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He chuckles, reaching over to brush a strand of hair out of her face. "It's okay. I don't mind you looking."
She looks back up at him. "What does it mean?"
Gage shifts slightly. "It's a mix of things, really. Some of it's personal, some of it's just stuff I like."
He pauses. Did she overstep? “You don’t have to tell me.”
“I want to tell you. The lettering, for example," he says, pointing to the wordsMemento Mori, Amor Fati, Carpe Diemin large script on his upper chest over his heart. "That means, ‘Remember Death, Love your Fate, Seize the Day’. I got it after I lost someone I loved."
Lilly nods. She can understand that. "And the rest of it?"
He grins, a mischievous glint in his eye. "The rest is a secret. You'll have to earn that knowledge."
Lilly laughs, warmth spreading through her chest. She leans over to press a kiss on his cheek. "I think I can manage that." Rolling out of bed, she tosses a look over her shoulder. “Coffee?”
Gage stretches, then covers his mouth to stifle a yawn. “Absolutely.”
After they get dressed, Lilly sits at the kitchen table, cradling her coffee mug in her hands.
“You’re suddenly quiet this morning,” he says before sipping his coffee.
She looks up at him, smiles weakly, and says, "Just thinking."
“About what?” he prompts.
She hesitates for a moment before speaking. “Last night. Thank you for staying over. I didn’t have any nightmares with your arms wrapped around me.”
“Of course,” he says, his expression softening. “I’ll always be here for you.”
Lilly bites her lip, her thoughts wandering to their intimate encounter. She clears her throat and looks down at her coffee. “I’m also thinking about… what happened between us.”
He moves his chair closer to her, his eyes intense. “And?
She meets his gaze, her own eyes searching for any clue as to how he feels. “I don’t regret it,” she says eventually. “But I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
He puts his coffee down and reaches out, taking her hand in his. “We are,” he says firmly. “I care about you, and I want to make sure you’re okay.”
She smiles, a weight lifting off her shoulders. “I’m okay. More than okay, actually.”
He grins at her. “Good. Because I really like you. And I want to see where this goes.”
Her smile widens and her heart flutters as she pulls back her hand. “Me too.” She runs her finger along the side of her mug, her voice barely above a whisper, “Last night was amazing, but I’m not sure I’m ready for a mating yet.”
Gage lifts his head to make direct eye contact. “I know. And that’s okay. I’ll wait for you. You’re worth it.”
Warmth spreads through her chest. She’s never had anyone care for her like this before. “Thank you,” she says, her voice shaking slightly. “I just need some time to figure things out.”
He takes her hand again, his touch comforting. “You’ve been through a lot recently. Take all the time you need. I’m here for you, no matter what.”
Lilly squeezes, grateful for his patience and understanding. Ready to change the subject, she leans forward, lowering her mug, and says, “I need to talk to Beth today, and I want to go check on the security at the dam.”
Gage takes a sip of his own coffee. “I’m going to swing by the hardware store and have someone come out to replace the door, then I need to check on the housing for my people. They can’t keep camping outside. I want to see what more we need to retrofit the barn into barracks.”
She frowns. “Do you think the retrofit is going to be finished soon? I’m a little worried about everyone being outside for too long.”
Gage shakes his head. “No, it’s going to take a little while longer, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure everyone is comfortable and has what they need.”
A small smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “That’s good to hear. I’ll head over to the store and see if Beth can cover for me. Maybe she can have lunch with me later, too.”
