Chapter 7
SEVEN
RHETT
The sound of her footsteps draws me out of my thoughts of yesterday. Of running into Scott, the marriage license, and then our kiss.
All night, I’d been staring at the photographs. Not just the ones of our kiss, but the ones that came after. Her shocked yet happy smile. My own. The rosy colour of her cheeks and the way her lips had tasted still play on my mind even now as I drink my coffee.
In the reflection of the kitchen window, I catch sight of Sage and go stiff. She’s wearing nothing more than an over-sized t-shirt, legs totally bare except for the socks that roll down her calves.
“You should put something warmer on,” I say without looking at her. “We’re snowed in.”
Sage stops beside me, smelling far too tempting, humming under her breath. “I sleep hot,” she says, staring up at me with those wide, gorgeous eyes. “And the fire makes this room so toasty.”
“Toasty?” I eye her warily, trying to keep from getting distracted by her legs. “It’ll get cold. Fast. Go put something warmer on.”
Her eyes narrow, hands going to her hips.
“Just because we’re married,” she says, doing air quotes around married, “doesn’t mean you get to tell me what to do or boss me around, Rhett.
I’m a grown woman. The cabin is so small, the fire is warming the entire place perfectly.
And I don’t feel the cold once I have socks on. ”
Setting my coffee mug down, I turn to her. “I’m not bossing you around, princess. I’m warning you: it will get cold.”
Sage just shakes her head. “You’re uncomfortable.”
“No,” I reply, taking a step towards her, “I’m not. I’m practical.”
One of her strawberry-blonde brows raise. “Liar.”
The next step I take towards her has her backed up against the kitchen counter. The disobedience wavers for only a moment, but she lifts her chin defiantly. Like she knows anything else that comes out of my mouth will be a cover up.
I don’t want to tell her that her thighs make me hard, that all I want is to be between them, tasting her sweet cunt and making her come hard on my fingers, mouth—fuck, my dick, too.
I don’t want to tell her that I’ve been celibate for too many fucking years and just the smell of her has me harder than a fucking rock.
She doesn’t need to know that the longer I’m around her, I don’t just want to fuck her. I want to show her what it should really feel like, being with someone who actually wants to protect her—love her—because I have a feeling her ex made sure she felt like absolute crap.
I brace my hands either side of her hips and lean towards her. The bravado wavers again when she blinks, but the defiance…
She has no idea what it’s doing to me.
She has no idea what she does to me.
“Okay,” I growl, keeping my voice low. “I’m lying.”
Sage rolls her eyes, a pleased smile forming on her lips. “I knew it. If you’re uncomfortable, just tell me, Rhett. We’re married now. We can have open communication.”
I hate the way that she says we’re married now because all I want to do is consummate it. I want to make it real.
But I can tell she’s teasing me. Playing with me.
And hell, I like that, too.
“You really want open communication?” I ask seriously.
Sage hesitates only a moment before nodding once. “Yes.”
“You won’t like what I have to say,” I tell her, matching her teasing tone. “But since we’re married…”
She crosses her arms, staring at me expectantly.
Slowly, I lean in, brushing my lips against her cheek.
The shiver that rolls through her has me chuckling.
“Those thighs on full display,” I murmur in her ear, “have me wanting to pick you up, spread you out on this counter, and eat you out until you’re screaming my name.
I want to fuck you so hard you don’t even remember that deadbeat ex of yours in the morning. ”
Sage sucks in a harsh breath, body tensing as I pull back. I’m not smiling anymore. I need her to see how serious I am. How badly I mean every fucking word.
Wide eyes lock on mine, a deep flush darkening her full cheeks. Lips part as if she planned to say something, but those words are lost now.
“That honest enough for you, princess?”
Her mouth snaps shut. “Rhett…”
“You wanted the truth,” I say, pulling back, eyeing her openly now, liking the way her thighs squeeze when I do. “Now, I’ll calmly suggest at least pants. But if you’re fine in that, then I’ll make myself scarce for the rest of the day and do paperwork. Just knock if you need me.”
Before I can turn away, her hand wraps around my wrist. I can’t bring myself to stare into her eyes and find the disappointment I know will be waiting for me.
“Has this all been about fucking me?” she asks, voice firm.
I shake my head. “If it were, this would be so much easier,” I reply, finally looking at her. The expression on her face is one I can’t read. “But no. I want you happy. And maybe give you a way to…forget.”
Sage’s fingers feel like hot brands around my wrist. Can she feel how fast my heart is racing? Does she see how badly I need her?
Slowly, she takes a step towards me. The proximity has me tensing, but it’s growing harder and harder to ignore how right this feels. How right she feels.
“Why do you even care?” she asks, voice low—confused more than harsh.
“Why would you want someone as damaged and broken as me? I’ve already brought you enough grief, Rhett.
You don’t want all…this.” She motions at herself, likely thinking I wouldn’t want all those delicious curves he never cared for.
Or the parts of her that he broke—that I know I can help her mend if she let me.
