Silent Love_Part Three

by Kenadee Bryant

  I quickly gathered my stuff for my classes before I left. I wanted to get to class early and hopefully see Gage and pull him aside to talk to him. Who cared if I was the only one there so early?

  As I left my dorm and headed to the English building, I noticed it was getting dark outside. Dark rain clouds were moving in and I knew it would start pouring any second. Just another thing to dampen my current mood. I silently prayed Gage would show up to class today.

  Sadly, luck was not on my side once again. When I got to class, I sat in my seat staring at the door, waiting for him to walk through it. Multiple times I would straighten up thinking it was Gage, only to see it was some other guy. The seats began filling up and my heart sank, knowing Gage wasn’t coming. It wasn’t until the professor showed up did I realize he wasn’t going to walk through the door wearing his usual grey hoodie before plopping down in his seat next to me.

  All through class my knee bounced and I tapped my pencil obnoxiously on my notepad. People around me were getting mad but I didn’t care. I was counting down the minutes I could escape this class and go to find him.

  Because I wanted class to go by faster, it went slower. Everything always did that. You want Friday to get here because you have a date with the hot football player you have been dreaming about for months, and instead of the week flying by like you want, it decides to go even slower. Time was never good to people.

  When the professor finally excused us, I immediately jumped out of my chair and pushed past everyone to get out the door. I might have gotten cursed at, but I didn’t even hear it. The moment I was free of the classroom, I took my phone out and dialed one person that would know where Gage was.

  “Carty, what’s up!” Dylan said through the phone. Normally I would have laughed at his nickname for me, but not today.

  “Dylan, where is Gage?” I demanded. I moved off to the side so I wasn’t in anybody’s way as they left the building.

  “Why? Is something wrong?” I could hear the change in Dylan’s tone.

  “No. I just need to know where he is.” I didn’t have time to explain to Dylan what was going on.

  “I think he is still at the apartment. He came in late last night piss drunk.” He was at home hungover!

  “Thanks, Dylan.” Not even waiting for him to say another word, I ended the call and started for the exit. I pushed the door open, only to be met with pouring rain. I watched as people ran around trying to get somewhere dry. Out of all days, it had to rain today.

  My need to see Gage right now triumphed over getting wet. So, gritting my teeth, I started out in the rain. I tried to run, but I was soaked in a matter of seconds. I ran in the direction of Gage’s apartment building while the rain battered down on me. I was the only one out here.

  It was cold out and the rain did nothing to help that. Since my clothes were stuck to me, it was making me shiver, but all I could think about was Gage. I needed him to know I loved him and that I only loved him. Ethan was not on my mind anymore and never would be.

  Thankfully it didn’t take me too long to reach Gage’s apartment, and I quickly ducked inside wanting to be out of the rain. Water dripped off of me, and my shoes make squeaking noises as I walked across the floor to the elevator.

  I was shivering and bouncing on my toes as the elevator took its own sweet time going up to Gage’s floor. When the elevator doors finally opened and I was out heading toward his room, my steps slowed. Doubts were starting to creep into my mind. What if Gage didn’t want me here? He dodged all my phone calls and texts, so maybe he didn’t want to see me.

  All these what-ifs came to mind, and when I reached his place, I just stood there staring at the number 30 on his door. Now I wasn’t even sure if I should be here. All my courage and planning of busting through his door and demanding he listened to me, was going out the window. I didn’t want to face the rejection that might happen if I entered that room. I didn’t want to face the look on Gage’s face that he had the other night.

  I was a wet mess in front of his door when I gave myself an unexpected pep talk. If you love Gage, you will go right through that door and make him listen to you. You will not be some stupid damsel in distress, not anymore. If you want a happy ending, then you are going to have to write your own story. The words actually had some effect on me.

  Clenching my jaw, I nodded to myself and reached for the door handle. When it opened without resistance, I almost yelled out in glee. Before I entered the place, I took a deep breath. I was going to be the heroine in this story instead of the damsel in distress I had been.

