Chapter Six
Alexander arrived early to pick up Sage and parked right out front of her office building. The moment she exited, he’d see her, and she couldn’t miss him. If he hadn’t been on time, he didn’t doubt she’d stick by her word and make her own way home to prove a point.
And he couldn’t risk that. Call it overprotective, but he’d rather be prepared and cautious than complacent. In his experience, that’s when shit happened. That’s when people got hurt, killed.
Cold, sticky sweat glazed his skin, and his heart hammered. Fuck, shit like that caused his PTSD—constant reviewing and reliving events where he believed he could have made a difference. If he just hadn’t been so gung-ho, over-confident, impulsive. Too trusting.
He flicked through radio stations until he found a song he liked. He’d debated whether to Bluetooth one of the meditations he regularly listened to but worried he’d zone out and miss Sage. And knowing her, she’d use his decreased attention to take off and demonstrate to him and her brother they’d prematurely panicked.
From what he’d observed, the principle of something meant most to her, the fairness. She’d worn those beliefs like a badge of honor, and they formed part of the reason he liked her so damn much—not that he’d let her know.
Instead, he’d acted like a grade-A dick, like she’d been a nuisance, in his way. He didn’t want her to think that anymore. His time in the commandos had made him re-evaluate…everything.
It reinforced that life was limited and to make the most of opportunities when they presented, like his second chance with Sage. Nothing could happen, though, unless she saw he had prospects. He needed to see it, too…believe it. Would she give him the time to show that? Or had he lost his shot with her?
Even if he convinced himself he could be the right man for Sage, she might already be involved with someone. He’d avoided broaching the boyfriend subject, part of him not wanting to know. But if she did have a significant other, wouldn’t Chase have asked the guy to check on her instead?
No assuming. He needed a definitive answer…from her.
And on top of that, they had to narrow down a possible suspect list. Sure, the break-in could have been random, however, instinct suggested it stemmed from a greater, more personal agenda, mostly because the intruder hadn’t taken anything. That, combined with Sage’s twitchiness.
Ten minutes past the hour, she appeared, searching the street then locking her unreadable gaze on his. Euphoria surged through him at the sight of her. Was she equally happy to see him? Glad he’d kept his word?
She sagged into the passenger seat. Straight away, his soldier senses detected something was up—and not in a good way. Something or someone had spooked her.
“Thanks for coming.” She locked her door and clicked her seatbelt into place without making eye contact.
“I said I’d be here, and I stick to my word.”
She half smiled, still refusing to look at him.
“You okay?”
“Take me home, please.” Still no attempt to swing her gaze his way.
He started the engine and headed to her house. “What’s wrong?”
“I had a shit day, okay?”
“No, it’s not okay. Let me help.”
She glanced at him with raised, dubious eyebrows. “And how are you going to do that?”
“Unless you explain the situation, I can’t. I can be your bodyguard but not much else. If you want to try to resolve what’s going on, you need to confide in me.”
She twisted more in her seat, clamped her jaw tight and stared at him. “Really? Like back in the day when I wanted to be accepted, a part of things. Where was your support then, your understanding, your empathy, your reliability, your protection?
“You couldn’t wait to get away from me. What’s different now? You haven’t seen me for years, haven’t even tried to make contact and suddenly you want to help? Doesn’t make sense. What are you playing at?”
A tirade. One she’d obviously bottled up and needed to get off her gorgeous chest. And he fucking deserved her rage, her disbelief. He hadn’t made things easy. Not at all. And now he had to work double—no, triple—time, to win her trust.
“All good points…and totally justified. I can’t apologize enough for how I behaved. I was an emotionally immature dick. But I’ve learned, grown, changed. Let me make things right.”
She raised her eyebrows in challenge. “Fine. Prove it.”
“I will. The military has taught me to be patient. I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to trust me. Hopefully, forgive me. And I promise, I’ll only overstep if you’re at risk. My number one priority is to keep you safe.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.” He stopped at a red light and turned toward her. “Look… All I ask is that you’re upfront with me. I know you’re not telling me everything, and I’ll do whatever it takes to find out the details. If you want me to do my job and waste the least amount of time, you’ll disclose whatever you know. The less you say, the more ineffective I’ll be and the more you’re exposed to danger.”
