I pulled my hands from his shirt to hook them around his neck, pulling him in as close as possible. He gripped my hips, lifting me, and I laced my legs around his waist. His panting was rigid and rough. His chest was sinking and rising with mine, only his seemed painful. He was holding off, and for the first time I was glad because I didn’t want it go past making out. I could give this much. Just simple acts of love—of how much I actually missed him. I didn’t know about going as far as we did last summer. A relationship? I was terrified of the word because most relationships failed. I didn’t want us to fail. I wanted to take things slow. I wanted to be sure before I gave in and did anything for him again.
I had to be independent and wise… something Ben always said and something my mom never was. She was selfish and co-dependent and always wanting someone to do things for her. She was lazy, bitchy, and self-centered. I couldn’t be like her. I didn’t want anyone to work for me. I wanted to work for myself.
It sounds crazy, but I appreciated the endless nights of studying, reading, and working hard. I embraced the long hours spent on an art project to receive that A+ from my professor. Moments like those I could never let go of because I was valued for something I enjoyed doing.
The backs of my legs hit the edge of the couch and I fell onto it, but he came with me, our lips never parting. He placed his lips on my cheek, my ear, the crook of my neck, my chest. I was about to stop him—he was too close to my breasts—but I couldn’t, especially as he rocked his cock against me. I felt a clench between my legs and moaned as he brought up a sly finger, sliding down my tank top and revealing one of my breasts. He didn’t hesitate to lick my nipple. Suck it. Devour it.
He was licking deliberately, his teeth gently kneading, his lips closing to suck, and then kneading again. I said his name breathily, but he didn’t stop. I was about to say his name again and tell him to stop before we got carried away, but it was like he knew and refused because he moved up and engulfed my lips with his, stopping me from saying anything further.
His hot tongue lapped over mine, touched the roof of my mouth, before pulling out and licking the curve of my upper lip. His teeth grazed my bottom lip and with a deep groan, he cupped my breasts and thrust between my legs. He was thick, hard. I wanted it. It’d been so long and all I could think about at this exact moment was him inside me.
“Let me take you,” he whispered in my ear.
I agreed without putting any thought to it. The next thing I knew, I was sitting up and he was kneeling back, watching me unbuckle his belt. I unbuttoned his jeans, unzipped the zipper, and he watched every single move hungrily.
I lowered his jeans, revealing black boxers with white hearts. I smiled at them and he smirked, shrugging before reaching down and pulling my tank top over my head. I was braless and became insecure automatically. I was about to cover myself, but he reached down to stop me, shaking his head. “You’re gorgeous, Ellie. Stop it.” He pecked my lips with his and I grinned.
He pulled his shirt over his head and I swallowed the thickness in my throat, dropping my gaze to the long rock in his boxers. He lowered himself, planting his elbows on the couch on either side of my head, pressing against me, his lips even closer. His arousal rested on my thigh and was heavier and warmer now that his jeans were gone. He was hot, hard as a rock, and ready for me.
He reached one arm down, tugged on my shorts, and I lifted my hips to aid him. As soon as they were gone, he parted my legs with his knee again and slid between them. His cock strained against his boxers, pressing on my entrance, and I clenched, gripping his shoulders. “If we do this, you have to give me something, Eliza. I’ve got to have you. Any part of you. I’ll do whatever you want me to do, just… never leave me like you did before. Not without a proper good-bye.”
I reached up to stroke his cheek, nodding. “Do you forgive me? I’m sorry. I-I… it wasn’t supposed to happen that way. I was pissed about Penelope… about the night at the hotel we shared and how you just disappeared. About everything. You broke my heart too, Gage. You can’t blame this all on me.”
“I don’t blame anything on you. I blame myself way more than I can blame anyone, Eliza. I fucked up. That was my mistake. I’m sorry, Ellie. I can mend your heart, though. I can collect all the pieces and put you back together again.”
“How?”
He kissed my forehead, his right cheek lifting. “With time, Sweet Ellie.”
