Page 98 of Pick Me
Ms. Fortnum’s face broke out into a wide smile. “I always knew you had it in you, Knox Sunday. Leave Gage’s keys with me and I’ll call Hiram myself.” She winked. “I’ll tell them to send the bill to Sunday Orchard.”
“Perfect,” I agreed.
She held out a key, but before I could grab it, she feinted left to catch a glimpse of Gage. “Gage, I never did tell you what sort of student Knox was, did I?”
Gage moved around me, curiosity caught. “No, ma’am, you never did.” He side-eyed me. “I still say it was paste eating.”
I stuck a single finger in the beltloop of his pants right above his ass and hauled him back against me.
“Itwasn’tpaste eating,” I growled, and his breathing hitched.
“He was the protective one.” She winked at me over Goodman’s head. “The one who’d give up everything to make sure everyone he loved was safe and happy. To make sure he didn’t let anyone down. I’m glad he has someone looking out for him now.”
I blinked at her, stunned, for one beat and then another while Gage beamed up at me.
“I can see that,” he said softly. “And I promise, I will.”
* * *
We stumbled down the hall and into our room, shedding our clothes as we went.
“Did you know you can actually experience hypothermia indoors?” I asked, yanking his shirt off.
“Which is why you’re… undressing me?” Gage asked with his signature cheeky grin.
“It’s important to get these wet clothes off. We need to get you warmed up.” I moved my hands to his waistband and tried to focus on removing his clothes instead of memorizing every inch of his still-tan skin with my hungry eyes.
“I’ll trust your expertise in this,” he said, lying back on the bed and wiggling his butt a little to help me peel his pants off. I bit back a groan as he continued. “Because in Florida, we get naked for the opposite reason.”
I closed my eyes for a moment as the image of him stretched out naked on a sunny, sandy beach flashed through my mind.
“Christ,” I muttered under my breath. I was going to have to add “See Goodman naked on a beach” to my bucket list.
“You’re cold, too,” he said with a little mischief in his eyes. “Maybe you need the same hypothermia treatment you’re giving me.”
I met his eyes and saw everything I’d ever wanted in them. Affection, desire, humor, intelligence… joy.
Gage Goodman was full of joy. He radiated it even when he was shivering and covered in goose bumps. I loved that about him. He made me happy,period. And I was going to do everything I could to make sure he was just as happy.
I pinched his ass before leaning in to kiss his cold lips. His laughter faded into our shared kisses while I did my best to warm him inch by inch with my hands on his bare skin.
We tumbled around on the bed, kissing and touching and pulling off the final pieces of clothing before we were completely naked and plenty warmed up.
“Want you,” Gage said breathlessly. “I didn’t… I didn’t let myself hope for this, and I want to feel you… make love to you… knowing it’s real. Maybe that sounds silly, but—”
“It sounds amazing,” I said in a rough voice. This was all too good to be true. “I’m sorry I fought it… you and me.This. It was…”
Gage brushed my hair back from where it hung in my face. “Scary?”
“Terrifying,” I breathed. “I can’t control it. I worried that I wouldn’t be enough for you and you’d want to leave. I worried that I’d hold you back.”
“From what?” he asked, wrapping arms and legs around me to keep me close.
“Having everything you ever wanted. Making a big life for yourself… Your dreams.”
Gage brought my face down until our foreheads pressed together. “I see it’s time to begin reenacting our declarations. I love you, Knox Sunday. I fell in love with your happy-go-lucky smile before I even knew you. Youarethe dream. Youaremy big life.”
I couldn’t say anything past the lump in my throat. Instead, I kissed him gently and tried to pour my heart out through my kisses. I moved my mouth down his body to worship as much of him as I could reach with my lips and tongue. When I finally had him breathless and begging, the way I liked, I flipped him over and shoved his knees under him while raining kisses down his spine.