She stared at her fingers in her lap, pressing each digit like counting beads on an abacus—an old-fashioned, tried-and-true anxiety coping mechanism. His candid response had made her nervous, reinforcing his presumption.
Sage stayed like that, as though ignoring him would end the conversation. No chance. She didn’t realize how determined he could be, how persistent, like a dog with a delicious bone.
He’d let her stew on his response, but she couldn’t escape his questions for long. She’d be a captive in her false-sense-of-security safe haven. And he’d play on that for her own good.
The moment he parked in her garage, she bolted out of the car, keys in hand, and charged inside before he could get close. He followed, a door slamming in the distance. Her bedroom, if he had to hazard a not-so-difficult guess.
He’d let her think she could evade him by making herself a solitary-confinement-style prisoner. However, eventually, she’d have to come out to eat.
Alexander got to work on dinner, a meal she’d loved when they had been teenagers. He’d shopped, factoring in her preferences from the past, and hoped the power of the mouthwatering scent, in addition to the nostalgia, would draw her out.
It might be underhanded, but he’d attempt anything that could work. He placed several pieces of short-cut bacon in a frying pan—because she’d always hated the fatty, streaky, overly crispy stuff. When they were done, he lifted them onto a paper-towel-topped plate to absorb any excess oil.
Then he cracked five eggs onto the sizzling surface—three for him, two for her—and sprinkled on a little salt. She liked hers sunny-side up, the yolks soft so they bled onto her thick-sliced, multigrain toast. Whereas he liked his firm, well done. He’d love to see her well done, too. Make her whimper, make her scream his name.
Fucking focus. He had to get control of himself, especially if he planned to bring his A-game, get her relaxed enough to divulge the full extent of her troubles. He had to stop the sexual innuendo or he’d do something stupid, something way too rash, like haul her against him for a kiss.
He checked her eggs. Almost ready. Fuck, he hoped his instinct was right. He hoped she hadn’t turned vegetarian or, fuck, vegan during their time apart.
He probably should have checked. If he’d gotten this wrong…he could improvise. Devise a plan B. And quickly, going by his history. But even if she had turned anti-animal products, the smell would coax her out, maybe from disgust rather than rapture. He could still work with that.
Light footfalls padded on the stairs.
Yeah, keep coming, baby. I got you. One day, hopefully soon, he could test that out in the bedroom, on the couch, bent over the kitchen bench.
Enough!
“Is that… Are you cooking…?”
“Bacon and eggs, yeah.” He put two slices of bread in the toaster.
She shifted closer to him. “I love… How did you…?”
“I remember a lot of things.”
“And my teenage number-one comfort food makes that list because…?”
He turned off the stovetop and stared into her eyes. She’d changed into a loose T-shirt and leggings and still looked fucking mouthwatering. “You interest me.”
She half laughed, half huffed. “Stop trying to screw with my head. Stop trying to act all nice and considerate to get me to talk.”
“I’m not acting.” Her toast popped up, slightly golden, the way she used to enjoy, and he put it on her plate. Using the spatula, he loaded her eggs on top and piled a serving of bacon off to the side.
Alexander held out her dinner. “I swear, I’m not dicking you around. Whatever I say I mean. It’s the God’s honest truth. You can trust me.”
Her trademark, squinty-eyed, dubious look said she didn’t know whether to, so he aimed to give her more proof, give her whatever she needed in every possible way. His cock really liked that idea.
She took the plate out of his hand and stared at the food, then her gaze met his with a sense of awe, astonishment. “This is perfect. Exactly how I like it.”
His mind went to town, flipping through an assortment of images with her saying those exact words in very different circumstances, naked circumstances—her riding his face and him licking her to ecstasy.
His dick slammed against his fly, desperate to play. Before she could see his inappropriate, excited response, he spun toward the toaster and slipped in three slices of bread.
She touched his forearm, her elegant fingers soft and warm on his skin. His heart rate cranked up to triple time. “Thank you. I really needed this tonight.” Pretty much confessing something bad had gone down during the day.
