Page 51 of Misery In Me

“How’s the food?” I ask, finally breaking the silence, needing to know if it’s as good as I think it is.

“It’s amazing,” Gage says, his voice low and sincere. He leans forward, elbows on the table, as he watches me with those intense green eyes of his. “Seriously. You’re a fucking goddess in the kitchen.”

I laugh, a light sound that feels so natural between us. “You’re full of shit,” I tease, but it makes my heart flutter. I like this. I likeus.

Zoe makes a small sound, and I turn my attention to her, noticing she’s rubbing her eyes. “Are you sleepy,Princesa?” I ask gently, my voice softening as I reach out to her. She gives a little whine, then snuggles into her chair, clearly ready for bed. I smile, brushing her hair to the side, feeling the softness of her skin beneath my fingertips.

“I think someone’s ready to go to sleep,” I murmur, leaning down to kiss her head.

Gage glances over at me, his lips curling into a grin. “Let me clean up here. You get her settled, okay? I’ll meet you in the bedroom when I’m done.”

I nod, a quiet swell of gratitude filling my chest. It’s strange how easy it is to fall into this rhythm with him and how natural it feels to rely on him. Maybe we’re not perfect, but right now, this is what I need. This is what we both need.

I stand up and move toward the kitchen sink to clear the table, and Gage’s eyes follow me as I move. “Leave it, Ale.” The weight of his gaze, that steady, unwavering attention, sends aflutter of warmth through me, but I push it aside for now. There will be time for that later.

“I’ll get her situated. Thank you for offering to do the dishes,” I say, my voice soft, my heart light.

“You don’t have to thank me,” Gage replies, his tone a little more serious now. He stands up, giving me a small smile. “I’m your husband,Hermosa. We’re a team and when I’m home, I’ll never have you doing everything by yourself. Laundry—if you wash, I fold. Dinner—if you cook, I clean. You wanna fuck—I’m down.”

I turn to face him, meeting his gaze, and I smile.

This fucking man.

“I’ll see you upstairs,” I whisper before heading toward the stairs, the weight of Zoe on my chest as I carry her up to her room. It’s a quiet walk, the soft click of my feet on the stairs is the only sound as I move through the house, holding our daughter close to me. When I reach Zoe’s room, I carefully settle her small body on the changing table, swap her diaper with a fresh one and put her in a onesie and sleep sack.

The room smells of lavender and fresh sheets. She lets out a small sigh as I lay her in her crib, her eyelids fluttering as she falls asleep almost immediately. I stand there for a moment, watching her—this tiny, beautiful person who I’ve somehow become responsible for.

My heart swells with a mixture of love and protectiveness that still catches me off guard. She’s mine, in a way, and I’ll protect her with everything I have. I’ll protect this family with everything I have.

When I leave her room, I head down the hallway to the room Gage originally set up for me and grab some clothes, and just as I stop outside his—I mean—our room, I hear Gage’s voice low and steady.

“Come on,Hermosa. Tu esposo te está esperando.”

His words send a jolt of anticipation through me, and I make my way into the room, my pulse quickening.

I enter the room and I’m met with the warm glow of the bedside lamps, casting a soft light on Gage’s chiseled features. He’s sitting on the bed, his eyes fixed on me, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. The air is charged with an undeniable tension, and I can feel the heat of his gaze like a caress on my skin.

I walk towards him, my heart pounding in my chest, my senses heightened. The sound of my footsteps on the floor seems amplified, and I’m aware of every movement, every breath. Gage’s eyes never leave mine, his intensity drawing me in.

As I reach the bed, he stands up, his movements fluid and deliberate. He towers over me, his broad shoulders and chest making me feel small and vulnerable. But I’m not afraid. I’m drawn to him, to the power and strength that emanates from him.

He takes a step closer, his face inches from mine. I can feel the heat radiating from his body, the scent of his skin and the faint hint of soap and shampoo. My pulse quickens, my breath catching in my throat.

“You are so beautiful and all mine, Ale.”

I look up at him, my eyes locking onto his. The connection between us is palpable—a spark of electricity that seems to arc through the air. I can feel the anticipation building, the tension coiling inside me like a spring.

Without a word, Gage reaches out and gently brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sends a jolt of pleasure through me, and I feel myself leaning into him, my body craving more.

He smiles—a slow, seductive smile that makes my heart skip a beat. “Can I kiss you, Ale?” he whispers, his breath hot against my skin. “Can I kiss my wife?”

I nod and he pulls me into a kiss that leaves me breathless and wanting more. Our lips touch and the world around us melts away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the moment. Gage’s kiss is like a storm, intense and all-consuming, sweeping me up in its passion. I feel myself getting lost in the depths of his eyes, the spark between us igniting a fire that threatens to consume us both.

His hands roam over my body, tracing the curves of my waist, the swell of my hips, and the softness of my skin. Every touch sends a little electric pulse, every caress ignites a new flame of desire. I feel myself arching into him, my body craving more, my heart pounding in my chest.

“My wife,” Gage mumbles before deepening the kiss, his tongue tangling with mine, the sensation sending waves of pleasure crashing over me. I feel like I’m drowning in the depths of his passion, like I’m being swept away by a tidal wave.

We break apart for air and Gage’s eyes lock onto mine and he takes a step closer, his body inches from mine, the heat radiating from him like a furnace.

---