Chapter 38
But my shorts fell off
Gage
Idon’t know if you’ve already forgotten the lunch debacle from a few hours ago—which would be medically concerning—but my birthday isn’t exactly fun for me.
So when you say ‘birthday surprise,’ I kinda want to throw up,” Zoey told me as I took her by the hand and led her through the lodge’s front door.
I was still pissed off about the mess with Zoey’s parents. The idea of her enduring that kind of treatment for her entire life enraged me.
I opened my mouth to respond, but she cut me off. “And don’t say, ‘Trust me. You’ll like this surprise.’ You should trust me, because I won’t, and I’m already emotionally scarred enough for the day that I won’t be able to pretend to be excited just to protect your feelings.”
“I would hope that our disco clause prevents either of us from having to pretend in order to protect each other’s feelings.” I tossed a salute in the direction of the front desk.
“Hi, guys! Everything’s all set up outside,” Billie said, jogging around the desk so she could hold the patio door open for us.
“What exactly is ‘everything’?” Zoey asked.
“You’ll see,” I told her.
“It’s awesome,” Billie promised.
“Why can’t we just hide in my apartment and have sex?” Zoey demanded.
“Jesus, Zoey,” I muttered.
Billie grinned at us. “I’m sure that will be an option after the surprise. Happy birthday, and I’m sorry your parents are the worst.”
Zoey gave an embarrassed chuckle. “News sure travels fast.”
Billie gave her shoulder a squeeze. “We gossip because we care. I grew up in a similar situation. I was supposed to go into the family accounting business. Instead, I became a lesbian innkeeper. But you know what? Hana’s family more than made up for the disappointments of mine.”
I made a mental note to take my parents out to dinner in the coming week as a thank-you for not sucking. Hell, I’d fucked up by not telling them I was representing Valerie, and they’d just complained for a while before telling me they trusted my judgment.
“I’m sorry you had to deal with that,” Zoey told her.
Billie waved it away. “Honestly, I think coming from difficult parents makes us cooler people in the long run. Something about overcoming early adversity and whatever. Now, in better news, the lodge is completely booked for Reader Weekend! The magazine people took the last rooms.”
Zoey brightened. “Really?”
“And I checked with Chevy this morning, and he said the signing is officially sold out. Reader Weekend is going to be a certified hit,” Billie predicted.
Zoey grinned up at me, all complaints about the surprise forgotten. “Okay. Fine. This is officially my best birthday ever!”
The fact that it took so little to make her happy pissed me off all over again.
“Anyway, have fun,” Billie said, ushering us out the door.
“Come on,” I said, coaxing Zoey out onto the patio overlooking the lake.
“You’re not taking me to feed a bald eagle, are you? Because I can’t afford to lose another bra,” she said, dragging her feet.
“I wouldn’t do that to you. I promise this is something you’ll actually enjoy.”
“Surprise!”
Zoey assumed a defensive stance as Hazel and my entire family waved from the lodge’s dock. The Tiki Barge, Story Lake’s newly repaired party pontoon boat, bobbed in the water, decorated for the occasion.
“What is this?”
“Your family sucks, so I thought I’d lend you mine,” I explained. I’d given Zoey her space after lunch and had Declan reschedule all my afternoon appointments to make this happen. She deserved more than she’d gotten. More than she’d ever ask for.
“Gage…” Her voice quivered.
“It’s a cake cruise. The Hernandezes are going to start offering group rentals this weekend. We’re the maiden voyage, and they’re going to use pictures on their social media, so you’re contractually obligated to say yes.”
She looked back at the boat. “This is really sweet, but it’s not necessary.”
“Yeah, well, whatever escape plan you’re hatching, you’re not backing out now,” I told her, towing her toward the lake.
“Oh my God. Are those—”
“Disco balls? Yeah,” I confirmed as the globes hanging from the canopy glittered in the sunshine. “My mom made a special trip to the party store. Now you definitely can’t say no.”
“Now I don’t want to say no,” she admitted.
“Get your butts down here so we can pop this champagne,” my mother yelled through cupped hands.
“This was the best birthday I’ve had in…ever,” Zoey admitted as we walked toward my office building hand in hand.
The cake cruise was over, and seeing as how the boat hadn’t capsized this time and no one had been shit on by Goose, it was considered a rousing success by all.
Especially when Laura and Hazel had teamed up to push Cam in the water while we docked at the Fish Hook to pick up tropical drinks and pizzas.
“You’re getting worse and worse at this one-night-stand thing,” she teased.
I chuckled and slung my arm around her shoulder. Evening had fallen, and everyone, tired from all the laughter and sunshine, had peeled off and gone their separate ways.
“Told you it could be salvaged.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Maybe next time, I’ll learn to listen to you,” she teased.
“Now who’s bad at one-night stands?”
She slipped her arm around my waist. “Your family is pretty great. I’m so happy that Hazel gets to be a part of it. She deserves you guys.”
I wanted to ask her what she thought she deserved, wanted to argue her into reaching the correct conclusion, to present the evidence that would make her change her mind, make her realize just how very much she deserved.
I wanted to fix everything that was broken and make it into something new and solid for her.
We paused on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to my building. “Before we go in, I got you something,” I said.
She let out an exasperated laugh. “Gage, you’ve already done enough today.”
“Yeah, well, don’t get too excited. It’s nothing sparkly or fun. Just practical,” I warned, leading her around the side of the building.
“Oh! Let me guess. Did you sanitize my trash bins?”
“No, but I did put them away for you.”