She left him to fill his plate, and he joined her at the dining table.
Sage took a bite of her bacon, closed her eyes and moaned. And oh fuck, did that reinvigorate his animalistic urges. “This is great.”
“Good.” His voice sounded rough and raspy. “Dig in.”
She cut into her toast and slathered some runny yolk across the top. “What did you do today?” Nice deflection. She glanced at him and popped the forkful into her mouth, sucking the remnants of egg off the metal tines. If reincarnation were real, he’d put in a request to come back as that fork.
Alexander got stuck into his meal. He had to distract himself somehow or risk throwing the table aside and gorging on her. “Meditated, went grocery shopping, got you a state-of-the-art security system. I’ll install it tomorrow.” Thought about Sage and how much he wanted her, how much he’d fucked up out of ignorance and fear. How much he needed to verify, to her and himself, he was good enough.
“What do I owe you?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? Come on!”
“I want to do it. Let it go.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Do you want a beer or wine or something?” She went to stand.
“A beer. But stay there. I’ll get it.” He stood before she could protest. “What would you like?”
Him, if he read her flushed cheeks and dilated pupils accurately—not that she’d admit it.
He’d made sure to wear a tight black T-shirt over ass-and-leg-hugging cargo pants, emphasizing his assets. A bit of an unfair advantage but he’d take it. He worked hard to keep himself in shape, continuing his fitness regime even since he’d left the commandos. And it helped with his general health and wellbeing. Meeting Sage’s eye-candy criteria, having her approval, made him feel even better…worth something.
“Um…” She glanced down at her almost empty plate. “A glass of red would be great. I’ve got a bottle open in the cupboard.”
He grabbed their drinks and returned to the table. “To positive new beginnings.”
“Yes.” She raised her wine glass to his stubby of beer. “Cheers.”
They both drank to that, finished their dinner and took their time with their drinks.
Alexander fixed his eyes on hers. “Tell me about your day.”
“Same old.”
“You don’t have to hide anything from me. Like I said, the more details I have, the better I can do my job—and my job is to protect you.” Plus a lot, lot more, but he couldn’t go there yet.
She dropped her gaze to her glass, like it was a crystal ball that could guide her decision-making, and sculled the rest of her red. “Okay.”
Thank fuck.
Sage hesitated, then met his stare. “Before I say anything else, I want to emphasize that I don’t know whether the acts are linked. And I don’t want to assume.”
Discomfort crawled up his spine. The signs, compounded by her words and tone and body language, according to his very responsive, very accurate gut, refined over years of experience, suggested the events were most likely connected. However, he had to remain neutral. Let her speak, explain and assess afterwards. “I agree it’s important to be as objective as possible.”
“It is.” She paused and he didn’t say anything, silently encouraging her to continue. “It started about three months ago.” She glanced at him, as though expecting a response.
He kept quiet…a strategic move that often encouraged a person to talk, to reveal more.
“I received a random email and ignored it. I thought maybe it was a prank meant for someone else and they’d gotten the address wrong. Then a couple of weeks later, I got another message, same generic email address, something that probably isn’t traceable.”
“Show me.”
“I will. But now that I’ve started, I need to get this out.”
He gave her a gruff nod. The whole thing felt really off, dodgy.
“The vague, unsettling messages became more frequent and started to spread across platforms. Email, text, messenger on my professional social-media pages. Then, in the last week, before the break-in, I received a message every day.”
“And today?”
“Yes.”
Fuck, he knew there’d be more to it. “Have you kept all the communications?”
“Every single one.”
He closed his eyes and breathed out a sigh of mega frustration. “Fuck.”
“What does fuck mean?”
Alexander met her worried gaze. “They have an extraordinary amount of access to you.”
“That’s bad.”
“Yeah. Though it might help us narrow down people of interest. To have that level of knowledge suggests it’s someone you know.”
“I’d kind of figured that out already, and I’ve made a shortlist.”
