Polishing off the last of his lasagna, Gage pushed back from the table. “Finish your wine and relax. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Sam leaned back in her seat and sipped her wine. She loved the vision he’d painted about his dreams for his family. Solid connections and healthy relationships. She had both with her family, and she wouldn’t be who she was without them.
A short time later, Gage stepped back into the kitchen. “Come on, I have a little surprise.”
She followed him into the steaming bathroom, the lights dimmed to a soft glow. He turned to her, and she looped her arms around his neck. “What in the world are you doing?” She swept her hand out to indicate the full over-sized tub and the steamed mirrors.
“A little TLC.” Pulling the tie at her waist, he opened the front of her shirtdress and pushed it from her shoulders. He slid his fingers back down her arm and along the sensitive skin on the underside of her wrist and whispered, “Sam, trust me.”
Sam watched as he pulled his shirt up and over his head, leaving his chest bare, and a pair of cotton lounge pants low on his hips. Her fingers itched to touch him there.
She was left standing in a pair of low-hipped briefs and a bra, both just a blush darker than her skin. Taking his hand, she stepped over the edge of the tub, the heat enveloping her legs, radiating to the point between her thighs. With a shaky laugh, she asked. “What are you up to?”
He stood before her, just outside the tub, and with a pitcher, trickled water at the hollow of her throat, then trailed it to the right and then to the left. Heat licked along her collarbone and down over her breasts and puckered nipples. Her bra became transparent and, as the water trailed down her breasts and abdomen in lazy trails, so did her panties. She felt more exposed than if she’d been fully naked, while he remained clothed.
The moonlight shining through the sky light, along with Gage’s hungry gaze, caressed her skin.
A boldness, still new to her, kicked up her chin. It wasn’t fair for her to be a blazing inferno, yet him be so cool and collected. She eyed the well-built man in front of her and slid her foot forward, lifting it to just below the surface of the water and sending a spray of water over his body. Laughing at his slack-jawed expression, she held her sides. He narrowed his gaze and tilted his head, a mischievous grin pulled up the corners of his mouth.
Alarm shot to her limbs and she turned to run, but where she had no idea. He caught her in a step and swung her up in his arms. Water ran down her limbs.
“Put me down.” Her words were a laugh.
She screamed as he plunged them both into the tub. The shock of heat against the areas of skin that were still dry made her suck in a breath. Gage turned her in his arms, leaving her kneeling before him, and with his hand around the back of her neck, pulled her in for a kiss. Heat ignited within her, and she all but climbed over his head to get a tighter grasp. She poured every ounce of herself into kissing him back.
One of his hands roamed about her slick skin while the other held her in an iron grip against his warm body. “Oh my God, that feels so good. I’ve missed you.”
“We’ve been busy, but I’m always right here.”
She shook her head. “It’s different when there’s tension.”
She wrapped her legs about him, and she rubbed against his erection. She could see the condom-covered tip of him over the band of his sweats, wondering when he’d rolled it on, and a wanting pulsed through her so strong she dragged her body against his. Need swirling and swelling in her middle.
Reaching between their bodies, she released him from his heavy soaked sweats. Pulling her briefs to the side, she slid onto him slowly, enjoying the sensation of being filled one inch at a time until her pelvis pressed flat against his, moaning into the sensation of sweet pressure and hot water.
“Sweet Jesus.” Her words came out of his mouth in a drawn out breath.
Sam leaned backward, forcing him to support her lower back. Clenching her muscles, she pulled up and then relaxed to slide back down his shaft. Each slippery glide increasing her building pressure, the hot water, his hotter flesh, sensations close to spiraling out of control, she wished to die in that moment if she had to go at all.
He sucked on her lower lip and swept his tongue into her mouth, salty sweet, and she moved faster. Harder.
