“Not exactly. It was even better than that. I was waiting on the papers to be served. It takes time when someone is overseas to accomplish that. And then I got a lucky break.” She shivered, well aware how insane it was that she considered Simon’s death to be a blessing. But it was. “He was killed in combat.”
“Jesus.”
“Yeah. Roadside bomb took out everyone in his Hummer. There wasn’t even enough left of him to send home. All the Navy had was DNA evidence that he’d been there.
“And I was free.”
“God, baby.” He twisted to one side and turned her face to his. “I’m so sorry.”
She smiled wanly. “It’s over. I’m safe.” Sort of. She wiped her eyes again. “I rented a car, went back to the base, settled everything with the Navy, and cleared out the savings account. It wasn’t much, but it was something. I never even entered the apartment we shared. I then got on the first flight to Vegas.”
“My God. So, Simon never signed the divorce papers?”
“Never even saw them.”
“So all the benefits are yours.”
She nodded, but dipped her head. She couldn’t meet his gaze. Telling him that saga was all she could manage for today. The rest would have to wait.
He squeezed her tighter until she couldn’t breathe. “You’re an amazing woman.”
Those words shocked her. Not what she’d expected. She didn’t consider herself amazing. She was simply a survivor, and at that she had been lucky more than anything else. No telling what might have happened if Simon had lived to see the divorce papers. Her life might have been easier if he’d signed them, cutting her loose.
Gage scooted them to the edge of the window seat and lifted her into his arms. He walked across the room and deposited her on the bed, shoving the plates of sandwiches and chips to one side. He hovered over her, his body smashing her to the mattress, his hands cupping her face. “I love you.”
She gasped, her mouth falling open.
“I mean it. Don’t say anything now. I know it’s soon. But I wanted you to know. If you thought anything you just told me would turn me away from you, you were wrong. I love you, Kayla. And we’ll work through all of this and come out victorious.”
She nodded, another tear slipping free to run down her cheek.
Gage wiped it away, kissed her gently, and held her tight until she fell back asleep. Food could wait. She was exhausted. Years of stress had slipped from her body, leaving her depleted. The last thing she knew as she drifted off was Gage’s soft mouth on her cheek.
Chapter Sixteen
Warm lips touched hers, nibbling a path to her ear. Panting and wetness landed on the other side of her face. Kayla smiled as she realized Thor was next to her. She opened her eyes a slit to find the dog watching her intently. “When did you get here, big guy?”
She lifted an arm to wrap around his softness.
The voice from her other side was teasing. “Ah, I see how I rate now. Not, hey Gage. Not even a kiss.” He chuckled.
“Mmm.” Kayla buried her face in Thor’s neck. “That’s about how it is. Dogs are more loyal. They love you unconditionally.”
“I’m loyal. And I promise to love you unconditionally.”
Kayla stiffened. Was it really possible for Gage to be in love with her so soon? Of course, it wasn’t really soon if you considered how long they’d known each other. But their relationship hadn’t been at a measurable level until a few weeks ago.
“Zane brought him over a little while ago. He bounded right into the bedroom and took up a spot next to you. It’s like he’s some sort of protector.”
“He knows who loves him and gives him the best treats.”
“You’ve been feeding my dog treats behind my back?” He chuckled again.
Kayla turned to face Gage with a grin.
“You need to get up, baby. You need to eat. You haven’t had a bite all day.”
She pulled herself to sitting. She was still exhausted from the great reveal, but she felt a sense of relief also. The bulk of her secrets had been revealed. She cringed as she admitted to herself that she still carried the most important one of all, one Gage wouldn’t be remotely happy to hear about. But that was precisely the reason she would keep it to herself. “Feed me,” she announced as she stood on wobbly legs. “What time is it?”
“Almost midnight.”
Thor jumped to the ground beside her, his head rubbing against her leg.
“That dog is spoiled.” Gage came around to her side. He’d pulled on a pair of jeans that sat low on his hips and left his delicious broad chest open for perusal.