“Good girl.” Fuck, that slipped out before he could think better of it. Would she jump down his throat, reproach him for being condescending, reinforce she was a grown woman? He definitely didn’t need reminding around that concept.
Whether she believed it or not, he’d said it with praise, with appreciation, with affection.
He braced himself for her verbal attack.
Surprisingly, none came.
The look she gave him radiated relief. “But I want to get your unbiased opinion on the messages first.”
She swallowed and darted her eyes to her laptop, charging on the coffee table. “I’ll get everything ready.”
Alexander cleaned up quickly and joined her on the couch. She had her computer perched on her lap and her email and social media open, her mobile sitting between them.
Sage looked at him. “Everything’s there. Go for it.” She handed over her laptop, and he scrolled through the array of correspondence.
Oh yeah, this was fucked. Someone held a massive grudge against Sage, and they’d weaseled their way into her life, making her feel off-kilter, uncertain, fearful…unnerved. And he aimed to fix that. In his prime, he’d been known as ‘the fixer’. Problem solving was his forte.
She’d hardly waited two minutes before her fingers bit into his thigh, setting his heartbeat skyrocketing. “What do you think?”
I want to strip you down and make love to you. Except she didn’t want his opinion on him and her. She wanted his assessment of her stressful situation.
He placed her phone and computer on the coffee table and twisted toward her, threading their fingers together. “Going by what I’ve read, the message escalation correlates too closely to the intrusion not to be connected.”
“Oh.”
“I know it’s not what you hoped to hear, but I promised to be honest—”
“No, I want you to be honest, no matter how hard it is. I want to hear your opinion. I need to know what I’m dealing with. It’ll help me stay more alert. And it confirms I’m not paranoid, and I’m not going insane.”
He cupped her face with his hand. “You’re one of the sanest people I’ve ever met.”
“Really? How can you say that when we’ve just reconnected?”
“I know you.”
“Not that much anymore.”
He’d breached the physical boundaries, he should stop touching her, but he couldn’t. “Enough for me to see you’re still switched on and not someone who overreacts.”
She pressed her palm to the back of his hand. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. Like I said, I won’t lie to you.”
“I know.”
“Since when?” He didn’t want to ruin the moment, but he needed specifics.
“Since you were adamant you wanted to protect me. Since you pushed for more details and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Since you took me seriously.”
“I’ve always taken you seriously…too seriously.” He stroked the pad of his thumb over her cheek.
“No such thing.” Her gaze moved between his eyes and lips—back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Fuck, she wanted a kiss. No way would he waste this chance.
He leaned in slowly, giving her the ability to retreat.
She didn’t.
Sage met him halfway, closed the distance, pressed those sweet lips to his, and he was lost…in the best possible way.
His inner caveman drove him to devour her. Although difficult, he overrode his compulsive urges and took his time, not wanting to scare her with his dominance. He’d ease in, feel his way, focus on exploring her in depth. With all the shit going on, she didn’t need her fear exacerbated.
She pressed into him, like she couldn’t get close enough…exactly how he felt. Alexander needed her body flush with his, skin on skin. But he’d let things play out. Make sure that’s what she wanted, too. Though, it didn’t stop him grabbing her hot little ass and lifting her onto his lap.
She gasped, her core rubbing his eager cock. Sage gripped his shoulders and stared into his eyes, almost awestruck, surprised, like she couldn’t quite believe what had happened.
Neither could he.
He’d fantasized about this moment for so long…too long. And his imagination failed in comparison.
Before he could dive back into the kiss, she beat him to it, crushing her mouth to his, her moist, insistent tongue delving between his lips. He groaned, his dick so hard he thought it might spear through his pants.
Things got hot and heavy fast, both of them feasting on each other, like dieters indulging in a banquet of off-the-menu treats. He trailed his hands over her luscious curves and up and down her thighs. Fuck, he needed her plastered to him, naked.
He broke the kiss to take a breath. “Clothes off.”
“You, too.”
He growled, and practically tore her top, trying to lift it over her head. Fuck, no bra, just smooth, beautiful bare skin. “Gorgeous.” He palmed her breasts, and she moaned.
Alexander swooped down and took one of her erect, dusky-pink nipples into his mouth and sucked.
