He nodded, understanding exactly what she was awkwardly trying to ask. “I get tested every few months. I’m clean. Haven’t been with anyone since my last test.”
“Okay, good. Me, too.”
Her gaze moved slowly down his broad chest to the thin path of dark hair starting at his belly button and leading to two delicious lines on either side of his hips. Her breath caught as her eyes landed on Gage’s swollen cock. It was standing at attention, completely inviting. His dick deserved a goddamn salute for its perfection. Abby had never really enjoyed looking at this piece of male anatomy, because when it came to dicks, they weren’t really that appealing. For some reason, Gage’s looked so enticing, water glistening off his skin. For fuck’s sake, her hands nearly reached out in front of her to take it in her grasp. She wanted her fingers to graze over his sensitive skin. She wanted his head to knock back in ecstasy as she gripped his shaft and tugged along the length.
Heat licked between her thighs, and she realized she’d been staring a few moments past polite. Jesus, what was with her? She’d seen dicks before—this wasn’t anything new. And yet, everything about the last twelve or so hours made it painfully clear she knew nothing when it came to satisfaction. But Gage did. And, oh boy, was he giving her a few lessons she’d never forget.
With Gage, everything felt new. That was it—she actually felt. Felt the sharp tinge of arousal. Felt her body respond to him. Felt desirable.
He held himself in his hand, slicking back and forth, eyes hooded in lust. “Suck my cock, sweetheart.”
He moved to the edge of the tub, the water going up to his shins as he sat there, legs spread open, inviting her.
A voice in the back of her head told her that she should be disgusted by this. She couldn’t find it in herself to care, because she wanted to do it. Wanted to please him, to be the source of his pleasure. It was intoxicating.
She moved to her knees and wrapped her hands around him. The skin of his shaft was softer than she’d imagined. A drip of pre-cum beaded at the tip of his cock, and she ran her tongue along it, catching the salty liquid. Gage let out a groan, one that shook her straight to the core. Hearing this man, that deep growl of pleasure in the back of his throat, was one of the sexiest sounds she’d ever heard. She ran her tongue along him just to hear him do it again.
“I thought you were in charge,” she mused.
His fingers kneaded into her shoulders, pulling her closer. “If you don’t put your mouth back on me in the next five seconds, I will be.”
God, those bossy words messed with her hardwiring. She’d do anything for him if he asked in that tone. “Yes, sir,” she said, more of a smart-ass remark than a serious one.
Before he could say anything, she swirled her tongue around the head of his dick and took half of him in her mouth. She ran her tongue down the thick vein, then lazily looped her way back up to the tip.
“Shit.” The word was more of a pant. She repeated the movement, this time using her hand on the bottom half of his cock, following the motions with her mouth. His hips bucked, and his hand found its way to the back of her head, possessive fingers threading through her hair. “Take me. I need this. I’m going to remember your mouth on me every goddamn time I use my hand.”
She moaned at that, feeling a swell of power come over her. This man would be thinking about her every time he ran his hands along his shaft. It would be her that he’d lose himself to. Something in that was intoxicating, more potent than any elixir she’d encountered.
His hand tugged at her hair, and his legs started to tremble underneath her touch. “I’m so close, baby. Please, give me what I need.”
She looked up at him while she took him deep in her mouth, and his eyes flared with heat. Her fingers gripped him harder, and she wrapped her lips over her teeth as she took him in, sucking so hard that her mouth made a plop when she sat back on her heels for a moment.
The shaking in his legs amplified, and she could tell he was close. It was then that she’d decided to do something that she’d never attempted before. She wouldn’t pull back last second like she’d done with other guys. If she was going to experience Gage, she wanted all of him.
She gave two more strokes with her hand and mouth, and a moan ripped from Gage’s mouth as he pumped into her.
He slumped back into the tub and pulled Abby to his chest. “Fuck, sweetheart, that was amazing.” His hands ran down her shoulders, and his thumbs massaged her skin while he planted kisses down her neck.
