The Current Between Us (16 page)

“
You look nice, Daddy,” Em said as she started to jump up and down on the bed.

“
I want to cut my hair like yours,” Hunter said, standing up on the bed to see himself in the dresser mirror. From the angle of the mirror, they were able to stand side by side. “Can I get my hair like yours?”

“
Sure, on your next haircut, okay?” he said, sitting down on the bed to put his shoes and socks on. Both children came to sit beside him.

“
I told Gage about Sophia being Auntie Crazy. He said I could call him Gage,” Hunter said. “Did you shine your shoes?”

“
Yes, sir, I did. After you went to sleep last night,” Trent said, standing up and turning to the kids. They were so sweet and very excited for him.

“
I think I need a kiss for encouragement,” he said, and they both jumped back up on the bed, giving him two giant, wet kisses as the doorbell rang.

“
Daddy, he’s here!” Em shouted, climbing off the bed. Hunter jump forward, racing down the hall.

“
Let me get my suit jacket,” he called out after them. As he took his jacket off the hanger, he heard Sophia at the door.

“
It’s Auntie Crazy and Gage together,” Hunter yelled down the hall. He could only imagine what Sophia might say if she got the chance to get Gage alone. If they arrived at the same time, it gave her the chance. Hunter and Emalynn were clearly bouncing off the walls. He could hear their shoes pounding on the hardwood floor. On a deep breath, he shrugged his suit jacket on and walked over to his dresser’s mirror, adjusting the open collar of his shirt under the jacket. He chose to go tieless tonight, and after one more scan, he decided he looked as good as he possibly could. It wasn’t Gage good-looking, but he looked the best he could and turned away, forcing himself to lose the nerves and get out there to face Gage.

He rounded the corner of his room, listening to the kids talking over each other in order to get Gage
’s attention. Sophia stayed quiet, which was incredibly odd, maybe even a first. As he stepped out of his room, he saw all four of them standing inside the entryway. They all turned toward him as he walked down the hall. Sophia stood all doe-eyed and the kids were overly excited. Em held Gage’s hand, her colored sheet of paper in his other hand, and he realized he needed to make this fast and get them out of the house before his family ran Gage off.

Gage looked stunning as Trent knew he would. He wore a soft black suit which matched his build perfectly as if the suit were made specifically for him. In contrast, he wore a tieless white French cuff dress shirt, the collar left open by three buttons. The cufflinks were some sort of black stone. Trent always thought of Gage as ruggedly handsome. His reports took him to some of the most remote parts of the world. He worked hard, spending hours and hours in the sun, resulting in his dark, deep suntan and blond sun streaks all throughout his hair, but the suit he chose to wear tonight accented and transformed him into a proper, polished gentleman and Trent
’s heart did another little dip.

Gage
’s eyes were focused on Trent, but Emalynn chatted away, telling Gage a story about something and it gave him a minute to just be lost in Gage while walking down the hall toward them. When he reached Em, he placed his hand on her hair and she stopped talking as he stood there a moment holding Gage’s gaze.

“
You look extraordinarily handsome tonight,” Gage finally said, and Trent tucked his hands in his slacks pocket to give them something to do. He could have sworn he heard a female sigh right before a picture snapped causing them both to break their stare and turn to Auntie Crazy.

“
Sorry, I promised Rhonny I would capture the moment when you first saw one another. She almost skipped class tonight to see this! She should have, it was greatness.” Auntie Crazy snapped another picture.

“
Daddy, can we ask Gage to come to my birthday?” Emalynn asked, looking so excited at the idea. “I asked you before I asked him. Isn’t that what you said I had to do last night?”

“
We’ll see, Emalynn,” Trent said. All he could do was smile down at his little girl’s upturned face. She looked so excited and proud of herself for remembering his directive this time. “And… Yeah, I think we should be off. No more pictures, Sophia,” Trent said, moving to the front door.

“
I have to get one more. I promised, Trent,” Sophia said, angling the camera to her eye. Gage let out a laugh as Trent rolled his eyes and turned to the door.

