Engaging (Alluring Book 2) Read Free Page B

Having him hate her would kill something inside her, the piece of her heart that belonged forever, exclusively to Gage.

     
    July 4, 2010
    "So, have you done the deed yet?"
    Cassie relaxed back against the lounger, eyes closed, enjoying the hot July sun beating into her skin.  She slowly opened her eyes and turned her head to look at Monica.  Her friend was not relaxed.  She sat upright on her lounger, leg bouncing, as she speedily flipped through the pages of a magazine.  "I've only known him for three weeks."
    Monica stopped flipping pages and looked at Cassie.  "So, is that a no?"
    Cassie laughed.  "Yes, that's a no."
    "Why not?  If I had some hot rocker panting after me, I'd be all over that."
    "I know, and I have been thinking about it, but you know this is a big step for me."  Cassie turned her head back forward and stared sightlessly at the antics going on in the pool.  Their apartment complex catered to college students and on a Sunday afternoon, the pool area could get quite hectic.
    Monica flipped a few more pages of her magazine.  "You're going to have to bite the bullet at some point.  It might as well be with a super-hot rock star."
    Cassie sighed and closed her eyes.  The last few weeks with Gage had been incredible.  He'd been sweet and attentive.  They had held hands, kissed, did some heavy petting, and she had never felt pressed to give more. 
    She would be twenty next month.  What the heck was she waiting for?  Not marriage.  The fact was, she had never really had a long-term boyfriend.  She'd had a few boyfriends in high school, a couple even lasted longer than a few months, but she hadn't been ready for sex then.  Well, she was ready for it now, but she wasn't sure how to bring up the subject with Gage.  She didn't know how to tell him she was ready without embarrassing herself.
    She turned her head to look at Monica.  "How do you tell someone you're ready to have sex with them?"
    Monica was in the process of licking her pointer in preparation of flipping more magazine pages.  She turned to look a Cassie, pointer still stuck to her tongue, giving her wide eyes.  She pulled her finger from her mouth and wiped it on her towel.  "Um... I don't know.  It's always just kind of happened for me.  I've never had a conversation about it first."
    "We'll I think Gage knows I've never done it before.  He's taking things slow.  How do I let him know it's okay to speed things up?"
    Monica was silent for a moment.  "You're going to a party tonight, right?"
    "Yeah, at Caesars Palace.  I can't wait.  It's going to be so much fun."
    Monica pouted.  "I'm so jealous.  I wish I could go."
    "I've told you, you can come with me."
    Monica shook her head.  "I can't get out of work.  I was told if I didn't show up tonight I would be fired, and I can't afford to lose another job.  It's too hard to find a new one."
    Cassie wasn't sure what to say to that.  She felt bad that her friend couldn't go to the party, but she didn't have a solution to the problem either.
    "Anyway, we got off subject.  Just get a few drinks in him and dance all sexy.  He'll get the hint."
    "You think?"
    "I know."

    August 4, 2010
    "Tell me what you're thinking," Gage said, running his fingers through Cassie's hair.
    They were in bed, Cassie on her back, wrapped in the sheet.  Gage lay beside her on his stomach, hovering over her, his face inches from hers.
    She smiled at him.  Today was her birthday.  She had played hooky from school, Gage from work, and they had spent the whole day together.  Gage had booked a suite at Caesars Palace because she had mentioned at the 4th of July party how cool it would be to stay there.  That he remembered and acted on that, did crazy things to her heart.  Everything he did, did crazy things to her heart.  The way he touched her, kissed her, all the little things he did for her.  How could she not fall in love with him?
    His hair fell forward, framing his face and hers as he