Grabbing her by the waist, I pick her up and set her on the counter, pushing my way between her legs. A sharp, surprised gasp falls from her lips, but I swallow it with my own, kissing her hard.
Sage goes still for only a moment before melting into my embrace. Her hands move to my shoulders, bringing us closer as I swipe my tongue over the seam of her lips. I skim my hands up her thighs, pushing the hem of her shirt up as I do. As expected, she’s not even wearing shorts under it.
“Do you really want to make me forget?” she asks against my lips, fingers digging into my shoulders.
I pull my mouth from hers and trail kisses down her jaw. “Yes.” I want to make you mine, is what I don’t say.
She takes her hands from my shoulders, grabs her shirt and yanks it up. I pause my kisses for only a moment to watch as she pulls it over her head and tosses it to the side.
Not even a bra. I bite my lip as I take in her heavy breasts and delicate pink nipples. I can’t stop myself from palming one, holding it in my hand and tweaking the small nub.
“Rhett!” She arches into me on a gasp, hands going back to my shoulders—this time holding me desperately.
“I’m not letting you off this counter until I’ve made you come,” I say, meeting her wide eyes. When I pinch the nipple again, she pants. “I really want you coming around my cock, though. But tongue will do if you prefer it.”
A deep red flush darkens her cheeks, eyes darting down to the bulge in my pants. She won’t ask—she’s probably never been given the choice before—so with my free hand, I unzip my jeans and tug them down enough to give her a peak at what she’s working with.
“Choice is yours princess,” I say, stroking the hard length. “I’ll finish either way.”
Sage sucks in a shaky breath, but her words almost make me feral. “Cock,” she whispers. “I want to feel you when you come.” She says it almost defiantly, like she wants proof.
“Princess, you would have known regardless,” I reply, releasing her breast and grabbing her by the thighs. “But I’m glad you picked that.”
A strangled sound falls from her lips when I reach between her thighs and grab her panties. “Already fucking wet,” I murmur, shaking my head, sliding a finger through her. “So fucking warm.”
God, I need her badly. More than I’ve needed anything in my life.
And now, she’s mine. Even if she thinks this will be a fun fuck that won’t lead to anything, I know once we’re done, she’s it. She’ll have to be mine.
Dick palmed, I pull her panties aside and bring myself to her entrance. She feels even better against the head of my cock. Too perfect.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I tell her, rubbing her slowly, circling her clit. The movement earns me a sharp inhale. “I haven’t been with anyone in years.”
Sage releases a shuddering breath as she plants her hands on the counter, lashes fluttering as I tease her opening. “Years?”
I push inside her an inch, gritting my teeth and holding back the groan that wants to fall from my lips. “Yeah, princess,” I say, feeling her walls clench around me. “Years. You’re it for me now.”
Her next words are cut off by my next thrust. It takes all my strength not to come right then. A soft whimper falls from her lips as she grabs me by the back of the neck, fingers curling in my hair.
“Tell me when to move,” I grunt, watching her expression; there’s a fire in her eyes, a beautiful colour to her cheeks. The fingers in my hair tightens, walls of her cunt fluttering. “You’re in control, Sage.”
She presses her lips together for a moment before nodding once. “Nice and slow,” she whispers. “Don’t want you to finish first.”
I grin, taking her by the hips and pulling out slowly. “Wouldn’t want to embarrass my wife.”
A low groan falls from her lips when I thrust into her. “That’s it,” she says, voices strained. “Like that. Hard.”
Fuck, she’s beautiful when she tells me what she wants. When has she ever been allowed to voice her desires? Her needs? Probably never. She knows exactly what she likes and she’s not afraid to let me know it, because with each hard thrust, her walls clench, and she tugs at my hair.
“You like this, don’t you?” I say, keeping each stroke long and hard, watching each flutter of her lashes, feeling every clench of her pussy. “You like bossing your husband around?”
Each thrust has me edging closer and closer to the finish, but it’s her that keeps me from release. It’s the way she watches me, the way her body tells me she’s not ready yet.
Instinctively, I reach between us and thumb her clit. “Yes!” she cries out.
I rub her clit and keep the pace even just how she likes it, the pressure in my balls building until it becomes too much.
The walls of her pussy pulsate, and when she cries out again, she clenches hard around me, body going rigid.
My movements falter as she pulls me over the edge with her, my release coming fast and hot.
Sage’s harsh breaths fill my ears as she moves her hand to cup my cheek. “That was a lot better than I remember it being,” she admits, smiling.
“Good.” I lean in and kiss her. “I can make that happen on a regular basis, princess. But next time you’ll be sitting on my face.”
A shudder rolls through her as her arms go around my shoulders. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she warns. “I’ve had a lifetime of disappointments.”
“Oh, I’m not lying.” Cock still inside her, my hands go to her ass as I lift her from the counter. A squeal falls from her lips, legs locking around me. “Now, you really need pants, Mrs Hayes.”
“You’re done already?” she teases, brushing her nose against mine.
“I’ve barely even started.”