Page 33 of Keeper of Hearts
Gage and I don't say much as we hurry up the steps to his room, leaving the lights in the house off. As soon as we cross the threshold into his bedroom, I smile.
It's been a while since I was last in his room, but there are pictures of the two of us everywhere, as if he's covered his walls in his favorite memories. His room is always freakishly neat, unlike mine, and it always smells like him—like citrus and pine and some spice that's uniquely him.
I stride toward his desk, reaching out to run a finger across the teddy bear sitting beside his monitor. "I can't believe you still have this."
"Why wouldn't I?" he asks, pushing the door closed. "You spent a small fortune trying to win that damn bear for me." He turns to me, his lips quirked up into a grin. "The carnie was ready to just give it to you, but you refused to give up until you won it fair and square."
"Well, yeah," I mumble, shrugging. "I couldn't let a dart game beat me."
He chuckles, sauntering toward me. "Butterfly, the dart game at the fair beats everyone. The system is rigged."
"It didn't beat me."
"Nothing ever beats you."
I smile up at him, my heart beating a thousand miles a minute. I'm not nervous, though. Not the way I thought I would be. We've spent the last two weeks fooling around. He's seen what I look like naked. He's made me come on his fingers and his tongue until I begged for mercy. He's ruined me and then put me back together again at every available opportunity. But this is different.
Tonight, I'm giving him another little piece of myself that will be just his. I could be terrible at it. It could be awful. I don't know. But the only thing I'm really nervous about right now iswhat comes next for us. What happens if I have to say bye to him at the end of the summer?
I don't think I'll ever be ready for that.
"I love you," I whisper, tipping my head back to meet his gaze.
"Fuck," he murmurs, his eyes drifting close. "You've said it so many times now, but it's always like the first time, butterfly. There are no sweeter words."
"Really?" My lips curve into a grin as I loop my arms around his shoulders, lifting up on my toes until my breasts are pressed against his hard chest. "I bet I can come up with a few." I let my fingers drift through the hair at the nape of his neck, leaning forward until my lips are at his ear. "Get me naked, Gage."
"Shit," he growls, his hands clamping around my hips.
"Make love to me."
"Troian." His voice is nothing but a warning growl now, like he's on the verge of losing control. That doesn't make me want to behave. I like him like this—all desperate and growly. He's sexy when he's needy. He's even sexier when he's needy and in a suit with the tie hanging loose around his neck.
"I need you inside me."
That one sends him over the edge. He growls so loud I swear the neighbors probably hear it. And I'm no longer standing in front of him. I'm sailing through the air toward the bed, squealing with laughter.
He catches me before I land, pulling me up against his chest. His lips come down on mine in a wild kiss that's more heat and promise than anything. I melt into it, moaning against his lips.
"You're so damn soft," he whispers as he undresses me, carefully sliding the zipper of the dress down until the fabric parts beneath his hands. His lips follow the same path, kissing a trail of fire down my spine.
I arch and tremble, my legs shaking beneath me.
The dress pools at my feet, leaving me in nothing but a pink bra and matching panties.
"Jesus," he groans, pressing into me from behind. I feel his erection against my ass and then his lips at my throat. "You're so goddamn beautiful, butterfly."
"Show me."
He spins me around, cradling me gently in his arms as he spreads me out on his bed. His hands are shaking as he strips out of his suit, leaving it littering the floor in his impatience. His eyes never leave my face the whole time, almost like he can't look away from me.
Once he's naked, I lift my arms, desperate to feel him against me again. I want him to hold me, to love me until I forget anything but him exists.
"One second," he murmurs, pausing to rifle through his dresser before he stalks toward me, two condoms in his hand.
"You had those for long?" I ask.
"Only since the first time you came on my fingers." He smirks, crawling onto the bed with me. "I was not going to be unprepared in case I was ever fortunate enough to end up here with you." He nuzzles my neck, his lips at my ear. "I have them stashed in my truck, wallet, in your room, in my backpack, and every other goddamn place I could think of, too."
