Chapter Eighteen
“You got married yesterday?! Without telling me?”
Sage winced and pulled the phone from her ear. With a sigh, she put her phone on speaker and placed it on the counter and returned to the task of cleaning the breakfast dishes. Matt had offered to do it, but since he’d cooked, she’d insisted on doing the cleaning. “I’m telling you now.”
“Girl….”
Sage laughed at Chandra’s indignant tone. “I’m sorry. It was a world wind. Once we decided, we didn’t want to wait. I just barely remembered to call my parents.”
Chandra inhaled and exhaled. “Okay. Fine. Was there a ceremony or what?”
“No. We just went to the courthouse.” She wiped the counter with a soapy cloth. “Matt’s sister and her ma—um, her fiancé served as witnesses.”
“You know what, I could give you a lecture about jumping into this, but I know that he loves you and will do anything for you. When are you coming home? We could have a proper bachelorette party. Call up Estrella. Rent a limo. There’s this new strip club a couple of counties over that I’ve been hearing great—”
“Yeah, I don’t think Cedrick would be okay with that. And neither would Matt. But we could do something.” She paused in her wiping. “So…there’s another reason I called. I applied for a job as head librarian here.”
“Really? You’re about to give me whiplash. Did you tell your parents?”
“Yes.”
“And what did they say?”
“Well, of course, they’d like me to stay close, but they’re rarely home anymore. They can visit me here. And so can you.”
“Oh, now I get an invite?”
“I admit it’s like a volatile weather system over here,” she said, wishing she could fully confide in her friend, but the truth would only worry Chandra. Also, the story about how werewolves turned their mates wasn’t hers to share.
Chandra hummed. “Sounds like it. Where is Matt? I might as well chew him out while I have you on the line.”
She glanced out the window. Matt had wanted to investigate the scene of the attack to make sure Patrick had removed Meredith’s wolf. “He went for a run.”
“Was he this into fitness when we were in college? I don’t remember.”
“Yes. He used the gym on campus.” She didn’t mention that Matt’s current obsession with running had nothing to do with fitness.
He went for a run most days to give his wolf an outlet.
Sage looked forward to the day when their wolves ran together.
Thus far, she wasn’t getting any urge to sprout fur or run on four legs.
“Well, I don’t like the idea of my best friend moving away, but I know you’ve been unsatisfied with your work at the library. I’ve kind of suspected that you would move eventually if the library didn’t give you more hours.”
Sage’s eyes stung with tears. She would miss having Chandra nearby. “Yeah. We can call, text, and visit.”
“All that and video chats.”
“All that and video chats,” she echoed.
“All right,” Chandra said, her tone crisp. “I have to go before this gets any more maudlin. We’ll talk again soon.”
“Yeah. Maybe tomorrow. Bye, Chandra.”
“Bye.”
Sage sighed. Before she grew overly weepy, her phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, but the area code was local. “Hello?”
“Hello? Is this…Sage Hall?”
“Yes—well, that is, Sage Donovan. I got married.”
“Congratulations. Sage, this is Angela Booth. I’m calling you about your application at the Grayson Memorial Library. I know this is short notice, but we were wondering if you could come into the library today for an interview.”
“Oh! Yes. What time?” she asked, practically running to the bedroom to review her limited wardrobe for something appropriate for an interview. She rifled through a suitcase full of T-shirts, jeans, and pajamas.
“Is three p.m. too early?”
“That would be perfect,” she agreed readily. That would give her enough time for a quick shopping trip and make herself halfway presentable.
“Great. We’ll see you then.”
Sage disconnected and did a little happy dance.
“What did I miss?”
She yelped in surprise. She hadn’t heard Matt come into the house. Then she ran to him and gave him a kiss. “I’ve been called in for an interview.”
He grinned. “That’s great.”
“Yes, but now I need to go shopping.”
His eyes flicked over her from top to bottom. “You look delicious to me.”
She laughed. “Yes, but I’m going for sexy librarian, not ‘just rolled out of bed’ sexy.”
“Either is good with me.” He dropped his head and nuzzled her neck right over her bite. A small growl rumbled up his throat.
Sage moaned. Pressing her thighs together, she backed away. “Later. After the interview.”
A slow grin curved his lips. “I would say that I’ll be quick, but we both know I’d be lying.”