“
I would apologize, Gage, but this seems to be my life,” Trent said, opening the front door for Gage. Both children and Sophia followed along behind them.

“
There’s no need for apologies. You have a charming home and family, Trent. Goodbye everyone. Sophia, it was a pleasure to meet you. Emalynn, finish the lovely drawing for me. You’re doing a great job. Hunter, goodnight, buddy,” Gage said before walking out the door.

“
You all are staying in this house, and put the camera down, Sophia. I’ll be back later. Call me if you need me.” Trent shut the door in their faces before they could make a run for it and follow them out, but Sophia quickly opened it again, snapping another picture from her phone.

“
That’s
it, I promise,” Sophia called out and slammed the door back shut. Gage’s grin grew as they heard footsteps in the house racing to the front window. He heard Hunter going wild with muffled oohs and ahhs, but Trent stayed focused on watching the front door to make sure no one else came out. After a minute, he turned back to Gage who stood on the porch, close to the steps, with his hands in his pockets, and his crooked grin still on his face.

“
I’m sorry. It’s no wonder there are hardly any second dates. They don’t know how to act right at all. I’ll have to work on it,” Trent said, moving closer to Gage.

“
I think they’re charming and love you very much,” Gage said, staying rooted in his spot in front of the steps leading down to the sidewalk.

“
They do love me, but I think charming is a nice word for wildly inappropriate and crazy as hell,” Trent said, coming to stand right in front of Gage. He would have led them down the steps, but Gage didn’t move. He stayed there, blocking the path.

“
It’s all fine. I was nervous when I came in but they’re so comfortable and easy to be around, they helped settle me down,” Gage said. The breeze blew gently, with a bit of a nip in the air as the night grew dark, yet Trent didn’t feel any of it. Gage’s words confused him and his gaze went immediately to Gage’s face, searching. He couldn’t wrap his mind around how Gage could possibly be nervous. And then Trent’s own anxiety struck him in full force, he could feel the need to fidget and ran his hand down the front of his lapels before he dropped his hands back in his pockets, matching Gage’s stance as he stood directly in front of him.

****

Gage stood, quietly staring at Trent, with his fist clenched and tucked in his slacks pockets in order to keep from reaching out to touch the man who had haunted him for last six days. Trent looked exceedingly gorgeous in every way… From the toned, buff body, to the hard, chiseled face and all the way down the brand new suit he wore so well. Tonight, something about Trent seemed to call straight to his soul and he knew that from the minute he pulled into the driveway. Gage had panicked a little sitting behind the driver’s seat. His breath hitched as he looked over the small suburban house. Without question, he knew if he went through with this date it wasn’t going to be the usual one night stand; he’d be connected here and yet he’d still opened his car door and walked the steps to the front porch.

Trent
’s family met him with excitement, and he loved watching Trent interact with them. He could tell Trent tried hard to be the man of the house, but his family came with too much personality to do such simple things as follow a few well-placed rules.

“
You’re nervous?” Trent appeared surprised by the thought.

“
Mmm hmm, I’ve never dated anyone. I’ve actually never been on a date; not that I can remember anyway. This’s a first for me,” Gage said, still not moving, only standing there watching this stunning man in front of him.

“
Well, you’re doing great. I never would’ve realized this is a first for you,” Trent said.

“
Mmm… Well, let’s see, I scheduled dinner at Sapore di Casa. I thought we would start there, then maybe dancing if there’s time,” Gage said, watching for Trent’s reaction.

“
I should probably be home early tonight. I have a crew starting at six in the morning. I’ve got this bear for a boss on a remodel I’m working,” Trent said, a hint of a smile tugged at his lips and Gage laughed.

“
Well, then, we better be off. I moved our reservations back a little. Oh and from here on out, I get the doors. I asked you on this date—had I waited for you to ask I would have been a very old man—since I did the asking, I get the doors. And I pay the bill tonight. No question or fight about it, got it?” Gage said, he loved this new look on Trent’s face. He loved when Trent smiled, but this look of pursing his lips together, his brow narrowing while forming his reply, was absolutely one of the hottest looks he’d seen, and he stepped in closer, losing the debate going on inside him. His eyes focused on Trent’s lips as he spoke.

