Flicking his eyes to me, Gage answered, “Mouth.”

The bartender nodded and placed the lime in my mouth. He took the bottle of tequila and poured it into my belly button. I tried to keep from squirming. I failed. The way Gage was looking at me had me involuntarily rubbing my thighs together. Thus causing some of the alcohol to spill over and run down my sides.

“She’s all yours, sir.” The bartender said, stepping away.

Gage slowly ran his tongue across his top teeth. He bent over top of me. The moment his tongue hit my stomach I had to grip onto the bar to stop myself from running my hands through his hair. He circled my navel slowly, keeping his eyes locked on mine. I couldn’t watch him any longer. I pinched my eyes shut. He nipped just below my navel before sucking the alcohol up. Then his mouth was on mine. Not long enough. When his lips brushed mine he pulled back, the lime wedge in his mouth. What I wouldn’t give to be that lime.

What started out as me trying to turn him on ended up with my turned on, covered in alcohol, and him smirking before he walked away. Fucker!

Six body shots later the girls and I were hopping off the bar, making our way to the bathroom to wipe our sticky stomachs off. Wiping at my stomach Leigha said, “I didn’t expect Gage to do that. He was totally hot in a macho, me is man and she is my woman kinda way.”

“I tried fucking with him but he totally turned it around and turned me on. Now I’ll have to go home and see if my B.O.B still loves me.”

Lydia shook her head. “Screw that. Have you seen some of the men out there?”

Honestly, no. All I’ve seen is Gage since August. “Yeah,” I lied. “I am not going to start my new year off with some random Ronnie from the bar.”

Leigha shook her head. “That’s not what she’s saying. Just dance with a few of them. Caveman Gage will appear and swoop you away. Then y’all can fuck out your frustrations.”

Gage and I might not be the best at communication, but we had the fucking down to perfection. That’s what we did instead of talk. Now we were paying for it. “As much as I would love to have him rip my clothes off and let him have his way with me. We have a lot we need to work out first. I don’t know if we can ever work through our issues.”

“Do you want to be with him?” Lydia asked.

Staring at her like she was a moron, I said, “Duh.”

“Then you’ll make it work. Do you think Jase and I get along all the time? Hell no. He drives me absolutely fucking insane. But, I love him and he’s worth the fight. You just have to ask yourself if Gage is worth the fight. No one can answer that but you.”

Leigha hugged me. “Gage is a great guy. Look at everything he has done for you and Gabe. Hell, look at what he did for my brother and the band. They are recording an album because of him. I know you want to hear him tell you he loves you, but look at all the ways he has shown you he loves you. He loves you, anyone can see that. He’s scared, just like you. And your skittery ass isn’t helping. You can’t run every time something isn’t perfect or you get nervous. He has to know you’re in this, too.”

I hated when my friends were right. Crossing my arms, I sulked. “You know, I really hate when you two are right.”

Lydia smacked my ass. “Get used to it. I’m always right, just ask Jase. Let’s go dance.”

I tossed my wet paper towel into the trash. I wanted to find Gage and dance with him. I wanted to feel him close to me. The girls didn’t give me a chance to look for him. The each grabbed one of my hands and pulled me into the middle of the crowded dance floor. The beat of the music pulsing in my veins.

“The guys will be taking a break soon. You can go find Gage then.” Lydia yelled over the band.

I nodded and started rocking to the beat. I felt hands on my hips, pulling me back. I didn’t fight and kept with my rhythm. Smiling I looked at Leigha and Lydia. They were both laughing and dancing together. Their eyes widened, smiles fell from their faces. They stopped dancing and froze.

“Get the fuck off of her.”

Looking to my left I found Gage. He was inches from me. Looking at the guy behind me I offered an apologetic smile.

“I’ll tell you one last time, Davis. Take your fuckin’ hands off my girl. Now,” Gage bit out.

The guy known as Davis dropped his hands a scooted away. Unphased, he grabbed the next girl and started dancing with her. When I turned back to ask Gage what the hell he was doing, he was gone.

