Page 32 of The Billionaire's Angel

I wanted to touch him, to see what he felt like in my hand, to make him feel the we he'd made me feel. So good. Soalive.

I reached for him, and Gage's hand closed over mine, leading it to his chest. I propped myself up on one elbow and looked down at him inconfusion.

“Don't you want meto?”

Not releasing my hand from his, he sat up a little and kissed me gently, skating his lips along my jaw and nipping myearlobe.

“Angel, you have no idea how much I want youto.”

“I want to touch you,” I said, ignoring the blush I could feel in mycheeks.

“I want you to, but not yet. Nottonight.”

“Why?” I asked, searching his eyes, trying tounderstand.

“You gave me a gift, Sophie. You trusted me to make you feel good.” Seeming to change the subject, he said, “I love the sound of your voice when you talk. So low and sweet, it soothes all the jagged parts inside me. Did you know that? But the sounds you make when you come—. Fuck, Angel, I could listen to that for the rest of my life. It almost makes me feel wholeagain.”

“Thenwhy—”

“We’re not ready for that. I’m a fucked up mess, Sophie. You deserve better. And if you let me get inside that sweet angel’s body of yours, I’m not going to be able to let you go. Do youunderstand?”

“You’re protecting me? Fromyou?”

“I promised I’d keep you safe,” he said, inanswer.

Gage sat up, bringing me with him, and stood, pulling me to my feet. My legs were shockingly wobbly. I realized he planned to walk me to my room. I knew he was going to leave me there,alone.

If I were alone, he’d be alone,too.

“Are you going to sleep tonight?” I asked. Gage scanned the library, his eyes bleak. He shrugged. That meant ‘no.’ Pulling my hand from his, I said, “I’m not leaving you. We can play cards. Watch a movie. Something. But I’m not leavingyou.”

“Angel,” hestarted.

I planted my hands on my hips, keeping my eyes on his. I wasn’t very big, and I wasn’t loud, but I was stubborn as hell. Gage’s tight shoulders dropped inresignation.

“Fine.”

We stood there for a full minute, in silence, watching each other. Gage seemed to come to a decision because he took my hand and led me back to the couch. Turning on a speaker in the book shelves I hadn’t noticed, he put music on low. Big band. The oldstuff.

Gage spread out on the long couch and pulled me into his arms, tucking me securely between his big body and the back of the couch. My head on his chest, his fingers combed through my hair as the flames of the fire flickered across the room, and the lively tones of the music drifted to ourears.

“My uncle Hugh and aunt Olivia loved this music. I used to walk in on them dancingtogether.”

He fell silent, his fingers tugging gently through my hair, lulling me to sleep. Letting out a long breath, he relaxed beneath me. I stretched my arm over his chest, my hand on his side as if I could hold him to me. As if I could keep him safe from the demons in his memories. I couldn’t change his past. I couldn’t heal his wounds. All I could do was hold him close to my heart and hope it wasenough.

Chapter Thirteen

Sophie

My head poundedin fatigue the next morning. I’d dozed on the couch with Gage for a few hours, drifting between talking and sleeping. Long before dawn lit the sky, Gage had helped me to my feet, clicked off the fire and the music, and walked me to my room. He left me at the door, pressing a tender, lingering kiss to my mouth, saying only, “Thank you,Angel.”

I’d crawled into my bed and tried to go back to sleep, but sleep refused to come. I couldn't stop thinking about Gage. I tried not to compare him to Anthony, but it was impossible. For one thing, they were the only two men who’d ever really touched me,sexually.

If you added up every single episode of sexual contact in my marriage with Anthony, the total wouldn't come close to that explosive encounter on the couch with Gage. I thought I’d understood what an orgasm was, thought I'd given them to myself, alone in my bed in the dark ofnight.

I'd had no clue. That kind of pleasure… It was distracting andseductive.

Gage was nothing like Anthony. They had surface things in common. Anthony had been wealthy. So was Gage, though on a different level. They were both physically fit and attractive, though again in different ways. Anthony had been refined. Elegant. More like Aiden,actually.