“
It’s only right. You can do it when you do the asking. I find I’m looking forward to ending this date. Your lips have been foremost in my thoughts since I first laid eyes on them,” Gage whispered, slowly leaning in.

“
Daddy, go so we can watch you leave.” Emalynn stuck her head out the door seconds before Gage made lip contact for the first time with this man of his dreams. Trent’s breath rushed out, sliding like a balm over Gage’s face, and he turned his head to the front door.

“
Em, go inside and tell Sophia to stop making you do things like this,” Trent said. He turned back to Gage, worry set in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“
No, don’t be sorry. We do need to get going. Besides, anticipation’s an enticing reward in getting you home early,” Gage said wiggling his eye brows with a gleam in his eyes. He stepped away as he extended his arm for Trent to lead the way. Trent gave a smile, and if he was interpreting correctly, looked a little disappointed by the interruption as he walked forward and then down the steps. The smile, though, completely melted any part of Gage’s heart which remained his. He loved Trent’s smile and vowed again to see it there more often. As he followed behind, taking the few steps down, Trent spotted his car, stopping in his tracks.

“
Oh my God, it’s a Ferrari, Gage. You drive a Ferrari? You drove a Prius last night…” Trent said. The night was full-on and they stood in a darkened area of the walkway leading to the driveway. It gave Gage the opportunity to step forward and brush his hard-on against Trent’s ass. He wrapped his arms around Trent’s waist and slid one hand down the length of his body to see what might be going on inside his slacks. He wasn’t disappointed with the feel or the slight roll Trent’s hip gave into his hand during the brief touch.

An intake of breath pushed Trent back further against Gage
’s chest, more into the circle of his arms, and Gage breathed in Trent’s scent while running his nose along his neck. Gage didn’t move or blow it off as an accident. Instead, he tightened his arms, pulling Trent even closer to his chest. Judging by where they stood, Gage didn’t think they could be seen from the window or the front doors because he couldn’t see the children or Sophia.

Finally, after so many long agonizing days, Gage got to hold this man in his arms, and he couldn
’t bring himself to let go. His heart pounded in his chest. He could feel Trent’s heartbeat matched his own. Gage stood slightly taller than Trent, but not really enough to matter, and he bent his nose in, allowing it to make contact with Trent’s skin, before running it up into the back of his hair. Gage smiled when Trent finally lifted his arm to hold his head in place, sliding his fingers into the ends of Gage’s hair.

“
I love your scent. You’ll have to tell me what it is so I can make sure you never run out,” Gage whispered into his hair. He could feel Trent wanted him as much as he wanted Trent. After days of trying to convince himself this would never happen, it felt so good to finally have this one in his arms.

Trent stayed quiet. After a moment he turned his head, giving a sideways glance back at Gage. He used his hand in Gage
’s hair to pull his face closer in. The moment their lips touched, Gage thrust his hips forward in such need, and Trent pushed his ass back, grinding their bodies together. Gage licked out immediately, wanting in Trent’s mouth with a desperation he’d never experienced before in his life. Trent slowly turned in his arms, opening for him and then deepening the kiss. Gage surged his tongue forward, welding their mouths together. Trent was impossibly intriguing and incredibly hot. He plunged his tongue deep inside, basking in the taste of this man in his arms.

Gage wrapped himself around Trent, sliding his hands up under his suit jacket, pulling Trent fully against his body. The kiss was hot, but tender, and went on for several long minutes. Both were rigidly hard, brushing their cocks against one another. It was the most erotic kiss of his life and Gage had had some kisses. Never had one turned him on like this stolen kiss in a darkened neighborhood of a Chicago suburb. He wanted this man. God, he wanted him badly, but he wanted Trent long term. The thought of wanting this man for many years to come stunned him and made him feel like a happily drowning man.