“Sorry about getting interrupted back at Mario’s,” Gage says. “It didn’t happen at dinner on our first date because I had them seat us in a semiprivate area. In nice places like that, people stay back. But in Mario’s, it’s a lot more festive and there’s alcohol, so that—”
“It’s fine,” I say, glancing up at him.
“Not always,” he replies. “It’s intrusive, especially if we’re spending time together. I just want you to know, I try to be cognizant of it. I don’t ever want you feeling left out.”
I’m not sure he could say anything more perfect. In fact, I’m wondering if Gage might just be without flaws, which I suppose gives me a bit of confidence when I say, “I have to admit… watching half-naked women hang on you isn’t fun.”
Gage snorts and gives me an admonishing look. “First… they weren’t half-naked, although I’ll admit there seemed to be increased cleavage on some of them.”
“Aha!” I proclaim, pointing a finger at him. “You noticed.”
“Everyone noticed,” he throws back with a smirk, “including you.”
“Yeah.” Can’t help but chuckle. “It was sort of out there, huh?”
“I imagine that’s not fun for girlfriends to see—”
Wait a minute. Did he just say girlfriend?
“—but know that stuff doesn’t interest me. It didn’t interest me before I met you. Those type of women don’t do it for me.”
I consider his words, and I want to believe him.
I need to believe him.
And there’s no reason why I shouldn’t. Gage has never given me reason to believe he doesn’t find me likable, attractive, and sufficient for him.
But am I, really?
“Ugh,” I growl out loud, and he looks at me with raised eyebrows. I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I get in my head all the time. It’s something I have to work through.”
Gage stops, turns toward me. My back is to the river, and the reflection of city lights in his eyes is magnetic. “We’re not talking about low self-esteem here, are we?”
I chew my bottom lip. Are we?
His hands go to my face and pull my gaze to his. “You’re not a low self-esteem kind of woman. Your confidence might be dinged up, but it’s situational, right?”
“I’m sorry. But there were a lot of unkind people after I stepped back into my life after I recovered. There are still a lot of unkind people. I expect it now rather than consider it an unusual moment.”
“I hate that for you, Jenna,” he murmurs. “But I also don’t expect you to take my word for it when I say I think you’re beautiful and I’m attracted to you and you have absolutely no reason to doubt these words. I guess I’m going to have to keep showing you.”
His head dips to kiss me, but I put my hands to his chest and pull my head back a bit. “But… why?”
“You’ve asked me that before,” he says in exasperation. “My response is the same. Why not?”
I shake my head. “Yeah, I know that. And I’m not looking for you to stroke my ego. But you seem determined. You’re putting in so much effort with me, and yes, I’ll accept and believe you like me and there’s attraction—”
“Both ways, right?”
“What?” I ask, confused he’s gotten me off track.
“You’re attracted to me, right?” he asks with a grin.
I roll my eyes. “Of course I’m attracted to you.”
“Then prove it,” he dares, dropping his hands. “Prove it right now. Make the move on me. You kiss me, and you prove to me that you feel the same as I do for you.”
My eyes widen, my skin flushes, and my mouth gapes.
“Go on,” he taunts. “Prove it. You keep needing me to prove it to you, but honestly… how do you feel about all this? Don’t tell me… show me.”
I glance left, then right. People walk by us, mostly ignoring, but a few offer curious glances.
My attention goes back to Gage, and he’s staring at me with absolutely no shutter over his expression. He stands open and vulnerable and ready to let me inside if I’ll be bold enough to take the first step.
He’s turned the tables, forcing me to work for this. I’ve been so stuck on why he wants to go through all this trouble with me, I’ve forgotten that he might need something too.
It’s all so new.
So scary.
And so thrilling, a surge of power and confidence emboldens me. I move into Gage and put one hand on his chest. The other I wrap around the back of his neck. While I go slightly to my tiptoes, I mostly pull him down to me.
Tilting my head, I straighten up the last bit, and I’m the first to press my lips to his.
To open my mouth.
To slide my tongue in against his as everything else in the world disappears. There’s only me and him and the connection between us.
Gage’s arms circle my back, pull me in close. The heat of his body simmers against mine as I relish his hard muscles, the smell of his bodywash, and the rumble of appreciation deep in his throat.
An overwhelming pulse of desire hits, and I melt into his body, both arms going around his neck. Gage spreads his palm against my lower back and presses me tighter to him, and I can feel he’s aroused by the kiss.
Just as I am, and I have to repress the urge to rub against him. I can’t stop the involuntary moan that comes out when he takes control and deepens the kiss.
My head spins, and oxygen seems to be a luxury right now. Gage tears his mouth away, puts his lips to my ear, and grumbles, “I swear, if I didn’t think I’d get arrested for public indecency, I’d give you more of what you’re asking for right now.”
That was erotically cryptic. I have no clue what he’d give me, but I’m sure I’d enjoy it.
“Unfortunately,” he complains, loosening his hold. He stares down, eyes turbulent and needy. “We’ll have to wait for privacy because that type of giving is only between you and me and no one else. I don’t share that with anyone.”
A shiver runs up my spine over the possessiveness in his voice.
He smiles and bends down for a soft, gentling kiss that settles me down. “But I’m glad to know you feel the same way.”
“Lesson learned,” I whisper.
“Feel free to practice that on me anytime,” he says, reaching for my hand. “I am open twenty-four seven for your mouth on me. Just so you know… open invitation.”
I know he isn’t trying for innuendo, because his tone is too light as we walk the other way. But I can’t help thinking about different ways I’d love to put my mouth on him. God, I used to have such a healthy sex drive before the fire. Loved sex and was adventurous, and I haven’t thought about it in so very long.
But now… I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about it quite a bit more.
Doubt starts to creep in, as I know intimacy with Gage will expose me in a way I’ve not allowed since the fire.
I force it away—I can’t afford to scare myself. I don’t want to lose him before we even get started.
We head toward the arena, chatting about tomorrow’s away game. He’s headed to Detroit in the morning.