Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Zita was excited about today. Not for herself, because today would be just another day on set for her, but for Sage. Today was the day he’d been waiting for since filming began. It was helicopter day.
He was like a little kid excited about a trip to the zoo. Or to an amusement park. His anticipation was palatable. And it was adorable.
She didn’t even care that he was preoccupied this morning, or that he’d sprung out of bed thirty minutes before his alarm was set to go off.
She would’ve liked to have spent their first morning after becoming intimate cuddling a bit more.
But while Sage had no problem spooning her and holding her all night, he wasn’t exactly a “cuddler.”
Zita had no idea sex could be so intimate.
She’d obviously slept with the wrong people in the past. Sage was not only an exceptional lover, he was attentive, unselfish, and throughout the night was focused completely on her.
It was a novel experience. And she truly felt as if he cared for her.
He wasn’t in her bed to scratch an itch.
He was bossy and confident, and he had no problem letting her know what he needed and wanted. But because they were the exact things she wanted, Zita was happy to let him take the lead. Even when she’d gone down on him, there was no doubt he was still in charge. Which actually thrilled her.
Making love to Obadiah Engle had already changed her life…
but Zita wasn’t sure what she was going to do about it.
If he asked her, she’d move to Virginia in a heartbeat.
Hollywood had gotten old, and she’d been ready for a change for a while now.
But was moving across the country for a man the right thing to do?
What if this was just a novelty? Something new and exciting that would wane once they saw each other on a regular basis?
She didn’t think it was, at least not on her part, but would Sage change his mind?
Would she be able to deal with his deployments? Especially knowing how dangerous they were? Would they be able to work around her schedule? Would he resent her when she left for a month or more to work on a film set? Trust that she wouldn’t stray? Was he the jealous type?
She still had so many questions…but she truly believed they could work through any hardships they might encounter that came with a relationship. Being with someone wasn’t easy. It took a lot of work. But Sage was worth it.
Would he feel the same about her?
She hated the unknown, the uncertainty. She wanted to live in the moment, but it was as if a giant clock was ticking in her head.
When this job was over, what would happen then?
She supposed they could try to make a long-distance relationship work, but the odds of that happening were low. Which made her want to cry.
She liked Sage. Was half in love with him. The thought of leaving and not seeing him again felt like torture. She’d never been so in tune with a man before, and the last thing she wanted was to turn her back on that.
Taking a deep breath, Zita did her best to put all her worries aside.
Today was a new day, she was deliciously sore, and everything seemed a little brighter.
Of course, it was brighter, literally, as the rain had moved on and the sun was shining by the time they made their way to his Jeep to head to the square for breakfast before heading out to the set.
Sage had gone to his room to shower and get ready, saying if he showered in her room, they might not make it to breakfast at all, as he’d be way too tempted to drag her into the tiny bathroom with him.
The man might be focused on the job and excited about his beloved choppers, but he hadn’t neglected her.
Hadn’t made her feel as if the night before meant nothing.
After they’d gotten up, used the bathroom, brushed their teeth, and figured out the plans for the morning, he’d pushed her backward onto the bed, shoved her legs apart, and eaten her to another orgasm.
It was spontaneous and surprising, and oh so sexy. When he’d finally picked his head up from where he was kneeling between her legs, he’d licked his lips, still shiny from her juices, and winked at her.
“Nothing like a little pussy to start my day.”
Zita had rolled her eyes with a grin. It was a cheesy thing to say, but she couldn’t say she disagreed with him.
Her body felt both languid and charged up, ready to go.
She’d reached for him, but he’d grabbed her hand, kissed the palm, and said if she touched him, they’d never leave the room.
Then added that he’d take care of his monster hard-on in the shower.
She might’ve been upset that he’d turned down her offer, except for the look of desire in his eyes. He couldn’t fake that. At least, she didn’t think he could.
Zita settled for sitting up and kissing the hell out of him. She could taste herself on his lips and tongue, and it was extremely sexy.
He’d groaned and stood up suddenly, his pants tented from his erection, and said he’d see her in thirty minutes.