  Walking inside, I slammed the door shut for dramatic effect. Searching around, I didn’t see him in the living room, so I stalked toward his bedroom. I let my anger at him dodging my calls, yelling at me, and making me feel this way wash over me. By the time I reached his bedroom, I was fuming.

  Just like with the front door, I slammed open his bedroom door, making it hit the wall with a bang. Gage slowly sat up in his bed at the noise. It was dark in here, so I marched over to his window and jerked the blinds up.

  “What the fuck, dude!” Gage cursed as he covered his eyes.

  “Gage Harper, you are getting out of this bed this instant.” I seethed. At my voice, he dropped his hand and stared up at me, as I for once towered over him. I crossed my arms across my chest and glared down at him. I probably didn’t look too threatening, considering my hair was sticking to my face and I was trying hard not to let my teeth chatter.

  “Carter?” I noticed that his eyes were bloodshot and he had bags under them. I ignored the pang at seeing them and kept my hard gaze on him.

  “Up. Now.”

  “Carter, get out,” Gage said going to lay back down. Nope, not happening. I grabbed his shoulder and roughly pulled him back. I miscalculated how close he was to the bed and he ended up rolling off the bed onto the floor. I took a step back. Oops. I pushed aside the tingling feeling in my hand from touching his bare skin.

  “Get your ass up and meet me in the living room. We need to talk.” While he groaned at falling on the floor, I turned and walked out. Halfway down the hall, I yelled back at him.

  “If you do not hurry, I will come in there and chop off your balls.” I was going to talk and he was going to sit his ass down and listen to me.

  I stood near the counter with my arms crossed and my foot tapping, water dripping onto his floor. A few minutes had passed and I was about to go and get him, when he came walking out. I could not help my eyes from raking up and down his shirtless chest. He was dressed in only a pair of sweats that hung low on his hips.

  “Carter, you need to leave,” said he said gruffly. He sounded and looked hungover.

  “No, not until we talk.”

  “I don’t want to talk to you.” He kept his distance from me and crossed his own arms over his chest.

  “Well, you are going to. You declined all my calls and texts, so I had no other choice than to come here.”

  “There is a reason I didn’t answer them.” It hurt me how rude and cold he was being right now. This wasn’t my Gage.

  “You have no right to act like this with me, Gage.”

  “I have no right? You are the one who is still in love with that dick!”

  “Who said I was?” I yelled. “Not once did I say I was still in love with him, Gage. You came to the conclusion yourself!”

  “When you flaunt yourself at him, I know exactly what you feel toward him.”

  “Flaunt myself?” I choked out. “When have I ever flaunted myself at anyone?”

  “Carter, I saw you flirt with him all day. You kept smiling at him, sending him looks, and when he kissed your cheek you did nothing to stop it!”

  “Did you ever think to realize that he was just being friendly, Gage?”

  “He was not being friendly, Carter, and it is sad that you don’t see that,” he spat out.

  “Will you just pull your head out of your ass for one second! Will you just listen to me for once!” I screamed.
I thought I was all out of tears but apparently not, as they started to form in my eyes.

  “I don’t need to listen when I already know everything, Carter! You can now go run back to your little boy toy and leave me the fuck alone.” I couldn’t control myself as my legs led me right over to him until I was mere inches away. I could feel the heat coming off his bare chest and it made me shiver once more.

  “You are such a dick!” I smacked his chest. “You won’t even let me tell you that I am not in love with Ethan anymore! I never was! I stopped liking him the moment you came into my life, but you are too fucking dense to see that!” I kept hitting his chest as I spoke.

  “Instead of hearing me out, you decide to insult me, yell at me, making me cry because you left without a goodbye, and you haven’t even answered my calls! What if I was dying, Gage? Would you have felt bad then, huh?” Tears were now steadily running down my face.

  “I don’t fucking love him, Gage! I love you!” The words came out before I could stop them. This wasn’t how I wanted to tell him I loved him, but it was too late.

