Chapter 66
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
What the hell is taking Gage so long?
I glance out the window. Gage told me he’d be out in a second and to get the car started, and that was, like, five minutes ago.
I shift, feeling stupid in my ripped jeans and jean jacket. The only nice clothes I have are my work clothes, and he’s already seen me in them. Does it matter? It doesn’t matter. I wish I had perfume to wear so he could tell I at least put some effort into it.
I wasn’t going to agree, even though deep down, I wanted to. I wanted to blush and jump up and down and act all stupid. But then, I saw Axel standing in the hallway.
Plus, I can always pull out. When this contract is done, I’m gone. I’ll start my life fresh. What’s keeping me from at least enjoying while I’m here? He can’t hurt me if I leave soon anyway.
The thoughts should be comforting. But for some reason, I feel all shifty, like I can’t get comfortable.
Finally, Gage steps out of the house, tucking a teal shirt into his pressed slacks. At first, I think he has the glasses, but then I see they’re the old pair. He moves around to the passenger side, shooting me a small smile. “Sorry about that.”
I arch an eyebrow. “That’ll cost you.”
Gage blinks, then laughs softly. “Damn. Bleeding me dry over here.”
The words are said jokingly, but I can’t help but wince. I’ve seen the amount of money he gives me every day. It’s more than I’ve ever seen in my life. And a tiny part of me feels bad.
No. I deserve this.
As we pull out of the driveway, Gage’s fist is clenched on his thigh again. But as we drive, it loosens up until he’s leaning back in his seat, fully relaxed.
When we get there, I dart out of my seat before he can get the door. But this time, Gage just waits for me on his side, arm held out with eyebrow raised.
“No knight in shining armor today?” I grab his arm and walk him up to the doors.
Gage stares at me for a second, then a smile crosses his face. “You’re quite the gentleman for both of us.”
I can’t keep the small laugh out of my tone. “Gentleman is a step down from knight. I suppose I’ll have to try harder.”
He pats my hand. “We don’t all start off perfect.”
The place is fancy. Not suit and tie, but still fancy with muted lighting, slow classical music, and a wait to be seated. Suddenly, I feel extremely out of place in my old clothes and unstyled hair.
Then, Gage pulls me toward the hostess, who seats us in the back, away from other people.
It’s a booth table, and I slide into the bench.
I’m grateful to have something solid at my back so I don’t feel like people are staring at me.
Gage slides in beside me, which only makes my heart pound more. I’m so out of my element right now.
“Raven?” Gage asks.
I blink. The hostess is staring at me expectantly. Oh. Drinks.
“Just water is fine. Thank you.”
She smiles at us and disappears.
“You okay?”
I clear my throat. “Oh, yeah. Fine.” My voice sounds a little off, and I pray he doesn’t call me out on it.
Gage just nods. He’s so big that he takes up almost all the space on the bench. It feels weird not to have him seated across from me. If I want to see him, I have to crane my neck to the side.
“I can move,” I offer. Maybe bench seats are always his.
“No.” I sense his arm sliding across the back of the bench, although he doesn’t touch me.
I squirm. This feels different than the bookstore. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing.
“Oh, you didn’t know? You’re going to be feeding me like a baby bird.”
I snap my gaze over to him.
There’s the tiniest arch of his eyebrow and twitch of the corner of his mouth.
“You’re so stupid.” I shake my head, turning back to see that the lady has returned with our drinks. She slides a pink, fruity-looking drink Gage’s way and a water mine. As soon as she leaves, Gage switches our drinks.
“I didn’t order–”
“A sword. For the lady knight.” He waves his hand at the drink, where a garnish of fruit is speared by a tiny, fluorescent pink plastic sword.
I feel my defenses crumble. Jesus. Can he be at least a little less thoughtful so I can keep him at arm’s length?
“Hmmm. What do I want to eat?” Gage grabs a menu and opens it. Only he’s holding it upside down.
Gently, I pull it from his hands and flip it over.
He gasps in minor outrage. “You trying to make me look stupid?”
“No, just–”
He tries to flip it again, and I take it. “This is the right way, I promise.”
“What are you getting?”
I look at the menu for the first time. I see steaks and pasta bowls and fish, and fuck, my mouth starts watering.
And then I see the prices.
Fuck.
I hastily scan the menu, trying to find the cheapest option and pretending like I just can’t decide.
“You?”
“I always get the steak dinner meal.” Gage leans back. “Axel always gets the pizza.”
The prices on both are more than I could ever imagine paying for food. Jesus Christ. Finally, I scan to the bottom and find something that’s at least a little more reasonable.
“You come here with Axel?” I ask, a little surprised. I thought they hated each other.
