Page 12 of All Your Lies (All or Nothing #2)

nine

Gage

A s I watch her drift into a satisfied sleep, I long to climb in behind her and feel the softness of her skin against mine, to entwine our bodies between the sheets of her bed.

A groan escapes my throat as I place my thumb in my mouth, indulging in her exquisite taste that still lingers.

I’ve fantasized about what she gave me tonight for as long as I can remember.

The combination of her obedience while counting through the ball gag, and the heat from my hand on her perfect ass sent a wave of exhilaration through me.

Despite her lack of understanding, her body longs for the embrace of submission. I sensed it the night at the club and felt it again tonight. There’s an internal struggle within her mind, but only until she surrenders to the pleasure and relinquishes control.

Moving closer, I take the same thumb and run it along her pouty lips before rubbing away the rest of her tears. I’ll only ever make her cry tears of unadulterated joy and ecstasy.

When I got out of prison, I observed her and noted how she had become a mere shadow of her former vibrant self. I noticed a difference in her demeanor—she seemed more reserved, not exuding the confident aura that I was familiar with her having.

I don’t know when it started, but I know Marco was one of the reasons for the change in her. He treated her like shit when all she ever wanted was his love and acceptance. He threw it away like he’s always done.

8 YEARS AGO

My brother Marco and I are in my father’s office. As we’ve grown, we’ve been coming in here more and more lately for meetings, as my father likes to call them.

Most include unpleasant teaching methods that leave us with scars. Mentally and physically.

I hate the motherfucker I call my father.

He’s so formal and detached from his emotions.

One day, I’m going to kill him. Mom will be upset.

Which is the only reason I haven’t tried it yet.

I still don’t understand what my mother sees in him.

He’s an intimidating man, well over six feet, with dark features, a god complex, and a sadistic mind.

We’re learning about the family business and what our roles will be in the organization once we’re of age in a few short years.

The future we have ahead of us will be very dark.

A broad spectrum of very illegal and morally black activities we will not only take part in, but reign over.

One that I will try to keep my sister, Ro, away from.

She’s not meant for this life. She’s meant for her happily ever after she always talks about with hearts in her eyes.

“You can’t be serious, Dad,” Marco says with an upset huff.

“What gave you any indication I’ve ever been anything besides serious?”

“I don’t want to marry her. I barely even like her.”

My heated gaze swings to my brother like he’s grown a second head. He’s such a douche.

“I don’t give a fuck whether you like her or not. It’s your duty as a part of this family.”

“Why does it have to be me? Why can’t it be him?” My brother hikes his finger over at me.

“I’ll do it,” I say with a shrug, not giving away how on edge I am. Alexa isn’t someone who should be discarded. She’s special. Any man who ends up with her one day should be thrilled. She has an amazing personality, is pretty, and makes me laugh.

“Absolutely not. Your brother was the firstborn and will take the responsibility. You will be his right hand, and I will find you someone suitable to marry when the time comes.”

“He was born three minutes before me. That’s hardly considered the old—”

“I refuse to listen to this anymore. The decision is final.” My father cuts me off and lays down the law. “Now leave and change your attitudes before I find a way to change them.” With that, we’re dismissed.

We make our way out of the office and up to the game room, which also houses a huge theater screen.

Laughter carries from down the hall, and I instantly make out Alexa’s sweet little laugh. A lovely melody that always brings a smile to my face.

They’re sitting on the overstuffed white couches and watching some comedy that has them rolling. Alexa’s whole face lights up, and her eyes sparkle when she laughs. I can’t help but watch her with awe.

Marco comes up to my side. “This whole thing blows. Why do I have to be the oldest?”

“This isn’t a bad thing. You’re lucky you’re ending up with her. At least you’ve known her all your life. She won’t be a stranger you have to marry,” I say in a hushed tone. I don’t want her to know any of this. It would upset her if she learned Marco’s opinion of her.

“You should marry her then,” Marco says with a bite in his tone.

“I tried. You heard our father,” I say with displeasure.

I don’t see what the big deal is. If we have to marry into her family, why can’t it be me? My father’s reasoning makes little sense, but nothing ever does with him. It’s like he hates me and wants me to be miserable.

“You didn’t try hard enough. You never do. I’ll figure out a way to change this on my own. No way I’m letting this happen,” he says with one last scathing look over at Alexa before walking out.