Kayla licked her lips and leaned against his pecs.
“Uh uh.” Gage took her shoulders and held her back. “Don’t start that. Food first and then I’ll think about claiming my dessert from between your legs.”
Kayla shivered as he spoke. The idea of Gage settled between her legs, his lips on her pussy, made her grow automatically wet with need. But she couldn’t deny she was hungry, and the smells coming from the kitchen made her mouth water. “You cooked?”
“Yep.” He took her hand and tugged her toward the door.
She tugged back. “I need clothes.”
He firmed his grip. “No you don’t.” He turned his head and winked. “I like you naked.”
“Not while I eat.”
“Yes, while you eat. And if you don’t stop arguing, I’ll make you sit on the table with your legs spread and feed you myself.”
She clamped her lips shut and followed him, knowing he would do such a thing, and not entirely sure she wouldn’t enjoy the idea.
An hour later, she was once again in his bed. She couldn’t lift her arms off the mattress because all her energy had been depleted by his dessert. The man had spread her wide and laid claim to her pussy as though he were starving and hadn’t just eaten the most delicious spaghetti she’d ever tasted.
After bringing her to a quick delightful orgasm with his tongue flicking over her clit, he now plunged that tongue into her channel, fucking her rapidly while managing to stroke across her G-spot.
“Gage…” She couldn’t take much more. She was too sensitive.
His response was to hold her tighter, his hands grasping her thighs above her knees and pressing them higher and wider. And then he sucked.
She nearly shot off the bed when he added that pressure. She burrowed her hands in his hair and tugged, but he didn’t relent. His mouth and lips and tongue moved everywhere, eating her so thoroughly her vision blurred. It was too soon. She’d come less than a minute ago.
He didn’t see it that way. In his book it was never too soon for a second orgasm. And he intended to deliver.
Kayla stiffened, her hands no longer pulling on his head, but switching to holding him down as her arousal peaked again. “OhGodohGod.” She twisted her head to one side and tried to catch a breath, but that tongue…
Gage shifted so his shoulder held her leg open. He sucked her clit into his mouth and used his free hand to thrust a finger into her pussy.
If she could have lifted her body off the bed, she would have, but he was stronger, and she was occupied with too many thoughts of floating to get her leg muscles to listen to her brain cells.
When Gage’s finger trailed down the space between her pussy and her ass, she moaned. She should be embarrassed to find his touch so arousing, but she couldn’t remember how to find anything he did mortifying. Two seconds later, her arousal shot out of this world when his finger pressed into her ass and stroked upward toward her channel.
Kayla moaned long and loud as her second orgasm washed through her body. It lasted forever, the pulsing of both channels clenching at Gage’s finger and tongue. She was lost. Totally and irrevocably a goner to Gage Holland.
»»•««
Kayla woke up early the next morning before Gage, little wonder considering how long she’d slept the day before. It was still dark outside. In fact, she had no idea what time it was, but there w
as enough light to assume the sun was thinking about making an appearance. She could hear Thor rustling around on the floor, and she was glad he hadn’t decided to sleep on the bed with them this time because she had plans that didn’t involve his furry self getting in the way.
Gage’s huge frame was snuggled against her, as usual. The man was hot and suffocating when they slept. He had one leg tossed over hers, as usual, and one arm draped over her belly, as usual, his hand cupping her breast in a way that made her immediately come alive. In fact, his thumb rested on her nipple by coincidence, though Gage clearly had no idea because he was breathing heavily in deep sleep.
Kayla shifted slowly out of his clutches, biting her lip to keep from moaning as his thumb dragged across her erect nipple. She had no idea how she managed to accomplish it, but somehow she nudged Gage onto his back and slithered down his body, taking the sheet with her until she could see his entire glorious frame at rest.
Normally there was no way she would be able to accomplish such a thing. Gage didn’t seem like the kind of guy who slept hard. He was often jumpy and alert way before her, but luck was on her side this morning, and she made her way down to his cock.
