When the wheels of the jet touched down in Georgia, the butterflies in my stomach started doing a gymnastics routine. I was nervous-excited for what was to come but also impatient to get things underway. Any doubts I’d harbored about Gage’s interest in me were long gone. He was serious about me—about us—and I felt the same way.
Once the stairs went down and the stewardess brought me the small rolling suitcase I’d packed for the weekend, I was off. The driver of the black limo idling a few feet away from the stairs greeted me when I stepped onto the tarmac. After giving him control of my bag, I practically ran to the car. I could tell he was surprised by my haste, but I was keyed up and didn’t want to waste a second. Gage had told me that the house he was staying in during filming was thirty minutes or so from the private airport, and I wanted to get there.
I wasn’t even all the way in the car when I realized that Gage was there. When my head flew up and my gaze found his, I lost my breath. The heated look in his hooded eyes caused my heart to skip a beat. I quickly catalogued that he was wearing jeans, a white long-sleeved T-shirt, and a pair of classic Adidas with the black stripes. I had to force myself not to get lost in thinking about how damn sexy he was.
“I . . . what?” I blurted.
He grinned. “I hope you’re happy to see me.”
I was over the damn moon but also shocked. “When I talked to Shawn about travel arrangements, he told me he didn’t think it would be smart for you to come to pick me up. I don’t think the driver had any idea who I am, but he has to know who you are,” I babbled. “What if he tips off a gossip site?”
“Morgan,” he growled. As he spoke, he slid closer and wrapped his arms around me.
The tone of his voice mirrored the desire and possession in his eyes, and it left me a little light-headed. He didn’t just look at me like he wanted me—he looked at me like I was already his.
“Only an asshole wouldn’t have come to the airport to get you. Staying in the car so there would be no chance of pictures being taken of me while I was there is as far as I was willing to go. I’ll play the hiding game right now because I don’t want you being hounded while I’m not in LA to protect you, but once I get back, it’s inevitable that the press will figure out we’re together. I’m ready for that, beautiful. I hope you are, too.”
“I am,” I answered, my voice soft.
“That’s my girl,” he praised.
There was a sensual grin on his face as he shifted forward, maneuvering me closer at the same time. My breath hitched when he leaned in and I felt the barest hint of his five o’clock shadow against my cheek as he began dropping soft kisses along my jawline. The scent of his cologne teased my senses as he moved from the right side of my face to the left. I was sure he was going to kiss me on the lips, but instead, he went lower, trailing kisses down my neck.
I held his muscular arms like I’d float away if I didn’t. “Gage,” I whimpered.
“I’m right here,” he murmured against the side of my neck.
When he shifted and then covered my lips with his, I nearly melted in his arms. The way Gage kissed was a lesson in seduction. He took his time and kissed me deeply and so thoroughly that at that moment, if asked, I’m not sure that I could have stated my full name.
I shivered when his right hand cupped my jaw, and he changed the angle of our kiss. My pulse raced as his tongue slid against mine, a tease of what I knew was to come. I nearly lost it when he sucked on my tongue. My already pebbled nipples ached, and my clit throbbed with need as he did it two more times. When he lifted his head and pulled back, I frowned and tried to bring him back to me.
“The limo stopped,” he said, his voice thick with desire. “We’re at my rental.”
I blinked a few times in confusion. It felt like we’d been kissing for only a few minutes, but I knew his rental was half an hour away from the private airport. “We are?”
He grinned. “Yes. Let’s hurry and get inside so that I can kiss you again.”
I nodded so fast I knew I probably looked like an over-eager puppy. The good thing was that I didn’t care how goofy my enthusiasm came across. I wanted Gage in a way that was so desperate and deeply felt that it wiped out any nervousness I might otherwise have had.