  “So, there. Are you happy?” I shoved him hard. “Are you happy now?” Crying, I turned around and headed for the front door. If he was still going to be such an ass to me, then I wasn’t going to stay. Not when I just bared my heart to him and he hadn’t said a word.

  I didn’t make it far before a hand snaked around my wrist and twisted me around.

  “What was that?” Gage asked, his voice low.

  “Gage, stop.” He took a step toward me and I took one back. We kept on doing that, Gage advancing on me and me backing away. My back finally hit the wall behind me and I had nowhere else to go.

  “You love me?” He looked more awake now, and his beautiful brown eyes were searching mine. I didn’t answer. A few more tears leaked out of my eyes.

  “Did you say you love me?” He placed his hands right next to my face, caging me against the wall. I had nowhere to go now.

  “Yes, and now I don’t know why I do,” I bit out.

  “You love me.” He kept saying it like he didn’t believe it.

  “For the love of god, Gage. Yes, I. Fucking. Love. You. Okay?”

  Our breathing was heavy as we were inches apart. His chest was now pressed against mine and I didn’t feel cold anymore. What he did next surprised me.

  He brought a hand up and cupped the side of my face. His eyes seemed to shine almost like he wanted to cry, but he wasn’t. His head dipped closer to mine until our lips barely grazed one another.

  “I love you too,” was all he said before his lips slammed hard against mine.

  Read on for a sneak peek at the next book in the Silent Love series!

  ***Sneak Peek***

  Silent Love Series, PART 4

  Chapter One

  “I love you too,” was all he said before his lips slammed hard against mine.

  Gage’s arms were wrapped under my butt as he lifted me up and started carrying me down the hallway. My legs were hooked around his waist and my mouth was attacking his.

  The moment we both said, “I love you,” I would have fainted if Gage hadn’t been supporting me. I never in a million years thought Gage Harper would tell me he was in love with me. Sure, me yelling it at him while we were fighting wasn’t the way I wanted to tell him, but I wouldn’t take it back now.

  Gage led us toward his bedroom, and how he kept us from hitting anything I had no idea, especially since we were kissing. When we reached his room, my back hit his door before he swung it open.

  My mind was fuzzy as we continued kissing. I loved the feeling of his body pressed so close to mine. Heat radiated off of his bare chest and my hands moved on their own as they ran along his muscular shoulders and back. I wanted to run my lips across his bare skin so bad.

  Our kiss broke off as Gage suddenly let go of me. I bit back a yelp as I bounced back on his bed. His body immediately covered mine, pinning me down on the soft mattress. I grinned against his lips as he braced himself above me, making sure he didn’t crush me with his weight.

  My legs once again wrapped themselves around his waist and my hands now moved to his chest. I could feel the hard muscle under my fingers. Gage’s own hands grabbed onto my sides as he slammed his lips back against me. He kissed me like he was starving. I kissed him back just as hard.

  Feeling his firm body pressed against mine sent a tingle through me—never had someone fit so perfectly with me. It was like Gage’s body was a piece of a puzzle that fit mine.

  I felt his hands move from my waist up my sides until they reached my breasts. His mouth left mine, planting kisses along the side of my neck. I panted and closed my eyes, feeling what he was doing. No one had ever kissed my neck like this before. Gage knew exactly what he was doing, that was certain.

  His big hands cupped my breasts and I started to feel him grind his lower body in between my legs. The sweatpants he wore did nothing to hide his bulge. I moaned at his touch and the sound surprised me.

  Only when I felt his hands move to pull my shirt up, did I realize exactly what we were doing. I knew where this was going to lead, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that. I loved Gage, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get to that level just yet.

  It was my first time and I didn’t want to just give it up like it was nothing. I almost did that with my last boyfriend and I was glad I didn’t. I didn’t really love Quinton, and I stupidly thought that in order to keep him, I had to sleep with him. I did not want Gage to leave me or think of me as a prude if I didn’t sleep with him, though.