She slammed down his length again and again, water sloshing over the rim of the tub and hitting the floor in a trickling waterfall. Her heart raced, pounding in her ears. The water lapped up her naked sides, drenching her covered breasts with heated water, only to have the air leaving the fabric cool and her nipples tightening to an almost painful peak. His body providing a seductive friction against her every nerve ending.
In one final drop, with him fully inside her, Sam threw her head back as an intense contraction pulled from her core and then burst out in pulsing waves.
Gage followed, holding her in an iron grip, bending over her as his body bucked deeper into her hot, wet, body. “Fuck.” The expletive came out in a throaty masculine groan.
Sam wiped water from her face and buried her nose in his neck, hiding her smug smile. Her breath came out in short gasps, and her heart continued to thunder against her chest. She leaned back and looked into his dazed expression, and then she pressed a wet kiss against his mouth.
His lips kicked up into a smile.
She returned with a grin. “Exactly.”
Looking about the tub and floor, she wiggled her brows. “We’ve got to clean this mess up before Anita comes back tomorrow.”
Gage smacked her ass with a playful swat, and standing, set her on her feet. Reaching for the band of his pants, hanging about mid-thigh, he pushed them the rest of the way down. He picked them up, wrung them out, and then sent them flying toward her sink. Turning back to her, he challenged her with his gaze, crooking his finger at her.
She looked at him out of the side of her eyes, a giddy excitement humming through her and barely able to stand. “What are you doing?” She loved this playful side of him, so comfortable with his body, with her. If she’d been holding anything back, he’d obliterated any chance of her keeping it that way.
“I think I hear your shower calling.” He grabbed her hand, stepping out of the tub.
And she followed him.
She could see things so differently now. They’d do more than create a life together; they’d live one.
…
Gage and Sam tripped over their feet, laughing, as they stumbled through the front door of the film set house. The front foyer remained clear of equipment and movie fodder, leaving an open space with stone tiled flooring, a front table crowned with an impressive iron mirror. Two plush cream chairs and a low bench warmed the space, an invitation for visitors to sit. So they did.
Sam clapped her hand over her heart. “Oh, my God, that was too funny.”
Gage leaned back against the light gray wall and blew out a breath. “Whew. At the time it wasn’t.”
She laughed. “The girl’s locker room? How could you make that mistake?”
He chuckled and threw his hands up in defense. “I was fourteen and in a school I didn’t know. I’m innocent.”
“I’m sure they didn’t believe you, either.”
Gage opened his mouth to speak, but Martin walked in and stood before them with a knowing gleam in his eye and a slow nod.
Gage and Sam looked at one another with a grin and then back to Martin.
A smile spread across Martin’s tanned face, chiseling his lines into deeper grooves. His black brows rose toward his hairline in stark contrast to the thick white thatch on his head and his salt-and-pepper beard. “Finally.”
Sam grinned, she imagined like an idiot. Leaning into Gage’s warmth, she waited for Martin to continue.
“It’s like the two of you have known each other for years.”
Sam tensed. She couldn’t help it.
Gage nodded. “We have actually. I met Sam a few years back, both out of town on business.” H
e glanced at her. “Haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since.”
Martin sunk into a chair to their right, leaning forward, his interest unmistakable.
Gage shrugged. “But Sam was married, and I was heartbroken.”
She elbowed him in the side. Tension rolled from her shoulders with his deep chuckle, and she smiled at Martin. No censure showed in the depth of her mentor’s eyes and relief washed over her. The fact remained Martin’s opinion mattered.
He waved away Gage’s words. “I know, your timing was just off, boy. Good thing you don’t have that problem with acting.”
“Seriously off.”
Martin studied Gage and shook a finger. “You are brilliant. This movie, well, you’ve exceeded my expectations.”
Gage dropped his chin, a hint of pink flushing up his neck, and Sam’s heart warmed. Humble was not the word that normally came to mind when Gage Cutler’s name came up in conversation, but she witnessed it now. Another layer. Another way he was different from other celebrities.