My stomach fluttered from the full nickname. It’d been so long since I’d heard it. I missed it.
All problems seemed to fade as he reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a condom. He ripped the package with his teeth, pulled back to lower his boxers, and then rolled it over his thick length. He leaned on his elbows again, kissing my lips as he got nearer.
“You’re sure about this?” he asked. “Don’t change on me after we’re done. I don’t want any weird shit. Let’s work this out. We’ll talk all night—however long you want.”
I nodded, pulling him in closer. We could work something out. It would take time and I would have to make sure Penelope was really out of the picture, but I could make something work. All of that could wait, though, because at this very moment all I wanted was him. A smile graced his lips, and this time, Lucy Rose’s voice flowed through the speakers.
Gage teased my entrance and I stared into his eyes, gripping him around the neck. It’d been so long, but I remembered the feeling of him being inside me like it was yesterday. I winced, but it wasn’t as bad as the first time. “Fuck, you’re so tight, Ellie,” he growled, lowering his head into the hollow of my neck.
He continued pushing his way in, stretching me only slightly until he was completely inside. He didn’t pull back to look at me as he began thrusting his hips. I was squeezed against him, no space between us. The friction built, his growls deepened, and my moans were louder than ever before. The full feeling in my stomach drove me crazy. His mild profanity, whispers of my name, his rock-hard body against mine—it was all enough to send me spiraling.
He finally leaned back to give me a fierce kiss. His tongue didn’t hesitate to slide into my mouth, parting my lips along the way. His teeth grazed my bottom lip, sending goose bumps along my sweaty skin. He was drenched with sweat, but neither of us seemed to care.
He broke the kiss to go harder, faster. His grunting became heavier and with each one was a whimper or a deep moan brushing past my lips. “It’s been so long, Eliza. I’ve missed you. This. Us.”
I nodded, agreeing. It’d been way too long and I hated it. I hated putting him through the grief. The pain. He was worth way more than someone like me. Someone who was selfish enough to choose her dreams because… well, that’s what I wanted. Yeah, he hurt me, but something in the back of my mind was letting me know he really was trying to get in touch with me—that he wanted to tell me all that was going on and why he couldn’t be with me my last two nights. Something let me know he regretted losing out on those two nights with me. I was hoping for so long that he hadn’t slept with her, and I’m so glad I finally got the truth.
He picked up his pace, lifting up on one elbow and pushing my knee against my chest. I felt fuller then as he crashed into me, his sweat trickling on my chest, my cheek, and my lips. I tasted the saltiness as he watched me. His eyes were lit on fire, flowing with passion, desire. He had a grip on my knee and my hip and was bringing me higher and higher. The more I watched his eyes, the more I quaked, the more I trembled, and the more I ached.
He pulled the hand on my waist away, bringing his thumb down and applying pressure to my clit. I bucked against his finger as he circled my nub, causing my back to arch and my panting to increase. “I wanna feel it, Ellie. Get wet for me, baby,” he murmured.
I could hear him clearly, but I wasn’t seeing him anymore. My back arched so far that I could see the wall across from him. My stomach was sinking and rising, and he was going faster and faster, harder and harder. Rougher and rougher. His thumb circled, causing enough press
ure to send me into shards. I cried his name and exploded around him, crumbled, quaked. I moved my hips with his, wanting it all. I was greedy, craving, still soaking the length of him. I felt release coming from every part of my body… and it felt absolutely perfect.
He groaned, enjoying the sight of me falling apart. He then removed his thumb, dropped my knee, gripped my hips, and hammered into me. “My turn, huh?” he asked through a deep grunt. I nodded, grabbing his face, biting his lower lip, kissing deep… sliding my tongue over his and tasting what I missed so much. “Fuck,” he growled. “Fuck, Eliza! You feel so fucking good. I swear I fucking missed this.”
I was thrilled by the huskiness of his growl. It meant he was close, and with my tongue tracing over his neck and then meeting his mouth again, I felt it coming. He tensed, but his hips kept moving. He buried himself within me and sparks flew, like fireworks blasting in the night sky. “Come with me, Ellie,” he whispered against my lips.