I swear I want to strangle him. He doesn’t deserve to be a leader or have her. He’s weak and lazy.

I make my way over to the girls and decide to sit closer to Alexa on purpose.

Like I always do.

We’re about two feet apart, but the moment I sit down, I get that same feeling. The electricity that zaps between her and me.

The yearning to get closer to her, to touch her, keeps me on edge for the rest of the movie.

Rosie has since fallen asleep and is lightly snoring on the chaise lounge along the other side of the couch.

The credits are rolling, and the room is shrouded in darkness, besides the white from the lettering on the screen.

I take a chance and gaze over at her. She’s looking straight ahead and seems to be in deep thought.

“Hey, Lex,” I whisper and reach out to touch her arm. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” she says with a bright smile that makes my heart beat faster.

“I just made a new playlist. Do you want to listen with me?” I ask as I reluctantly remove my hand from her arm and grab my phone.

Alexa and I have the same taste in music, so I’m always making new playlists and saving them on my old iPod for her to listen to.

“Duh.” She grabs the remote and presses mute before jumping back on the couch and closer to me. We’re now sitting side by side, shoulders almost touching.

From her proximity, I can smell her sweet candy and coconut perfume I love so much.

Last winter, I let her borrow my jacket one night when she was cold.

When I got it back, it had this exact scent.

I smelled it until her scent, unfortunately, faded away.

That sounds creepy, but she makes me happy, and I love being in her presence.

Thoughts of her never go away. They play on repeat, just like my favorite songs.

I still don’t know the moment I fell for her, but I did.

My crush is turning into something more powerful. Something that’s sure to burn me alive and leave me in pain forever. She isn’t mine to have, but I can’t help but gravitate toward her.

Moments alone with her are rare, but when I get them, I cherish each second like it might be my last.

I hit the first song on my playlist, and the surround sound speakers pick it up at once. I watch her face as she hears the first song.

The song talks about finding your love while I’m busy looking at mine. Her head bobs to the music, making her hair shimmy around her shoulders. She’s so cute, and she doesn’t even try.

It reminds me of when I was watching her dance around in my mother’s garden one night with Rosie.

It was impossible to ignore, or perhaps I should say hear, considering they were screaming a song at the top of their lungs into the sky while dancing around in the rain.

Perhaps that’s when I first realized Lex was more than a friend.

She had a dark green dress that swayed in the wind as her hips moved. Her hair was longer back then and a little wild. Her fair skin looked so pretty under the moonlight, like an ethereal goddess.

Then, the dress started molding to her body from the rain, her hair sticking to her skin.

I remember wanting to be the rain droplets, covering her body completely with mine.

I register her staring right at me as a different song plays on the speakers.

When did the other song end?

A wave of regret washes over me. I should savor every second with her and not daydream.

“Whatcha looking at, silly?” she asks with a huge smile.

Your beautiful face.

“Nothing,” I blurt before averting my eyes. I can’t believe she caught me staring, and I didn’t notice.

There goes the electricity popping between us again. I wonder if she can feel it too. I gaze back over, right into her big doe eyes.

I find myself mesmerized, unable to avert my gaze. The lyrics combined with her proximity are maddening.

With a slow, deliberate move, I inch my hand closer to hers until our fingers nearly touch. Her eyes stay trained on me, but I can see her chest heaving. She feels it too. She has to.

I decide to take the moment further, because if I don’t, I’ll probably die. I slowly move my hand on top of hers and thread our fingers together, rubbing the side of her pinky finger with my thumb.

Her skin under my hand is so soft, and fits in mine like it was made for my hand.

She inhales deeply as she looks down at our joined hands. The tension in the air is thick.

Her fingers squeeze mine before she gazes back up at me.

I’ve never been closer to her than right now. My heart is beating a mile a minute. I lean in closer to her, and she does the same. Our foreheads touch, and our lips are inches apart. I move my mouth closer to hers until our lips are touching, just barely. Like a secret whispered between lovers.

Someone flips the switch, bathing us in light.

We jerk apart like we’re doing something wrong.

But why does it feel so right?

Alexa looks over at me with her fingers on her lips, and her eyes heated in a way I’ve never seen.

“What’s going on, guys? Why’re you in the dark?” I glare at Marco, conveying my annoyance.

The wrong twin is going to end up with the treasure.