He continued to surprise her.
With a half smile, he extended his hand toward the director. “Thank you for the opportunity. I’ve been wanting to dive into the directing side for a while. A couple years back I would have without worrying about whether or not I could actually pull it off. Studying under you has shown me sides of it I’d never have seen on my own, and I’m better for it. You can imagine what would be said if I’d have flopped.”
“Gross rumors. Fodder of Hollywood’s entitled, covetous, and bored,” Martin interjected. The older man stood, elegant in his dark hounds tooth blazer. He scanned the open space of the house they’d used for the past weeks. He glanced back at the two of them. “Raquel and Dani booked a weekend for the two of you at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood.”
Sam blinked. She got to her feet. “Martin. We can’t accept that.”
“Girl, Raquel and I love the both of you like one of our own children. I wanted to do something to say thank you for saving me by agreeing to work on the film.”
Warmth suffused her heart. “Martin.”
“Get that wide-eyed look like you’re about to bolt off your face. This is a gift. The choice is yours, but if you give it back, I’m not the one telling Raquel.” Martin winked.
“Ahhhh, here she is.” The director gestured to the arched doorway, dismissing Sam.
Dani stepped into the circle and handed Sam a travel envelope. “Your reservations and the information for the weekend are inside.” She grinned, and Sam’s own lips quirked up at the corners, but the young girl wasn’t looking at her, she was eyeing Gage from head to toe and back again. Well, she couldn’t blame the girl. Who wouldn’t look at Gage that way. She caught herself doing it all the time.
She took the envelope with a chuckle. “Thank you. I hate for you to have gone through so much trouble.”
Dani waved the words away. “Are you kidding? It’s like shopping with someone else’s credit card. All the glory and none of the consequence.” She smiled and headed back toward the main set with a small wave.
Sam turned the envelope over in her hand, studying the intricate design on the back flap. Glancing up, she held Martin’s gaze, gratitude clogging her throat. “Thank you.”
He pulled his dark brows together. “You’ve been like a daughter to me. Raquel and I both. With a house full of boys, you’ve been a refreshing addition.”
Martin leaned in with an avuncular hug. “Have fun. Quit thinking.”
“I try to tell her—”
Sam cut her gaze to Gage. “Really? You’ve been quiet all this time, and that’s what you want to add?”
The director laughed, a loud boisterous bark. “Smart man.”
Affection shone from his eyes as he looked from one to the other. “Don’t forget the party.” With that he gave a salute and disappeared into the great room of the film set.
Gage shook his head. “I’ll never be as wise as he is, but it’s a good aspiration.”
Sam let her gaze run the length of Gage from the dark hair of his head, to the distressed leather of his dark square-toe loafers. Such a big man, full of power, and an energy that pulled with inexplicable force. Combined with observations like that, and she was a goner.
Martin had always communicated with her in a way that left no room for argument, and in those moments she couldn’t resist. He drove every point home as to why he was right. Same way he handled his films, his manuscripts, his actors. He wielded a special kind of enchantment otherwise absent in Hollywood these days. Gage saw that.
And that said something. He had what it took to follow in Martin’s footsteps, and Sam wanted to be around to watch it happen.
Chapter Twenty-One
The thump and swell of music followed Gage and Sam as they made their way to the car, arms wrapped around one another’s waist, heads close.
“I’m glad we’re going. I think this is going to be really good for us,” she said.
“Me, too. A little time away, just you and me.” He took her hand. “Martin really knows how to celebrate.” Gage’s low rumble sent shivers down Sam’s spine.
“You mean Raquel.”
The party had been a collaboration of music and beauty—Hollywood style. Flowing silks and alcohol. Art for the ears and eyes alike. A spread of delectable dishes decadent enough to tempt the most dedicated super model.
“You can never give a man the credit, can you?”
Sam laughed. “No. I can’t.”
