Page 69 of Oracles Always Win

“Don’thide from me.Iwant you to look at me.Iwant you to see me.”

Myeyes sprang open, butIwas still under the blanket soIcouldn’t see anything. “Uh…What?”

“Lookat me.”Gage’sdeep voice rumbled through the quiet room.

Isucked in a quick breath.Theblanket carriedGage’sscent.Atsome point earlier today, when we were talking about the stink the bombs had left behind,HaydenmentionedGagesmelled like brimstone and ash to him, but he didn’t smell like that to me.No.Tome,Gagesmelled of home, of the way the air smelled on a blistering hot summer day, of red-hot charcoals on the barbecue, of my favorite blanket right from the dryer.

“Jake?”Gagesaid, so softlyIalmost didn’t hear it.

Idrew the blanket down my face until just my eyes were exposed.

“Watchme,”Gagesaid. “Iwant your eyes on me.”

Theintense way he stared into my eyes made my body come alive.ThenIcouldn’t look away again, even ifItried.Heleisurely peeled away the rest of his clothing, as if savoring the way my gaze caressed him.

Whenhe was bare of everything except a tight pair of black boxer briefs,Gagestood at the end of the bed and let me look at him.SoIdid.Mygaze flowed down his sculpted chest, cascaded over the ripples of his defined stomach muscles, slid along the vee of hisAdonisbelt, then stumbled over the very noticeable and generous bulge at the apex of his legs.Andthat was it.Myeyes wouldn’t move on.Theywere stuck there.Staringat the outline of his cock as it strained against the tight fabric.

Ilicked my lips.

Gagereached down and adjusted himself.Iwas pretty sureIwhimpered at the sight of his long thick fingers wrapped around the long thick line of his dick.Gagegrinned.

“Nottonight,” he said.

Iswallowed. “IwishIhad more energy to argue with you, butIdon’t want our first time together to be any more disappointing than necessary.”Feigninga boldnessIdidn’t really feel,Ipulled the bedding aside and patted the mattress. “Comeon.Let’sget some sleep.”

Gagecrawled over the mattress until he was beside me.Thenhe adjusted the blanket over his body, hiding all his beautiful skin and muscles from view.Wefaced one another andIwas once again struck by the intimacy of being with him like this.

“BeforeIturn off the light,Ineed to look you in the eye and address what you just said.Idon’t know what happened to you in the past, butIwill never be disappointed by anything we do together.Ican’t say it bothers me to hear that your past experiences weren’t great.ButIcan see it bothers you.ThewayIsee it, though, whoever you were with wasn’t your person.Butyou and me?Iknow it’s fast, butIthink there could be something more here between us.Ifyou want it.Iwon’t pressure you, but whatever you want to offer,Iwant that with you.”

Inodded.Igot the sense he had more he could say, butIdidn’t press him for details.Iwas too tired to have a deep conversation.ButIcouldn’t deny the way his words filled me with hope.

Couldhe bemyperson?Mymother had scoffed at the idea of soulmates and had done her best to indoctrinate me to believe the same, butIcouldn’t ignore the wayIfelt aroundGage.Myreaction to him was unlike anythingI’dever experienced.

“Ithink it’ll be different with you too,”Iwhispered, scared to voice my hopes too loudly. “I’mjust…Inthe past, it wasn’t…Iwasn’t…”

“You’reallIwant.Nothingmore, nothing less,” he soothed when it was clearIwas having trouble finding words, andImelted a little inside. “Ifwe decide to do more, we will learn about each other together.That’sallIwant.Iwant to know what you like.Whatmakes you moan.Whathas you begging for more.Ican’t think of anything better.”

“Yes.”Igulped. “Iwant to know all that about you too.”

TheredI’dcome to associate with his demon form washed over his eyes at my breathless confession.Ishivered and inched closer to him.WhydidIfind evidence of his monstrous side so hot?

“Willyou hold me?”

“Iwas hoping you’d let me.”Gagereached up and turned off the light in the room, then he reached under the covers for me.Hiswarm hand collided with my bare chest, causing goosebumps to jump up all over my body. “Areyou chilled?Whydon’t you turn around soIcan hold you tight and warm you up?”

“Notcold,”Imurmured, thenIwiggled closer to him. “Iwant to kiss you.”

Theroom was darkened, but there was still enough light filtering in through the curtains thatIcould see him.Hissteady gaze met mine as he gently slid his hand over me until it rested on my waist.WhenGagedidn’t do anything more,Iwondered ifI’dgotten things mixed up.ButIwas in his bed.Thathad to count for something, right?

“Doyou not want to kiss me?”Isounded needy.

Hisfingers flexed on my waist, then he slid his hand around to my lower back.Hepulled me closer.

“Iwant to do so much more than kiss, butIdon’t think you’re ready for that tonight,” he whispered.

Alittle parade of butterflies started doing the conga in my stomach.Igrinned and reached for him.Myfingers brushed over the dark scruff covering his jaw.WhenIslid them over his cheeks, his eyelids fluttered for a moment, and he hummed as if enjoying my touch.

“You’rebeautiful,”Iwhispered.