Page 21

I glance at the path heading into the woods.

It’s neatly-groomed, the small shrubs and wild grasses trimmed back on either side and the soil packed down with faint rake lines still drawn into it.

The surrounding trees provide a welcome shade from the midday sun overhead, and the cheerful chittering of birds offers a welcome invitation to venture within.

“Where are we going?” I ask. “Just for a walk?”

“Sort of.” Gage drops my hand to loop his arm around my waist. Just like the last time, I do the same. Could I really hold Gage up if he fell, given his size compared to mine? Maybe. Possibly. But I’d try my best.

Gage smiles as he looks over at me, pleasure tinging his cheeks pink. Then he kisses my cheek. “Thanks, Ror,” he says quietly, his breath a whisper against my skin.

After a moment’s silence, he adds, “I thought we could walk past my favorite spot. And then I have a surprise a little further in.”

“Okay.” Happiness bubbles up in my chest. “I can’t wait.”

For the next few minutes, we walk along the path, talking about easy things like the weather and playing World of Warcraft —which we’re tentatively planning to do this weekend—and the latest updates I’ve gotten from Isla about little Dove, who’s now two months old and absolutely adorable.

It feels good, being with Gage like this. Like how it’s always been, but… better. Because now we’re touching. Not just a brush of a finger while I hand something to him or the accidental bump against his hip, but something different. Intentional. Affectionate.

I know it’s only been maybe ten minutes into our first official date, but already my worries are a distant memory.

Whenever Gage looks over at me, it’s not in judgment, but appreciation.

Every so often, he’ll lean down to press another kiss to my hair.

And he’s so protective—steering me around small branches and rocks, waving away bugs that dare come near me, and his gaze sweeping the woods around us, searching for any possible threat.

“This is what convinced me I’d like living here,” Gage says.

“Walking through the woods. I wasn’t sure in the beginning.

Back at my old place up in Glover, I could walk for an hour without coming across anyone.

Here… I know ten acres sounds like a lot, but with three cabins, Enzo’s house, HQ, and the store, things are closer than you’d think. ”

“I know what you mean.” Although where we are now, tucked back into the thick of the woods, feels pretty isolated. “My house is on five acres, and I thought that sounded so big before I moved there. Then I realized I could walk to my closest neighbor in less than ten minutes.”

He nods. “Yeah. I mean, in the woods, it feels more private. And Knox did a great job choosing the best locations for the cabins, so they all have their own space. I would have stayed here, regardless, because I really wanted to be close to the team. But then I took my first walk through here and I knew it would be okay.”

“Because of your favorite spot?”

“Partly. And partly because it’s just so quiet here.” A blue jay’s loud call breaks through the relative silence, and Gage chuckles. “Most of the time.”

“That’s one of the reasons I decided to live here.

” I smile at the bright splash of red as a cardinal bursts from a tree up ahead.

“I visited a few different properties when I was looking to buy. One outside Bennington, another near Saint Johnsbury. And the one here, of course. The others were fine, but I didn’t get the same feel from them. Like I was living in nature.”

The path splits, and we take the branch to the left. The ground slopes down as we walk, and Gage’s arm tightens around my waist, holding me steady. Then, like an oasis appearing in the desert, a sparkling pond appears in a break of trees.

“Like this?” Gage asks with a smile. He looks out at the water before turning his attention back to me. “This is my favorite spot. I know it’s not big, but there’s just something about the water…”

It’s not a big pond, maybe twenty feet wide in the middle, but I can immediately see why Gage likes it so much.

It’s peaceful, the water a crystalline blue, edged with lush green and pops of yellow and purple.

A breeze catches the surface of the sun-kissed water, sending shimmering ripples across it.

“Sometimes I’ll come here at night,” Gage continues. “If I can’t sleep or it’s too late to get online with the guys. If the moon is out, it casts this reflection on the water, and it feels almost…”

“Magical?” I offer. “I can see that. If I had a pond like this in my backyard, I’d want to go out there all the time, too.”

Gage goes quiet as we walk closer to the pond and look out at it. In profile, his features are still and pensive. His thumb rubs softly along my side. “Something you said the other day,” he starts. “About leaving.”

“I was just upset.”

“I know.” He turns his head towards me. “But it got me thinking. When this is over, will you stay? In Bliss? After everything… You might want to start someplace new. Without the bad memories.”

My heart catches. “Are you saying?—”

“No. I meant what I said, Ror. I want to see where this goes between us. No matter where you live. But… Well. It doesn’t matter what I want. All that’s important is you’re happy.”

I gaze back out at the water, collecting my thoughts. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it. Going back to my house after everything… It’s scary. But I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to get chased away. If I can, I want to stay.”

“I’ll help you. Whatever you need.” Gage’s expression is earnest. Determined. “Alec’s company should have the security system finished up by the end of the week. I can ask Knox to help with a fence around the property. And?—”

“Gage. A fence around five acres? I have money, but not to spend on something like that.”

“He would donate the time,” he replies quickly. “We could get the materials at cost. It wouldn’t be that much. And I could help. I get money from the Army, you know. Plus my salary from the two jobs I have now, and all my savings… I’m not rich, exactly. But I’m comfortable. I could help.”

“Gage.” My throat goes thick. “I couldn’t ask you?—”

“You wouldn’t be asking, Ror. I’m offering. If it helps you feel safe.” He pauses. “I know it’s soon. But there’s just…”

“What?”

“Maybe I shouldn’t say it.”

“You can tell me anything.”

Gage draws in a deep breath. “I just feel like… this thing between us. It’s special. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. And I… I just want to make you happy. To make sure you feel safe. Protected. Even if you decide you’d rather be friends, that won’t change.”

Oh.

Warmth blossoms in my chest.

My heart melts.

If friends is all I can have of Gage, I’ll take it.

But I definitely want more.

Gathering a courage I didn’t realize I had, I turn to Gage and cup the back of his nape, pulling his head down towards mine. And before he can react, I kiss him, not tender and slow this time, but hard and hungry.

It’s a desperate kiss, almost uncoordinated, our teeth bumping and tongues lashing.

Imitating what Gage did yesterday, I lightly bite his lower lip and he growls, low and deep in the back of his throat.

I feel him hardening, his arousal pressing into my belly.

I clutch at his shoulders, hanging on for balance as I throw myself into the kiss.

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 kissed you . 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 of Too Cute while 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.”