I turn and smile."You made it!"
His eyes flick to Dante, who's watching us with a curious glint in his eyes.Gage doesn't let go.If anything, his grip tightens.
"Dante," he says flatly.
He holds up his hands in mock surrender." Relax, will ya?I’m only catchin’ up with an old friend."
Gage doesn't respond, his gaze locked on mine.
"I’m heading out," Dante says, standing.He claps Gage on the shoulder." Ye’ve a good one there.Mind her well."
"I do," Gage says, still watching him leave.
We don't speak as we walk back to his room.The air carries a weight, not sharp like tension, but something heavier.We step inside, and he closes the door, then turns to me.
"I know he set us up but how did you to meet?"
Leaning against the door, I study Gage's face.There's something in his expression I can't quite read, not jealousy exactly, but something territorial.
"Dante was my mentor when I first joined the club," I say."He taught me the ropes, literally and figuratively.Made sure I knew how to protect myself, how to recognize red flags.He protected me and still sponsors my membership I’ve told you this."
Gage's jaw ticks."So, he was your Dom."
"Yes, but he never touched me in the way you are thinking.He made sure no one else did either until I knew what I was doing.He's always had my back."
"I don't like how he looks at you," Gage says, moving closer.His fingers trace along my jawline, tilting my face up to his."Like he knows parts of you I don't."
I swallow, feeling the heat of his touch spread through me."He knows the old me.The me before grief.Before you."
Gage's eyes darken."And who are you now, Skye?"
"I'm still figuring that out," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper."But I know I'm yours."
He exhales hard, some of the tension bleeding out."Still.Seeing you with him...it did something to me."
Slowly, I step toward him, unbuttoning his shirt and removing it.My voice softer now."You think I'd ever let someone else touch me?After you?After everything we've been through?"
He doesn't answer.
I guide him to the bed and give him a gentle push until he sits.Then, slowly, I climb into his lap, straddling him, kissing the corner of his mouth.
"Trust goes both ways," I whisper.
He starts to say something, but I press my finger to his lips."Let me."
I move behind him, find the cuffs he keeps in the drawer, and gently secure his wrists to the headboard.He allows it at first, his body taut with curiosity.But the second the cuffs click into place, his eyes flash.
"Skye."
"What?You don't trust me?"
"That's not it."
"Then what is it?"I ask, climbing over him again."Because if we don't have trust, we have nothing."
He tugs against the cuffs."It's not about trust.It's about control."
"Exactly.And you're not the only one who gets to have it."