  Feeling his hands grip the bottom of my shirt and start to pull up, I froze. No, I couldn’t continue. My hands were still on his chest, so I pushed at him firmly and finally found my voice.

  “Gage,” I breathed out. Immediately his hands stopped and he pulled his head away from my neck.

  “Are you okay?” His voice was once again husky and low. I opened my eyes to look at him and saw concern on his face. His eyes didn’t seem as bloodshot anymore, for which I was glad.

  “I-I can’t do this.” I shrunk into the bed as the words came out. I felt embarrassed about making Gage stop when he was clearly enjoying himself. I’d been having a good time too.

  “Hey, it is okay,” Gage said softly. He brought his hand up to softly cup my jaw.

  “I’m sorry, I just…I’ve just never done this before…” I trailed off, my cheeks flaming. My eyes closed, and my hands came up to cover them in embarrassment. Gage was definitely not a virgin, and I was. I knew he had been with a lot of girls and I didn’t mind, but I was afraid I wouldn’t be as good, or that he really only wanted me for that, and the moment he got it he’d dump me. That was my biggest fear.

  “Carter.” I felt the pressure of his body leave mine for a second before he grabbed my hands from my face and lowered them. “Carter, that is nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  “Are you sure?” I slowly opened my eyes, peeking up at him.

  “Yes. If you’d done it with someone else, I would have to find him and kill him.” I giggled at his words. His own lips spread in a smile.

  “I’m sorry,” I said once again.

  “Don’t be.” He leaned down once more and placed a gentle kiss to my lips. The kiss was just a peck as he pushed off the bed and stood up.

  “I am making your bed wet,” I commented. I was so focused on Gage that I forgot I was soaked to the bone from the rain.

  “Here, let’s get you something dry.” While he turned toward his closet to find me something to wear, I gazed at his bare muscular back. I watched as the muscles rippled, making my breath hitch in my throat. This boy was so hot.

  “You can wear these.” He came back to the side of the bed and held out the same pair of sweats that I borrowed a few weeks back. Grabbing those and a black t-shirt, I stood up.

  “I’ll be right back.” I stood on my toes and planted a kiss on his cheek before leaving the room to get changed. Not wanting to be gone long, I quickly shed out of m
y wet clothes and laid them along the bathtub to dry. I used a brush on the counter to brush my hair, and I wiped my face before heading back to Gage. What makeup I had on was completely gone anyway from the rain, so it didn’t matter now.

  Coming back into the room I saw Gage laying down on his bed waiting for me. Seeing him stretched out like that shirtless made my mouth water. I mentally slapped myself for stopping what we were doing earlier.

  “Come here.” Gage beckoned me, patting the empty space beside him. Not needing to be told twice, I crawled into his bed and lay down, cuddling into his side. His arm came back to support my head as I snuggled against him. I placed my one hand on his chest while his went right for my hair. His warmth once again enveloped us like a cocoon.

  The both of us were silent for a few minutes, our breathing the only thing heard in the room. I wanted to lay there and soak in Gage. I missed him a lot in the last three days, more than I had ever missed anyone.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?” Gage broke the silence by asking. His hand was softly caressing my neck, making me shiver in delight.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” I countered.

  “Well I am hungover, so I get an excuse.”

  “You really shouldn’t drink on a Sunday night when you know you have class the next morning,” I scolded him. “But I am here because of you, so technically it is your fault I am missing my classes today.”

  “My fault?” Gage looked down at me. “How is my fault?”

  “Because, you big oaf, you wouldn’t answer my calls or texts.”

  “I, uh, kind of turned off my phone yesterday…” Well, that explained him not answering my calls and texts.

  “Carter, I am so sorry for yelling at you and saying the things I did. I was just so angry—and I guess jealous—that I couldn’t think straight,” Gage said. He gently gripped my chin and tilted my head so I was looking right at him. “I am really sorry.”