“I’m going to shower.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No time for that,” she said, poking him in the chest.
“No, I mean, shopping and to your interview.”
Sobering, she paused and searched his gaze. “Is everything okay? Was Meredith…?”
He shook his head. “Patrick kept his word for a change. I could smell…the death. She’s really gone.”
Sage squeezed his hand. “And you’re okay?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m still just…feeling protective of you.”
She smiled. She couldn’t say that she hated that. “Can you be ready to go in thirty minutes?”
“Yes.” He arched a challenging eyebrow. “Can you?”
“It’s going to be a stretch,” she admitted, backing toward the bathroom. “But I’ll try,” she called, whirling around and dashing into the bathroom.
***
“Too small,” Matt muttered to himself as he strolled through the listings of homes for sale.
If he and Sage were going to live here, they needed a house of their own.
“Too much of a fixer upper,” he remarked about the next house with a demolished kitchen and den.
He saw the door to the library open in his peripheral vision and looked up.
Sage had disappeared through the glass doors an hour ago.
Sage didn’t have to say a word. By her jaunty walk, her curls bouncing with each step, and the huge smile on her face, Matt surmised that the interview had gone well.
He straightened as she approached the car.
When she got close, she giggled and skipped.
Throwing out her arms, she wrapped him in a hug. “I got the job!”
“Really? They made their decision that quickly.”
She nodded. “Apparently, the library is partially funded by the Stone pack, and I came highly recommended by Dade. The interview was just a formality. I’d feel guilty about it, but they didn’t have any other qualified applicants.”
He lifted her and twirled her around. “That’s fantastic. We should celebrate.”
“Not another walk in the woods.”
He chuckled. “No. I was thinking of maybe getting together with some of the pack at Boyd’s for dinner. My treat. We have so much to thank them for.”
“I like that idea. Maybe text Missy.” She kissed him, her lips clinging to his. “But first...we go home.” She trailed kisses down his chin and across the edge of his jaw. Nipping his ear, she whispered, “I want you for lunch.”
Growling, he lowered her to her feet and swatted her bottom. “Get in the car.”
On the ride home, he asked Sage to text Missy while he drove as fast as possible without annihilating the speed limit. When they got to the house, he carried her inside to the bedroom. He divested them both of them of their clothing between kisses.
Matt fell onto the sheets with Sage on top of him.
With any other woman, the moment probably would have given him flashbacks to his attack.
But looking up at his beautiful mate, he could only think of her.
The early afternoon sunlight cast a glow on her radiant chocolate skin.
Her curls formed a springy halo around her face.
He could see her desire for him in her dark eyes.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said in awe. Her pleased smile warmed his insides.
“Thank you. So are you.” She buried her face in his neck and inhaled. “You smell good. Like….” She nipped at his neck. “I don’t know how to describe it.”
“Like yours,” he supplied.
She pulled back to stare at him. A flicker of gold lit up her brown irises like a flame before fading almost instantly. “Mine,” she said, her hands tightening on his shoulders.
He’d been sensing the subtle changes in her since he’d bitten her. Though she had yet to shift, she was clearing feeling the need to mark him. “Yours,” he agreed. He turned his head to the side, giving her unfettered access to his neck, fully expecting her to take him up on his wordless invitation.
Moaning, she cupped his cheeks and kissed him. “I love you so much.”
He smiled but then groaned as she began kissing his neck and ear. She drew his earlobe into her mouth and nibbled. He stroked her back as her hands moved down his chest. Once again, he waited for her to bite him.
“What are you doing?” he asked as she began to wiggle her way toward his feet.
She placed a kiss on his sternum before smiling up at him. “Exploring.”
“Um, I thought….” He gave a breathless laugh and wiggled when she dipped her tongue in his belly button. “I thought we were in a hurry.”
“No hurry,” she said, wrapping her hand around his cock and giving it a squeeze.
“Fuck,” he grunted.
“I want to explore you.”
“Keep exploring there much longer and the exploration will be over.”
She laughed. “That’s okay as long as you enjoy yourself.”
“I enjoy myself whenever I’m with you.”
“You are too sweet,” she said and then she licked his cock like it was a lollipop, laving the head with her tongue and making his eyes roll to the back of his head. “Yup, sweet.”
