Chapter Two
Sage practically melted into the sofa cushions as Matt massaged her feet.
Between the massage and the spaghetti he’d made her for dinner, it was almost enough to make her consider forgiving him for going AWOL on their friendship.
“I could get used to this,” she sighed. “Why is it that you’re single? ”
He chuckled. “You first.”
She cracked her eyelids so that she could view him through her lashes. “Hm?”
“Why did you call off the wedding?”
That jolted her awake. She didn’t mind telling him, but she deserved some answers to her own questions.
“No, you first. What the hell has been going on with you? I had to hear from your employer that you’d quit your job.
” She sat up, indignation burning in her gut.
“That I had to call your office at all is ridiculous. I should have heard that from you.” His phone calls and texts had become sporadic at best. That had cut her deeply.
“I thought you were hurt or possibly dead.”
“Whoa, whoa. Calm down.” Matt leaned over and nudged her back into a reclining position. “No need to get upset. Remember, you’re recuperating.”
“Then you better start talking. I want to know why my friend disappeared.”
He dropped his eyes and grumbled. “I didn’t disappear. I checked in on your social media from time to time.”
She closed her eyes and blew out a breath. “Matt, I swear, if you don’t—”
“Alright.” He sighed. “I…I just didn’t want to burden you with all my shit. You were getting married. You had the stress of planning a wedding. Besides, there was nothing you could do.”
“I could have been there for you.” She took his hand.
“Your dad’s death hit you harder than you expected, huh?
” Matt’s father had been sick for a while.
The two had never been close. Still, he was his father.
Matt had to have some feelings about the man’s passing.
It had only been a few years since Matt’s mother had died.
Sage couldn’t imagine losing either of her parents and now Matt had lost them both.
Matt nodded slowly. “That among other things I’d rather not go into at the moment.”
She bit her lip. She wanted to protest, but she sensed that he needed time to open up. “I’ll be here for you when you need me. It goes without saying that you can tell me anything.”
“I know.” He grinned and tugged on her big toe.
“Unless it’s that you’re a serial killer and it’s about bodies. I don’t want to know about that.”
He laughed. “Duly noted. Now tell me what happened with Preston. I don’t need to track him down and kick his ass, do I?” He sounded all too eager to cause Preston bodily harm.
She shook her head. “No. I came to the realization that Preston and I had outgrown each other. We wanted different things. He decided to become a full-time truck driver without telling me. I noticed that he’d been doing that a lot lately—making decisions for both of us and then clueing me in later.
I need a partner, someone to share my life with—not a dictator. ”
“Is reconciliation a possibility? Preston is clearly interested.”
“No.” She’d explained her feelings to Preston on multiple occasions, but he was either unwilling or incapable of understanding her reasons for calling off the wedding. It was another example of him not respecting her choices.
“So…are you dating?”
“I’ve been out a couple of times. Double dates with Chandra and Ced.” She frowned and glanced out the window. “Did you hear a growl?”
Matt cleared his throat. “Um, no. This couple of dates…same guy or someone different?”
“I haven’t seen anyone more than once. Chandra says I need practice. I can’t disagree. I’ve never really dated anyone other than Preston.” She wiggled her foot in his hold. “How about you? I know I just called you single, but I was making an assumption. Are you seeing someone special?”
“Nope.”
Sage felt strangely relieved. It didn’t make any sense. She would be happy for Matt if he’d finally found someone to love. “Well…maybe Chandra can set you up with someone, too.”
He grinned. “Nope. I don’t need help getting dates.”
She took in his handsome face, curly blonde hair, big beautiful blue eyes, and charming sexy grin.
He was like a golden retriever—disarmingly sweet, full of boundless energy, and imminently lovable.
“I don’t imagine you do,” she murmured. “So, what are you doing now that you’ve quit your marketing job? Are you going to continue modeling?”
He quirked an eyebrow. “You heard about that?”
“Estrella posted photos. You looked good,” she said grudgingly. “Interesting how you managed to return her call.”
“Oh, fuck,” he grumbled. “Sage, I’m really sorry, okay.
Estrella left me a message, crying hysterically, saying she was going to lose her job if I didn’t help her.
She’d had an argument with one of the models and he’d walked out the night before he was supposed to take the runway.
I was close enough to make it there.” He slid her feet to the floor and scooted closer to her.
“I knew Estrella wasn’t going to ask me any questions.
She’s a friend, but she’s not you. Sometimes…
it’s easier to be around strangers who don’t want answers.
I wasn’t…I can’t…. Fuck, Sage. I just want to be here for you. ”
He seemed so genuinely distressed that she immediately felt guilty for guilt tripping him. The man had lost both his parents. He was an orphan before the age of thirty and she was badgering him about not checking in with her. She wasn’t his girlfriend or his wife. He didn’t owe her anything.
Sage wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in for a hug. “It’s okay. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be pressuring you.” She combed her fingers through his soft curls. His shoulders shook and she thought he might be crying until she heard his laughter. She drew back with a frown. “What?”
“You’re smothering me with your magnificent tits—not that I’m complaining. You can comfort me anytime.”
She shoved at his shoulder, but he only laughed harder.
Matt was always handsome, but when he laughed or smiled, he took her breath away.
She found it impossible to remain angry with him.
“I’ve missed you,” she said, running a hand over his bristled jaw.
He was the same…yet, somehow different. She couldn’t put her finger on the difference.
He was as handsome as ever, his features the same, his sky-blue eyes as kind and beautiful, his smile as warm and friendly… . Yet….
He captured her hand and kissed her fingers. “I missed you, too. So, fucking much.” His pupils expanded and the blue of his eyes darkened.
Sage inhaled and withdrew her hand from his grip.
