Chapter 8 #2
I could easily see how things had gone wrong for him. Gage was naturally gorgeous, and he was also well-spoken and charming, with just enough mischief to catch someone’s interest. So of course most men would look at him and get locked into this endless loop of sexual fantasies.
That was not what he wanted. He wanted something real.
Could I be that person for him? I dunno. I didn’t know if we were the right fit for each other—it was too early to tell.
But god, I wanted the chance to try.
“So you don’t want sex to be on the table for at least a few dates while we get to know each other better.”
“Frankly? Yes.” He said the words with caution, a weather eye on me. “Is that a deal-breaker?”
“Nope. I’m glad you set the expectation now, and explained why, and it honestly makes sense. I’m good with it, just let me know when sex is back on the table, okay? I’m content to wait a while. Being mere hookup buddies with you would be such a fucking waste.”
“You know how to say all the right things to make me super happy.”
He leaned across the armrest and kissed the side of my mouth. It sent a thrill right through me. Damn, I’d made us both happy.
In that case, I knew what to do. I pulled into his driveway and parked, but I left the engine idling. “I’m going to walk you to the door.”
“Oh?” He grinned, blue eyes dancing. “Stealing a kiss good night, are you?”
“I can’t?”
“I never said that.”
Such a fucking tease, I swear. I got out, caught his hand as he rounded the hood of my Jeep, and was happy to hold hands. We’d been doing so on and off all evening, but touching him still sent a zing right through me.
I walked him to his door, which was an incredibly short walk of about eight steps. We arrived, tucked under the front porch, mostly out of sight of neighbors, which was good. I planned to take my time with him.
He put his back to the door, using the hand holding mine to pull me forward. With the first step I took, I felt the air change. It felt charged now, every breath sparking, every glide of fingers meaning something. Like a dance, Gage shifted to accommodate me as we closed the gap.
The first brush of lips was like caged wildfire, burning with possibilities.
I sank a hand into his raven dark hair, felt silky strands play over my fingers, and teased his mouth open.
His hands moved to my waist, sliding around to tug me in firmer.
Being pressed up against him, feeling his warmth, was a little taste of heaven.
Gage groaned, sinking into the kiss, the hands on my hips trying to tug me in even closer.
An impossible feat with clothes on us, but I tried, as I wanted it, too.
To be closer than this. He tilted his head, deepening our kiss, and I loved every second of how eager and hungry he was.
For all that we kept things slow, it became incredibly sensual, and the taste of this man sent a possessive craving through me I’d never felt before.
His tongue tangled with mine, and it was my turn to groan.
God, I loved the taste of him. My tongue fucked its way into his mouth, and I knew he loved it.
I felt it in the way he shivered under my hands, heard it as a groan caught in his throat.
His hips ground into mine, hitting just right, sparking pleasure, and I ground back on sheer instinct.
This one was going to undo me utterly. Just a kiss had almost done the job.
I pulled back, afraid we’d take it past the boundary Gage had set for tonight, my breath hot and short.
Gage was in no better shape, eyes wide, and he looked a little stunned, like he hadn’t expected this level of chemistry. He’d certainly taken me by surprise. Who knew he kissed like sin?
“You need to go in,” I rasped. “You need to go in right now. Before I take you right here against the door.”
For some reason, a smile broke out over his face.
He slid a hand into my hair and pulled me back in, and how dare he home in on my weakness this quickly.
I loved the feeling of nails lightly scraping over my scalp, the way his tongue tangled with mine all over again.
The need for him built, and him grinding into me again didn’t help my control any.
I could feel it even in my fingers, how much I wanted, needed, to manhandle him.
He broke the kiss, panting. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.”
I felt his grin more than saw it. “I’m really not. But you’re going to let me go in?”
“Gage,” I said with a groan. He was acting like a brat now.
He pressed a quick kiss against my mouth and then opened the door, backing his way into it. “Lunch date tomorrow. And a make-out session in my truck, yeah?”
“I’m counting on it.”
I let him go. It was fucking hard, because I really, really didn’t want to let him go. Still, he was right. Tumbling into bed right now wouldn’t do us any good, and it might even hamper what we were trying to build.
So I let him go and made plans to jerk off in the shower, because dammit, I was too riled up after tasting him.
I did the responsible thing and got back in my Jeep, then put my seat belt on. I had to adjust myself a little to sit comfortably, but I backed out of the driveway and headed home. It was only a fifteen-minute drive, but in those fifteen minutes, I thought about tonight’s date. About our kiss.
When was the last time I’d met someone I could be so open with? I’d had a few dates who had actually made fun of my nerdy hobbies, which had ended said dates rather quickly. I didn’t spend time with people who thought they were “above” such things.
Gage, though…Gage was the type who wouldn’t make fun of Mr. Bear, who still sat on my bed.
Gage would respect that Mr. Bear, my first toy and given to me by my grandmother, had been there before him.
And would be there in the future. Gage would ask for the story and not judge me.
Maybe it was my realization about the quality of man he was that made me so determined to have him as a boyfriend.
Or maybe it was how he turned me on with nothing more than a come-hither look.
Or maybe it was the whole damn package. I couldn’t define why, I simply knew he was everything I’d ever wanted and feared I’d never find. Good job, me, for asking the man out. Stellar instincts and execution.
I’d respect the boundary Gage had put down, for sure, but I’d also plan ahead in case sex happened next date. I wasn’t going to be caught short if he was willing to rumble. Especially not after a kiss like that.
Gage Banachek should come with warning labels.