“Huh?” he asked with the brain cell still focused on conversation. She laughed. With her lips still wrapped around him. His last brain cell gave up the fight and joined the others. Groaning, he buried his fingers in her hair. “Fuck….” He thrust up into the wet suctioning heat of her mouth.
As she took him deeper, he struggled to restrain himself. He released his hold on her curls and gripped the pillow behind his head. His nails extended, easily slicing into the cotton pillowcase.
Sage’s hands travelled his body, his chest, his abs, his thighs. She even reached beneath him and palmed his ass, hauling him closer and deepening his thrusts even as he tried to hold back. He’d never felt more worshipped and desired.
“Sage, I—” He lacked words to tell her how close he was. “S-stop.” Lacking the strength to push her away, he weakly tapped her shoulder. “Gonna cum in your mouth,” he warned. His feet pedaled restlessly on the sheets. He growled as a spurt of cum fired from his cock. “S-Sage!”
She released him and he slumped with a groan. His breath sawed in and out of him like he’d run a mile at top speed.
Laughing, she climbed over him and rubbed the tips of her nipples over his chest. “Liked that, did you?”
He nodded and swiped his palm over his sweaty forehead.
She reached between his thighs and grasped his cock and positioned him at her opening. Dropping her hands onto his shoulders, she moaned as she slowly wiggled her way down his shaft.
Matt lifted his head as she rose and fell. He growled at the sight of her sweet pussy filled with his cock. Bending his legs, he gripped her hips and helped her ride him. As she leaned forward over him, he captured one of her tight nipples in his mouth.
Moaning, Sage rode him faster, grinding their hips together on each downthrust. The tightness of her sheath, the sight of her taking her pleasure from him was torturous.
He resisted the urge to roll them over and take control.
Already on edge from having her suck him, he didn’t know how much longer he could last.
Instead, he slid his thumb through her slick folds and circled her clit. Sage’s reaction was instantaneous. Crying out, she stiffened above him. Her eyes brightened to a preternatural yellow. And then she buried her face in his neck and bit him.
After that, there was no holding back. Matt swore, his body bowing off the mattress, as his orgasm rushed through him in a torrent. He hadn’t wanted it to end so soon, but there was no denying his mate. Her pussy rippled around his cock in strong pulses, milking him of every drop of cum.
She licked the spot where she bit him and then rested her head on his shoulder. “Sorry about the lack of warning,” she breathed.
Stroking his hand down her spine, he laughed. “I was expecting it.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Your eyes were glowing.”
She hummed. “You didn’t mind?”
He shook his head. “Did it seem like I did? I was seeing spots for a minute there.”
She giggled. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
“When do you think I will be able to shift?”
“It seems that its different for everyone and my situation isn’t the usual.”
“I’m getting kind of excited about it. Nervous, but excited.”
“I don’t think you’ll have too much longer to wait judging by your scent.” His eyes drifted closed. “I’ve been looking at houses. I have a couple of prospects I’d like you to see.”
He could feel her smile against his skin. “I’ve been shopping as well.” She hopped up and rolled off the bed. Matt grumbled. He’d been seconds from a blissful post coital catnap.
“Look at this.” She turned her phone screen toward him. It displayed a listing for a two-story house with four bedrooms, three baths, and a two-car garage. Though bland and way too beige, he liked the footprint. “What do you think?”
He laughed. “I’ve been looking at the same house. I like it. Should we schedule a walk-through?”
“Yes,” she agreed, practically bouncing with excitement. “So, the way I figure it, with my new salary, we can afford this house. I have some savings we can use for a generous down payment.”
Matt sat up and kissed her. “I appreciate that you didn’t marry me for my money, but I can afford to pay for the house outright and have a little left for emergencies. My grandparents left me a decent inheritance, and I haven’t spent any of it. I’ve been living off my savings.”
Smiling, Sage looped her arms around his neck. “I feel like I’m in the best sort of dream.”
“Me too, baby, me too.” Only a few months ago, his plan had been to meet his sister and hope that they could develop a friendship.
Beyond that, he hadn’t known what his future would hold.
After Meredith’s attack, even in his wildest fantasies, he couldn’t have envisioned his current happiness.
Whereas his outlook had once been bleak, now the future unfolded before him like a sunlit meadow bursting with blooms. The Stone pack, Missy, Sage, and soon children… .