Page 29 of Misery In Me

He was looking at me like he wanted to devour me.

I would fold so fast. Like a cheap-ass lawn chair—the way I would let this man bend me over the counter.

No, Ale. Stop it.

“So what are we having forlunch, Ale?” I catch the seductive way he says lunch and I clench my thighs together.

Please don’t let him notice he’s affecting me.

“Ch-chicken salad.” I force the words out and I stutter. “I-I hope that’s okay.”

The soft pad of his bare feet on the cold kitchen tiles has me holding my breath. Gage stands behind me, his chest lightly pressed against my back, the feel of his hands on either side of me on the counter sends shivers down my spine. Boxing me in. His warm breath, smelling faintly of coffee and mint, fans over my neck and shoulder, his mouth inching closer.

Breathe, Ale… You need to breathe.

“You know I can’t get this scent out of my head,” he whispers, his nose dangerously close to where my pulse is thrumming. “Since the day you moved in, it’s been driving me crazy.”

Gage takes a slow, deep inhale and groans. “I missed it while I was gone. Then, when I walked in the front door, I noticed the house now has the same smell.”

“It’s—gardenia and neroli. Floral and citrus.” Tilting my head slightly so he has better access to the spot where I apply it every morning. “Do you like it?”

“Yes. But it smells even better on your skin.” Gage’s heart beats wildly against my back.

What is happening right now?

Don’t cross the line, Gage. I don’t think I have the strength to listen to logic and resist.

I can feel his desire, his longing, mirrored in my own body. Every fiber of my being yearns to lean into his touch, to give in to the forbidden temptation that lingers between us. But I know better. I know the consequences of succumbing to this intoxicating pull.

Think of Zoe.

Taking a deep breath, I steady myself and muster the strength to push him away, both physically and emotionally. I turn to face him, and all the resolve I had was going out the window. “Gage,” I say, my voice quaking, “we can’t do this.”

“We’re two consenting adults. What would be stopping us?”

His emerald eyes search mine, searching for any sign of weakness. I have to be the one to hold back. “We have responsibilities, Gage. Your daughter needs stability and a role model she can rely on, not her father and nanny…” I don’t even finish the sentence because speaking the words into existence would make it all feel too real.

“Ale,” he mutters, his lips now dangerously close to mine. “It’s just... difficult to resist the way you make me feel.”

My heart aches at his admission. “How do I make you feel?”

With a sigh, Gage shifts, and his lips are now at my ear. “Like you’re all I ever think about.”

If I could physically melt, I would be a puddle on the floor right now. Much like the situation between my thighs.

“We can’t complica?—”

“I wanna complicate the shit out of this.” Gage doesn’t give me the time to overthink as his lips meet mine, feeding the fire inside that I’ve tried so hard to suppress. The taste of his kiss is intoxicating, something forbidden, and I forget all the reasons we shouldn’t be doing this. Still, the hesitation is there, my body not completely giving in.

“Let go, Ale,” the words are a gentle caress on my lips. “Fall with me.”

And I fall.

Wrapping my arms behind his neck, greedily taking every kiss he gives, letting Gage steal the breath from my lungs. Only to replace it with his own. Powerful hands grip under my thighs, grunting as he lifts me up.

Breaking our kiss, I pull back, “Put me down. You’re not supposed to be lifting anything.”

“Worth it.” Gage grunts as he makes the slow walk to the couch, his hands sliding up the back of my shirt, groaning as he finds the hooks of my bra. With a quick snap, it’s undone.

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