Page 90 of Wicked Player

Gage walked into my brother’s living room without a bruise in sight, which showed good things. When I showed up at Blake’s, needing Haley and her world famous hugs, I hadn’t expected Blake to be there. Bad timing on my part because it took him three seconds of looking at my tear-stained face before he went into a rampage.

Explaining everything to him was harder. Telling them the whole story of how I got involved with Gage, at his insistence, was harder.

Difficult to tell your brother about your sex kink and not want to vomit onto his carpet. Fortunately for me, I didn’t need Haley cleaning up their house when she was already battling morning sickness.

“Ohh, he’s even larger in person,” Haley whispered next to me.

I rolled my eyes and grinned at her. “Everywhere.” I wiggled my brows and stood from the couch.

“Lucky bitch,” she muttered and stood next to me. “Hi Gage, I’m Haley, Blake’s wife and you can ignore all his threats. He’s a big cuddly teddy bear in lion’s clothing.”

Gage walked toward her and held out his hand to shake it. “I’ll take your word for it. Nice to meet you.”

“You too.” She held onto his hand a bit too long before letting go. “Blake and I will let you two talk.” She glared at her husband. “Kitchen, Blake.”

He stood like a guard behind Gage. “I’m good here.”

My eyes rolled again. “It’s fine, Blake.”

“No, it’s not. He’s cost you your job and I want answers, especially about Jaxon.”

What? I whipped my gaze to Gage. “What’s he talking about?”

Gage slid his hands to his hips. He was wearing black athletic pants and one of those dri-fit athletic looking shirts. It was snug all over him and maintaining eye contact, especially as he rocked back on his heels, was difficult. “I got a hold of Jaxon. He’s making some calls and might head back.”

“But he’s on a job.”

“One I’m pretty sure he’d put on pause to help his sister,” Gage said. “Also, he was fucking pissed, but I didn’t want word to get out without me talking to him. Setting things straight.”

My brain bounced. Setting things straight? “What’d you tell him?”

“Everything.”

Oh God. I wobbled backward and settled my hand on the back of the couch. My brother’s house wasn’t big. A small two story with a simple kitchen and dining area. And considering it was all open concept, Haley’s offer to head to the kitchen was pretty worthless.

“You told Jaxon about Velvet?”

“Jesus,” Blake groaned. “I don’t even want to know how my little sister learned about those kinds of places. Stop saying it.”

“Don’t mind him,” I told Gage. “But talk.”

“I had to.” He stepped closer. My grip on the back of my brother’s couch tightened. God, the man was delicious and I’d felt bad for ignoring all his frantic calls and texts earlier, I just needed a minute to get my head wrapped around everything happening. I needed quiet. And people who loved me. “He’s going to find who sent the emails and we’ll go from there. The good news is, I talked to my agent.”

“There’s good news?” The only good news I needed to hear was that I wasn’t being fired. I’d handle stories at the zoo for the rest of my life if it meant I could keep doing what I loved.

“None of the pictures released show any proof of Velvet. So all it really is is speculation, and gossip about me finally having a girlfriend. According to thousands of fans of mine, the male ones are pissed I’m not actually gay.”

He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. Who would have thought I’d be able to smile at anything. “Well, that’s good for you.”

His expression fell and he reached for me. I wasn’t quite ready for contact with him. Even though this wasn’t his fault. It was mine. All of it, really. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. About your suspension. I called Amanda.”

“Well, wow. You’re just taking care of everything aren’t you?” I said it with a bite I didn’t fully mean, but he was invading everything. My family. My job.

“You wouldn’t return my calls and I was worried. Please.” He glanced at Blake and Haley. “Can we go somewhere and talk? Figure out what happens next?”

That was the part of my plan I had no clue what to do. If I stayed with Gage what would it mean for my job? If I walked away, what would it mean for my heart? There weren’t easy answers for any of it.

“This isn’t your fault, you know. Not really. I wasn’t suspended for kissing you outside a sex club. I was suspended for making out with the subject of one of my stories. It’s unethical and shows poor judgment.”