on until they’d been cleaned. She’d have to go without until she could get home to change or run the washing machine.
Would Gage want to keep her around after they talked, or would he send her away? She stood in the living room and contemplated whether or not to run the washing machine when he returned.
His eyes immediately landed on the material in her hands and it only took him two seconds to comprehend her nakedness underneath his shirt.
“I need you. Now. Can we talk later?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He dropped her things on the floor and stalked toward her like the predator that he was. Before she could figure out his purpose, he bent and lifted her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. She yelped, dropped her lingerie and tried to catch her towel, but it was gone, too.
“Gage! Put me down, I’m too heavy!”
His t-shirt crept up her thighs and threatened to expose her large ass. She wiggled and tried to pull it back down, but the ending result left her completely uncovered.
“Quit squirming,” he said and smacked her ass hard. His hand easily covered both globes.
Her pussy tingled, betraying her, as mortification set in. Any minute he would glance at her bare bottom and change his mind.
She stilled and waited for him to set her down. Her insecurities surfaced and she kept her gaze on the floor, refusing to look at him.
“Hey,” he lifted her chin with his finger. “What happened? Did I scare you?”
“No,” she shook her head, looking past his shoulder at the wall behind him.
He cupped her chin and turned her head toward him, forcing her to look him in the eye.
“Was it my hand on your ass?”
“No, I…,” she glanced away again, though he held her chin in place.
“You liked it.” It wasn’t a question.
He dropped his hand and studied her. She gripped the shirt in both hands, pulling it tight over her thighs as the tension between them grew. She felt as if he could see straight through to her soul and seconds later he proved her right.
His large hands grabbed the shirt by the neck and ripped it straight down the middle, exposing her naked body. He peeled it off her shoulders and let it fall down her back to the floor. She had no choice but to let go.
“You don’t have to hide from me, Katie. You’re perfect.”
She searched his face, looking for any trace of a lie, but she believed him.
When he leaned down to kiss her, she didn’t stop him.
Like before, he seemed to claim her with his mouth. The kiss was raw and possessive, almost primal, and she loved it. She welcomed his tongue and explored his chest with her hands. She wanted to see all of him, touch him everywhere, and she tugged on his shirt to relay her message. He pulled back enough to rip the shirt over his head before he resumed his delicious assault.
His large hands roamed her back, then slid up her waist to cup her breasts. He brushed her nipples with the pads of his thumbs and she moaned and squeezed her thighs together. She could feel the liquid pooling around her entrance, threatening to escape down her thighs. She’d never been soaking wet from a kiss, but Gage touched her like no man ever had.
She unbuttoned his pants and he pulled back to remove them.
“Get on the bed,” he ordered, pushing the fabric down his huge, tree trunk thighs.
She didn’t hesitate.
She centered herself on the bed, careful to keep her legs closed. He wouldn’t let her get away with it. He joined her on the bed and pushed her knees open. She was fully exposed to him, but suddenly she didn’t care.
Gage was naked before her and she looked her fill. He was a sculpted masterpiece. His lightly tanned skin made him look like a God and there wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body. Muscles she didn’t even know existed roped his large frame, and he moved with a fluidity not expected from someone his size.
“I can see how wet you are, Katie. I have to taste you.”
“Gage—”
Before she could stop him, he licked