“Gage.”
“I want you, Lola. I’ve been drawn to you since the first moment I saw you. It’s more than your looks, though – that’s the easy part. I love your mind, your passion for your career, your willingness to delve into your soul and figure out who you are and what you want. So many people are happy to skirt along the surface, never dipping deeper to see what’s underneath. But you? You dive deep into life. You’re all in. And I… I think I’m all in with you too.”
“Gage… I…” Lola looked up at him, wanting him so badly it felt like her skin burned from where he touched her. “I can’t promise you anything right now. It feels like too much. I’m making so many huge changes for me – adding this is another layer that scares me.”
“Tell me why you’re scared.” Gages eyes glowed fiercely green in his face.
“I’m scared I’ll screw it up, that I’ll push you away. I’m so used to being independent and making my own decisions. I don’t like having to rely on anyone else or even having to think of someone else before me. I’m afraid I’ll be careless with your heart.”
“Then don’t be.”
“You say it so lightly, but I’m worried.”
“Then we’ll take it one day at a time. Would that be something you can accept?”
“What does that even look like?”
“We don’t have to plan the future. We take it as it comes and see where it goes.”
“Are you… would you be okay with that?”
“If it means I get to spend time with you? Yes.”
“Okay.” Lola took a deep breath. “Then we do this one day at a time. No future commitments.”
“What do you want… right now, in this night, Lola?” Gage’s hands still held her arms down, and her entire body felt electrified.
“I want you. Everything you’ll give me in this moment,” Lola breathed, and Gage’s mouth was on hers before she could say anything.
His kiss this time was different, hotter, as though he was branding his soul to hers, claiming her as his own. She welcomed him, arching into his hard body as he kept her hands pinned, slowing his kiss until she all but begged for more. Her body felt overly sensitized, and she wanted his touch everywhere and all at once.
“I want…” Lola gasped against his mouth, his lips wet against her as his tongue danced with hers, pulling her deeper until her mind blanked for a moment and all she could do was feel.
“What do you want, Lola?” Gage pulled back, his eyes feverish with need.
“I want to touch you. I need to feel you under my hands.”
Gage released her wrists immediately, and Lola was on him, ripping the shirt over his head and running her hands through his hair, down the muscles of his back, while pressing kisses everywhere she could. He tasted like sun and salt and sea, and she lost herself as she absorbed his very essence. Lola moaned as he pulled the tank over her head and paused to marvel at her before licking a trail of kisses down her neck to her breasts, capturing a nipple with his mouth and licking slowly and languidly like he had all the time in the world.
The rain poured outside, thundering down, and soon they were both slick with sweat, their hands everywhere except where they each wanted the other most. Lola gasped and arched her hips as Gage licked his way down her stomach, ridding her of her bikini bottoms in one movement and claiming her with his mouth. She gasped, threading her hands through his hair as he found the perfect spot and settled in to taste her like she was the dessert he’d promised earlier. Arching into his mouth, Lola threaded her hands into his hair and cried out as he shot her quickly over the edge into explosive pleasure. She sobbed out her release, writhing against his lips as he slid two fingers inside her to test her readiness.
“You taste like the sea… like a sun goddess. I’d worship at your feet any day.” Gage pulled his head up, and the look on his face almost sent Lola over the edge once more. Bending forward, she kissed him, tasting herself on his lips and wanting him more than anything else she’d ever wanted.
“I want you. I need to feel you…” Lola moaned against his mouth.
“One second, darling, and I’m all yours,” Gage said, and moved to his knapsack where he pulled out a condom. She raised one eyebrow at him when he turned.
“Oh? Planning this, were you?”
“Have I mentioned that I like to be prepared?”
“I can’t fault you for this one,” Lola laughed, and then she could think no more when he rolled back onto her and teased her with his hard length, testing her. Slowly, he slid against her, feeling her wetness, and Lola moaned, wrapping her legs around him and trying to pull him closer.
Gage paused, hovering over her for an achingly long moment, holding her gaze.
“I got my wish.”
“Your wish?” Lola whispered, flashing back to the mermaid cave. “What did you wish for?”
“I wished for a mermaid. And I found mine.”
Lola’s heart did an odd little tumble in her chest as he slid deep inside her, deeper than anyone else had ever been, touching her in ways that nobody had before. As she desperately scrambled to keep her walls up, Gage claimed her as his own, searing her with his very being until she was spent, her body throbbing, her mind sated, and her heart happy.
They curled together, panting, wrapped in each other, neither saying a word.
A sound jerked them from the edge of sleep, and they both sat up, staring in shock at each other as a voice, otherworldly in its beauty, drifted across the water, the rain now gone.
Where the starlight kisses the sea, is where you’ll find me. It won’t be so long, for in your heart is my song.
Chapter 30
Days later, Lola still shivered when she thought about the ethereal voice that had touched her to the core. It had been Gage who had stopped her from bounding up the ladder to search the moonlit water for their mermaid.
“If she wanted to be seen, she would be.”
