Page 52 of Mountain Defender

One big hand cradles the back of my head, tunneling gentle fingers through my hair. The other comes to my ass, cupping it as he tugs me even closer to him.

My womb clenches. Dampness builds between my thighs. My nipples draw into hard peaks and my core throbs, aching to be filled.

Gage’s tongue is magical, wicked, making me feel things I thought an impossibility.

I’ve never felt this kind of desire before. Never wanted a man this badly.

I thought I didn’t need intimacy. But I was so wrong. All those years, I just hadn’t met the right person yet. And once I met him, I lacked the courage to do anything about it.

Yes. It’s early. Our first date, in fact. But deep down, in my heart of hearts, I think Gage might be the one.

I keep kissing him, tasting him, feeling the bunch of muscle beneath my fingers and the hard planes of his chest against my sensitive nipples. His hard length prods at me, and I briefly contemplate a daredevil leap into his arms so I can feel it nudge at my core.

My body is shouting in silence, begging for more.

Am I brave enough to expose everything? The scars on my body I’m so careful to hide?

I might be. With Gage, it might be okay.

And then, amid the hurricane of sensation, the eye comes.

Gage breaks the kiss and gazes down at me with nearly-black eyes. Twin spots of red are high on his cheeks. A quick glance downward shows a large bulge beneath his waist. His chest is heaving in rhythm with mine.

He palms my cheek, his hand cool on my overheated skin. “Are you okay, Ror?”

My brows pinch in confusion. “Yes. Why?”

“I don’t want to rush you,” he replies. Self-recrimination laces his tone. “I should have slowed things down. It’s our first date. And?—”

“Gage. I kissedyou. Did you get any sense that I wanted to stop?”

A pause, and then, “No. But I just want to be sure.”

I hold his gaze. “You weren’t rushing me. At all. I promise.”

He stares at me for a second, assessing. Then he gives me a hesitant smile. “Okay. But if I ever?—”

“I’ll tell you. But don’t worry.” Turning my lips into his hand, I kiss his palm. “I trust you, Gage. And I feel safe with you.”

“Ror.”His smile stretches bigger. “I always want you to feel safe with me.” He leans in to kiss me, just a quick brush of our lips this time. “Now. This isn’t supposed to be the whole date. I have more planned.”

“Like what?”

“I set up the gazebo. With flowers and a picnic lunch. I thought we could eat, talk?—”

“And kiss some more?” I ask hopefully.

“That too,” he answers with a grin. “And after, I thought we could go to my place. Bring over Toby and Elmore to hang with Dewey. And I could show you the flight simulator with the VR goggles. Just for a few minutes, since you’re still technically recovering. Then we can watch some episodes ofToo Cutewhile we have dinner, and?—”

Gage’s face goes adorably flustered, the first time I’ve ever seen him that way. “Is that too much? Maybe I shouldn’t be planning an entire day-long date. If you’d rather go home after the picnic, that’s fine, too.”

The rest of the day with Gage? Is there even a question of my answer?

“I think your idea sounds perfect,” I tell him with a smile. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”

CHAPTER 10

GAGE