Abby gave a contented sigh and sank against him, languishing in the warm bath and the fact that she was able to bring a grown man to his knees. The thought was electrifying.
Chapter Eight
After a couple hours of downtime following the most eventful bath of Gage’s life, he lay on the soft leather couch in the main room. Arm thrown over his eyes, he’d never felt more relaxed. Weekends spent without traveling were few and far between, and this was a rare luxury he wasn’t going to piss away.
Now, if only he was able to be with his family as well, this weekend would be damn near perfect.
As if they somehow could hear his thoughts, the video chat on his phone began to ring. Emily’s sweet face filled the screen, her tongue sticking out, nose scrunched. It was one of his favorite pictures of her.
He looked around, but didn’t see Abby. She’d been checking her work email and said something about specifications for the bed or window tapestries. He swiped his hand to answer the call, and Emily and his sister, Jill, filled the screen.
“Uncle Gage!” Emily screamed. Her arms waved wildly, and a crooked grin spread across her face. His heart beat sideways in his chest. “Look, Uncle Gage. Look what I can do.” She stuck her tongue through the hole where her teeth used to be.
“Wow, sweetie. Congrats on losing your teeth.” A pang of regret hit him. He’d missed another milestone with her. How many more would he miss because of work?
“Mama says the tooth fairy is coming tonight,” she said with a lisp, not quite used to talking without her two main teeth.
“I’m sure you’ll make a good haul with two teeth.”
Emily leaned forward and whispered into the phone, which ended up blaring on Gage’s end because she was talking directly into the microphone. “I asked mommy for you instead of money. You think that’ll work?”
“Oh, sweetie.” His throat tightened. Even though he was having the best damn weekend with Abby, he’d give anything to wrap his little niece in a bear hug right now. The fact that she’d give up money for her Olaf piggy bank for a chance to see her uncle, well, that would bring a tear to any man’s eyes. His sister was doing a damn fine job raising her. He just wished he could be around more to help out.
Jill took the phone from Emily and grinned down at her. “You hear that, Gage? Your little niece is missing you like crazy. We all do. Please tell me you’re coming home soon.”
“I miss you guys, too,” he admitted. “And soon. As soon as the snow clears up, I’ll be on my last shift and heading home. How’s Mom?”
Jill rolled her eyes. “Mama’s mama. What do you expect?”
After Jill’s dirtbag husband left them high and dry, his mom had been working double duty trying to get Jill to settle down with someone new, someone to provide for her. His mom had that 1950s mentality when it came to women, something that bugged the shit out of Gage, because a woman should be able to take care of herself first, not have to depend on anyone. Once he found someone to settle down with in the future, he wanted her to be self-sufficient. To be someone with drive. Someone like…Abby.
Jill was doing well for herself. She worked as an accountant for a firm in Charleston, but didn’t make nearly enough to pay a mortgage and tuition at Emily’s new school. When she’d told Gage she was thinking of taking her out of the fancy school, Gage had put in for extra hours at his job and told his sister that there would be no change of schools for Emily, not when she was thriving, and her little mind was being pushed.
&n
bsp; “She bringing you a young gentleman suitor to dinner next week, too?”
This elicited another eye roll from his sister. “I told her I’d rather eat cow pies than be fixed up with another man she deemed suitable.”
“Wish I had your willpower.” Even though he’d never seriously consider anyone that his mom brought to the house for their family dinners, he couldn’t find it in himself to let her down. He’d suffer through a dinner to make her happy. He didn’t know if that made him stupid or a glutton for punishment. Probably both. He needed to take notes from his sister.
“Mama says Memaw is crazier than a sack of rabbits in heat,” Emily whispered.
“Is that so?” Gage smirked. “Better not say that around Memaw or else you’ll be in a world full of hurt, kiddo.”
“Okay.” Emily paused for a second and then looked at him through the screen with those big doe eyes. “Uncle Gage, will you sing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ to me?”
“Right now, kiddo?” He glanced around the empty living room.
