The Current Between Us (17 page)

Gage slowed down, forcing himself from the kiss, until he pulled free enough to place small nibbles along the outside of Trent’s lips. He could feel Trent’s desire to take the kiss deep again, but he held off, wanting to do this right because Trent tried so hard to be that kind of man, the kind that did things right.

“
I’ve wanted your kiss for days, and dear lord, I wasn’t disappointed. Thank you,” Gage said in a whisper into his ear. He pulled back slightly, unable to bring himself more than a few inches from Trent’s jaw and neck. “I have something to look forward to in bringing you home tonight.”

“
We could skip dinner,” Trent began, his voice husky and deep with need. Gage stopped and forced himself to push back to where he could at least look at Trent.

“
I find I need to do this right by you. It’s a strange place for me to be, so let’s not question it. Let’s just get in my car and drive to our reservations. Now, you were saying something about my car, do you approve?” Gage said, stepping back, but keeping his hand in Trent’s. It took Trent a minute to answer, and when he did, he looked over his shoulder at the car.

“
It’s a Ferrari. I was going to offer we drive my truck, but you drive a Ferrari. Is it yours?” Trent said, turning back from looking at the car, entwining their fingers tighter together. Trent didn’t seem to want to let him go either.

“
Of course, it’s mine! Who else’s would it be?” Gage asked and only released one hand to walk past Trent, taking him to the car.

“
I don’t know, but it’s a Ferrari.” Gage was pleased to see how excited Trent acted over the car. He’d hoped to impress him when he brought it out tonight. As they made their way out of the shadows, Gage saw Trent’s kids still stood peering out the window. He could see their excited faces. Trent and Gage turned to wave at them, until Sophia finally shooed them away from the window, closing the curtain.

“
They’re an incredible family,” Gage said, opening the car door for Trent.

“
I know, they’re just excited,” Trent said, allowing Gage to usher him inside the car

“
I’m glad they’re excited. So am I.” Gage reached in before shutting the car door and turned Trent’s face up to him, quickly kissing his lips. He stayed close as he spoke. “It cost me to pull away from your kiss back there, Trent Cooper… It was about the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m not sure it will happen too many more times. Be ready when you ask again,” Gage said, looking down at Trent’s upturned face. He didn’t wait for an answer, but shut the door firmly before making his way to the driver’s side.

Chapter 11

No matter what he’d seen around the world nothing compared to Chicago at night. The huge sky scrapers were lit up against the dark backdrop of the lake, drawing people in like flies to honey. The city looked alive and full of life. Because it was Monday night, the traffic stayed light the entire way in. Trent was quiet for most of the ride. His hand entwined with Gage’s, even as he shifted the gears pulling on and off the highway and down through the city’s streets. Comfortable silence surrounded them, and they listened to the local rock-n-roll station. Every so often he or Trent might say something, but it never grew into a full blown conversation.

When Gage had dressed for the night, he
’d told himself he would take things slow, keep it casual, and end the date with the traditional first kiss, but like everything between the two of them, nothing went as planned or stayed casual. He already felt a deep connection to Trent and couldn’t help but kiss him, just like he couldn’t help but hold his hand now. He needed to touch Trent. His life seemed to depend on the occasional absently-given swipe of Trent’s thumb across his knuckles. Besides, it was appropriate to take Trent’s hand; after all, they’d shared their first kiss. It was done and out of the way. Completely and devastatingly sweet, it made Gage long for so many more just like it.

Gage was so caught up in the sheer romance of this date he refused to allow Trent to take the night away from him by moving it straight to sex. He liked the idea of taking Trent out on the town, giving him time away from the children without an obligation of anything more. Gage wanted to spend his time and his money on Trent tonight, wining and dining him. The feel of Trent
’s hand in his made him feel strong and worthy. He never wanted to let it go. That thought led to another. Gage found he loved everything he knew about Trent Cooper and how very unexpected was that?

“
You look very nice tonight,” Gage said, weaving through traffic.

“
So do you,” Trent said, giving him a sideways grin and effectively stopping Gage’s heart.

“
I didn’t think I could like your look any more than those low lying Levi’s, but you proved me wrong.” Trent turned to him, giving a grin and perhaps even a small blush darkened Trent’s cheeks. A blush… How long had it been since Gage saw one of those? It sent his heart slamming in his chest and he jerked his eyes away, swallowing back the play of emotion tugging at his heart. After a minute or two, he brought their joined hands up to his lips and kissed Trent’s knuckles.

“
Your grins touch my heart,” Gage said, expertly navigating the streets of downtown Chicago only as a man who grew up there could. Trent didn’t know his family owned the building they were headed toward as well as many others in this city. Gage never shared this information with anyone and certainly had never used his connections to impress another. He pulled the car into valet parking. “I hope you like Sapore di Casa. It’s the only place I knew with complete certainty we would have a quiet atmosphere so we might talk and get to know one another.”

“
Mr. Synclair, good evening, sir. It’s been a while,” the valet said, opening his door.

“
Hi, Harry, you’re supposed to call me, Gage. How many times do we need to go over this?” Gage said, stepping from the car, watching as they opened Trent’s passenger side door.
Damn, I wanted to get his door…

“
At least once more, sir,” the valet said. Gage chuckled at his family’s valet who’d serviced their cars for well over thirty years, virtually all of his life. Gage never stopped, but rounded the car to Trent, ushering him inside through the front doors of the property.