She arched into him and whimpered. Ridiculously responsive. If he touched between her legs, he bet she’d be dripping wet. Before he could test out his theory, she reached down and stroked the growing bulge in his pants.
He bucked into her, desperate to feel the warmth of her hand sliding over his erection. “Fuck.” If he didn’t watch himself, he’d blow in his boxers. It’d been a while and Sage? She was extra special.
She tugged at his fly. “Too many clothes.”
He couldn’t agree more. But did she have the same intention, the same end goal? He had to make sure he understood what she wanted, and factor in any limits. Clasping her face between his hands, he waited until their gazes locked. “Baby, I want you so bad. I need to taste your sweet pussy and get inside you. Is that what you want?”
Her breath hitched. “Yes.”
“You’re sure.” He searched her eyes, assessing for even the smallest sign of uncertainty.
“I’ve never been surer.” No hesitation, no glancing away. Pure, one-hundred percent clear focus. She meant every word. He wanted to punch his fist in the air and shout out his joy for the whole neighborhood to hear.
Instead, he held her to him, his hands cupping her voluptuous ass, stood and strode to her bedroom. She gripped tight, her arms twined around his neck, her head nestled into the crook of his shoulder, her breath pounding against his skin.
He set her down inside her bedroom door, sliding her body along his—like he needed the extra friction. He’d barely been able to hold on beforehand.
“Get this off.” She grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and raised it up. He took over, lifting it above his head and throwing it on the floor, leaving them both topless. He kissed her again, her breasts rubbing his bare chest, and it was fucking glorious.
They grabbed for each other’s pants, fumbling with buttons and elastic, and yanked them down, along with their underwear, the material pooling at their ankles. They pulled apart long enough to kick off their remaining bits of clothes, then slammed together in a grabby, desperate, heated kiss.
Alexander walked her back until her knees hit the mattress, and she dropped into sitting. “Middle of the bed, lie down and spread your legs.”
A cock-stirring flush broke out on her chest and face, and she got into position, as per his command. And fuck, didn’t that get him extra hard. He moved between her thighs and raked his gaze slowly from her face to her pussy and retraced the path to her lips, her eyes. “What do you want, baby?”
“Your mouth between my legs, as promised.”
Fuck he loved her sass. He loved… Too early to go there. “Well, I wouldn’t want to disappoint.” He kissed her lush swollen lips and worked his way down her neck to her breasts, licking and sucking those hard, pointed nipples, then venturing lower and lower until he reached the promised land.
Alexander pressed an open-mouthed kiss to her mound, along the length of one inner thigh and up the other, the sexy scent of her arousal driving him crazy with lust. However, he forced himself to go slow, even though it was a huge fucking effort. Her breath caught when he hovered close to her clit.
“How do you like your clit licked? Soft tongue, lapping and exploring or firm tongue, hard and fast?”
“Oh God.”
“Which is it, baby? Or do you want me to try both? See what you prefer?”
She shoved her fingers in his hair and tugged, bucking into his face. Oh yeah, she liked his dirty talk, liked hearing what he planned to do to her. He fucking did, too. And if he wanted to uphold his reliable, in-control persona, he needed to get cracking or else he wouldn’t come close to thrusting his dick deep inside her.
“Both. Please.”
So he did, starting off with a gentle lick along her seam. She practically shot to the ceiling. Super sensitive. In a good way. He returned to her opening, lapping at her surge of juices and plunged his tongue in her core.
She cried out, and fuck, she looked so damn pretty. He wanted to make her react that way over and over and over. Pushing her legs farther apart, he trailed his fingers lightly over the backs of her knees, still tongue-fucking her pussy.
And, Jesus Christ, she tasted like a dream, even better than he’d envisioned.
“I need your mouth on my clit. Please!” Her urgent, begging tone really got him going.
He couldn’t say no to her. Didn’t want to. Not ever again.
Alexander swiped his tongue along her folds, circled her engorged little nub and flicked it with a firm tongue.
“Alexander!”
His name on her lips never sounded so fucking good.
