Page 71 of Rapunzel Unchained
He curled my fingers beneath his mask and pulled it down. Three times now I’d seen him without the cloth and, every time, he was breathtaking. The first time I’d seen his face wasthe old me, the second time because we were playing the ‘who would fold first’ game, but this time, this time Gage was opening himself up to me as who I was now.
Not sweet innocent Eva. Not someone he thought he had to save or save others from. Just as me. The Evil Queen and all.
My fingers formed to his face, sliding along his cheek to cup his jawline. My thumb brushed over his lower lip, slightly larger than his top one. I lifted up from the bed, and surprise colored me when no pain shot through my shoulder.
Gage must have read my expression. His other hand found the neckline of my dress, the old one covered in blood having been replaced, and brushed the material aside. Unblemished skin appeared where there should have been at least a scar of where I’d been stabbed by Zane’s demon.
My skin burned where the supple leather of his gloves stroked my skin. I licked my lips and glanced up at him, a question in my eyes.
“Luke’s best work by far,” Gage murmured, those fingers dipping to brush the top of my breast. “I swear, they almost killed me for letting you get hurt. I’d never seen Zane so irate before, even though we assured him it wasn’t his fault.”
“It wasn’t.” I placed my hand on top of his, holding it to my heart. “I set the demon loose on you, it was my fault.”
“Is that why you stepped in?” Gage’s eyes flicked up to mine, a vulnerability there I’d never seen before. “Because you thought it was your fault?”
I rolled my lips, trying to explain the agonizing panic that had ripped through me when I realized the demon meant to kill Gage. “Partially, yes.”
“You could have just used magic to stop him. Or let me handle it. I wouldn’t have killed him.” His hand loosened to drop from me, but I held on tighter, leaning toward him to capture the back of his neck with my other hand.
“Gage,” I breathed, shaking my head. “You really are a fool.”
I crashed my lips against his before he could protest, pressing his hand to where my heart raced in my chest. This stupid stubborn man just couldn’t believe that I jumped in front of him for a glaringly large reason.
For a moment, he froze against my mouth. Then his free hand tangled in the hair and angled my face so he could kiss me deeper, longer. Gage kissed me until my head felt light and my toes curled. We were both panting by the time we broke apart.
Gage pressed his forehead to mine. “That wasn’t... that wasn’t your powers, right?”
A stuttering laugh came out of me. “My compulsion? No, I didn’t use it on you. You kissed me back all on your own.”
“That’s what I thought.” Gage nodded against me. “I just needed to be sure.”
Lifting my head away from his, I stared into his eyes. “I don’t make a habit of using my powers on those I love without their consent.” I paused for a moment, thinking. “Unless they’re being a huge ass and refusing to let me come.”
Gage chuckled darkly, then his eyes widened as if realizing what I’d said. “Those you love?”
I pressed my lips to the side of his lips once and then the other side. “You can’t hide me away like your mothers and sister.”
Gage smirked down at me. “I think you’re a little bit harder to kill than them.”
“You think?” I grinned.
He lifted my hands up from where they rested in our laps, pressing my hands to the sides of his face. My breath caught in my throat at the implications of the position.
“Use me.” Gage’s eyes darkened, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. “I took away your choice by locking you up, not once but twice. Now I’m giving you my choices. Use your...compulsion on me. Use me, punish me, find your pleasure in me.”
“Gage, I...” I swallowed thickly. No one has ever offered themselves to me fully the way he was right now. I’d used my power on lovers before, but those were passing fancies. Not someone I loved. Not since Ferdinand.
“Things will never be even between us until we make this right.” Gage pulled one glove off and then the other, dropping them to the ground. “I made you vulnerable. Now it's your turn to do the same to me.”
My eyes followed his fingers as he unsnapped his belt, pulling his shirt up and over his head, My hands moved from his face as I gaped at his muscular build. I hadn’t realized how much muscle this man had on him until he was bare before me.
My fingers traced down the bulging muscles of his chest, my nails scraping against the defined abs of his stomach. God, the things this man could have done to me with this much strength, and he wanted to give up all his power to me.
“Are you sure?” I murmured, not afraid to admit I was drooling a little bit.
Gage chuckled, a dark masculine sound that zipped straight between my thighs. “If the look on your face is any indication, I’m more than sure.” He grabbed my hands once more, placing them back on his face. “How do you want me?”
I chewed on my lower lip for a moment, thinking of his words and the balance between us. A slow wicked grin filled my face as I poured my magic into his mind. His eyes glossed over and his body relaxed, waiting for my command.
