~~Gage~~
Every morning for the next few weeks, I woke up with Alisa’s naked body cuddled next to mine. It was one hell of a way to wake up, and I was becoming addicted to her body and her presence.
We were dating, boyfriend and girlfriend, and for once we weren’t denying our relationship but allowing it to blossom and bloom into something scary and real and precious. Precious? Yeah, if I didn’t watch it, I’d start writing love poems.
The future shone brightly in front of me. With Alisa by my side, I could do anything. Absolutely anything. She gave me the power to believe in myself just by her mere presence.
I’d make it in the pros. I had the talent, even Tanner had said so, and he would know. I needed to get beyond my mental blocks.
I was falling for Alisa. Falling hard and fast and completely. I was in love with her. I couldn’t deny my feelings any longer. I’d probably always been in love with her.
In a short while, she’d be gone, and I’d be alone again. Only I wasn’t going down without a fight. This time she’d know how I felt. I’d pledge my undying love and wait for her. She couldn’t stay in Europe forever. Even if she did, I was willing to wait forever.
I wasn’t sure where my romantic side had come from, but with her, it’d surfaced in full force with both guns blazing.
I loved her, and I’d tell her soon. She had to know how important she was to me.
I’d planned to wait until I had my life together and made enough money to be worthy of her, but waiting wouldn’t be a good idea. She had to know how I felt before she left the country and me for her overseas adventure.
Alisa stirred beside me. Her eyelashes fluttered until those gorgeous baby blues squinted at me in the sunlight pouring in our window. Sun in Seattle in December was rare, and I considered it a sign of good things to come.
“Hey,” I said with a smile on my face. I leaned down to plant a soft kiss on those delectable lips. She smiled back at me.
“Hey, yourself.”
“What are we doing today?” It was a Saturday, and we were done with regularly scheduled classes for the quarter.
“Studying for finals next week.”
I frowned. I hated studying and rarely did it. I wasn’t graduating no matter how hard I tried. I was too far behind, and I couldn’t afford to attend college after my scholarship ran out. I’d be attending the combine, working out, and hoping like hell I could get an NFL team to notice me. I hadn’t given much thought as to what I’d do once the quarter ended. I’d probably drop out, get a job somewhere, and work my ass off on my fitness, speed, and accuracy with Tanner once his season ended, which, for his sake, I hoped was later rather than sooner.
I had hope. That dark cloud surrounding me for the past year had lifted, and the world looked so much brighter. I had Alisa to thank for my positive outlook. Everything looked great with her naked body next to mine.
“What are we going to do about us?” I asked, hating that I sounded so worried and pathetic.
“Gage, let’s live one day at a time, get through finals, and then we can talk about things. Right now, I can’t deal with anything but finishing up my bachelor’s requirements.”
I nodded, having to agree with her. We really did need to get through finals, or at least, she did. I was going through the motions, knowing there wouldn’t be a degree at the end of the tunnel for me. Still, I’d be smart to pass as many classes as possible in case I ever did get the opportunity to finish my degree, which was laughable.
“I’ll let it go as long as we can take a break later and get a pizza.”
“You and your pizza. You’d eat pizza three meals a day if you could.”
“Yeah, it’s got all the food groups and then some.”
“And loaded with carbs.”
Alisa had been obsessed with her weight lately, and I didn’t understand why. She’d always had a great figure, and she hadn’t put on a pound.
I quickly flipped her on her back, despite her feeble protests, and straddled her body. “We’d better get some more exercise in before we have another pizza then.”
She giggled and gazed up at me with sparkling blue eyes full of adoration. Her dark hair fanned out on the pillow. She looked like an angel sent from heaven to save my soul. She’d been saving it one fuck at a time for the past few weeks, and I couldn’t be happier.
Alisa wrapped her arms around my neck, and she rose up to kiss her way down my jawbone to my neck and shoulders. I groaned and pushed her legs apart with one knee. I was so hot for her and her for me, I didn’t think much foreplay would be necessary. Her hot body rubbed against mine, causing my dick to spring to attention.