“Yes.” She folded her hands together, pleading with those baby blues. There was no way he could say no to any request from his cute-as-a-button niece. He was going to have to be around a lot more when she started dating. He’d be more than happy to clean his gun when her dates came to pick her up.
Abby was still in the other room. She was probably so engrossed with whatever she was doing that she wouldn’t even hear him. He started in on the song, and Emily started singing along. As they ended the song together, Emily about five notes off-key, but adorable as always. She smiled and kissed the screen.
“I love you, Uncle Gage. See you soon.”
“Love you guys, too.”
And with that she pressed the end button, and he was left with a blank screen.
Damn, he missed his family.
…
Abby stared at the email in her inbox as she drummed her nails on the glass of the nightstand in the bedroom. Jeremy, Mr. Douche Coworker Extraordinaire, had emailed her, bragging that he’d found the perfect set for another movie Yellow Raft had bought rights for, thereby putting him in the lead for gaining the promotion. This one didn’t have as big of a production budget as the one Abby was working on, but it would be another blockbuster hit, for sure.
Something about the note rankled her. His smug, smarmy ass needed to be put in its place, just this once. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be the one to do it. She valued her position at Yellow Raft and wouldn’t do anything stupid to jeopardize moving up in the company. Instead, she needed to do what she always did—work harder. Make sure everything was absolutely perfect before sending in the photos to Rob.
Not able to look at the email one more minute, she slammed her laptop shut and grabbed her phone. She pulled up the text conversation with her sister.
Ella: Hey, do I need to call the coast guard? Come up for air and talk to your sister.
Abby: I’m alive and well. Very well.
Ella: daaaaaaayum. Someone got laid by Mr. Magic Dick. Please tell me you took pics.
Abby: I am majorly side-eying you right now.
Ella: Must be because you can’t see straight from the major sex fest you’re having over there. Seriously, you’ve never been away from your phone this long. I need to meet this guy.
Abby huffed a laugh through her nose. Okay, so maybe her phone was permanently attached to her hand, but what person in the twenty-first century didn’t have that problem? It honestly felt nice to unplug for a few hours, recharge her emotional batteries. Her whole life revolved around twenty-four seven availability, slaving away at her job. Really, where did that leave time for herself? She used to enjoy things like Netflix binges and the occasional spa day. She glanced at her sorry excuse for cuticles and let out a deep sigh. Yeah, maybe she’d put a little too much of herself into her work. This last night with Gage reminded her that there was more to life than set locations and memos.
Abby: Yeah, not happening.
Ella: You’re such a wet blanket sometimes.
Abby: I learn from the best.
Truth be told, her sister was the life of the party. Anywhere she went, she lit up the room. Abby sighed and stared at the phone, her chest aching from missing her sister. This weekend was worth it, even if she felt guilty for passing up a visit with Ella.
Growing up, they were partners in crime. Always to the dismay of their mother, of course. Heck, at seventeen, she hadn’t wanted to be a lady—she’d wanted to be free. Gage brought that wild side out of her, which had been tamped down from years of college and paperwork.
Abby texted a quick talk later to her sister and grabbed her camera to snap a few pictures of the bedroom.
After the bath this afternoon, she’d needed to take a break from the festivities to work, but as soon as she finished shooting more images and writing notes on the penthouse, she was going to spend one more night with Gage. A shiver ran through her. Damn did she hit the Publishers Clearing House of all jackpots with Mr. Dirty Talker. She should totally give herself a high five.
After snapping a few shots of the bed, then the ornate artwork on the walls, she went to leave the bedroom to take pictures of the outdoor area—something she needed to capture with the lit skyscrapers. The steam of the hot tub disappearing into the twinkling lights would be perfect to show off, especially if the movie did an evening scene. Although, at this moment, she was more keen on baths. For obvious reasons. Ones she wouldn’t be sharing with her boss, that was for sure.
Just as the door opened a fraction of an inch, Gage’s voice poured into the room, his pitch lulling and hypnotic. Was he…singing? She listened, face pressed to the door to get as close as she could without popping her head out the doorway.