He liked Harry and would normally have stayed a minute to get caught up on his life, but he worked in stealth mode right now, trying to keep his family out of their way for a little while longer, to keep Trent in the dark as to who his family was in this community. Besides, who knew what his parents would do if they found he contemplated settling down and dating, living a normal life, but certainly it would include them being in his personal space, and he wasn
’t ready to share Trent with them yet. Hell, all this emotion coursing through him was new, and he couldn’t comprehend the feelings going on inside him, but their kiss sealed the deal, firming his resolve to figure out where this might lead.

The doors to the skyscraper opened automatically. This particular building held an entire world within the structure. Shopping on the first several floors, office space on the next, and living spaces to the top. The building hopped with shoppers on the main floor, and security gave him a nod as they passed by. Gage moved quickly again, taking Trent
’s hand, moving him along at a fast pace to the bank of elevators leading to the top floors.

“
Trent, have you ever been to Sapore di Casa?” Gage asked, trying to find something to say as he hit the elevator button and waited for the doors to open. He usually went through his secured entrance on the fourth floor, but that would be a dead giveaway as to his ties to this building.

“
No, I haven’t, but I’ve heard of it. I almost got the bid on the electrical if I remember correctly. I think the contractor doing your gallery is the one who did the work on the restaurant,” Trent said, dropping his free hand into his slacks pocket.

“
They probably did, it makes sense. I eat here regularly, at least every time I come home. It’s cozy, has a good feel, quiet, and I love the chef,” Gage said, scooting Trent into the first elevator doors sliding open. Gage pressed the appropriate floor at the top of the building and turned back to Trent. Their fingers were still locked together. The hold felt so natural. Gage’s concentration had been focused on getting them inside the building unseen by any of the regular staff or his family, and he’d forgotten for a minute that he finally had Trent within his grasp. He’d neglected this opportunity for too long, and immediately corrected his mistake by stepping into Trent’s personal space, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“
I want to kiss you again. Would it be too big a scene to kiss you here in front of the others?” Gage said, four other people filled the small box. As luck would have it, all four got off after a two-story ascent, not riding the other fifty or so stories up with them. Gage didn’t hesitate and took the opportunity of privacy, pushing Trent back into the corner, his lips on Trent’s in a matter of seconds. Trent opened immediately for him, spreading his legs apart, drawing Gage in as the kiss deepened to a frenzy. Gone was the sweetness of the last kiss, to be replaced with a hunger building inside both of them. Gage’s hard-on punched forward at the flavor of the sweetest lips he’d ever tasted. Trent kissed him as if they were made for one another. There were no awkward moments. They were fluid as if they had done this for years.

The kiss lasted until the ding sounded to announce their arrival at their floor. So many times Gage rode this elevator thinking it to be the slowest one in the history of all elevators, but tonight when the bellhop to the restaurant stood outside the elevator door, clearing his throat, Gage knew he got it wrong. He needed to talk to maintenance about slowing it down for any future dates he might have with Trent. Gage pulled from the kiss, but not the embrace.

“Your kisses undo me,” Gage said. He was rewarded with Trent slowly opening his eyes, a dazed glassy look staring back at him. Trent didn’t let him go, but pulled Gage tighter against his body, grinding his hips into Gage’s.

“
Is that you, Mr. Synclair?” the bellhop asked discreetly.

“
Yes, Johnson, and we’re coming, right, Trent?” Trent looked around, startled. Gage could see the moment he realized where they were and what ended the kiss.

“
Come, let’s have dinner,” Gage said, taking a step back, but he still kept his back to the bellhop. His rigid cock raged. He took the moment to adjust himself and button his suit jacket together before he turned. Gage ran a hand down his front, making sure nothing stuck out too badly and looked back to see Trent do the same.

“
I like your reaction to our kisses, handsome,” Gage said with a wink. The beeping on the elevator began in earnest, which meant Johnson forced the elevator doors to stay open.

“
Sure you do, until I completely embarrass you by stepping out of the elevator with my dick sticking straight out,” Trent whispered. He looked up at Gage as he pulled his clothing together. The stain of the blush was back on his cheeks and Gage chuckled at his words.

“
I assure you, it wouldn’t embarrass me in the least. Actually, quite the contrary, I believe I would love it because everyone here would know I brought on this reaction in you and you were mine. No one else’s for the picking,” Gage said. The words were uncensored and completely caught Gage off guard after he spoke them. Johnson looked surprised, his eyebrows lifted, and his gaze shot straight to Gage, then to Trent, before he diverted it downward.

It seemed every time he put his lips on Trent, a new round of possessive, caveman thoughts came barreling to the forefront.
He’d never cared whether anyone he brought chose to leave with or without him. Actually, if he were being truthful, he never brought anyone anywhere, so to care if they left with another would mean he needed to care enough to bring someone with him. Mentally forcing himself to slow it down, Gage extended a hand, letting Trent walk in front of him. The bellhop kept his eyes averted, but a smile wreathed his face until they were off the elevator.

“
Would you like me to escort you to the restaurant, Mr. Synclair?” Johnson asked.

“
No, Johnson, I know the way. Thank you,” Gage said.

They took a long hall to the end and then turned to the right. There were a couple of steps down to two large glass doors. Gage insisted he get the doors, and Trent allowed him, which he loved. Gage liked this role and in an evening of many firsts, he knew he wanted more nights where he opened the door for Trent.
They were staggering thoughts to a confirmed-for-life bachelor, but since birth, once he got something in his head it was going to be just like that and apparently both his head and his heart wanted Trent beside him.

He gave his brain a good talking to as he walked up to the ma
ître d. They were only on the first of many steps involved in dating and relationships. Although in his mind, they were already an old married couple. Many more steps needed to occur before he let Trent in on his plans to be his one and only.

“
Good evening, Mr. Synclair. Let’s see, you aren’t sitting in your usual table, tonight…” The maître d asked, looking over the table chart on the stand.