Page 22 of Man of Honor
“You think I don’t know that?” he asked, sounding amused.
“Then why the hell are you getting involved?”
His face hardened. His features were sharper than they’d been as a teenager, but I recognized the same stubbornness.“Because my family's already involved.Ivy’s involved. This whole damn town is involved.Boone sent me away to keep me out of trouble, and all it left me was a pile of regret.I’m done with that.”
I closed my eyes and exhaled, hating that I couldn’t argue.Part of me understood all too well why he felt the way he did.Gage was a fighter, and he’d do anything to prove he deserved the second chance he’d been given in life.Even if it meant throwing himself headfirst into fights that weren’t his.
“You’re a good man, Gage,” I said, meaning every word.
Surprise flared in his eyes. He looked momentarily taken aback, but he recovered quick enough.His lips pulled up at the corners in a faint almost-smile.“Never thought I’d hear something like that from you.”
“It helps that you’re not in the back of my squad car this time,” I joked.
A beat passed between us, charged with a magnetic pull I didn’t want to be feeling.I should’ve walked away right then and come back in the morning when there was less heat, more light, and a few more people around.But somehow, I found myself stepping up to the very edge of the pool.
Gage was trouble—always had been—but he wasmytrouble.
Slowly, he reached out and curled his hand around my ankle.The coolness of his fingers was a shock, and he knew it, because he cocked his head and grinned.“You coming in?” he asked, eyes gleaming in the low light.
While I hesitated, my gaze trailed down his chest to the water lapping at his pebbled nipples.Damn. My mouth went dry, and I could feel sweat breaking out along the back of my neck.“I didn’t come here for a swim,” I muttered, though I wasn’t sure I’d convinced either of us.
His grin widened. “Good. Swimming’s the last thing on my mind.”
“Fuck, Gage.”
He chuckled, and I glanced down at my jeans to see if I was busting through my zipper.Not yet, but it was a close thing.After such a long day, the cool, chlorinated water was tempting, and so was the glistening man swimming in it.“I didn’t exactly bring my suit,” I hedged, but it sounded weak even to my own ears.
Gage just shrugged. “So what?I’m not wearing one.”
My gaze dropped instantly to his distorted silhouette beneath the water.The pool lights were too dim for me to make out more than the shadowed outline of a strong pair of legs.“What the hell, man? Where are the kids?”
“Oh, relax,” Gage said, rolling his eyes and swirling his hand aimlessly through the water.The other hand was still around my ankle.“Loretta took them into town for ice cream and a movie.They’re celebrating Ivy’s first week with the boys.”
“That’s good,” I said, pleased.“She deserves a night to just be a carefree kid.”
“They all do,” Gage replied.
“What about Gideon?” I asked, trying and failing to keep the anticipation out of my voice.
“Helping out with meals over at the Sisters of Mercy shelter.He’ll be gone for a while. The Sisters usually rope him into a poker game afterward.”
I knew what I wanted, but still, I hesitated.Five years. Five years was long enough, right?I’d done the honorable thing and denied Gage once, but I didn’t need to do it again.I ran a hand through my hair and tried to remind myself that I still had a job to do, but with Gage so wet and naked and close, it was impossible to focus on anything else.
“Any other excuses, Deputy?” he asked in that familiar lilting, challenging tone.There was a devil-may-care tilt to his lips when he smiled up at me, daring me to take the bait.
Hell, I’d never been the type to play it cautious, and Gage wasn’t a kid anymore.He was a man with gravity all his own.
“You asked for it,” I warned, kicking off my boots and grabbing my t-shirt by the hem to peel over my head.I reached for my belt buckle next, holding Gage’s eyes as I worked the clasp.His grin only widened as I stepped out of my jeans and underwear and kicked them aside.The night was warm, but the air felt cool against my naked skin.
Gage. This was Gage.MyGage.I couldn't be doing this with him—but Iwas.I stood there, hard and unashamed, letting him look his fill for as long as hewanted.
Hedid. His gaze traveled slowly from my bare feet, up my calves and thighs, and then paused at my cock.He licked his lips, but he didn’t speak.Just took a quick sip of air and continued up my stomach and chest.His teasing grin was strained by the time he reached my eyes.“See? It didn’t kill you.”
“Not yet,” I said wryly, and then I dove headfirst in a perfect flat dive.The water was a cool relief against my overheated skin.I submerged myself for as long as I could and let the world go quiet and peaceful.Then I broke the surface with a hard shakeof my head, sending droplets flying.I kicked onto my back and floated, weightless, letting the water cradle me and ease the knots of tension in my back.Hours in a courthouse’s unforgiving pews did a number on anyone over thirty.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Gage reclining back against the pool deck, arms draped along the tiled edge.His gaze was hot and heavy-lidded as he watched me drift.I’d never been so turned on and so relaxed all at the same time.Water lapped at my ears, muffling the croak of tree frogs and katydids, and the scent of chlorine and night-blooming jasmine mixed together in a strange, intoxicating scent.
The peace didn’t last long. Out of nowhere, a vicious splash hit me square in the face.I shot upright, spluttering, while Gage doubled over and clutched his belly with laughter.