Zita had giggled, riding her orgasm high throughout her morning routine.
When Sage knocked on her door exactly thirty minutes later, he’d taken her in his arms, kissed her once more—a long, drawn-out kiss that made Zita’s toes curl—before grabbing her hand and her medical bag, and towing her toward his Jeep.
They’d eaten breakfast at Sunny Side Up—everything Zita had tried at the amazing diner since they’d been in town was delicious—and then made their way to the set.
Sage turned off the engine and undid his seat belt, but made no move to get out. Instead, he turned to her and said, “This is not a fling.”
The five words were said with passion and a seriousness that made warmth flood through Zita. “Good, because I didn’t think it was.”
“I have no idea how this will go. How we’ll make it work. All I know is that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep what we have going. I’ve never met anyone like you, Zita Darlington. You impress the hell out of me. And last night?”
He paused, then finally cleared his throat before continuing.
“I had no idea sex could be like that. Intimate…fun…almost overwhelming. I felt a connection with you that I’ve never felt before.
I have no idea if it was the same for you, but it made me realize how rare it is to find someone you click with the way I’ve clicked with you.
But I also know a relationship is more than sex.
Passion fades, but being with someone you look forward to waking up to and spending your days and nights with doesn’t.
“I want a partner who I can be myself with. I get grumpy and out of sorts. I’m not always very social.
I like hanging out at home more than I like going out.
People annoy me more often than not. We still have a lot to learn about each other, but I have a feeling nothing I find out about you will turn me off in the slightest.
“If you don’t think you can do this…have a relationship with me…please tell me now. Because if I spend more time with you, I’m going to fall even harder than I have already. And if that’s not what you want, it’ll hurt even more if we drag this out.”
He wasn’t smiling. Was staring at her with an intensity that was almost scary. But Zita’s heart was soaring. He was saying things that she’d only dreamed she’d hear from a man. They were so much on the same page, it was uncanny, because she’d had the same fears more than once this morning.
“Would it freak you out if I said I was willing to move to Norfolk?”
He didn’t say anything for a long moment. So long, actually, that Zita’s heart seemed to stop beating in her chest.
Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
She didn’t dare move, wondering what he was thinking.
When his eyes popped open, he moved quickly, reaching out and pulling her toward him with a hand on her nape. He kissed her hard, pulling back just enough to say, “No. It wouldn’t freak me out. It would make me the happiest man in the world right now.”
“I’m terrified,” Zita admitted. “But I can work from just about anywhere. I might not get as many film gigs if I’m not in Hollywood, but honestly, I’m okay with that.”
“I don’t deserve you,” Sage said gruffly.
“I think we deserve each other,” she told him. “But I’m not moving in with you,” she clarified. “I want my own place. Things have moved fast with us, and I want the time to make sure this is really what we both want.”
“It’s what I want,” Sage said with no hesitation whatsoever. “But I understand completely. I hope you aren’t opposed to sleepovers,” he said with a small grin.
“I’m not.” Then she shook her head a little wryly. “Are we really doing this? After only knowing each other for such a short time?”
“I feel as if I’ve known you forever,” he countered.
He wasn’t wrong. Zita felt like that too, but she also felt as if she should keep reminding him how fast they were moving, because it wasn’t exactly acceptable these days to jump into a serious relationship so quickly.
Definitely not acceptable for her to uproot her life and move across the country just to be closer to a man.
Her parents were going to have serious misgivings. And her brother would probably want to have a “talk” with Sage. But Zita had no doubt he’d win them over, just as he had her, simply by being himself.
“I’m yours, Zita. Lock, stock, and barrel. I don’t care if everyone thinks I’m besotted. Because I am.”
She liked that. A lot. The idea of him belonging to her.
And she wanted to be his in return.
“You ready for today?” he asked, and she was glad he’d lightened the mood a little.
Things had gotten intense, and while she was happier than she could even express, it was also a little overwhelming.
She’d basically just decided to completely upend her life, and bringing talk back around to the here and now was a relief.
“As I can be. You?”