She couldn’t deny that Matt turned her on, but she wasn’t exceptional in that way.
Everyone found Matt attractive. But in the past, she’d always had her engagement to Preston to serve as a buffer that kept Matt off limits.
And as Matt remained commitment phobic, he still was.
She stood on shaky knees. “It’s late. I don’t know about you, but I could use a shower with my own moisturizing bodywash. Then I’m going to slide into my own bed and enjoy the quiet and the dark.”
Standing, Matt grinned down at her. “I wouldn’t say no to a shower.”
Her mouth dropped open, thinking that he was suggesting that they shower together. “Oh…um….” Matt’s grin became positively wicked. “Guestroom,” she blurted. “It has an ensuite.”
“Yeah. I know. I already stowed my bags in there.”
“Okay. Well…goodnight then.”
“’Night. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
***
Matt fluffed his pillow, stacked his hands behind his head, and lay down.
He sighed. Being with Sage settled something in his soul.
He’d been wandering aimlessly since the attack.
Though he tried not to think about it, his life was divided distinctly into two eras—before and after the assault.
He couldn’t talk about it. He hadn’t told any of his friends or family.
His sister Missy knew but it was only because her mate Rick was a werewolf.
Rick had sniffed out the secret Matt never would have willingly revealed.
Even now in the safety of Sage’s guestroom, his thoughts shied away from those days he was held captive by Meredith.
It wasn’t so much as what she did to him.
It was the utter helplessness he’d experienced at the hands of a woman half his size.
That and the fear of what was to come as it became increasingly obvious to him that Meredith was unstable.
He rolled onto his side and closed his eyes tightly. Thinking of Sage’s sweet scent, he breathed deeply until he imagined that he could smell her and the anxiety in his belly subsided. Arousal replaced anxiety and Matt groaned.
What the hell did this mean? His cock had been flaccid since Meredith.
Could impotency be a werewolf thing? If so, then how did little werewolves come to be?
He’d almost been too embarrassed to consult a doctor.
Asking Meredith’s relatives…. It was inconceivable.
They tolerated him. To them, he was a living reminder of their pack’s greatest shame.
There was the possibility that Missy might have some answers, but he cringed at the idea of asking his sister about such an intensely personal topic. They had only met once. She was virtually a stranger.
But he had to do something. He needed answers. Thus far, he’d found the internet to contain more misinformation and hatred toward werewolves than any helpful information.
So…yeah. Telling his sister, who he barely knew, about his mostly limp dick was his best option. Fan-fucking-tastic. He flopped onto his back, planning to put that conversation off for as long as possible.
Besides, his impotence appeared to be cured.
Matt couldn’t help but believe that his miraculous recovery was linked to Sage.
She’d always been special to him. There’d been only two women in his life since meeting Sage.
The first in college had been for sex in a futile attempt to prove to himself that he wasn’t in love with Sage because being in love with her hurt too much.
That had backfired spectacularly. Emma had added to his online review, solidifying his reputation as a slut in the minds of Sage, Chandra, and Estrella.
Worse, afterward, he’d been left with the absolute certainty that he was in love with Sage while she was in love with another man.
The second woman had come a few years after college when it seemed that everyone he knew was in a serious relationship and he felt he damn well should have been over Sage.
He’d had a decent job and an okay apartment with a somewhat normal roommate.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t over Sage, and he’d broken up with Patricia after only two months of dating.
She’d called him a few choice names. He hadn’t bothered arguing with her.
Though he would have liked to remain friends—
A small whimper reached his ears. Matt froze for a split second before bolting upright.
“Sage.” He tossed back his bedcovers. Only once he stood outside Sage’s closed bedroom door did he hesitate.
She made another sound, this one more destressed than the last. His gut twisting at her turmoil, he knocked on the door.
“Sage?” Opening the door a crack, he peeped inside her dimly lit bedroom.
A bedside clock provided minimal illumination.
Even a year later, he was still surprised by his improved night vision. He made out Sage’s curvy form beneath the covers with ease. Mumbling in her sleep, her arms and legs jerked.
Matt crossed to her and sat at her side. Hoping not to startle her, he gave her arm a gentle nudge. “Sage.”
She inhaled deeply. A frown wrinkled her brow before her eyes opened. “Matt?” She blinked. “Why are you here?”
“You sounded like you were having a nightmare. Are you okay?”
She sat up. “Yeah.” She ran the back of her hand over her forehead.
“I don’t remember the accident, but my mind was recreating it.
I was trapped in the car, and I couldn’t get out.
There was a fire, and I know that didn’t happen, but—” Her breathing accelerated, and she sounded more upset by the moment.
“Shh.” He pulled her into his arms. “You’re okay. You’re safe.” He stroked her spine and kissed her forehead. “I’ve got you.”
She melted against him with a sigh. Her hand closed around his bicep. They stayed that way for several minutes. Finally, she muttered, “You’re not wearing a shirt.”
He laughed. “Nope.” Even before he became a werewolf, he ran hot at night and slept in minimal clothing. If he weren’t in Sage’s home, he’d sleep naked. Hearing Sage’s soft cries had spurred him into action, and he hadn’t paused to put on pants.
“Matt, you better not be naked.”
Chuckling, he said, “I have on briefs.”
She hummed. “You’ll stay with me?” she asked. Yawning, she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
Matt gritted his teeth. The feel of her soft lips grazing his skin sent a shiver down his spine.
Had his neck always been so sensitive? He swallowed a growl and attempted to answer Sage.
His vocal cords locked as a sharp wave of lust twisted his gut.
Banishing fantasies of her kissing him, biting him there in that spot on his neck, he cleared his throat and managed a strangled, “Yeah.”