Engaging (Alluring Book 2) (20 page)

"I don't give a fuck!"  Gage yelled, into his phone.  Cassie had to turn her head away so he wouldn't see her smile.  He'd been yelling at the person on the other end of the line for the last ten minutes.  She didn't know what had been said on the other end, she just knew she was glad she wasn't on it.

Cassie sat at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee while going through her e-mails that she had neglected over the last few days.  She had already checked on her pups, feeding them and giving them fresh water and in about an hour, she would go out and work with her pit bulls.  First, she had wanted to catch up on her correspondence.  Gage had the same idea, but he obviously didn't like what he found.

Cassie watched out of the corner of her eye as he paced the kitchen floor.  "Listen, I told you weeks ago what I wanted it to look like.  The artwork you sent me this morning was shit."  There was a slight pause then Gage said, "I don't give a fuck about that either.  If they can't or won't do what I want, find another artist.  There's a shit ton of them out there."  At this point, he threw out his arm for emphasis, although the person on the other end of the line couldn't see that. 

Cassie couldn't stop her giggle.  Gage looked over at her and gave her a flashy smile.  "I've got to go," he said into the phone, but his eyes were on Cassie.  "I expect new artwork by the end of next week.  Oh, and Leo, it better be right next time."  He tucked his phone into his back pocket before advancing on her.  "You thought that was funny?"  He asked in a menacing growl.

"Well...," she said, still smiling. 

He came at her from the front, grabbing hold of the chair back, and tipping it onto two legs.  Cassie shrieked (and yes it was a girly shriek).

"Well, what?"  He asked, burying his face in her neck.

"Well, that was a little over the top.  Don't you think?"  She said, in between giggles.

"Believe me, if you had to deal with my agent on a daily basis, you would be yelling, too."

He dropped her chair back down to all fours before scooping her up into his arms.  "What are you doing?"

"I'm taking you to the bedroom, stripping you naked, and then I'm going to fuck you.  In exactly that order."

"I have to work with my dogs,"  she said, halfheartedly.

"Yeah well, I'm going to work you first, then you can work the dogs."

Cassie let out a dramatic sigh while tipping her head back.  "Oh, all right."

Gage chuckled.  "You know how hard that smart mouth of yours makes me.  That just cost you a blow-job."

"Only one?  I must be losing my touch."

"Keep it up, Sunshine, and my dick will never leave your mouth."

"Promises.  Promises."

An hour later than she wanted to be, Cassie was out in the private dog run working with her two new pit bulls.  They didn't have names when she received them, so she named the female Patches because she had patch-like markings on her fur and the male dog, Spike (for no reason other than she liked the name). 

Rick, one of her volunteers, walked over and started a conversation that soon had her laughing.  She had known Rick for a little over a year.  He was nice, cute in a boyish sort of way, and very funny, having a really good sense of humor.  He also dealt really well with the dogs, having a gentle hand but firm voice.

She felt a hand encircle the back of her neck and Gage's arm came over her shoulder with his hand extended.  She heard his rumbly voice behind her.  "Gage Hunter." 

She craned her neck to look at him.  He had that look on his face again.  The one that said, "I am the
man
.  This is my
woman
. Back off."  She sighed, she
so
would not put up with that.  Rick was a nice guy and did not deserve to be treated with
Gage-a-tude.

Rick was already shaking Gage's hand, all smiles, introducing himself.  "Hey, dude, you're the lead singer of Engage.  I have all your songs downloaded.  You rock!"  He looked at Cassie.  "I didn't know you knew Gage Hunter.  That's so cool."

"Cassie knows me
very
well," Gage answered, before she could.

She craned her neck again and said through gritted teeth, "
Gage.
"

Rick was oblivious and kept rambling.  "You should have said you knew a famous rock star, Cassie.  It would be really cool to get an autograph.  Oh, and maybe a T-shirt signed by the whole band.  That would be awesome."

Even Gage, in all his macho man glory, couldn't compete with the
cheerful
power that Rick possessed.  She felt then heard him chuckling behind her.

"I'll see what I can do, man."  He pulled Cassie tighter to him and wrapped his arm around her chest.

"That would be great,"  Rick took a step back.  "Well, I guess I'd better go finish my rounds.  It was nice meeting you.  Catch ya later, Cassie."

Cassie waited for Rick to walk away before she rounded on Gage.  "You need to stop doing that."

"What did I do?"  To his credit, he really did look confused.

"Giving the evil eye to Rick, or any other man that happens to look my way or talk to me is not cool, Gage."

"Just marking my territory, Sunshine.  Don't have a problem with men talking to you, so long as they know their place.  And I let them know their place,"  he took her by the upper arms and drew her closer, leaning his head in, speaking low into her ear, "by giving them the evil eye."

"That's barbaric."

He pulled his head back and gave her a fierce stare.  "Barbaric or not, that's the way it is, Sunshine.  It's a man's universal language.  They get it, and they respect it and if they don't, they know they're asking for trouble."

"So you're going to be growly and handsy every time a guy talks to me?"

"Absolutely."

Cassie sighed, knowing she should just give up.  "Was there a reason you're here, other than to scare off Rick?"

Gage chuckled, "Not really."  Wow, the man didn't even look contrite.

"Then if you don't mind, I'm going back to work."

He gave her one last squeeze and a forehead kiss before releasing her.  "I'll see you back at the house, Sunshine," he said, before casually walking away.

Cassie watched him go.  She couldn't help it.  He looked good from behind, darn him.

"So, you're telling me, some crazy person threw a brick at your window, spray painted your car, and maybe tampered with some hose thingie, and now you're living with Gage?"