Was that what she was doing here? Lola wondered as she painted a long strip of pale peachy pink on the wall of her gallery. She stepped back, studying it. Was all of this about finally letting the world see who she was? She’d never hidden herself, Lola thought, as she picked up a can of mint green and painted another stripe down the wall. But she’d also never launched a cohesive brand that would accurately portray who she was.
“I want to be seen,” Lola said out loud. She bent to pick up another sample paint can, this one in sea mist blue, and painted a sample on the wall. She’d picked up three samples from the small hardware store on the island. The options were limited, but Lola didn’t mind. Having fewer options made her decision-making process easier.
The morning after their night together, most of which had not been spent sleeping, they’d finally woken to the radio buzzing with requests for their status. Gage had discovered that the “malfunction” was no longer an issue and they’d had an easy sail back to the harbor. Since then, he’d been finding ways to drop in and see her, but they’d yet to spend another night together. He was giving her space, as she’d requested, and Lola was grateful for it. If he’d come on too strong, she would likely have shied away. Instead, he’d found ways to make himself useful: helping her vet contractors, dropping off tools, stopping by with a sandwich – uncut – here and there. It was nice, Lola decided. It was almost as if their passionate night existed in another world and instead they were now learning to be friends. At the very least, Lola knew that they could live on the island together and not have tension. A part of her was scared of being with him again, if she admitted it. Their night together had been like nothing she’d ever experienced, and she worried anything after it would be a let-down. Lola wanted to keep that moment as pure and perfect in her mind as she could.
“I like the blue,” Gage said, and Lola jumped, having been deep in contemplation as she studied the wall.
“Damn it, Gage. You can’t sneak up on me like that,” Lola said. “I swear you do it on purpose.”
“I promise
you I don’t. Have you ever considered that you get so lost in thought, you tune out the sounds around you?” Gage smiled and held up a bag of take-out.
“You know, I’ve been able to find food for myself for much of my life before you came along,” Lola pointed out, but she softened the words with a smile.
“Too much? That’s fine. I can eat it and you watch,” Gage said, putting the food down on a little bistro table she’d brought in. Settling into a chair, he stretched his long legs out in front of him and opened the bag, setting out two takeout containers. Opening one, he tucked in with a fork, watching her as he ate a mouthful of noodles.
“Is that pasta carbonara?”
“It is.”
“I love Italian,” Lola sighed and crossed the room and sat in the chair next to him.
“I know you do.”
“How would you know that?”
“I pay attention. Plus, of all the places you’ve traveled, you talk about Italy a lot.”
“Is that true? Interesting. I always thought Morocco was a favorite of mine.”
Taking a bite of the creamy pasta, Lola sat back in her chair and studied the strips of paint on the wall, trying to decide which she liked the best in the light.
“I think you’re right,” she said. “The sea mist looks the best.”
“It’s a nice color. Light and airy, but not so boring as plain white. The peachy color isn’t bad either. What about running a stripe of that along the top of the wall as an accent?”
“That’s… hmm, that’s not a bad idea. I could see it. Would make the accent wall more dynamic, then, wouldn’t it?” Itching to see, Lola put her food down and took both cans of paint to the wall. She painted a larger swatch in the sea mist blue, then added the pale peach color as a smaller stripe, about the width of her hand, above it. Turning, she crossed the room to where Gage sat, smiling at her.
“What?”
“I love watching you. You’re so full of movement and energy. Even when you’re still, which isn’t often, you seem to just crackle with light.”
“Do I? Huh, I’ve never heard myself described that way before.” Lola dropped into her seat and forked up more pasta, studying the wall across from them.
“How do people describe you?”
“Flighty, bohemian, hippie, sassy, pretty, weird, unusual, awkward, intimidating,” Lola rattled off, her eyes still on the wall. She pointed with her fork. “You know, I like this, but I’m not sure if just a stripe. Maybe the bottom half of the wall the peachy pink, since tables will be in front of it, and the top half the pretty blue?”
The silence drew out, and she glanced at Gage.
“What?”
“That wasn’t the most flattering rundown you gave of yourself.” Gage’s voice was quiet.
“You asked me how people describe me. You didn’t ask how I describe me.”
“Do people really see you that way?”
“It depends who you are talking to. The people I went to school with, who are now soccer moms living the suburban life? Yeah, I’m kind of an oddball to them. They don’t get me or my life. They crave the security of being settled. And that’s absolutely fine. One person’s happy place is not another’s. But I think because I fall outside the norm, I’m often misunderstood, or assumptions are made about me.”
“Maybe they’re jealous.”
“Perhaps. I don’t think much about it.”
“And how would you describe yourself?”
“Hmm, that’s a tough question. I’m extremely loyal, to a fault at times. I can be flighty, but not unreliable. I would say a world-traveling artist with a zest for life?”
“That sounds more accurate to me.”
“I have a pretty healthy sense of self and my worth, Gage.”
“I see that. Your confidence is what drew me in.”
“And might also scare you off. I’m a very independent person.”
“I can respect that.”
“Yet here you are,” Lola said, then winced at the hurt that flashed across his face. “I’m sorry, that was rude. Can I add sharp-spoken to the list? Sometimes I do these little jabs and I don’t know why.”
