The Current Between Us (41 page)

“
I’ll take care of this, Trent. You have to trust me.” Trent didn’t say anything, but his face said that trust would not come easily; it would take a long time to rebuild. That brand new protective mechanism that had spiked in Gage upon meeting this wonderful man roared to life at that look. His world tilted on its axis, and he wanted nothing more than to have Trent safe and in his arms for the rest of his life.

Trent stepped far enough away until he was able to look down the hall. Gage followed him, keeping their hands together, and they made their way to Trent
’s bedroom. Trent poked his head in the kids’ bedrooms as he went, both were gone and he assumed still with Rhonny.

“
Let me go check on them with Rhonny,” Trent said, and Gage went into the bedroom. Trent quietly shut the door behind him. Gage waited until he heard Trent’s footsteps retreat down the hall before he made the call he needed to make.

“
I have something for you,” he said into the phone to the groggy hello on the other end of the connection. He never took his eyes from the shut bedroom door, and he didn’t let himself think of everything he gave up with this one phone call.

“
It’s one in the morning. Why can’t you ever call at a decent hour, Synclair?”

“
You need to get to Executive in Chicago before dawn. Call me before you land, I’ll meet you at my gallery. It’s the most private place. This is you and me and no one else, got it? But you’ll need a field commander back at base ready to coordinate,” Gage said, surprised at how good he felt with this decision. Trent wasn’t going to understand it. The kiss they shared minutes ago was so final to the man he’d held in his arms.

“
Wait, what?”

“
You heard me,” Gage said, a smile coming to his lips at the other person’s confusion.

“
Usually you have me playing catch up while you’re making the military look like an ass.” The statement caused a bigger smile to tear across his lips.

“
Not this time.”

“
Why?”

“
If you get moving, you can be here in five hours. It’ll be easier to meet at the gallery. I’ll be waiting. And in the end, this time you’ll be saying, ‘thank you, Gage.’“ He laughed as he said the last part.

“
Yeah, right, I’m not sure there’s anything you can do to change my standard, you’re a motherfucker, Gage,” He heard the doubt in the voice over the line.

“
You’ll see.” Gage disconnected the call and stayed standing, staring at the door, surprised there wasn’t even a sense of loss at what he’d just done. It felt right. A smile touched his lips. He must be soundly and completely in love to do what he was about to do.

“
They’re in Rhonny’s room. Did you make your call?” Trent said, coming back inside the bedroom. He shut the door behind him, but didn’t set the lock and that made it clear he didn’t think Gage planned to stay.

“
I did. I have a couple of hours before I have to leave. You need to sleep, Trent.” If Gage could get Trent to sleep, he could leave here in a couple of hours and still be there before General Porter could possibly arrive.

“
I don’t think I can,” Trent said, coming to stand about a foot in front of Gage. He slid his hands in his jean pockets.

“
Lay with me. Let me hold you,” Gage said, moving to Trent who stayed rooted in his spot. Uncertainty played across Trent’s face, and Gage ignored it. He couldn’t tell him his plans, because he wasn’t sure of them himself, but he did give a simple, “I’ve got an idea. You need to trust me, Trent. I’ll keep you informed every step of the way, but you need to sleep. I need you fresh and alert on this deal.”

Gage reached his hands out, needing to touch Trent like he needed to breathe. He began pulling Trent
’s shirt from his jeans. Trent followed suit, toeing off his shoes and unbuttoning his jeans. Neither said anything as they undressed him and Trent averted his eyes as he decided if his briefs would go, too.

“
You’re spectacular to look at, Trent. I don’t know how you maintain this body, but you’re hot as hell. Even under the weight of all this stress, I’m physically turned on by you. Let me make love to you tonight, baby,” Gage said, moving closer to Trent, but he stepped back, and Gage wondered how his heart could hurt so badly at the move when it wasn’t even in his chest any longer.

Trent didn
’t say a word as he walked over to the door, clicking the lock, and then to the nightstand, pulling a box of condoms out and a large bottle of lubricant. “I bought these this weekend when I thought I was gonna be having lots of sex in my near future. They’ll be going to waste now…We might as well use them,” Trent said casually and dropped his briefs to the floor.

Gage came up behind Trent, turning him around, drawing him into a kiss. One hand pulled at his own clothing, while the other stroked Trent
’s half aroused cock, bringing him fully to life. It took mere seconds for Gage to undress, and Trent broke from the kiss to open a condom. He pushed it down on Gage.

“
Fuck me hard. Please? I need it hard, tonight, I can’t take tender…” Trent whispered the words with a desperate edge filling his voice.

“
Baby, you have to hear me. I’m going to do everything I can to make this right for you. I don’t want to hurt you anymore,” Gage said, holding him in place.

“
I’m absolutely certain tomorrow I’m gonna regret this, but just fuck me hard, Gage. The harder, the better.”

Gage flipped him around, not waiting until they were on the bed. Instead they were somewhere between the bed and the nightstand. Gage reached for the oil. He worked quickly, shoving two fingers inside Trent. Gage coated his own dick when Trent reached a hand around, pushed his fingers away from his ass and positioned Gage at his rim. Gage thrust his hips forward, driving his cock deep inside Trent, stretching him in one mind blowing thrust. Trent reared back with a deep, satisfying moan, growling from his chest. Trent braced himself on the headboard and nightstand, gripping both hard. The fact Trent stayed on his feet said a lot for his strength. Gage began pumping hard into Trent, slapping his balls against Trent
’s ass, dropping more oil on his fast moving cock.

