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"What happened to the other clones, and how did you end up in Crescent Harbour?"
Gage pauses for a moment, then takes a deep breath. "It was a difficult time for us," he says, a hint of frustration fills his tone. "The clones were created in a lab, and when we escaped, it left us fending for ourselves in the world. We were just kids. We didn't know how to survive on our own."
Lilly squeezes his hand. In the moonlight, she catches as his eyes glisten and an unshed tear clings to his lower lashes.
"We were lucky to have each other," Gage clears his throat before he continues. "We banded together and made our way to the outskirts of Crescent Harbor.” He pauses, running his hand through his hair. “We stumbled upon a couple of men in the woods–slavers by the looks of them. They tried to take some of the smaller kids, chasing them down. I was not much older than them at the time, but my bear went feral. I shifted and attacked.”
She tightens her grip on his hand. “Oh, God.”
“An older man from Crescent happened upon the scene and shot the two men, killing them. At first, I wanted to attack him too, but my bear must have sensed something I couldn’t, and I shifted back.”
“What happened next?” Lilly asks, her features softening.
Gage chuckles. “Well, Robert, or Bobby, as we came to call him, took one look at our group of bedraggled kids and didn’t bat an eye that we were shifters. He just saw a group of children in need of help. He convinced us to come to Crescent Harbour, where he promised to keep us safe.”
“And you just went?” she asks incredulously.
“You had to know Bobby. That man could convince a fish to give up its scales. It helped that he was the leader there, the mayor. Crescent had a council that was primarily ruled by a democracy back then.
“At first, the townsfolk were wary of us. They didn't understand what we were or where we came from. Once we opened up, they made the connection. They took us in and taught us life skills. Over time, we proved ourselves, through hard work and our eagerness to belong, to be loyal and trustworthy members of the community. We helped out whenever we could, and slowly but surely, the people of Crescent Harbor came to accept us and kept our secret."
"I had no idea," she says softly. "I'm sorry for prying, but thank you for sharing with me."
Gage smiles down at her, his eyes filled with warmth.
"It's okay," he says. "I'm happy to share my past. It's a part of who I am, and I don't want to hide anything from you.” He taps his chest just over his heart, where the bold script is located. “This tattoo is in memory of Bobby. He became my mentor, my father, my friend.”
Lilly’s heart swells with admiration for Gage. Searching his face, the reminder of Maverick and what her friend's potential could have been sends a flash of pain through her chest. But this man, this magnificent, handsome man, who has shouldered so much and yet has only grown stronger by the burdens he’s carried, is slowly working his way into her heart. Here and now, she decides to take a chance on their mating.
As they reach her front door, she turns to him, takes a moment just to stare up at his handsome face, and leans in for a kiss. Their lips meet in a sweet and gentle union before Gage’s tongue trails the seam of her lips, asking for entry. Lilly's mouth opens with a gasp of pleasure, allowing him to deepen the kiss. A heat slices through her body, igniting the embers that have been smouldering inside of her, demanding she succumb to it or burn from the inside out.
Gage grabs her wrists and pins them above her head against the door with one hand as he devours her mouth in a sizzling kiss. She shivers at his sudden aggressiveness, her primal side begging for more, yearning for everything he has to give her. Lilly bites the flesh of his bottom lip, and his free hand tightens on her hip, revealing to her how affected he is by their exchange. Gage lets out a groan and pulls her tight to him, his hard length pressing against her stomach through their clothes. As excitement builds inside of her, she clenches her thighs together beneath her short, flowy skirt, spreading the wetness from between her legs.
She thrusts her full breasts out toward his chest, her hardened nipples rubbing against him through her light tank top, making her gasp in pleasure from the sensation. Wanting more,needingmore, she lifts up on her toes and puts her all into the kiss.
His thick thigh makes its way between her legs, drawing up to add pressure to her core. She grinds down on his leg, using the hard muscle to try to relieve the pulsing throb of her clit. As tingles of bliss shoot through her body, she breaks the kiss to release a low groan and absorb the ecstasy she’s experiencing.
Yanking one hand from his grasp, she reaches behind her and fumbles for the doorknob. “Inside,” she pants, unable to wait any longer.
He chuckles and nips at the skin of her jaw. “Oh, I plan to be.”
In a swift motion, Gage flips Lilly over his shoulder and smacks her ass as he enters the house. A thrill rushes through her at the sting of his hand, enhancing the sensations she is already enjoying.
“Gage,” she gasps.
His booted foot kicks the door closed behind them before making his way to her bedroom, with his hand massaging the cheek he’d given the love tap.
Once in the room, he slowly lowers her feet to the hardwood floor, cups her face in his hands, and draws her in for a kiss. When he pulls back, his forest green eyes are serious as he stares intently at her. “I want–no, Ineedyou more than anything. Butyouneed to be one hundred percent sure.”
When Lilly leans forward, he releases her head, and she rests her forehead on his chest. Is she sure? There is no doubt that her body is craving his touch, and her panther is pushing her hard to mate, but she has been through so much and is still healing from it. With her misgivings about the logistics of their future, nothing is certain, but she drags in a deep breath, and Gage’s scent fills her with a sense of peace. Looking into his eyes, Lilly’s resolve solidifies. He is her mate, and she is his. Whatever comes their way, they will, and can, face it together. “If I’ve learned anything these last few weeks, it’s that time is precious and not to waste it. I know there are conversations we need to have, but I have to have faith we’ll be able to overcome those issues together.”
His eyes flare turquoise, though a slight forest green ring around his irises remains. It’s a sign that his animal is close to the surface, and her panther is just as close. The two animals are feeling each other out. Lilly’s panther sends waves of yearning to be with its mate, pushing her to accept what is theirs.
“I need you too, Gage. I want this mating.”
After letting a sigh of what she recognizes as relief, Gage leans in and gives her a sweet kiss, their lips lingering and breath mingling. A rush of desire sweeps through her when his hand lazily draws the strap of her tank and bra off her shoulder as he trails kisses in its wake. His warm lips on her raise goosebumps on her skin as his touch shifts to her other side, pulling the remaining straps away and letting her top pool around her waist.
Leaning back just a bit, he stares at her bra-covered breasts, his rapid breaths mixing with hers as the sexual tension rises between them once again. His eyes darken, and his gaze lifts to meet hers. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he says with reverence, his words making her feel sexier than she ever felt before.