“Fuck me now, Gage.” Her voice was throaty and sexy and so fucking irresistible I’d have done anything she asked. Before I could respond, she’d reached for a condom stored in a small box on my end table, torn open the package, and begun to roll it on my cock.
Her hands on me felt so good, so very good. I shuddered with pleasure. When she finished, she guided me toward her wet opening, and I sank gratefully inside her. I was home, where I was meant to be, with the one female I was meant to be with. Her body welcomed me, wrapped me in warmth, and embraced all that I was.
I moved inside her, loving how she arched her back and pressed her hips into mine. I changed my angle to touch deeper places. She whimpered. Her fingernails dug into my back, urging me on, not that I needed encouragement. I pumped into her, my strokes growing in speed and intensity until both of us fell over the edge with frenzied abandon and floated into blissful oblivion.
Life could not get better than this. She was mine, and I was hers. Once finals were over, I would make a commitment to her, one I should’ve made a year ago. I wouldn’t repeat the same mistake twice. Alisa would know she was my one and only.
~~Alisa~~
On Sunday evening, I was studying at the living room table, books spread out all over. Wayne rose from his sprawled position on the huge sectional couch that dominated the entire living room and was big enough to sleep the entire football team. I watched as he went to the window and parted the blinds. He stared for a long moment, then turned to survey the room.
We were all present in various states from studying to eating to lounging. Gage was deep into a new video game. Easton was leaning forward on the ottoman with his eyes glued to the television screen. Logan was furiously texting, probably to five different women at once. Mason was the only other one cracking the books. He sat at the other end of the table highlighting his chemistry textbook.
“Is anyone here in trouble with the FBI?” Wayne’s face was puzzled, drawing the attention of everyone.
“FBI?” Gage snorted. “Logan, have you been stealing tape from the locker room again?”
“Fuck no,” Logan retorted with annoyance, but he stood and walked to the window and peered out. He turned to Wayne. “How long have they been out there?”
“A few days at least.”
“A few days?” Gage was frowning.
“Check it out, dude,” Logan pointed toward the window. “Dark sedan and guys in suits wearing sunglasses. It’s like something from the movies.”
Soon all the guys were gathered at the window peering at their stalkers. I was the only one who remained seated, because I already knew what they were looking at, and my mind was racing with plausible explanations that wouldn’t blow my cover.
Gage glanced over his shoulder. His blue eyes narrowed, and he regarded me suspiciously. I shrugged.
The speculation continued, and I knew I wouldn’t get any studying time in until I came clean—partially. I wasn’t at liberty to spill the entire story yet, not until the family gave me the go-ahead after the preparations for the big announcement were completed. I was responsible for making sure the story didn’t leak ahead of time.
Having royal bodyguards follow me everywhere wasn’t exactly discreet. I’d tried to discourage my father from assigning a security detail to me, but this past week had been a tense one at the palace with a few death and kidnapping threats. He wasn’t taking any chances that his only child might be a target if there was a leak among trusted palace staff. I’d spent the summer at the palace as a distant cousin of the family, but there were staff who were privy to my identity. A person never knew when money won out over loyalty.
“They’re here for me,” I said so quietly I was surprised when every head turned toward me.
“For you?” Gage scratched his blond head and scowled, as if this was too much for him to fathom.
“Yes, for me. My father hired them.”
“Why?” Logan asked.
“They’re bodyguards.” I gave them a wry smile.
“Are you in danger or something?” Easton asked.
“My father is a little overprotective.”
“Your real father?” Gage’s eyes narrowed. He was onto me. He knew I was being evasive.
I sighed. They weren’t going to let this drop until I gave them a half-truth explanation. “Yes, my birth father. He’s somewhat of a celebrity in his own country. There’ve been some threats this year, and he’s not taking any chances. His company is handling a sensitive contract for the government for some controversial weapon or something. I don’t know what it is.”
“What is he? An aging rock star?” Easton joked.
“Maybe he’s a Saudi prince,” Logan added to the speculation.
I rolled my eyes. “Just a guy with a lot of money and clout in Europe.”