“Thank you for that. Did you paint my parking space like a high school senior’s?”
“I did not.”
“Ooh! I know! Do you have a children’s choir waiting to serenade me with a medley of songs from the year I was born?”
I steered her into the small parking lot behind the building and walked her over to her ridiculous convertible. “No, but I did steal your car today.”
“Obviously, you’re not very good at stealing cars since you brought it back. I’m adding it to the list of your flaws. Terrible at one-night stands and stealing cars. Wait. Why is it so shiny? And how did you get the roof up?”
“I took it to Gator’s garage this afternoon when you were recovering from the lunchtime shit show.
He changed the oil, fixed the roof latch, rotated the tires, and washed it for you.
I also had him inspect it so you’re good to go for a while…
at least until something falls off. Gator didn’t have enough time to figure out what was causing the rattle in the door, but he said if you bring it back, he’ll pull the panel off and fix it for free. ”
Her mouth fell open as she stared at the beat-up little car.
“I told you it wasn’t anything fun or exciting,” I said.
“This is better than a children’s choir. This is thoughtful and helpful and…” She turned to me, her face a masterpiece in the streetlights. “Do you have any idea how much time and frustration you just saved me?”
“I’m glad you like—” The wind was nearly knocked out of me when she threw herself in my arms, her body colliding with mine.
“Thank you for making my birthday not suck,” she said a split second before her mouth claimed mine.
This woman could kiss the life right out of a man. Or maybe she was breathing life into me. I couldn’t be sure, and in the moment, I didn’t fucking care. I gripped her ass, holding her against me. “Let’s take this inside.”
She murmured her agreement against my neck before sinking her teeth into my skin. Somehow I managed to unlock the back door to my office and kick it open. Inside, I pressed her against the wall and let myself feast on her.
A primitive need thrummed in my blood as our hands frantically explored.
“Office,” she said between violent kisses.
“Your nice, comfortable bed is right upstairs,” I pointed out.
She slid out of my grip.
“A compelling argument, but my shorts fell off down here,” she said, sliding them down her legs and kicking them free.
I groaned. “God, I love that you hate underwear.”
“You pulled off a miracle today,” she said, leading me by the dick to my office.
“I did?” Hypnotized, I helped her out of her shirt and bra. There she stood, naked and smiling, her hair wild, cheeks flushed. She was so full of life, of energy, of chaos.
My nice, orderly office was for nice, orderly work. How the hell was I going to concentrate on anything ever again if I fucked Zoey Moody on my desk? I could already barely think about anything else when I could hear her walking around dropping things on the second floor.
“You gave me a birthday with good memories. The least I can do is return the favor.”
“Sweetheart, you’re already unforgettable.”
She sank to her knees in front of me.
“Oh fuck.” Her fingers were on my zipper. I forgot about all the reasons we’d be more comfortable upstairs. I forgot about worrying about someone seeing us through the window. I forgot about everything but Zoey freeing my cock from my jeans.
“Watch your wrist,” I ordered as she gripped me with both hands.
“Watch my mouth,” she shot back just before she slanted it over the crown of my cock.
I held the edge of my desk in a death grip as she took me to the back of her throat.
“Goddammit, Zoey.” I gritted out the words.
She was playing with me, taunting me, torturing me. And I loved every fucking second of it. I pushed one hand into her curls and gripped so I could guide her speed.
But she didn’t need guidance. Her mouth was a weapon, and she deployed it against me. Something on my left toppled off the desk and hit the floor, but it barely registered as Zoey slicked her mouth over me again and again.
My blood sang as the need to come lit and sizzled like a fast-burning fuse.
“Fuck,” I growled, forcing her off my cock.
She muttered uncomplimentary things including “BJ police” and “birthday cocktease” as I lifted her off the floor, but all complaints stopped when I swept the contents of my desk onto the carpet and dropped her on top.
Those green eyes lit with an irresistible seductive fire. I slid her closer to the edge of the desk as she yanked my shirt over my head. “Isn’t this better than a bed?” she whispered as I lined up the swollen head of my erection with her entrance.
This woman took me places so far beyond my comfort zone, I was never sure I’d survive.
I answered her question with an unforgiving thrust.
She gasped and I steadied her with a light grip on her throat. She looked delighted, and I would have laughed if I had the oxygen to spare. Without breaking eye contact, Zoey braced her heels on the edge of the desk, inviting me deeper.
“Happy birthday to me,” she purred as I pulled out slowly before driving home again.
It took over as it always did with Zoey. The clawing need to pleasure and take pleasure. Everything else faded into the background of my mind until the only thing I was conscious of was her body and mine working in tandem.
She hooked me around the neck, dragging me down to her as I took us both to the edge. A loud crack preceded the desk shifting, but still I didn’t slow. I kept thrusting, kept filling her as we breathed the same air, chased the same release.
“Gage?” Her voice was breathy.
“Yeah, baby?” I grunted as her inner walls clasped me tighter.
“I love…this.”
She came, shattering in my arms, around me, dragging me over the edge with her. My orgasm scorched its way out of me and into her, an intimacy I’d never imagined and now feared I couldn’t live without.
We came together, holding each other as our bodies shook, our muscles tensed until finally we were limp and exhausted, draped over the desk.
“When I’m not completely broke, I’ll buy you a new desk,” she panted under me.
A chuckle rumbled in my chest. Only Zoey could take me to places of excruciating pleasure and then make me laugh.
Declan: Your office appears to have been ransacked. Should I call the police?