His voice. Damn his voice. It always did something to me. I held on tighter, and our bodies molded into one. He whispered to me that he was close. I was close, too. My eyes were squeezed tight and the stars returned, bright and shining and then exploding into shards of glass. Just like me. I shuddered a dozen times, unraveling in his arms, and then he grunted, pounding into me countlessly until finally he quaked, tensed, shuddered, and then crashed into me one last time, growling my name in my hair as I cried his.
He collapsed on top of me, releasing a deep sigh, his face gently landing in the bend of my neck. My eyes were still shut, staring at the imaginary shards of glass scattered within the night sky. They were drifting carelessly. I watched them float while sitting on the crest of the moon. I reached for one and squeezed it and it didn’t cut me. It melted into my skin and I smiled because I was coming together again. I was on a euphoric high, hoping this feeling would never end. Hoping it could stay this way forever.
But I knew it wouldn’t. It never did. There was always something in the way. Little did I know that something was coming for Gage and me sooner rather than later.
The alarm clock blared and I groaned, dropping my palm on top of it to stop the noise. Something warm and heavy was on my leg, but I looked past it, groggily scanning my surroundings. I was in the bed; the sun beaconed through the dark curtains. It was sunrise for sure. I could tell by the low filter stretching across the white sheets on my bed. And then I looked down, knowing exactly the source of the heaviness on my leg and the entire right side of my body.
Gage.
His lips were parted, his hair hanging on his forehead. He had one arm locked around my waist, as if I were going to just up and leave him during the middle of the night. I looked at the alarm clock, the bold green numbers and letters letting me know it was time to start my second day of my internship.
I tried pushing Gage off of me, but he tightened his arm, a line forming between his eyebrows. He mumbled something beneath his breath and I rolled my eyes. I pushed him again; he didn’t budge. I squeezed his nose and his head shook. Another frown.
Okay. He was really wearing my patience. He was adorable as he slept and I didn’t want to wake him, especially as I remembered how restless he was the night before, but I had to get up and get ready for Arts Global. I couldn’t afford to be late.
“Gage,” I hissed. I slapped his toned, inked arm. I’m sure it felt like nothing to him. “Damn it, Gage. Wake up!”
He sniffled and then a smirk snaked across his lips. Is he awake? I leaned down as he buried his face into my side, but then his eyes shot open, scaring the shit out of me. He chuckled, leaned up to steal a kiss from me, and then slung his legs around to sit on the edge of the bed. “I heard that loud-ass alarm clock,” he rumbled, his voice way too intoxicating. From the sound of his voice, my core tightened, but I shoved away the blankets and sheets and climbed out of bed.
But then I realized I was completely naked. Gage knew it and turned swiftly, his eyes raking my entire body, sending a wave of insecurity through me. “I thought you left,” I said to distract his wandering eyes. I reached for the sheets to try and cover myself, but he grabbed them just as I did and yanked them out of my hand. I gasped, frowning. “What are you doing?”
“It’s been months, Eliza. I’ve been craving to see you naked again.” I couldn’t control the fire burning in my cheeks, but I tried keeping my face stern. “So sexy. You just don’t know it.”
I bit a smile, wrapping my arms around myself. “I’m gonna take a shower.”
“Great. I’ll join you.”
I frowned over my shoulder and luckily he took his time coming to the bathroom. As I stepped in, I locked the door behind me, and moments after, he knocked. “Eliza. Let me in, please.”
“No, Gage. I can’t afford to be late, and I think we both know exactly what’ll happen between us and running water.”
He chuckled, his sexy, deep, and invigorating chuckle. “Glad you know. Let me in.”
“No.” I started the shower. As the water sputtered out, I heard him sigh while I grabbed a towel from the rack to place it on the rod.