“
Harder,” Trent growled out, and Gage gripped his hips, keeping him in place, pounding harder. The force of the fucking took his breath away and he liked it like this. The hot as hell experience pushed his orgasm closer. He drove faster, back and forth, digging his fingers into Trent’s hips. He’d dreamed of Trent this way, he’d wanted him like this from the first moment he saw him. Gage reached his hand forward and knocked Trent’s hand away from his own cock. He gripped it, stroking it hard in the rhythm his hips created. Barely a moment passed before Trent roared his release and Gage followed seconds later. It was fast, hard, and unbelievably gratifying.

Trent slumped over and Gage gripped his hips hard, keeping them upright. He needed a minute to gather himself, but Trent would have no part of it, his knees gave out and he fell to his side on the bed. Gage slipped out, but grabbed on to the nightstand, staying on his feet until he could fall across the end of the bed and not land on top of Trent.

“Jesus, Trent, that was completely unexpected.” Gage’s breathless comment met with the soft snoring of the man he loved. He gave himself another minute before he rose to get them both settled. He gathered his clothes to limit the wrinkles, knowing there wouldn’t be time to change before he met General Porter. Gage intended to stay here as long as he possibly could. After he cleaned them up, he risked waking Trent to put him under the covers. Trent opened those red, swollen eyes to him and gave a small smile, pulling Gage down in bed with him. It felt like the most natural move in the world to have Trent’s arm come out and hook around his waist, pulling him down in bed with him.

“
I love you, baby,” Gage whispered.

“
I love you,” Trent mumbled, back asleep within seconds. Gage laid there for several hours, holding Trent until his alarm alerted him of the time. It woke Trent, too. Gage dressed silently and Trent stayed where he lay, watching him dress, a look of resignation on his face. The thin summer blanket covered his legs and cock, but not his chest. Trent looked so good lying in that bed. Gage ran his fingers through his hair and walked back to the bed, bending down to place a chaste kiss on Trent’s lips.

“
Keep the kids home with you today, I don’t know how long this will take. I’ll call you as soon as I can.” With that, Gage left.

Chapter 22

With barely enough time to run a comb through his hair and brush his teeth, Gage heard the buzzer sound below in the gallery. General Porter made record time in getting to Chicago. It was just turning six in the morning which did a lot to signify how important the government took his request, and they should. In the past, Gage made them run around chasing their asses on a couple of different reports he’d done. They needed to take him seriously.

He used the intercom to buzz him in and immediately took the stairs down two at a time. He forced himself to appear confident, easy going, and in control of this situation. Not showing the ball of nerves raging through his heart and head. Everything shifted inside him. He guessed his career never really meant too much to him. He never worried about it like he worried about Trent. Everything in him needed to make sure Trent and his babies were safe instead of finalizing the details on the raid for the last report of his life. Boy, Sid was seriously gonna be some kind of pissed off at him.

“Porter, thank you for coming so quickly,” Gage said, striding through the gallery.

“
I’ve learned my lesson. The place looks great, Synclair. I saw the photos of opening night. You’ve done well for yourself,” the general said. As defense advisor to the president of the United States, Porter ranked rather high on the totem pole.

“
Thank you. It’s been a labor of love. Come in to my office, let’s talk there. It’s secure,” Gage said, raising his hand toward the glass structure and walking toward the door. The entourage following behind Porter stopped at his raised hand. They stayed outside the office door as the men entered. Gage continued into the front office, the blinds to the front were partially open and he could see two armed military guards stationed out front, with four or five solid black SUVs parked right alongside the sidewalk.

The US military never did anything discreetly; the main reason they weren
’t included in any of his projects up until now. They wanted to make sure everyone in the neighborhood knew they were there. Gage pulled out a chair to the small conference table for Porter and circled around to the coffee station against the glass wall. His laptop and the file folder he’d showed Trent were sitting in front of Porter’s seat. He’d removed all the evidence of Trent and the children, saving them for last, or not at all, depending on how this went down.

“
I have to tell you, I’m honestly surprised. I knew you were cooking something up. You’ve been in Mexico twice in a matter of a few weeks, but I never expected you to call me in,” he said, once the door closed, taking his seat.

“
Things change, would you like some coffee?” Gage asked.

“
Sure, but let’s get down to it,” the general said. Gage took the remote on the table and darkened the office walls, shutting them completely in. A knock came immediately from the office door, but Porter called out to let the guards by the door know there was no danger. Gage offered the first cup of coffee to the general, placing the cream and sugar on the table, and Gage took the second cup, keeping it black. He took a long drink of the steamy hot brew, gathering himself.

“
I’ve prepared a folder for you. I’ll ask you not to move forward on the information contained in this file until I’ve given you adequate background information. But first, I need some guarantees,” Gage said, taking his seat at the table.

“
I didn’t expect anything less,” he replied.

“
I’ve come across an unexpected bump in the road in finalizing this report. There’s an unexpected family involved. I can’t find any connection at all with the suspect or the situation. They’re as clueless to this as you, and I want them spared,” Gage said, casually crossing one leg over the other and flicking a piece of dust off his slacks as he spoke. He hoped the movement hid the pounding of his heart.

“
Well, of course, if it turns out they aren’t involved, we would never—” Porter started.

“
No, you misunderstand. To get my information on the front end, not the back end, I need the guarantee they will never be brought into any of this, no matter what. Their names will be stricken from my reports, never to enter back in. I need your guarantee,” Gage said, looking the general straight in the eye while taking another long drink of the coffee. He kept his face passive and blank; he blinked. This was plan A, B, and C. All eggs in one basket to make sure Trent wasn’t touched by any of this.

“
All right, can you guarantee they absolutely weren’t involved?” Porter said, leaning in, linking his fingers together on the table.