Page 20 of My Ex's Billionaire Brothers

“Is that a compliment?” Gage teases lightly, one brow lifting.

I manage a small smile. “Definitely a compliment.”

He shifts his weight, and I find my eyes following the movement of his abdomen and chest. The man radiates power in the subtlest ways, like a coiled spring ready to snap into action. “So,” he says, letting his voice drop a notch, “are you thinking about the offer?”

“It’s practically all I can think about,” I admit, swallowing around the lump in my throat. “It’s…a lot to process. But I keep thinking about how I’ve fantasized about you three for so long…ever since that big Christmas dinner two years ago, when I’d just gotten engaged to Calvin. I felt so guilty for noticing how handsome you all were, for wishing…well, for wishing you were him.” Heat scorches my cheeks, and I have to look away. “Now, I guess I don’t have to feel guilty. But it’s still terrifying. What if I’m not good at any of this? What if you realize I’m boring?”

Gage sets down his whiskey cup, stepping closer. The dampness of his towel and the shine of water droplets on his broad shoulders give him an almost mythical air, like some giant Greekstatue come to life. He chucks my chin up to force me to look him in the eyes. “You’re not boring, Anya. Not even close.”

Tears threaten to sting the corners of my eyes, because I’ve wanted someone to reassure me of that for so long. “Thank you,” I whisper. “I just…it’s new and it’s huge, and I’m scared of doing it wrong or being judged for wanting…for wanting something more than what I’ve had. I want this?—”

“Then do it,” he says gently. “Say it. Let us help you. But remember, you’re in control. If at any point you’re not into it, you say so. And you should have a safeword, so there’s no confusion.”

My lips quirk in a bashful smile. “Billy and Calvin, neither of them were adventurous enough for a safeword.”

He smiles back, something soft and knowing in his green eyes. “Then let’s pick one. Think of any word that’s easy for you to remember, something you wouldn’t normally say in the heat of the moment. Maybe a color, or an animal, or anything you like. That way, if you say it, we stop. No questions asked.”

I chew on my lower lip, thoughts spinning. “How about…sunflower?” It’s the first random thing that pops into my head, probably because I once had a painting of sunflowers in my old bedroom.

“Sunflower,” he repeats. “All right. That’s your safeword, if you want it.”

I have a safeword. This is real. I’m actually going to do this. “Thank you.” Despite my nerves, a warmth floods my chest. My entire body hums with the memory of Theo’s hand, the taste of Hunter’s kiss. Now, the energy between me and Gage is theretoo. I lift my chin, mustering every scrap of courage. “Could we…?” Somehow, I still can’t say it.

His eyes trace my features, lingering on my lips. “We can go as slow as you need,” he murmurs. “Or we can keep it simple for tonight.”

I shake my head. “I think I’d like to kiss you,” I say plainly, ignoring the heat roaring in my cheeks. “Is that all right?”

His mouth curves in a faint smirk. “I’d like that.”

I close the distance, heart hammering. My palms come to rest on his bare chest, and I can feel the hard weight of his muscles under my fingertips, still damp from his shower. The hum of the overhead light recedes until all I can hear is the thunder of my pulse. Slowly, I rise onto my tiptoes, and Gage dips his head, bringing our faces closer.

The first brush of our lips is tentative, careful.He’s letting me lead.But all his energy feels coiled up, barely restrained. Encouraged, I press in, and the kiss grows more certain. My hands slip up to the back of his thick neck, fingers tangling in the buzzed silver hair at his nape. He tastes faintly of whiskey, a heady flavor that makes my mind spin. His large hands find my waist, wrapping around me with gentle strength.

I exhale a soft moan when he eases his mouth open, guiding me deeper into the kiss. There’s a tenderness in the way his lips move with mine, but it’s a promise of how much more he could give if I ask. It sets every nerve in my body alight.

When we finally break apart, I’m breathing hard, my fingertips still clinging to his shoulders. His eyes are half-lidded, heat swirling in their depths. I’ve fantasized about this for so long. Now, reality eclipses every daydream.

He presses his forehead to mine, our breath mingling. “No regrets?”

I shake my head, a wobbly grin tugging at my lips. “No regrets.”

His grip tightens briefly, and his lips quirk in a smile. “Good. Let us know if you ever have doubts. That includes right this second, or tomorrow, or next week. We won’t hold you to anything if you decide you’re done.”

Tears prick my eyes at the kindness in his words, but I blink them away. “Thank you. Really.”

He nods, releasing me carefully. The cool motel air hits my skin, reminding me of how warm I was in his embrace. “Then let’s call it a night,” he says softly, “unless you’d rather keep going. But you’ve had an intense day. Maybe sleep is best before we push any further.”

My body hums with adrenaline, but I know he’s right. My emotions are a tangled knot, and I’m not thinking straight.

But those lips of his keep calling me.

“You know…um, I haven’t kissed a lot of guys. I might need the practice so I do this right, and you offered to guide me…”

The corner of his mouth quirks up. “I’m not one to leave a lady in a lurch.” He reaches out, pulling me tight into his arms, and this kiss is not tentative or gentle. It’s the sort of kiss that sends tingles through my body, right before he turns us, pressing me against the wall. It’s all I can do not to lose my balance, but Gage would never let me fall.

His hand skates down my side, along my hip, until his huge hand reaches my thigh, pulling me to hook my leg around his. That’s when I feel it. The man is hard as a rock. His towel and myleggings are the only things between us. If we were naked, he’d be poised to slide inside of me. He grinds against me like this, and sparks flood my body.

Why is a kiss with Gage better than sex with Calvin?