He continued the steady licking rhythm, and in seconds she came, calling out with pure abandon. It was the sweetest, most intoxicating sound ever. Something he’d dreamed about for too many years, never thinking he’d get this opportunity. So he planned to cherish it and not take a single moment for granted.
Hands braced on her inner thighs, keeping them nice and wide, he licked her to completion. And damn, her excited response swelled his head to super-sized. He’d always loved getting a woman off but Sage? Even more so.
She flopped against the bed, thoroughly boneless. Her gaze zoned in on his. “Your turn.”
“Just lie back, baby, and let me pound into you.”
She gulped. “Oh.”
“Would you like that?”
“Yes.” She slid her hand over his bristly cheek. “Very much.”
“Good. Condoms?”
“Top drawer.”
He reached in and grabbed a sealed box. He ripped it open, closely followed by a foil packet, and sheathed himself. Lining up his cock, he nudged her entrance, eager to enter.
She pressed onto the tip of his dick, urging him inside “Mmm…nice.”
“I want it to be better than nice,” he said and thrust in to the hilt.
She let out a little whimper at his invasion, and a tear slid down her cheek.
“You okay, baby?” He searched her eyes.
“You’re huge.” Her tone sounded full of awe, and she smiled, all coy and irresistible. “Much more than okay.”
The best ego boost a guy could want. “You ready for me to move?” Cause fuck, he desperately needed to. He’d wait, though, if that’s what she needed.
“Yes!”
Slowly, he increased the pace and power of his thrusts, in response to her feedback—her moans, her erratic breathing, her grinding hips. He lifted her leg over his shoulder and fucked into her from a different angle—a deeper angle that hit right where she needed it, going by her enthusiastic cries.
Her hot, slick channel squeezed him like a tightly clamped vise. “You feel fucking amazing, baby.”
Her eyes focused on his. “You, too.”
“Are you close?”
“Yes.”
“I need you to come for me. Come on my cock.”
She broke apart right then, her core clenching every inch of him and setting off his own climax. Best fucking orgasm of his life—intense, off-the-charts, earth-shattering, because it was Sage, the off-limits woman he’d lusted over for years.
No, not just that. He loved countless things about her—her strength, her determination, her desire for fairness, her natural, understated sensuality. What wasn’t to love? And now that he’d had a taste, tapped that previously forbidden reserve, he couldn’t get enough.
Fuck, he’d done his best mate’s younger sister. In the past he’d gone against his gut and avoided crossing that line, but their connection tonight reinforced how wrong his decision-making had been. They were great together—beyond great. Spectacular.
He buried his face in her neck, his body pressed to hers, them both breathing hard. “Fucking perfect.”
“Yes, incredible.” She weaved her fingers through his hair and massaged his scalp.
Relaxing yet arousing, so right, he didn’t want to move. But he needed to dispose of the condom. He pulled out, and she winced. “Sorry, baby.”
“No need to be sorry. I’m going to be sore in the best way.”
He gave her an appreciative grin because, yeah, he’d made her his, and went to throw out the condom in her en suite. Alexander tied the top and…shit. Blood? Had he injured her?
His ecstatic mood plummeted to worried. He wrapped the rubber in a tissue, threw it in the bin and returned to his woman. He lay beside Sage, propped on one forearm and studied her eyes. “Did I hurt you, baby? Be honest.”
“No.” She cupped his cheek and looked at him with so much love. “You were wonderful.”
“There was blood on the condom.”
“Oh, that.” She dropped her hand and averted her gaze.
“Yeah, that.”
A blush invaded her face. “I, um… Oh boy. Um… This is so embarrassing.” She bit her bottom lip, took a deep breath and seemed to force herself to meet his persistent stare. “It… It was my first time.”
“What? You’ve never had sex before?” No. No fucking way. A stunning woman like her… He had to have misunderstood.
“Not penetrative sex. I’ve done other stuff…”
Fucking hell. “You should have told me, and I wouldn’t have been as rough, so fucking caveman.”
“You were exactly what I wanted.” And didn’t he love that confession. A part of his primal self loved the fact she’d trusted him, had chosen him to give herself to first.
