Page 40 of Man of Honor
He lifted one eyebrow to drive the point home.“You’re a smart guy, Wyatt. You've seen how he acts around us.He hates us on principle, just because Boone loved us, and he won't stop until we're all locked up right next to Ben."
A log snapped in the fire. Gage's eyes were burning into mine.I exhaled slowly and pinched the bridge of my nose.
Vanderhoff wasn’t a friend, not by a long shot.He was a blowhard who abused his position for his own ego, but I'd never caught a hint of him tampering with evidence—and I'd looked.I'd been digging through restricted files for years to find some dirt on him, but nothing ever turned up.
“Acting like a prick doesn’t make him dirty, Gage.”
“Doesn’t mean he isn’t,” Gage shot back.
We stared each other down across the fire, dissatisfied, but done pushing—at least for now.The air between us felt fragile.
“We’re on the same side,” I muttered, tipping back my bottle and finishing the last of my lukewarm beer.
“Yeah,” Gage said quietly. “I know we are.”
After that, only the hiss and pop of burning logs filled the silence.The tension needed to break somehow.I watched him in the dim orange light, clocking the moment his face softened and his shoulders began to relax.My eyes trailed down his body, settling on his hands: rough, callused, and scarred at the knuckles.
“How are you feeling?” I asked roughly.
His lips tilted up at the corners.“Fine.”
“We put in a long day on the water.You wanna hit the sack?”
“Nah. Been a long time since I’ve had a night like this.” He shifted, stretching those long, muscular legs in front of him, and let his gaze drift over me.“I’d rather stay out here a while longer.Kind of like the company.”
I told myself it was just thesmoke, but then Gage’s eyes caught mine, and they were shimmering with heat.He looked like he was bracing for something.Waiting. God, I wanted him. But it couldn't be me reaching out thistime.I’d already pushed too hard, so I planted my hands on my thighs and stayedput.
Whatever happened next, it had to be hisdecision.
But that look in hiseyes…
I licked my lips, and when I spoke, my voice came out thick withneed.“If you want this to happen…you’re gonna have to make the first move thistime.”
Chapter Nineteen
WYATT
My body had beenon edge for so long that even my teeth ached.I'd been reduced to jerking off in the shower, biting down on my own knuckle to keep him from hearing as I came.
It took everything I had to keep the ball in Gage's court, but after all our false starts, this was the only way it could work.
Gage was an expressive man, but I couldn't read him now.Maybe I'd misjudged where we were headed.After all, he'd turned me down by the pool, and he hadn't exactly been thinking clearly in the bath.He wasn't some starry-eyed kid anymore, and I'd already satisfied his curiosity.He'd seen me for what I was: just a man, flawed and searching for meaning, just like him.Not the hero he'd once thought.
Then Gage moved, biceps flexing as he shoved himself out of his chair.He didn't speak as he crossed the space between us, but every unhurried step sent a wave of heat rolling through me.I couldn't look away. He had me pinned, transfixed, barely breathing as he came closer and closer.
"Gage..." My mouth was dry as dust.
He came to a halt directly in front of me, nudging my legs apart with the side of his boot and stepping between them.
My gaze trailed up his tall, rangy body, snagging on the way his shirt clung to his chest before skipping straight to that smirking mouth.I rested my shaking hands on the backs of his thighs, urging him closer."You sure you're ready for this?" I rasped."Because if we start this...it's for real.We aren't stopping this time."
He reached out, threading one hand in my hair and forcing my head back to meet his eyes."I just needed a little time to catch up," he rumbled, giving me the trademark cocky smile that turned me on like nothing else."I promise, I can take whatever you've got.Now show me what you've been holding back."
Just like that, my control snapped.I tugged hard, guiding him down to straddle my lap, and he melted over me like water.His mouth was on mine, tangling our tongues as he settled on top of me.He ground down, testing my hardness while I gripped that tight, denim-clad ass in both hands.I kneaded him, groaning at the rough drag of our jeans against my swelling cock.He caught the sound with a grin, kissing it back into my mouth.
"I can't hold back this time," I warned, panting against his mouth.My hand was already between us, popping the button on his waistband.
"Do it." His voice had gone almost feral."Let go. You need this so bad, baby."