But then the doorknob jiggled, clicked, and in came Gage who was holding up a simple bobby pin between his fingers. My mouth fell open, but I snapped it shut as he smirked and tilted his head. “I’ve had lots of girls play this game, Eliza. Locking the door, making me work to get in. Usually the work is worth it, though.”
“I’m not those girls,” I snapped. “I really don’t want you in here.”
He laughed. “Too fucking bad.” He pushed a few strands of hair off his forehead. “And I know you aren’t those girls. You’re much more.” He scanned my naked body. “I’m in here. Might as well have some fun, right?”
I frowned. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Gage, I’m sorry, but I only have an hour and New York traffic is never easy to get through.”
“Don’t be sorry. I understand. We’ll just wash each other and giggle like girls. Nothing too major.”
Rolling my eyes and shaking my head, I turned and drew back the shower curtain. I stepped in and allowed the steamy water to run over me. Through my hair, down my spine, and over the creases of my back. It felt good, but then metal scraped and something hot and thick pressed against my backside, lighting me on fire.
I spun in Gage’s arms and he smiled down at me. “You’re making it hard to behave,” he murmured, leaning his head down to kiss my cheek.
“I’m cleaning myself,” I said stupidly. I couldn’t deny the fact I caught butterflies.
“But you’ve got your head thrown back. You’re glistening from head to toe, Ellie. It’s sexy as hell seeing you like this. Dripping wet.”
“Well, if you can’t handle it, get out and wait until I’m done so you can take a shower alone.” I smirked at him, pecked his lips, and then turned around. I grabbed my body wash and lathered it over me, but then Gage turned me around by the waist again. I fixed my lips to protest, but he moved forward, crushing them.
“I need some breakfast, Eliza,” he said without pulling back.
“I-I can make something to eat after—”
“I’d prefer to eat you, if that’s okay.” A devilish smirk played on his lips and I felt myself flush. God, he wanted to eat me… for breakfast?
“And what will you get out of this?” I asked boldly.
He shrugged, sliding a finger through my folds. He told me to turn around and demanded I spread my legs, and with the hormones racing through me, I knew I couldn’t say no. My nipples were harder than pebbles. I was drenched below like a leaking faucet. I knew there was no time for this, but as his hands inched up the back of my thighs and he cupped my ass, I couldn’t help it. I craved him all over again.
He watched me intently, his head tilted, lips parted. He licked his bottom lip, then scanned my entire body with hungry eyes. One of his hands held me at the waist as he squatted below me. A few beads of water fell from my body and onto his, rolling down his back, down hi
s creased, firm abs… his silky hair. “Just don’t slip and fall,” he murmured, laughing. I quivered, nodding.
His fingers slid up my thighs and then he met my entrance, tracing his thumb across my throbbing clit. I shuddered with wobbly knees. “Gage, we have to hur—”
Before I could complete my sentence, he slid his tongue out and pressed it hard on my clit. I yelped, threading my fingers through his hair as he hooked both hands on the backs of my legs to glue me to his face.
Oh goodness. It was marvelous. He was really going for it. He wasn’t taking his time like usual; he was trying to take me higher in the quickest way possible, and I was getting there. My fingers locked in his hair as his head moved back and forth. I moved against him, begging and breathing his name and I didn’t even know why. I looked down and he was watching me with intense hazel eyes.
This man’s tongue was magical. I could never figure out how he was so good with it. He knew all the right places, when to finger me and when not to. I pulsated, bucked forward, and he moved his hands up, tightening his grip on my ass. I was begging for him to let me let loose. I was so close. I braided my fingers through his damp hair again, squeezing tight as a deep moan throttled in the heart of his throat. He groaned against my sensitive flesh and then they arrived—the exploding stars.
I shattered, writhed, and he groaned delightfully as his tongue continued lapping, licking, and sucking. I screeched his name until finally I pushed his head back, almost slipping on the shower floor, but he stood quickly and caught me in his arms.
My eyes were low, lazy, and he watched me as he licked his wet lips. “Best fucking breakfast I’ve ever had, Sweet Ellie,” he said, grinning.
Who We Are (FireNine #2) Page 6