The guys exchanged glances with each other, and I knew my lie had crashed and burned. Gage was the most skeptical of all.
Time to make a less-than-graceful exit and get out of here before they fired the next question at me. “Oops, gotta go. Mother Nature is calling.”
I ran from the room and up the stairs, sequestering myself in my bathroom with a good book.
Gage was waiting for me when I came out of the bathroom a half hour later, hands on hips and determination etched in the square line of his jaw. The long wait had frayed his patience even further.
“I don’t even want to know what you were doing in there.”
“You should’ve joined me.” I winked at him, lowered my head, and gave him my best sultry look. He wasn’t falling for it. He wanted answers.
“Spill it, Lis. Why the bodyguards? What aren’t you telling us?”
“It’s just a precaution. Nothing to get your boxers all twisted over,” I tossed back flippantly, hoping to diffuse his indignation and buy some time. I should’ve known Gage wasn’t that easily distracted.
“Your stepdad was the CEO of a coffee-roasting company. I don’t know anything about your real dad. It’s odd you don’t talk about him.”
“You don’t talk about your family either.” I lifted my chin in a silent challenge. Gage was closemouthed and never talked about his family. What little I knew were bits and pieces, mostly rumors and gossip. He was a private guy, and I had to respect his privacy. We’d never had the kind of relationship where we spilled our guts to each other.
“My family doesn’t hire bodyguards to keep an eye on me.”
I had to laugh. “You have a good point.”
“Your father’s a celebrity?”
“You could say that. In his own country.” I hadn’t wanted to have this conversation with Gage yet, but now was as good of a time as ever. Finals started tomorrow. I flew out to London on Saturday, first class no less. The announcement would be made on Monday. It was all happening too fast. Especially my relationship with Gage. We’d wasted an entire year dancing around our emotions, waiting until the last few weeks of my tenure at Tyee to actually realize we meant something to each other. At least, I thought we did. I knew Gage meant something to me.
I’d been in denial for so long, I couldn’t deny what I felt for one minute more.
I loved him. Really, really loved him.
I’d been crazy in love with him ever since we laid eyes on each other.
By the look in his eyes, I dared to dream he felt the same way.
Only what did it mean? What could it mean? I was a princess. I had royal duties, a role to play, responsibilities to fulfill. My future wasn’t mine anymore. The cold, hard facts of royal life been pounded into my head over the summer. I was determined to fit in and make my father proud of me.
I had no time for a love interest thousands of miles away. Nor was saddling Gage with my baggage fair to him. He had his future to concentrate on. Making a team would be daunting, and he had to devote one hundred percent of the next several months to that task. He didn’t need the impending drama caused by my newly announced royal status muddying those waters.
I wasn’t ready to tell him the truth yet. Even though I trusted him to a point, I couldn’t take a chance on the story leaking before my new family had a chance to put their royal spin on everything.
“Listen, I can’t tell you the details right now. Once we’re through finals, I’ll explain everything.”
His eyes narrowed, but he relaxed slightly.
“Please, humor me on this. I have to do well on finals in order to make the dean’s list. I can’t add any drama to my life right now.”
He nodded and sighed, pulling me into his arms. “You sure you have to go to London after finals?”
“Positive.” My heart wanted to stay right here, but my life had become much more complicated than it had been a year ago.
He put a finger on my chin and lifted my face to his. His mouth touched mine with the gentlest of touches, as if I were a rare treasure to be treated with the utmost delicacy. Our faces were a few inches apart, and we gazed into each other’s eyes. I saw so much there, I panicked and drew back, breaking the connection.
“Lis?”
“It’s nothing. I have to get back to studying.” I pulled out of his arms and turned away, not wanting to see the confusion and disappointment I knew would be there.
“Are you sure?”
“Gage, please, don’t pressure me. I have to study. I’m especially worried about this last final on Friday. My hardest class of all.”
“I understand.”
He didn’t stop me as I walked back to the dining room and sat down. A few minutes later, he slumped on the couch next to Easton, picked up a video game controller, and engaged E in a game.