Chapter 9 #2
As we entered a different section of the town, he guided me towards a bar where I could hear music and laughter.
The outside was a simple wooden structure with a beer mug light on the hanging sign.
Inside, I was delighted by the beautiful interior full of deep reds, plush seating, and a bar with stools that had plush seats as well.
“Choose a seat,” Gage said and waved me inside.
I opted for the bar, pulling myself up onto one of the stools that was just a bit high for my height. Gage had no problem sitting in one since he was taller and I didn’t miss the amused look on his face when he watched me get into mine.
“What can I get you?” an older female with curled, red horns on the side of her head and beautiful bouncy red hair asked. She was beautiful and had her ample cleavage on display.
Gage, somehow, kept his eyes on her face as he ordered our drinks. The female looked at me a moment with a scowl before turning away to get the drinks.
What had that expression been about? Had I done something?
“Would you like to get dessert before we head back to the ship or wait until we return?” he asked.
Although I was enjoying our date, and I would never admit it to them, I missed the others.
“I think I’d like to eat dessert on the ship,” I admitted, feeling my face flush.
He smiled and nodded as if he had known that would be my choice. “Okay. It’s about time for us to return anyways. I’m sure the others are still nervous about the possibility of you getting into trouble.”
Sighing, I shook my head. “I don’t always get into trouble.”
The bartender returned, set our drinks before us, took Gage’s payment, and then set something on the bar next to my drink.
Picking up the napkin, I turned it over to find one word: Merc.
Gage had seen it as well and as casually as he could, looked around the room. His expression darkened, but he turned to me with a smile and held his beer mug up. “Cheers.”
I returned his smile, clinked my mug against his, and returned the saying, “Cheers.”
As we both drank our beers, I felt eyes on me. Eyes that burned with murderous intent.
“Scout,” I whispered, “scan room.”
Scout slipped out discreetly from behind my ear and after a second, whispered through the comms device, “Mercenary Targus, eight o’clock, hand on pistol on left hip.”
“Return,” I whispered and leaned my shoulder towards Gage, like I wanted him to hug me.
He seemed to pick up on it, throwing an arm around my shoulders and dropping his head down so he could hear me.
“One of my enemies is sitting at eight o’clock with a hand on his weapon,” I advised.
With a slight chuckle, he said, “See? Trouble magnet.” He reached up like he was caressing my cheek between us, but discreetly hit the button on his ear comms. “Enemy on us. We’re going to try to head back without engaging, but—”
“We’re on our way,” Zeke said, his deep voice coming through loud enough for me to hear.
“It’s just one mercenary,” I whispered with a frown. “I can handle him alone.”
Gage pressed a quick kiss to the side of my head, eliciting a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. “You aren’t alone, though, Princess. That’s important for you to understand and accept.”
“Zeke isn’t going to let me hear the end of it,” I grumbled, which made Gage laugh and I found myself smiling at the delightful sound.
“Come on, let’s head on out and see if he engages or not.” He finished his beer, as I finished mine, then he held out his hand for me to take.
I set my hand in his warm one and wondered why holding his hand felt more intimate than the kiss he’d pressed to my head.
We exited the bar, hands swinging gaily between us as we smiled happily, and continued to look at each other to be able to see behind us.
As expected, Targus followed us out, keeping some distance, but I could tell he had his pistol drawn now.
Gage rubbed his thumb over my knuckles and smiled down at me. “Easy, Princess. Let’s see what happens.” He pulled me down an alley immediately to our right and caged me against the wall, a hand on either side of my head.
“Wh-What are you doing?” I asked, feeling more nervous about him caging me in than Targus following us.
Dipping his head down, he kissed me lightly on the lips. “Couldn’t resist any longer,” he whispered. The next kiss was full of longing and as I gasped, he used the opening to deepen the kiss, his tongue stroking mine and making me moan in delight.
He purred at the sound and his right hand wrapped around my lower back, pulling me flush against his body, where I could feel his erection pressed against my stomach.
When he pulled back, we were both panting and I was certain I was blushing.
“Step away from the traitor,” Targus snarled.
Gage placed a kiss to the tip of my nose before stepping back to face Targus. “How can I help you?”
Targus aimed his gun at me. “Stand aside, sir. I have unfinished business with Diamond.”
I arched a brow. “Traitor? How am I a traitor?” Last I had seen him, he was fleeing from me.
“You killed the Underlord. He knew it was a possibility, so he sent me payment in the event it did happen so I could have my revenge.”
“You hated him,” I gaped.
“He was my brother!” he shouted.
Oh. Oh!
“I didn’t know that,” I admitted.
“Doesn’t matter,” he snarled and pulled back the hammer on his pistol. “You still need to die.”
“To be fair, I didn’t kill him,” I admitted.
He scowled. “What?”
“I did,” Zeke said, suddenly appearing behind Targus.
Targus’s head snapped around, while his gun remained trained on me.
Gage dashed forward, knocking his arm up so he couldn’t shoot me, at the same time that Zeke headbutted him.
Targus fell to the ground, unconscious, but still alive.
“Hello, Giant!” I greeted with a warm wave.
“This is a nice town. How did you still manage to find trouble?” He huffed out a breath and shook his head. “I anticipated this, but still.”
Putting my hands on my hips, I reminded him, “He was trying to kill me for what you did.”
“I did that to keep you safe,” he countered.
“Come on, time to return to the ship,” Gage said and linked our hands together again.
Zeke scowled down at our joined hands, but stayed silent as he followed behind us.
“Thank you, for our date today. I had fun,” I said to Gage with a warm, authentic smile as we boarded the ship.
Zeke ignored us as he continued deeper into the ship, but the scowl on his face remained.
“After we leave Exostalon, would you consider a second date on a different planet or on the ship with me?” he asked. He looked incredibly vulnerable and I wanted to hug him to make him feel better, but held back.
“Yes, definitely. Certainly. Please.”
He smiled and kissed my cheek. “It’s a date, then. Have a good night, Diamond.”