Page 81 of Somehow You Knew

A slow smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Is that my new nickname?”

“It’s not new. I’ve been calling you that in my head since the moment I met you…the second time.”

He clenches his fists at his sides, and his eyes drop to my lips, darkening. Then his voice drops to something lethal. “God, I’d love nothing more than to turn your ass red right now.”

A wave of heat rushes through me at those words, pooling low in my stomach, setting every nerve on fire—because Iwantthat. Iwanthim to spank me, to show me how much I get under his skin—I wanthim to admit that he wants me too.

God, this is so messed up.

But hell, I want to see how far I can push him.

So I spin around, bend over the arm of the couch, and push my ass out.

“Fine,” I say, my voice breathy. “Do it. Do whatever you want with me.”

Silence.

The kind that coils tight, charged, humming with restraint about to snap.

I can hear Gage’s breathing—sharp, uneven.

But then he takes a step toward me. Then another.

Finally, I feel his heat right behind me. His hand grazes over my ass—slow, testing, fingers pressing lightly into the curve.

A soft moan of anticipation slips past my lips.

“Fucking hell, Hazel.”

“Touch me, Gage.”

I turn my head slightly, peeking at him over my shoulder, waiting for the sting, the sharp bite of his palm.

But it never comes.

Instead, he backs away from me, brushing a hand through his hair like he’s trying to physically rip himself out of this moment.

“Go to bed, Hazel,” he rasps, turning for the hall.

I whirl around, my pulse hammering. “You’re a coward, Gage Kingston!”

He huffs as he walks away. “Yeah, I am. If you only knew just how much…”

The sound of his bedroom door closing makes me sigh in defeat.

But if there’s one thing I learned tonight, it’s that Gage is holding himself back in more ways than one, and I have a feeling it’s just a matter of time before he snaps.

At this point though, it might just be me that snaps first.

Chapter fourteen

Gage

“That’s it. Hold it right there.” I steady the beam so Penn can drill in the bolt that will hold the structure together. “Perfect.”

Reaching up, I wipe the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. “Fuck. It’s hot out here.”

It’s a sweltering Saturday in July and I’m helping the Sheppard men build the jungle gym for Hazel’s nephew, as promised. The girls started their bachelorette day for Cashlynn early this morning at a spa a few towns over, and later they’re going out drinking at a pub.