“So fucking good. You’re so beautiful like this. Look.”
What I see in the mirror is the reflection of two people who are lost to each other—mind, heart, body, and soul. When I turn back to look at him, Gage claims my lips and plunges his tongue into my mouth as he bucks hard from beneath me.
My heart’s still racing several minutes later, after Gage has gone to clean up. Our first time had been amazing. But this. This was something else.
“Lux?” Gage whispers.
I roll over with the sheet pulled to my chest. “Yeah?”
“I wasn’t sure if you were sleeping.” He looks nervous.
Why would he be nervous? I don’t get it.“Nope, I was waiting for you.”
He stands there, every glorious inch of him on display. He gives me a boyish grin, rubbing his hand over his jaw. “I, uh… I wasn’t sure if I should stay here or— What I mean to say is, I didn’t know if—”
“Gage?”
“Yeah?”
“I think you may have to try a few more times to convince me that this thing between us is a good idea.”
His brows inch up on his forehead, then he laughs and whips the sheet off of me. “Is that so?”
I nod, blushing. “Yes. Maybe a little nap first, and then you can try again.”
He snorts and hauls me tightly against his body. “I don’t need a nap. I just needyou.”
* * *
Probably an hour later,I couldn’t give a fuck what time it is, I’m cuddled up next to Gage… and I’m pretty sure this time we really will take that nap. This is after having the water and a snack Gage had insisted on before round three.
I feel good. Thoroughly satisfied in every way. There’s one thing I want to make sure Gage understands, and I hope I don’t freak him out too much.
“Lux?”
Startled at the tone of his voice, my brows draw together. My stomach sinks a little. “What?”
His voice is gritty and raw. “When you look at me, do you see him?”
“Oh.” I wasn’t expecting that one. But maybe I should have.
And before I can answer, he kisses my forehead and rushes on. “Because I’ll step aside. I don’t want to hurt you anymore. I can’t do that to you, no matter how I feel about you. Lux, I think I fucking love you. But I don’t want you to be reminded of something awful every time you look at me.”
My heart pounds madly in my chest. “D-did you say you love me?”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t matter.” He shakes his head, frowning to himself.
A laugh ripples from me as I prop myself up on my elbow. “Seriously? It means everything to me.” I kiss the confusion right off his face. “I kept thinking what I was feeling wasn’t possible. But I think I love you, too.”
“But—”
I hold up a hand to stop him, exhaling heavily. “I’ve been thinking about you and your brother. Like a lot.”
He cringes a bit but sits forward and plants a kiss on my lips.
“Lemme get this out. Landon and I started out great. But then everything got so fucked up. He’s been like a weight, holding me down. With you, it’s the opposite. We didn’t start out so hot… but look at us now. You keep me steady when things get rough. I know I can count on you. You aren’t scared of any of my issues. And you make me feel like I’m the only girl you see.”
“That’s because I fucking love you, Lux.”