Lydia and Leigha pointed to the bar. Leigha smirked. “Told you. Caveman Gage is hot as fuck.”

Huffing, I stomped in the direction on the bar. Gage was sitting on a stool surrounded by other guys he played football with. Stopping just behind him I tapped his shoulder. He glanced over his shoulder before swinging his legs around to face me.

“Can I help you?” His voice was cocky.

Putting one hand on my hip I flung my other in toward the dance floor. “Yeah. What the fuck was that?

He lowered his head, making me squirm under his heated stare with those bedroom eyes, I shifted on my feet. My panties were soaked. I was pissed.

Leaning in just enough so his breath brushed my ear Gage growled, “Oh sweetheart, don’t be so naive. Your sexiness is so damn distracting. The thoughts I have about you are so fuckin’ filthy the EPA should arrest me.” He lightly bit my earlobe as he leaned back. He took a long pull from his beer. Pulling the bottle from his lips he winked at me and gave me that panty melting smile before turning his attention back to his friends. Like he didn’t have a care in the world, he continued his conversation as if he didn’t just fuck me with his words.

Damn that guy and the things he does to my lady parts…even when I don’t want him to.

Forcing my way between Gage and some huge guy to his right I got the attention of the bartender. “Shots. Tequila. Keep ‘em coming.”

The bartender nodded and grabbed a shot glass, filling it up. I threw it back and sat the glass down. He filled it back up and I swallowed the alcohol, setting the glass back down. We kept up the routine until I had seven shots in me.

Big guy to my right asked, “Darlin’ you sure someone your size should be slammin’ shots back like that?”

I wrapped my arm around his shoulder. “Are chu jusa sweetheart? I’an handle s’alcohol. Dat right, Misser Tucker?” My words sounded like a jumbled mess even to me.

Gage gave a quick nod to the bartender who sat another shot glass on the bar and filled it up. Gage wrapped his mouth around the glass and tossed the glass back. “Don’t worry, Mike. She’s mine. I got her.”

Big guy to my right smiled. Gage and I did three more shots before Leigha joined us. She looked pissed. She grabbed my shot and drank. “Bitch. Get’r own.”

“Fine. I’ll take what she has. A never ending supply please.” Leigha batted her lashes at the bartender.

My head was screaming at me. My stomach wanted to lurch outside of my body. I felt like death. Cracking my eyes open I looked around. I was at Gage’s house. I was in Gage’s bed…alone.

On the nightstand next to me was a thermos of coffee, a bottle of aspirin, and a banana. Using the coffee I took four aspirin and ate half the banana. My stomach was hating me. Against my better judgment I slowly got out of bed. Walking down the hall I heard giggling coming from one of the rooms. You can’t be serious? He puts me in his bed then takes another girl to one of his spare rooms? I had angry and hurt tears fighting my eyes. Trying to get passed the sound as fast as possible I clenched my jaw to stop the pounding in my head and ran down the stairs.

Gage was in the kitchen. How could he be in the kitchen and upstairs at the same time?

“Would you like some bacon?”

I stood stunned. “How did I get here? And, who’s up there?” I pointed toward the ceiling.

Gage gave me the ‘I don’t feel like answer dumbass question looks’ before saying, “Trent and Leigha. How do you think you got here, Annie? I had one of my men drive your car over this morning. You were shitfaced. I wasn’t about to leave you alone in a bar full of horny men and wish you luck. You’re mine.”

Sighing, I shook my head. “No, Gage, I’m not. I don’t think I ever really was.”

He took a few steps toward me and I held my hands up. “Don’t, okay?” I walked passed him and out the back door. 

26

Annie

Picking up a handful of sand I watched as it fell through my fingers. I felt hands rub my shoulders and Gage’s rough voice asked, “You ok?”

I had to do this. I had to end it. This was too much. I loved Gage. I guess sometimes you can love someone too much. Gage sat beside me. He pulled his knees up and rested his arms on them. I knew he could feel it. He wasn’t a moron.