Chapter Twenty-two

Sage was lying on something warm and hard. She opened her eyes to see Caden’s chest underneath her head.

“Hi,” she was drowsy and thought about sleeping more before she turned enough to place a kiss on his chest.

“Hi, you’re awake. How do you feel?”

“Exhausted, what happened?”

“You fell asleep yesterday. I couldn’t wake you up. I carried you to the Jeep and brought you home. Cait examined you, she said your body was making a sedative that was knocking you out.”

“Did she find an antidote?”

“Not yet, she’s working on it.”

“Is this all part of what Jim is trying to do?”

“Cait seems to think so.”

“Maybe things will work out after all. All I have to do is sleep through today and tomorrow, and everything will be good.” Her hand caressed his chest loving the muscles along with the valleys she found there.

“It could be.” Except he didn’t think so. He was already monitoring any signs of someone approaching the compound. Xander was doing hourly sweeps, and Jasper and Chasse were monitoring communications. He still wasn’t satisfied, if he lost her, there would be a price to pay.

“Hey, you’re thinking too hard.”

His lips softened into a smile before he bent over and gave her a tender kiss.

“You love me.” It was still a revelation, the greatest mystery she ever encountered, that this male loved her.

“I do, but you seem to be unconvinced. I love the way you smile. It touches my heart. Then there’s the cute way your nose wrinkles when you laugh. Just that one little movement brings happiness to me. Then there’s that indrawn breath when you first look at me. It’s like you thought I was just a dream, and then you realize I’m real, solid, and warm.

“I love the sheen in your eyes when you realize I will never leave you. There are so many little things I love, but let’s not forget the big things. When I walked into the warehouse, your eyes were blazing. I knew that you would kill to keep your friend safe. My warrior was finally showing herself. You baked cookies for everyone. There wasn’t one left over for you, yet you were all smiles. You’re generous and kind, loving, and beautiful.”

She placed a finger against his mouth. “Stop, or my head will be too big to fit through the door. I love you Caden, no matter what happens you have got to believe that my heart belongs to you.

She placed a gentle kiss across his mouth teasing him.

“You’re tired,” He whispered against her lips.

“I am, but I won’t miss this chance to be with you.”

They both heard the unspoken words. She wanted this in case it was the last time she ever got to hold him, touch him, show him how much she loved him.

“The day after tomorrow I expect you to love my dick with your mouth.”

She stopped; her mouth opened, and her eyes were wide. Then peals of laughter left her. It was so easily spoken, but in that moment, he told her he was never letting her go.

“I’ll suck and lick you as many times as you want.” A contented purr came from him, and she hid her smile. If he knew he purred, he would tell her exactly why it was a growl.

He turned her over until she was lying on her back. She was in the blue nightgown he had put on her last night. It looked great against her flushed skin. Her hair was resting on it like it was a blanket of comfort.

“Look at your eyes.” His voice was soft.

She looked up at him. He could lose himself in her eyes and forget to come up for air. She reached for him, but he shook his head.

“Not this time Sageray.” He stripped her gown off and positioned her body until her breasts were sticking up begging him to touch them, and her legs were open enough so that he could see the fire between them.

“Beautiful.”

“When we go on shore leave, that’s our only time to attract a female to have sex with. I’ve never had someone who would lie like this for me while I looked my fill. Every day you do something that takes me by surprise because no one else would have done it for me.”

“When you take care of me, I feel like one of the kings on your planet.” He caught the tear that fell from her eye. “Don’t cry Sageray, to me, you are everything.”

His lips came over hers giving her the sweetest, softest kiss of her life.

I love you, Caden. It was just a sound echoed through her mind, but he heard her. They were one; it was the only thing making him keep his head. He kissed her until she opened. He plundered the depths of her mouth capturing her sweetness and the taste of her love.

His lips moved to her cheek before he kissed down the side of her neck. Her body arched loving the feel of his lips on her.

“You like this.” He kissed her neck again placing small bites on her as she moaned in pleasure.

Her hands came around his back as her fingers walked down his spine until she got to the bottom. He had a sensitive spot right there. His indrawn hiss told her she found it. She wrapped a leg around him slowly grinding against him.

“I’m making love to you, Sage, bringing you pleasure.”

“Carry on, you’re doing a good job, and I’m occupied.” She murmured it into the side of his neck. She was drawing designs on his back with her nails, and he loved it. His breath came out in short puffs enthralling her.

His hands walked down her body until they were wrapped around her breasts pushing them up until both nipples were standing up begging for attention.

“They are so big.”

“I know.” The need in his voice stopped her complaints. He loved the size of her breasts the glaze in his eyes told her that.

He got closer and took both nipples in his mouth making her moan wit/.h pleasure.