Yes, he was in fact singing. “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” A little girl’s voice chimed in, and Abby shut the door quietly. This obviously was a private moment. Was that his daughter? He hadn’t mentioned that he had one, but maybe he did. Hell, she didn’t know much about him, and yet she felt like she knew him, down to the marrow of her bones. How was it possible to feel this connected to someone without knowing any of the big details—like his whole freakin’ past—or preferences, like what condiments he liked on his hot dogs. Did Gage even like hot dogs?
A haze blanketed her thoughts, and she had to sit down on the bed to collect herself. She’d given herself up to a complete stranger. The gravity of the situation really sank in. Now that she was out of eyesight of Gage, her fully functioning brain decided to kick into gear. Was this a complete mistake? Something she’d regret?
No. Not indulging in way more carbs in college was something she regretted. Getting roped into taking glamour shots at the mall and not burning the photographic evidence of her 90s mullet, which her sister now held as collateral, was something she definitely regretted. Gage was not something to regret. Ever. Abby’s pearl-clutching mom might need to do a few extra Hail Mary’s for her if she ever caught wind of this weekend, but dammit, she would never regret what she did with Gage, because honestly, this was the best she’d felt in years.
His tongue, his mouth, his…everything just felt so right. Her body was dialed into Gage’s frequency, and she couldn’t find it in herself to be sorry for enjoying something so much. She just hoped that, once she got back home, this wasn’t the last time she ever felt like this. Like a shooting star that had so much beauty for a brief moment and then fizzled out way too soon.
Chapter Nine
Gage watched Abby as she paced around the apartment like a caged animal. Even with the multiple rounds they went last night and this morning, she was still keyed up. How much more would it take before she’d be able to sit on the couch with him and watch reruns of The Walking Dead? He wasn’t willing to find out.
She was busy wearing a path into the shag rug in the living room. Maybe it was cabin fever—she didn’t seem like the type to kick back and waste the day watching movies. A few ideas came to mind for how to ease her current state, but 90 percent o
f them required the removal of clothing. And between last night and this morning, even he needed time to recharge. Better stick with the 10 percent options for the time being. Even he was starting to feel a little stir-crazy being pent up in the room all day.
Gage eyed the hot tub through the sliding glass door. Damn, he’d love loosening a few knots in his shoulders with those high-powered water jets. The steam rising up around the cover called to him like a beacon.
He eyed Abby pacing the living room for the fifteenth lap in a row. Nope, hot tub could wait.
He caught her hand as she strode past him, and said, “Let’s go out.”
She snorted, which somehow was very endearing on Abby, and put the hand that wasn’t currently in his own on her hip. “Where are we going to go? The whole city is closed.”
“The whole city is not closed. Just the restaurants. The kitchen staff is still here, right?” This was a five-star hotel, and Gage doubted a friggin’ snowpocalypse would stop it from catering to the needs of people paying hundreds a night for a room here.
“I think so.” She looked at him like she was going to ask why he was wondering this, but he didn’t give her time to respond.
He reached for the phone, walked into the bedroom, and called the number for the restaurant on the main floor of the building. “I’d like to place an order for room 4011. Fresh baguettes and a cheese assortment, and strawberries and champagne. In a to-go bag.” He grunted as he said this. It’d been a long time since he put any effort into a woman besides physical, but clearing Abby’s mind was top priority at the moment. Not just because of what she’d done for him back in the bathtub, but because he knew what it was like for the mind to go AWOL at the most inconvenient time.
He’d first experienced it when he came back from Iraq. After losing one of his best buddies to an IED, it left him unsure of how to cope in normal society. He overcompensated by outrunning his problems, in the literal sense, running miles upon miles, lifting more than he thought he could humanly manage, until he was too tired to have dreams of war. Luckily, he’d had his family’s support, and over the years, and with a change of career, he was able to work past it.
Landing the Air Marshal (Snowpocalypse) Page 8
