It’s hard for me to remember if any of the Wolves would’ve done that, but I sure never would’ve imagined a Bastard having those kinds of principles.
The longer I’m around Gage, the less I believe he’s involved in illegal gun running. Where did Rex get that info, anyway?
There’s only half an hour until I knock off, and I collect dirty glasses from the tables and give as good as I get with the good-natured comments, but my heart’s not in it. Ten minutes ago, Gage disappeared out the back with a redhead, and it doesn’t take much imagination to know what they’re doing. I’ve discovered that the alley next to Odin’s, which leads from a locked gate at one end, to the main door to the upstairs apartment, is nice and private, where Gage allows a few selectencountersto take place.
For two weeks, he hasn’t touched me and doesn’t seem to notice when I accidentally-on-purpose brush up against him. Just for a reaction. Just to know that he does still want me, as much as I want him.
Jesus, I’m messed up. All my talk about not having sex with him, that flirting will be enough, has rebounded and smacked me in the face. Well sure, he flirts like a pro, but when he wants more there’s a queue of willing girls.
Which is exactly what I knew would happen.
So why am I so torn up about it? Did I think he’d want to date me like we were in a relationship, and things would just progress from there?
Yes…No. I slam the thought down, the way I have every time it’s surfaced since we went to the movies. That was just a one-off. It didn’t mean anything. I’m not entirely sure what his motives were, but I guess if all he wanted was for me to return to Odin’s, then it worked.
The garbage doesn’t need emptying, but I take the bag anyway. The trash can is just outside the back door, and for a second, I hesitate. Do I want to catch him in the act? Will that finally crush my stupid fixation on him?
I need to get over him. It’s not like I haven’t applied for other jobs, but being so near to Christmas they’ve already got all the extra staff they need.
I haven’t tried that hard.
I ignore that thought, take a deep breath, and swing the door open. Fuck it, he doesn’t owe me anything, and a part of me hopes he’s banging the daylights out of the redhead, just so I can channel it all into the scene I’m stuck on in my current book.
The muted glow from the security light above the door is more than enough to illuminate the scene. Gage is on his knees beside a guy who looks drunk or stoned, and the redhead is twisting her hands together like she’s in some B movie.
I grip the garbage bag as heat washes through me. I’d been so sure of what he was doing that the reality is making me feel about two inches tall.
“Hey, Amelia.” Gage sounds tired. “Keep this to yourself, all right?”
“Sure.” I nod quickly, hoping he doesn’t possess the ability to read my mind and discover why I came out here. “Do you need me to do anything?” With Gage’s connections to the Bastards, I’m sure the ABC are just dying for a reason to close him down, so the last thing he needs is any hint of drug use on the premises.
“Hang on.” He checks his cell before hauling the guy to his feet. “Come on. Move yourself.” He glances at the girl, who appears rooted to the spot. “You, too, princess.”
He half drags, half carries the guy down the alley toward the gate. I shove the bag in the trash can and follow them. Gage unlocks the gate and offloads the guy to someone. I’m guessing a prospect of the club, since they always get the dirty work of clearing up.
He shuts and locks the gate and then turns back to me. “I’m gonna fucking tear Tod a new one for this.”
Tod’s not working tonight, so I’m not sure what he means. “Was he a friend of your cousin?”
Gage grips the back of his neck and works the kinks from his impressive muscles. In the dim light, he looks dark, dangerous, and irresistibly fuckable.
He always looks like that…
“They’re best buddies from school. It’s the only reason I let the jerk use the alley. Fucking idiot nearly OD’d.”
I’m not naive enough to think he’s being taken to a hospital. He’ll probably be dumped somewhere far from here so his girlfriend can call for help.
“Guess he’s barred, then.”
Gage focuses on me, and the hard expression on his face fades as he gives me that grin that always makes me want to melt over his boots. “You bet your ass he’s barred.”
It’s no good. There are a million reasons why I shouldn’t touch him and only one why I should—because I want to. And right now, that’s the only one that matters.
In two weeks, after the New Year, I’ll be out of here. I don’t want to think about the future, only this moment.
I roll onto my toes and brush my lips across his. We both stop breathing, as though we’re caught up in a magical world where only the two of us exist. He doesn’t push me back against the wall or shove his tongue into my mouth, and I have the sudden, terrible conviction that I waited too long and themagicis all in my mind. I pull back, and I’m shaking, which is the most ridiculous thing ever, since that kiss was so chaste it hardly even qualifies for the word.
For a couple of excruciating seconds, we stare at each other. Is he going to laugh? I’ll die if he does. I’llhaveto leave Odin’s.