Her face flushed a passion-induced pink. “I especially love oral, have done it a few times, but your mouth. Oh my God, I’ve never come so hard.”
A sense of pure male pride welled up inside him. But, at the same time, he wanted to deck the guys who’d had access to her pussy, the pleasure of eating her out before him. Yeah, possessive caveman to the max.
“And sucking cock?” Because, like her, he enjoyed oral, too, needed a woman willing to give him that pleasure. He hoped Sage considered it as much of a necessity, a turn on, as he did.
“I enjoy it. Can’t wait to taste you. I’ve wanted to for so long.”
Even though he’d come moments ago, her candid words had his dick rising to the challenge. He fucking wanted her mouth around his cock almost more than he needed his next breath.
“How do you want me, baby?”
“On your back. Then I can look into your eyes while I suck you off.”
Fuck me.
His fantasy come to life.
He rolled over, and she positioned herself between his legs. Oh yeah, he could never get sick of that sight. Her long, shiny hair swung forward, and he swept it off her face. He needed an unobstructed view of his dick disappearing between her full, giving lips.
She licked the head of his cock and stroked her hand repeatedly along his length, and it felt beyond brilliant. He grunted, which seemed to spur her on, and she dove down, taking him deeper.
Alexander growled and gripped her head. She got into a hand and mouth, suck and slide rhythm, and his brain became overloaded with the heavenly feeling, the divine sensation.
She hadn’t let just any man have full intimate access to her and, knowing that, knowing she’d been selective with her lovers, made this extra special.
“Stop, baby.”
She ignored his request and kept going, driving him right to the edge.
“No.” He held her head, stilling her seconds before he blew in her mouth. “I need to be in you when I come—if you’re up for it.”
She glanced at him, her beautiful amber eyes like priceless canary diamonds, full of conviction. “I am. I want this. I want you.”
Every cell in his body expanded with love and insatiable lust, the first time he’d ever experienced that rare combination. He reached across to the nightstand and grabbed another condom.
She sat upright and played with her breasts, her innate sexiness making it hard for him to focus on sheathing himself. But he got there, finally, and guided her onto his dick. She slid down, taking him all the way, and he nearly came. They fit so goddamn well.
Sage braced her palms on his chest and ground into him at a torturously slow pace. For a novice, she sure moved with confidence, seemed to instinctively work out what he needed.
He played along for a couple of minutes, then before he went out of his mind, he flipped her over and pistoned into her hot center.
She gasped, and he reached between them and circled her clit. Seconds later she screamed his name, the best sound he’d ever heard. He kissed her lips, her core contracting on his cock, and he came, fucking her through their combined orgasm.
She flopped back onto the bed, panting heavily. “Alexander.”
“I know, baby. Fucking fantastic.” He breathed hard into her hair. “You okay?”
“So okay.”
“Not too sore?”
“Good sore.”
He grinned and pushed up onto his forearms, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “Let me take care of this. I won’t be long.” He detoured to her en suite, in a hurry to return and hold her to him.
So unusual. Normally, after sex, he needed space…to escape. With Sage he wanted to be present, snuggle. He didn’t want to let her go, not ever. He craved her, needed her right beside him, physically and figuratively.
Sex with Sage had been the best he’d ever had, better than he’d ever expected, ever envisaged. He’d been with plenty of attractive women who were great in bed, but the connection quickly fizzled, lacked anything lasting, lacked love.
Alexander rejoined her, lay on his back and pulled her to him. She nestled into his side, and he ran his hands down her spine and over her bottom.
Sage relaxed against his torso. She was his everything, so he shouldn’t worry about Chase’s reaction. Once he explained his loyal, steadfast devotion to her, surely his best mate would come around.
Hand on heart, he'd declare his true, longstanding affection for Sage, his love. Because yeah, he loved her. They’d only reacquainted recently but so what? The magnitude of his feelings wasn’t new. They’d finally crossed that previously forbidden boundary, however, he’d cared about her for ages.
Not even extended separation could diminish the attraction, his longing for her and her alone, which amplified the moment he saw her again. Initially he hadn’t believed a romantic relationship would be possible. Hence why he’d sought out others to try to fill the gap.