Gage chuckled as he closed her door and made his way around to the driver’s side. He shook his head, still smiling, as he lowered into the car.
Giving into impulse, she leaned over and pressed her lips to his warmth. He tasted of spice with the promise of lingering heat. This weekend belonged to them. Starting now.
She pulled away, and Gage’s lips slowly widened into a grin. “What was that for?”
“That was for me.” Sam settled into her seat and cast him a sideways glance. “I’m ready for some time away, alone. How about you?”
“I’ve been ready for years.”
She returned his grin. Her fears and hesitations were on holiday. “Let’s go.”
Gage followed the winding road out of the hills and turned south to follow the Pacific Highway to I 10 east into Hollywood. Clear skies boasted a glowing moon and clusters of little diamond nightlights.
The air cooled since the setting of the sun, Sam rolled up her window and snuggled into the warm leather of the seat. She turned, angling her body toward Gage. “What do you want to do first?”
His focused gaze made her stomach roll, low and slow.
She bit her lip. “I like the way you think, but in addition to our lurid affair with the hotel bed—”
“You mean on the hotel bed and in the shower, the pool, the—”
“Ha! I get your point.” She squeezed her hands together in her lap, anticipation stretching the fifty-minute drive into a lifetime. Wanting to be close, she slid her arm through his and settled with resting her hand on his thigh. His muscles clenched under her touch. She giggled.
Gage cut a look her way, a look of surprise on his face. “Did you just giggle?”
“Shut up.” She slid her hand higher on his muscled thigh and squeezed.
His leg jerked and the car surged forward. “If you don’t knock it off, we won’t make it to Hollywood.”
Sam relaxed her hand, enjoying the heat radiating through his slacks. The freedom of the moment released her tension, calmed her nerves, and joy spread from tip to toe. She’d almost forgotten what an existence free of ridicule and loneliness and guilt felt like. If she could only hold onto it for a little while.
Gage pulled up to the front entrance, and a valet jogged to open his door. With little hassle and loads of courtesy, they stepped into their villa and waved good night to the staff.
Sam turned in circles. “Wow. Martin gets brownie points.”
The villa flowed from a richly ornate living spac
e and dining area out to a terrace overlooking a tree-lit garden. She could forget time and responsibility in a place like this.
Rich warm wood, deep burgundy, and pumpkin lent a heat to the space that frankly, she didn’t think they’d need. She turned to find Gage and bumped into his chest. He steadied her without thinking. It was his way, taking care of people as natural to him as breathing. She studied her hands.
“Hey.” He placed his fingers under her chin and applied a gentle pressure.
She met his serious gaze, wishing with all her heart she could be his forever, but she knew the chances of that were slim. “What if we can’t do this? We both have so many issues we’re still trying to work through.” She shook her head, the truth of it all clogging her throat.
“Sam, don’t you see? You and I are a great team, and that is why we’ll come out of this not only okay, but stronger than we ever imagined.” He picked her hand up and placed it over his heart. “I promise to always protect you, to always consider your needs and your wants. This won’t be a relationship about me, Sam, but about us. I will choose you, every time.”
She tilted her head, wanting to believe every dream his words evoked. Her chest burned with emotion and she smiled. To be chosen—every time? What an amazing way to be loved.
He pulled her to him, keeping her hand under his. “I’m a better man with you. Don’t you get that? I’d never risk losing you.”
She slid her hands up and around his neck, dragging her nails lightly against his skin. The tension building inside her had everything to do with the man in front of her and nothing else. “Show me.”
A strong hand touched her stomach, then slid to the buttons on her slacks. Deft fingers made quick work of the clasp, and he pushed her pants and panties to the floor. He bent forward and gathered her up into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist as their tongues tangled with and tasted each other. His hands were everywhere, and the night air cooled her skin before she saw her shirt on the floor. Gage turned and pressed her back against the smooth surface of the closest wall.
Malibu Betrayals Page 21