“If I’m stepping on your toes, please let me know.” Gage rose and took his food to the trash and Lola sighed, pinching her nose. This was why she didn’t want to do relationships – all those icky emotions she had to consider.
“You aren’t stepping on my toes. I just have a lot on my mind. A lot of things to juggle right now.”
“I can help you with that.”
“You already have… you already are. Please don’t think I’m ungrateful.”
Gage came to stand in front of her, pulling her up so that he could circle his arms around her for a hug.
“Say, ‘thank you, Gage.’”
“Thank you, Gage.”
“See? Not so hard. And now, I’m out of your hair. And I’ll leave you be the rest of the week if you can give me something to look forward to this weekend.”
“Like what?”
“Dinner? At my place? Saturday?”
That sounded like a relationship-type date, Lola thought, but pushed the worry down.
“That would be nice. Thank you for asking.”
“You’re welcome.” Gage pressed a kiss to her forehead and went to the door.
“Oh, Gage? What should I bring for our first date?”
“It’s not our first date.” Gage glared at her.
“It’s the first time you’ve asked me.”
Chapter 31
“Tell me about her.”
Cynthia, Gage’s assistant and one of his best friends, smiled at him from across his desk.
“Since when do you care about my love life?”
“Since it interferes with my business meetings because you’re too distracted to pay attention.” Cynthia crossed her beautiful legs and narrowed her stunning blue eyes at Gage. “Talk.”
“You might have seen her the other night when we were at dinner? She was sitting with Irma and the girls.”
“Sure, I vaguely remember. Oh, is this the woman who’s opening the new gallery at the coconut hut? I’ve been meaning to pass by and take a look.”
Gage briefly wondered if the locals would ever stop referring to Lola’s gallery as the coconut hut. Things took a long time to change around here, he’d learned.
“Yes, that’s the one. Her name is Lola and she’s staying at the Laughing Mermaid before she moves into James’ bungalow.”
“That’s a nice spot.”
“I know. I think she’ll be happy there.”
“And?” Cynthia checked the slim gold watch at her wrist, ever efficient.
“And… ah, shit, Cyn, I’m head over heels for her already.”
“I knew it.” Cynthia slammed her hand on the desk. “And you’ve been holding back on me.”
“It’s only been a couple weeks since she arrived on-island.”
“But you knew when?”
“The moment I saw her,” Gage said, a smile crossing his face.
“Aww.” Cynthia’s gorgeous face softened. “So what’s the problem?”
“Why do you assume there is a problem?”
“Because you’ve been mooning about all week. A man in love with no problems would not be pouting. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know how to play this. She’s really independent. She’s made it clear that she’s horrible at relationships, doesn’t do commitments, doesn’t really believe in the happily-ever-after.”
“Ah. A strong, independent, doesn’t-take-any-shit kind of woman.”
“Pretty much.”
“I like her already.”
“I figured you would. You two are a lot alike. She was jealous of you, you know, that night she saw us at dinner. That was when I knew she was more interested than she was letting on.”
“Have you slept with her?”
“That is none of your business.”
Cynthia just stared him down.
> “Fine, yes. And it’s pretty much all I can think about. I don’t know that I’ve ever had a more magical night,” Gage said, but deftly left out the actual magick that had happened that evening. He knew he and Lola would cherish it in their memories forever, but it was not for anyone else to consume or pick apart.
“Listen to you… love at first sight. Magical moments. Head over heels. I’m shocked. I honestly never thought I’d see this day with you and then, bam! Love hits you like a brick.”
“I didn’t say I was in love. Smitten would be a better word.” Gage sat back and stared at Cynthia in shock.
“Really? Hmm, that’s not what I’m hearing.” Cynthia tilted her head and eyed him.
“Ah, shit. It might be. I have a lot more to learn about her. But, yes, it might well be. Something in me knew,” Gage said, touching his hand to his chest. “Now what do I do about it?”
“Keep showing up for her. It sounds like she hasn’t had people in her life who were reliable. What’s her family like? Close friends?”
“Just her best friend Sam – you’ve met her. She’s with Lucas now, living next door to the Laughing Mermaid?”
“Ah, yes, I remember her. She’s lovely. And the family?”
“She didn’t say much about Dad. But Mom is a romantic, married five times or so, I believe, and looking for next husband. Loves to be in love and thinks it’s fun to get married.”
“Which is why Lola’s gun-shy about commitments.”
“So… she seemed to get a little frustrated with me showing up at the shop with lunch today. I thought I was being nice.”
“You are being nice. But sometimes strong women have trouble accepting help. You’ll want to tread carefully there.”
“She said she’s finding herself. This is the first time she’s done something like this. It’s kind of like watching a flower bloom or a butterfly emerge from its cocoon. I want to be there for every step of it.” Gage ran a hand through his hair.
“You can’t smother her, though. If that’s truly where she’s at in her life, she needs to do some of this on her own. You’ll need to let her understand how you can be a partner and a lover, but not necessarily a provider. Does that make sense?”
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