He sagged into the physical contact. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You’re in pain.” She planted a kiss on the center of his back. Her lips touched the fabric of his shirt and not bare skin, but the soft peck still had an effect on him because he shuddered slightly. “I’m sorry about your brother, Gage. I’m sorry you keep having to sacrifice yourself for him.”
With a ragged breath, he turned around and kissed her. She tasted the alcohol on his lips, the desperation on his tongue. When he fisted her hair to pull her closer, she welcomed the delicious sting on her scalp. She loved his rough grip, the husky sounds he made whenever their tongues touched.
When he tried to deepen the kiss, she smiled and moved her lips away, gliding them along his strong jawline. She peppered kisses down to his neck, then licked his warm skin and experienced a rush of dizziness as his masculine taste infused her senses.
“Let’s go upstairs,” he murmured. “I need to make it up to you. I didn’t like getting so angry in front of you.”
“No, this isn’t about me.” Her hands slipped to his waist, undoing his jeans so she could reach inside his boxer-briefs. “This is about making you feel better. I know seeing him tonight was hard on you.”
“Skyler…” His head lolled to the side when her fingers closed around his cock.
“Let me take care of you,” she whispered, and then she sank to her knees in front of him and gently freed his erection from his pants.
“You don’t have to take care of me.”
His awkward protest didn’t surprise her. She got the feeling he didn’t let anyone take care of him. Oh no, he kept his emotions bottled up, forever holding a part of himself back.
“I want to,” she said firmly.
Her tongue moved in a delicate lick around his crown, drawing a hoarse groan from him. She wanted to go slow, to tease and prolong his pleasure, but she knew that wasn’t what he needed right now. His hips were already pushing forward, his cock seeking the warmth of her mouth, so she gave it to him. She swallowed his thick shaft, sucking hard and fast, each urgent stroke intensifying her own desire.
Gage came a moment later with an anguished moan, cupping the back of her head as the hot jets of his release filled her mouth. She sucked him dry, then planted soft licks and kisses on his still-hard shaft, waiting for him to come down, for his breathing to steady. When she lifted her head, the haze of pleasure and adoration swimming in his eyes stole her breath.
He hauled her to her feet, kissed her so hard she gasped, then broke them apart so he could meet her eyes. “Thank you for coming with me to Denny’s tonight.” A faint grin sprang to his lips. “And thank you for making me come.”
She grinned back. “You’re welcome. Now let’s go and find a bed so I can take care of you some more.”
Chapter Ten
Gage experienced a sense of déjà vu as he fixed his gaze on the back booth and found Skyler’s blue eyes twinkling at him. She wasn’t sitting next to another man this time, but just like the night they’d met, she still only had eyes for him.
And he only had eyes for her. There’d been a subtle shift deep inside him these past two weeks. Ever since he’d taken her to his brother’s place, he’d been startled to notice that he was no longer pushing her away, but pulling her closer. Every time he saw her, another layer of his inner shield seemed to crumble, which probably would’ve worried him if he weren’t so damn infatuated with the woman.
And apparently he wasn’t the only one to notice the change in him.
“Aw, hell, you’re a total goner.” Reed came up beside him, sounding resigned as he followed Gage’s gaze. “So it’s official? My little boy has himself a girlfriend?”
He shrugged. “Nah, it’s still casual, just like it’s always been.”
“Bullshit. You’re making googly eyes at her, for chrissake. There is nothing casual about googly eyes.” Reed waggled his brows. “When can I expect my wedding invitation?”
Gage scowled at his friend. “Stop being a brat.” Then he caught Skyler’s gaze again, and the smile she flashed him damn near melted his heart.
Crap. Maybe Reed was right. When one pretty smile succeeded in getting a man all warm and weak-kneed, didn’t that in fact make him a goner?
He turned back to Reed. “I’m going over to say hi. Coming?”
Although technically he was still working, there was nothing wrong with making a quick stop at the booth to say hello to Skyler and AJ’s girlfriend, Darcy, who’d accompanied Skyler to the club tonight. The two women had hit it off last week when the group had gone for beer and wings at a pub near AJ’s place, and their insta-connection hadn’t surprised Gage one bit. Darcy was the most outgoing person he’d ever met, with the kind of bubbly, magnetic personality that made everyone around her feel at ease.
Well, maybe not everyone��Reed was the only one who seemed immune to her charm. He was always civil to her, but Gage hadn’t missed the way his friend tensed up whenever AJ’s girl was around.
That tension was present now, prompting him to lower his voice and say, “Seriously, man, what’s your problem with Darcy?”
“Nothing.” Reed shrugged. “We don’t have much in common, that’s all.”
“You don’t need to have anything in common with her—you’re not dating her, AJ is. And he’s happy as fuck with her, so the least you could do is be nice.” Gage shook his head in disapproval. “Whatever. I’m going to say hi. Stay here if you want.”
He kept a vigilant eye on the other patrons as he crossed the lounge, but everything seemed fine, security-wise. Reed ended up coming with him, reluctance lining his long strides all the way to the ladies’ booth.
“Hi.” Gage couldn’t keep the goofy grin off his face as he greeted Skyler.
“Hi.” She responded with another smile, this one loaded with heat as she swept her gaze up and down his body.
She’d told him more than once how much she loved him in a wifebeater. Supposedly he had “wicked hot arms” and the way she was blatantly admiring them now triggered a hefty dose of lust. Lord, he couldn’t wait to get her naked later.
He just hoped he wouldn’t be too banged up from the fight. Though he was perfectly happy to deal with a few more cuts and bruises, seeing as how this would be the last time.
Tonight was his last fight.
Last. Fucking. Fight.
Once he walked out of that cage, he’d never have to go back in. Denny’s debt would be paid, and Gage would finally be free of Mitch O’Donnell for good.
“Gage,” Darcy said cheerfully, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Sky and I were just talking about you.”
He slanted his head. “Yeah?”
“Oh yeah. Well, actually, we were talking about those ridiculously sexy arms of yours.” Darcy tucked a strand of strawberry-blond hair behind her ear, then fanned herself with one hand like a Southern belle. “You’re looking damn good, babe. I think I might have to persuade AJ to ink himself up. I never realized how hot tattoos were.” As her gaze shifted to Reed, her tone grew wary. “Hey, Reed.”