No one else ever did.
Sage had never stopped commandeering a prime spot in his head, in his heart. He wouldn’t hurt her…ever. Not intentionally. He had in the past, cause he'd stupidly, naively believed it’d be best for both of them to separate, to cut the unspoken but potent-as-fuck ties.
It wasn't.
Alexander knew better now. He wouldn't ever make the same rookie-error mistake.
He should have fessed up sooner. But he'd convinced himself that a little bit of initial pain would be preferable than a world of agony in the future.
He'd signed up to the military and had no idea when he'd return…if he'd return. And he hadn't wanted Sage to put her life on hold for him, grieve if he didn’t make it. She deserved better, the best.
Now that he’d relinquished his nomadic lifestyle, no way would he traipse about on his own—not even for work, not without her backing. He aimed to stay and to keep Sage, the love of his life. No more flimsy, pathetic excuses could prevent their union.
From this moment on, he’d use his skills to protect her, to keep her safe—to keep them together…always.
“What are you thinking about?” She trailed her fingers along his chest and abs, and fuck, it felt incredible.
“How much of a fuckhead I’ve been.”
“You’re not a fuckhead. Far from it.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.” She bit her bottom lip, her cheeks still irresistibly rosy. “I’m glad I waited.”
“Me, too. I love that you trusted me to be your first, and I love getting you off, watching you come. So damn sexy.”
“And your inner caveman…?”
“Fuck, he loved it even more than I did.”
They both laughed.
She pressed her palm over his heart and stared into his eyes with undeniable adoration. “I love the way you touch me, the way you care, like I’m special.”
“Because I do. You are. Don’t ever think otherwise.”
“It’s just… Wow. I mean, I didn’t expect this.”
“Me, either. I wasn’t sure you’d want me. I treated you badly, and now I’m damaged goods. Not the most appealing package.”
She sighed. “I’ve always wanted you, Alexander. You, in your entirety. Not some perfect guy on paper.”
Relief and elation blasted through his veins. “Being with you is better than anything I’d ever imagined.
“Really?” Her eyes searched his.
“Yeah.” He swept her disheveled hair off her face. “You’re an amazing woman—strong, passionate, loving. Sexy as fuck.”
Her eyes got all teary.
He stroked her cheek, his gaze never leaving hers. “Baby?”
“Don’t stress. They’re good tears. Happy tears. I never knew you thought about me this way.”
“Don’t ever doubt that I want you. I pushed you away because I needed you so bad and didn’t think it was right or fair. I’d joined the armed forces with no idea how long I’d be gone, and I didn’t think your brother would look favorably on us hooking up right before I left. I mean, fuck, I might not have made it. And I couldn’t do that to you. Now everything’s different.”
“It is and it isn’t.” She traced over the intricate ink on his pec, the sage-leaf design he’d had tattooed over his heart, and pressed a loving, reverent kiss to his chest. “We still desire each other, but it’s no longer a secret.”
“Exactly. Now I realize the importance of involving you in the decision-making about how we move forward. In the past I took that away from you, assessed everything from my own skewed point of view. From this point on, I promise I’ll never repeat that mistake. I’ll be one-hundred percent upfront.”
“Me, too. We’ve both matured, and we have a second chance. I won’t ruin that. I won’t be complacent. I’ll do everything I can to support us.”
He smiled with pure joy and kissed her temple.
“Not that I want to be in this position—fearing for my safety, my life—but I’m so glad you’re here. I’m beyond happy the universe found a way to bring us back together.”
He couldn’t have phrased it better himself. “I won’t let you down ever again.”
She kissed his lips, as though supporting his words, as though sealing her thoughts and feelings with action. “I know. I believe you, and I trust you. You make me feel safe, cherished.”
How about loved? Because, yeah, he fucking loved her more than anything, anyone. But he wouldn’t push the love declaration yet. First he needed to discover the details of her tormentor and make them pay. No one hurt his Sage. No one. “And it’s my aim to keep you that way.” Forever, if she’d have him.