For a minute she stared at him, amazed at how erect he could be in sleep. He wasn’t completely engorged—she’d seen him enough times to know that much—but not far from it. She hesitated longer than she wanted to admire his damn fine body.
What she ever saw in Simon, she had no idea. Simon had been fit for sure. He was a military man after all, but he was nowhere near as ruggedly built as Gage. Nor had the asshole engaged in any unnecessary extra exertion. He did what was strictly required by the Navy and nothing more. He sure wouldn’t have mustered up the energy to spend his off hours fighting in a ring. God forbid he get hit by someone else. No. Of course not. The only person swinging punches in Simon’s life was Simon.
Kayla shook the unwanted images from her mind and focused on the fine specimen in front of her. She tentatively set the tip of one finger on Gage’s length and stroked from the base to the tip. Precome leaked from the slit, shocking her an instant before his deep rumbly voice interrupted her perusal. “You gonna look at it all day, or do I get the privilege of something more than that?”
She jerked her gaze up to meet his. She should have known better than to think she had the upper hand for once.
He stared down at her, his mouth curved in a smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“I thought—”
“Baby, I’m never fully asleep when you’re in my bed. But I’ve enjoyed allowing you to think I was.”
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? That’s fucked up.” She swatted his chest with her hand, her forearm brushing against his engorged head.
Gage moaned and grabbed her under her arms to haul her up his body until she lay on top of him. He cupped her face and took her mouth in a kiss that made her forget her frustration in less than a second. When he finally released her, he nodded toward his cock. “What did you have planned after show and tell?”
She shrugged and lowered her face to lose his gaze. “That was all. Just wanted to look,” she lied, testing him.
“Really? Huh. Didn’t look that way from where I was. If you had licked those lips one more time, I thought I might come from that alone.”
She lifted her gaze to his again, knowing her eyes were wider this time. “No way.”
He nodded.
She licked her lips again, aware of the effect and using it to her advantage.
Gage’s cock, nestled between her belly and his, jerked. “You’re killing me here.” He moaned and tipped his head back, his hands gripping her biceps.
Kayla giggled as she decided to put him out of his misery. She wiggled her way down his body, planted herself between his thighs, and took his length in her hand. She wanted to control this blowjob. And she sincerely hoped Gage would allow it. Sure, normally he was the Dom in bed, or even in the house. But for this she needed some leeway. Hopefully he could recognize that and give her the time she craved. Then again, not verbalizing that need was stupid and could lead to discomfort on her part.
Kayla lifted her gaze to him again. “Babe, I need you to, um…” God, how did she tell him something she couldn’t even form into words in her head?
Gage wove the fingers of one hand into her hair and stroked her cheek gently with his thumb. “I know, baby. I won’t move a muscle. Take all the time you need.”
She exhaled slowly and nodded, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. This Dom of hers was perfection. He knew when to control her, how much, and how often. But better yet, he knew when to back off and let her have her way.
Simon would have slammed her face onto his dick and forced her to swallow his come. Gage showed no signs of anything similar. In fact, he lifted both arms and tucked his hands under his neck.
Kayla turned her attention back to the cock in front of her and licked through the slit at the top. She tasted his come for the first time and brought it into her mouth. Salty, but also flavored with the heady taste of Gage. She trailed her tongue down his length next and then back up to the tip.
He moaned softly, breathing rapidly, but he said nothing and didn’t move a muscle, other than to flex his cock, which might not have been voluntary.
When she sucked his length into her mouth, she didn’t hesitate. She sucked hard, drawing him deep, taking as much of his length as she could and swirling her tongue around his shaft as she did so.
Gage’s thighs flinched, but other than that, he made no move. She thought he held his breath since moments ago she’d heard his deep heavy inhale of arousal.
When she drew off him and kissed the tip, he exhaled sharply. “Oh God, baby. That’s so fucking amazing.” His legs squirmed on the bed beside her, but he kept his hands under his neck.
