot with desire displaying a fan of thick black lashes flickering over her cheeks.

  "Alright Miss Evie, I am at your service one hundred percent. But you can't look at me like that and expect me to allow you to do lines of notes, or whatever. Not right now, as in this moment right now." I pointed to her notebook, and she laughed.

  "The lines can wait." She giggled when I swooped her up.

  We fell back on to the bed, and I enjoyed the privilege of taking her all over again.

  We stayed inside that room all day, allowing ourselves to be passions' slaves, losing ourselves in the throes of mind-numbing bliss as if our lives depended on it. It saddened me even to contemplate leaving.

  It was late when I realized just how late it was and called Grams to let her know we'd be back tomorrow. Since she sounded happy to hear that, I thought I'd fit in a quick trip to Milan the next day. Evie had been talking about buying shoes there, and I wanted to treat her.

  We had such a good time together and being with her was like nothing else. It made me wonder how I could have existed without her, and why it had taken me all my life to realize that she'd always been the perfect woman for me.

  It was late in the night when we returned to the villa. As I pushed the door open laughter filled the house, signaling that my grandmother wasn't alone.

  I looked at Evie who brightened up at the sound.

  "She sounds happy," Evie commented.

  "Fingers crossed," I stated. "Hey, if that's Angelo in there we're going to Sicily."

  "I would have no complaint with that." Evie giggled.

  The laughter sounded again, and this time I could tell that the voices were both female so no chance of Angelo, or Sicily.

  We made our way into the lounge where we found my grandmother sitting with an elderly lady with silver hair. My grandmother's face lit up when she saw us.

  "Gage, Evie, this is Vanessa." She beamed. Joy rippled through her voice and practically beamed from her.

  She stood up with Vanessa.

  "Hi." We both said. Vanessa came up to us both and hugged us in that Italian fa
shion with a kiss on both cheeks.

  "It's so good to meet you both," Vanessa stated.

  "You too," Evie told her. I nodded agreeing.

  We looked back to my grandmother waiting to hear the answer to the question on our minds.

  Was Angelo alive? If so how did we find him?

  When she nodded, I felt like I'd scored a winning touchdown.

  "He's alive. Angelo's alive." Her breath caught as tears streamed down her cheeks.

  Evie rushed over to her, throwing her arms around her for a rejoicing hug. Tears were in her eyes too. I watched them and saw the happiness that emitted from them, from the two women I loved most in my life.

  Love.

  I wasn't even thrown by the thought. Of course, I loved my grandmother, but Evie wow... love was only the beginning of the way I felt about her.

  Her belief in my grandmother was enough to make her get on a plane and go to Italy with nothing more. There weren't many people who existed like that these days.

  Grams came over to me and hugged me.

  "I don't know what I would have done without you and Evie. This wouldn't have been possible." She smiled up at me.

  "Anything for you Grams." I told her.

  "Thank you, my sweet boy." She hadn't called me that in years. I smiled at her as she reached up and ruffled my hair. "It's been a crazy time hasn't it? I'm sure you can't wait to get back to your lives. To have normal again." She chuckled.

  That should have sounded like the most wonderful thing ever. It had indeed been a crazy, stressful time. Normal should have sounded great, after nearly two weeks on this wild goose mission not knowing where it was going to lead. But her words gripped me and flagged themselves to me.

  Normal, actually didn't sound good at all to me. In my normal Evie didn't even exist. I lived in my bachelor pad in L.A, trained five times a week for six hours a day and did my best to be the star quarterback I used to be before my accident.

  The star quarterback with all those admiring, loyal fans, and teammates. It meant nothing to me now. Not if I would be leaving the one woman who'd managed to make me feel like this. As if I'd always have happiness and everything that was good in this world if I had her.