Cassie looked around the playground to see if anyone stared at them.  Sam's voice had gotten rather shrill toward the end of that statement.  Some lady on the next bench over gave her a small smile.  Cassie smiled weakly back.  "I'm not living with him.  I'm only staying there a few days until my aunt gets back from vacation." 

Sam's eyes moved to where Gage stood, pushing Logan and Kyle on the swings, then her eyes cut back to Cassie.  "Does he know that?"

Cassie huffed and rolled her eyes.  "Yes, he knows that."

"So, what's going on with you two?  And don't tell me nothing, because I know there's something."

Cassie sighed, "I don't know.  He says we're in a relationship whether I like it or not, but I can't seem to get my brain to go along with the program of giving Gage a second chance."

Sam gave her a serious look.  "People change.  I've known Gage a few years now, and while he's not a saint, he's definitely not a sinner."

"That's not the problem.  I know he's a good guy, and he's great with Logan.  It's just that things were really great when we were together the first time, too and then they weren't.  How do I know what's good now isn't going to have the same result?"

Sam thought about that for a moment before she spoke.  "Well, no one can predict the future, but I do know people grow the older they get.  Priorities change.  You can't tell me you're the same person you were the first time you were together with Gage, and I'm sure he's not the same person either."  Sam paused a moment before she continued.  "You said your head couldn't give him a second chance, but what is your heart saying?"

"My heart has always belonged to Gage.  There hasn't been a day in the last five years that I haven't thought about him, wondered how he was.  But when he left, he left gaping holes in my heart.  It took a long time for me to patch those holes, and I don't know if I have it in me to heal them again if he rips them open once more."  Cassie's eyes pleaded with her friend.  "Please tell me you understand."

Sam leaned forward, surrounded Cassie in a hug, and whispered in her ear.  "I do understand, but sometimes you have to take a chance.

Chapter Sixteen

Sam's words echoed through Cassie's mind from the park back to Gage's house.  Gage had called her stubborn, and Sam had told her to take a chance.  Maybe she was guarding her heart too closely.  Maybe she should give Gage a second chance, let him back in.  Maybe she was wrong to deny herself another shot at happiness.

She was so wrapped in her thoughts, she didn't realize the car had stopped, and they were parked in front of Gage's house.

"Sunshine?"  Gage asked, grabbing her attention.

She looked over her shoulder at Logan in the backseat to see his attention was fully absorbed by the DVD he watched.  She turned her attention back to Gage.  "Okay, you win.  I'll give us a second chance.  I just hope to God, I'm not making the biggest mistake of my life." 

Gage watched her for a full five seconds before dropping his forehead to hers.  He let out a heavy sigh, "I promise, you will not regret this decision."

That night, after putting Logan to bed, Gage found Cassie in the living room.  He took her hand and led her through his bedroom and into the bathroom.  He'd filled the tub and turned on the jets.   Bubbles shot through the steamy water.  

Gage slowly peeled away her clothes and then his own, all without saying a word.  She felt the need to say something, but she wasn't sure what.  He looked thoughtful and serious, and she worried if she spoke, he would say something she wasn't ready to hear.  So instead, she contributed to the silence.

He dimmed the lights before pulling her to the tub and carefully placing her in the hot swirling water.  He stepped in behind her, pulling them down, so they were seated with him at her back, his arms and legs wrapped around her.  He leaned over and pumped body-wash into the palm of his hand.  Her hair, piled in a messy bun atop her head, left her neck and back exposed to his touch.  She felt his hands brush across her shoulders, down her spine, and back up to rub down her arms.  A strong musky scent, Gage's scent, filled the air as he continued to lather her.  Her nipples peeked through the foam he created on her chest, and she watched as bubbles slid into the clear water, sailing away on the ripples the jets created.

And still he said not a word.  His teeth captured her lobe, his lips sucking it deep as his hand slid down her stomach through the water, finding her, his fingers skimming through her folds before entering her.  The fingers of his other hand plucked at her nipple, squeezing and rolling it as he ground himself against her backside.

Cassie's head fell back against his shoulder, her neck no longer able to support its weight, as his fingers brought her closer to the edge.  He turned her, raising her body out of the water before lowering her onto his shaft thrusting deep while claiming her mouth in a rough, wet kiss. 

Her hands sought his shoulders for support as she moved herself on him, Gage's hands tightly clutching her hips for added stability.  She was close, she could feel it coming, her body tensing, getting ready to explode.  And then it hit her, and she shuddered as wave after wave rippled through her body.

Gage directed her hips for a few more thrusts before he too found his release.

And only then did he speak.  Cradling the back of her head in his hand, holding it close to his neck, his cheek resting against her temple, he said, "Tell me you're mine."

Not having the energy to say anything more, she whispered, "I'm yours."

The house was dark and quiet as Cassie and Logan snuck downstairs to the kitchen to make Gage breakfast.  It was Father's Day, it would be Gage's first, and she wanted to make it special. 

She had the whole day planned.  First, breakfast in bed, then a quick run to the ranch to check on the dogs, and last, Cassie had booked a day of horseback riding at a small dude ranch about thirty miles outside Las Vegas.  She remembered it was something Gage had liked to do, and Logan had never been on a horse before, so she thought it would be fun for the two of them. 

The last few days they had fallen into a routine.  They would take Logan to school then head to the ranch where Cassie worked with her dogs while Gage took care of whatever business he needed to take care of.  They would go back to Gage's after picking Logan up from school, and Gage would give him a swimming lesson while Cassie made dinner.  Then they would put Logan to bed and it would be alone time for them.  Sometimes they would snuggle on the couch and watch TV, other times they would snuggle in bed.  Cassie found she liked spending her time with Gage and hoped she didn't regret her growing dependence of him.