And Kayla continued, sucking him into her mouth again, deeper this time. Not all the way to the back of her throat, but close. She wasn’t comfortable enough not to gag, but she’d never enjoyed a blowjob before this morning either. The idea that she made Gage lose a piece of himself was intoxicating. She did this to him. She made those sounds escape his lips unbidden. She made his legs stiffen and shake at her sides. And she wanted more.
She set up a rhythm, bobbing on and off his cock, increasing the speed and intensity as she went. It didn’t take long for him to pant and lose control.
“Kayla, baby. I’m gonna come.”
Wasn’t that the plan? She would have laughed if she hadn’t been so otherwise occupied. Instead she sucked him harder. When he finally bucked his hips up a few inches, she knew he was close. And seconds later, he came, his orgasm shooting into the back of her mouth. She swallowed rapidly, trying not to lose any drop of him. It was no hardship since she wanted that with him more than she’d ever wanted anything with a man.
When she finished and his cock lost the tiniest bit of its erection, she released him from her mouth with a pop and set her face on his thigh. So many times Gage had taken her. So many ways he’d made her feel special. She hoped this one little act could convey how much she appreciated him without words. Especially because she wanted to do that again. Soon.
Suddenly, Gage hauled Kayla off his thigh and flipped their position so that she lay on her belly. He massaged her back up and down her spine. She couldn’t control the noises she made at the simple touch of his hands. “Baby, stop moaning. I’m trying to rub your muscles. I can’t do that with you whimpering every few seconds.”
“Mmm. Why is that?”
He pinched her ass playfully. “Imp. It’s hard enough to control my cock around you. When you make those noises, I can’t be held responsible for my actions. So, unless you want me to fuck you again this morning, I suggest you stop that.”
Kayla smiled into the pillow. Was that a challenge? She knew she should be sore from the number of times and ways he’d taken her in the last twenty-four hours, but she didn’t care.
Gage suddenly stopped and slid down next to h
er. He brushed her hair from her face until she met his gaze. “I need to go see my dad.”
“Of course.” She cringed at her insensitivity. She was monopolizing his time and meanwhile his parents needed him. She moved to lift herself off the bed, but Gage held her steady with a hand at the small of her back.
“Stay.” He kissed her temple. “Please. I know it’s too soon, and I won’t freak you out by asking you to move in with me, but I want you here in my house in my bed. Stay?”
“I need to go home, Gage. You need some time with your parents, and if I don’t hurry, I’ll be late for work.”
“Lord. It’s Monday.”
She nodded and cupped his face with both hands. “I don’t even have clothes and my mail is probably piling up. I haven’t been home for days.”
He kissed her again, lingering around her ear lobe until she squirmed. How did he manage to affect her like that so easily, even after more orgasms than she could count? “Come back after work then,” he requested in a tone that straddled the line between a command and a plea. “Please?”
She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.
His smile was supreme. “I’m gonna take a quick shower, feed Thor, and get to the hospital. It’s early. Take your time. Rummage around in my kitchen for food.”
Thor jumped onto the bed on the other side. The dog seemed to know when it was his turn. He lay down next to her with a sigh.
Kayla giggled and wrapped an arm around his huge body.
“You’re in good hands. Apparently my dog knows when to step up to the plate. It’s like he senses you need him.” Gage cocked his head to one side and then shook it as he walked away.
Chapter Seventeen
Kayla settled into a new reality with way too much ease, and that made her nervous. She worried constantly. For one, she didn’t trust fate to be so kind to her, and she fought to keep from worrying that Gage would turn on her at any point. He’d shown no signs of being the asshole Simon had turned into within a week. But still…
Gage had a full plate. Between work, the gym, and visiting his dad, they rarely had time to go to the club. Which was fine with Kayla. She enjoyed getting to know Gage’s mom and spending time with his dad during his slow recovery. It had been so long since she’d been part of a real family. She prayed the bottom didn’t fall out and leave her lonelier than she had been before dating Gage.
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