“Caden.” A sigh of satisfaction came out. His mouth sucking on her nipples sent two separate flames of pleasure to her pussy. Already she was on overload as the wetness flowed from between her legs.

Her head rocked back and forth as he sucked, the pull of his hot mouth on her nipples was going to send her over the edge if he kept it up. He pulled away and lazily licked her nipples with his tongue as his hands kneaded her breasts.

“You’re trying to make me so high on pleasure that the only name I’ll ever remember is yours.”

He placed his head on her belly then his response rumbled out giving her a new sensation to add to all the ones he had already shared with her. He caressed her stomach and abdomen taking his time to use his lips to follow the path of his hands.

How had she been so fortunate to find the right male for her? Her fingers slid over his shoulders loving how warm, and hard he was. His hands moved down her body exploring her like this was his first time touching her.

She wanted a future with him, a child who he could chase around the house the way he did with Mia and Jade. His eyes lit up when he looked at her, and she wanted to see that same look for their own children. She wanted everything that may be snatched away from her tomorrow. She would worry about the later, today she would dream of them together.

“Love me, Caden.”

“I do.” His tongue licked her clit making a high keening sound come from her.

Her eyes drifted shut for a minute before they opened filled with panic.

“It will be alright, Sage.”

He parted her legs before he slowly thrust inside of her. “Stay with me for just a while longer.”

She nodded if she had her way she’d stay with him forever. She raised her legs locking them around his hips as he made love to her. It was slow and easy sending small sensations through her body giving her time to fully enjoy each one before the other followed.

“You make me feel cherished.”

“That’s how it should be.” He picked up the pace taking her with him until all she could do was hang on.

Her body exploded, and he held her tight not letting her go even in the hailstorm of bliss that poured over her. He followed her into the storm swearing to always keep her safe.

He rolled over and pulled her into his arms. She fell asleep immediately, and his heart skipped beats as he realized he could lose her.

He slipped out of bed once he was sure she wasn’t going to wake up. He grabbed a pair of jeans before he headed for the kitchen.

“Hi,” Xander’s voice was soft when he greeted him. He knew better than the others just how close to the edge he was.

Caden flashed him a smile and looked at the others sitting at the table. “Have you eaten?”

They shook their heads.

“Guess I’m making breakfast.” He needed to do something to keep himself from roaring in pain. It was all he could do not to try to hunt Jim down. He talked to Xander about it last night, and they both agreed it would be a mistake because it would leave Sage unguarded.

“Eggs, toast, and sausage.”

“Don’t forget the fresh-squeezed orange juice,” Xander told him.

“I’ve created a monster.” He smiled knowing that Xander was reminding him of their first breakfast with Sage. It was his way of saying they would save her.

“Have we found out anything new?” He broke the eggs placing them in a bowl.

“Nothing,” Declyn answered.

“We might have a problem.” Fire told him.

“I have a long list of issues that might be problems. What’s yours?”

“Detective Baker called me. I missed the call, and he left a voice message. It was more pauses than anything else, but he did manage to say Sage’s name at least three times. I chose not to call him back, but I’m sure he will call again.”

That was a problem. Detective Baker was looking to pin the deaths of those females on Sage. After the last round of killing, he needed someone he could hold up to the public. He was making her the scapegoat.

“Sage didn’t kill those females.”

“We know that, but we have to try to cooperate with the law.”

He snarled and poured the eggs into the pan.

Fire’s phone rang she glanced at it before holding it up so Declyn could see who was calling. Detective Baker called her enough times that she finally programmed him into her phone.

“Hello?”

“Fire this is Detective Baker.” His voice went up as if he were smiling, and it was warm with familiarity.

Declyn reached for the phone suppressing a growl. Fire covered his hand while keeping the phone. She moved closer to him calming the beast who lives inside of him by reassuring that he was the only male she was interested in.

“Detective, how can I help you?”

“I need Sage Stewart to come down to the police station.”

“Did you catch the killer?” There was silence on the phone. “Detective?”

“We haven’t ruled her out as the killer. New evidence has come to light, and we are going to need her to come in.”

“Detective Baker, Sage didn’t kill anyone.”

“I have to follow the evidence.”

“I understand. She is sleeping; she will come in when she wakes up.”

“She needs to turn herself in now, or I will issue an all-points bulletin for her arrest.”

“Detective.” Fire lowered her voice allowing it to become soft and sexy. “If you were going to do that you wouldn’t have called me, twice. She will turn herself in, all I’m asking for is some extra time. Remember she called you, it’s not like you just found the killings.”

He gave a deep sigh on the phone. “Make it today.” The line went dead.

“Jasper, Chase I need you to go back over that crime scene and find me solid evidence that Sage is not the murder.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Thank you,” Fire said.

Declyn looked up at Caden. “We will figure this out. Hold on.”

Caden’s form was wavering on the edge of a change.