“When Mom forces us to on birthdays.” Gage shakes his head, then settles into a thoughtful silence.
I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to hate my brother. Or to have Axel as a brother. I always wanted siblings growing up, but I guess not like this.
When the hostess returns, Gage orders a steak, and I ask for the grilled cheese. After she leaves, Gage turns to me. “I fucking love grilled cheese.”
It looks weird to see Gage, all pressed shirt and styled hair, completely comfortable in this environment, cussing like that.
“Me too.”
“We used to make fancy grilled cheese when times were tight.” Gage leans back in his seat, exposing his strong torso. Jesus. I’ve never seen him work out. How the hell does he look like this?
I’m entirely grateful he can’t see me ogling him ‘cause I snap my gaze up to his. His eyes are locked on mine. Oh shit. Maybe he can see it.
“Fancy grilled cheese?” I manage to say.
“Yep. You caramelize onions and butter both sides of the bread with bacon fat before frying.”
My mouth waters at the thought.
“If you had bacon fat. Sometimes, we just used margarine.”
“You know the best kind of struggle meal is cinnamon sugar toast,” I say.
“Oh my god!” Gage’s eyes light up, and he sits up straight. “The best!”
We fall into easy conversation after that. Occasionally, Gage’s hand slides down to brush my back. It makes me shiver every time, and the wild part of me wishes he’d touch me more.
But he doesn’t. By the end of the night, I’m twitching with all the small touches. I wish I’d had a glass of wine with my meal to relax my body’s reaction to Gage, but I didn’t, and now I’m stuck feeling his touch like a live wire to my skin. It makes me hot and flushed and fucking turned on.
I’m not sure if Gage feels the same way. He’s his normal stoic self, although he laughs a lot more than he ever did.
When we get through with the meal, Gage grabs the bill faster than I thought he could. I hesitate, expecting a joke about how he’s paying me to be here.
But it never comes.
When we walk back out to the car in the cold wind, Gage pushes me to the driver’s side and opens the door. Then he pulls something out of his pocket. “You forgot something, m’lady.” It’s the sword.
I laugh, taking it.
“A true warrior never leaves her weapon behind. You could skewer an eyeball or testicles with this.”
My face twists. “Get in. Your lady is getting cold.”
Gage’s face changes, a dark smile creeping across his face. “I’ll warm her up.”
I’m caught up in that smile for a second, imagining what he’d do to warm me up, all the places he’d put his body, until another burst of icy wind comes in.
I poke his stomach with the sword. “Get in already.”
Gage laughs, moving around the car. When he settles in, an energy fills the car. It’s a loaded silence.
What is he thinking? Is he just as turned on as I am, or am I misreading the situation?
I jump as Gage’s hand settles on my thigh. His thumb strokes up and down on my jeans, brushing the part with a rip. Every time I feel his skin on mine, it’s like fire. Okay, so not misreading.
When we get back to the house, I’m barely breathing. I stop in the driveway, but Gage doesn’t take his hand off my thigh. I sit there, unsure of what to do, until Gage turns toward me. My gaze locks on his lips, which he licks.
“Raven.”
I suck in a breath.
“You know you can tell me no at any point, right?” His gaze is firm, gentle, and full of restrained power.
“Yes,” I can barely get the word out.
“And you know that I’ll listen, right?”
I can barely nod.
“Words, Raven.”
“Yes.”
“Good.” His hand leaves my thigh for a second, then it’s back, and he’s closing something into my fist. It’s the sword.
“Slice my nuts off if you must.”
Then his lips crash down on mine, and suddenly, I’m wrapped in him. His scent, his strength, and his desire. He kisses me like he’s been wanting to all night. Like it’s something he needs desperately.
Suddenly, he’s gone. I’m gasping for air before I realize he’s on my side of the car, unstrapping me and lifting me out.
“Gage!” I gasp in surprise.
“You’ve impaled me with your lancet!” Gage holds me closer, and I realize I accidentally stuck him in the chest. I laugh as he walks us to the door.
We reach the steps, and I wonder if Gage can see them.
“Don’t drop me.” I struggle to see where we’re going.
Gage stumbles a step, and I half-scream. He snatches me back up to his chest. “Whoops.” But there’s a smirk in his voice.
“That… You’re a dick!” I shove his chest.
“So you’ve said.”
As soon as we’re inside, Buddy yips in excitement. Gage puts me down, only to press his body into mine, smashing me against the wall, bending down to kiss me. It makes heat surge to my pussy.
He wants me. I want him. What’s one little fuck? It won’t hurt anything.
So I kiss him back, nipping at his lips and chasing him with a desperate energy.