Chapter 9
Kim
STRETCHING MY ARMS above my head, I blink my eyes open to a view of crystal-blue skies overhead through the skylight. I don’t know what woke me, but something did, since I was sleeping better than I have in forever. I roll to my side and press my face into the pillow, breathing in the scent of Sage that kept me company all night.
Hearing a shuffle, thump, thump, shuffle, thump, thump coming from somewhere in the house, I frown and sit up. Tipping my head toward the door, I try to make out what the noise could possibly be. It doesn’t sound like the normal hammer to wood that greeted me the first few days I stayed with Sage; it’s different.
Curiosity has me getting out of bed and slipping on my sweater to go in search of the sound. Moving past the kitchen and down the hall on the opposite side of the house, I finally locate the noise and pause in the doorway, resting my shoulder against the doorjamb. The room isn’t bare like the other two rooms in the house that haven’t been renovated. This room has gym equipment shoved into the space, including a weight machine, a stair climber, and a treadmill.
Sage, in all his shirtless glory, is on the treadmill in the middle of the room with a pair of large headphones covering his ears, wearing nothing but basketball shorts and sneakers. His profile is to me, so I can’t see all of him, but from my vantage point, I can make out the muscles in his arm that is cocked at the elbow. The side of his chest and back flex as he runs at full speed, hitting the treadmill hard every time his feet find purchase.
“Lord.” My mouth goes dry, and the space between my legs starts to tingle as sweat makes every single one of his muscles glisten. Reaching forward, he hits the button on the machine, and I jump when the sound startles me out of my perusal. He must see me jump, because his eyes come to me and a small smile spreads across his mouth. Pulling off his headphones, he drops them to the holder on top of the machine then hits the button that brings the treadmill to a complete stop.
“Morning,” he says, walking toward me while wiping his face and chest with the towel he grabs off the weight bench.
“Morning,” I reply, licking my lips and letting my eyes slide over him, feeling his do the same in return.
“Did you sleep in that?” he asks, and I look down at what I have on, feeling my eyes widen when I notice he can see all of me through the thin, white lace fabric covering my private bits. I didn’t put on my sleep shorts last night when I put on my tank top and got into bed, and I didn’t even think about pulling them on this morning when I got up. And the sweater I dragged on barely reaches the top of my panties.
“Shit,” I mutter, turning quickly. I start to run down the hall toward his room, but I don’t get very far. His strong arm circles my waist and I’m pulled back against his warm, hard chest. Squeaking when I’m captured, I feel him kiss my neck then nibble below my ear. It turns that tingle I felt between my legs earlier into an ache.
“Don’t change on my account.” His words whisper across my ear, making me shiver, while his fingers slide along my stomach where my tank has risen up. My muscles tense in preparation, and my eyes slide closed as his fingers sneak into my panties and touch my bare skin. Moving my arms up over my head, I hold on to his neck as his free hand moves to cup my breast.
“Oh,” I whimper when he flicks my clit. My knees start to give out from under me then the doorbell rings, causing every inch of me to go solid as I freeze.
“Fuck me,” he mutters, pulling his fingers from my panties and turning me in his arms. Cupping my jaw, his eyes search my face for a second before he grumbles “Fuck” again and shakes his head. “You may want to get something on. I can only think of two people who’d show up here this time of the morning.”
“Who?” I ask, trying to shake the arousal that’s still coursing hot and heavy through my system.
“Willow and Harmony.”
“Right, I’ll jus—” The doorbell goes off again, and I fight back the laugh I feel building up inside me from the frustrated look on his face. “I’ll go get dressed,” I say, getting up on my tiptoes and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.
Hearing him groan, I look at him and watch his hungry eyes drag across my skin as he adjusts his hard-on in his shorts. My pussy clenches, and I debate going back and attacking him. “Go,” he growls, making my stomach clench.
Nodding, I hurry to his room and right to the bathroom, where I strip out of my clothes, turn the shower to cold, and hop in. The freezing water does almost nothing to cool my overheated libido, but I do feel like I can breathe a little easier. After washing up quickly, I get out and dry off then put on the jeans I had on yesterday, one of my simple black tanks, and my sweater back over it.
I try to get ready quickly, since I don’t want Sage to think I’m being rude, but it still must have been longer than I thought, because when I walk into the kitchen while tying up my hair, the smell of bacon is in the air. There are pancakes on the griddle on the counter, along with two beautiful girls sitting on the stools in front of Sage, who is cooking shirtless. I know Willow and Harmony well. We’ve hung out a lot. We have the same friends—or I should say I’m friends with their cousins—but I’ve never been around them since Sage and I… well, whatever we are right now. Feeling uneasy all of a sudden, I pause just outside the kitchen, not sure what to do with myself. Do I pretend like nothing is going on, or do I—
“Kim!” The shout of my name and two women running toward me cuts off my wayward thoughts, and before I can prepare myself, I’m engulfed in a tight hug that cleans all of my worries away.
“Hey, guys,” I get out, and then they both attack me with question after question in rapid succession.
“Are you okay? How are you feeling? Do you need anything? We wanted to come see you, but Sage wouldn’t let us.” That last statement makes me shake my head.
“What?” I ask, and both Willow and Harmony pull back to look at me before looking at their glaring brother.
“He told us we weren’t allowed to bother you.”
“I did not say bother her. I said you guys needed to give her some space. Jesus, there’s too many people in our family. If everyone started showing up, she would have been overwhelmed, and you know her family was here.”
“You just wanted her to yourself.” Willow rolls her eyes.
Sage shrugs. “Sue me.”
“Whatever,” Harmony grumbles, taking my arm and pulling me toward one of the barstools. “The point is we don’t want you to think we don’t care, because we do.”
“I know that,” I assure her, and I do know they care. After Kelly’s death, I must have gotten a million texts and a dozen bouquets of flowers delivered to Sage’s house from his family, my friends. It was all really sweet, and I tried to reply to everyone, but sometimes I just couldn’t.
“How’s Sage treating you? Is he being nice? Mom said to make sure he’s being nice, ’cause if he’s not, she promised to cut off his balls,” Willow states, and I flinch.
“Christ,” Sage mutters, looking at me. “I knew I shouldn’t have opened the fucking door.”
“He’s being very nice,” I promise, watching Sage’s eyes darken. Seeing that, my nipples get hard and my clit throbs. I don’t think I’ll be able to keep myself from jumping him the first chance I get. There is too much heat between us, and I’m pretty sure that if we don’t find a way to burn some of it off, we’re likely to explode.
“Sheesh! Do you two need me and Willow to leave?” Harmony asks, and I say “no” as Sage says “yes,” which makes me smile.
“I’m listening to Kim on this one. Sorry, brother,” Harmony says, picking up a cup of coffee from the counter to take a sip.
“So, you two are really together then?” Willow inquires, and I look at Sage and wait to see how he will answer that question.
“We’re really together,” he confirms.
I let out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding then get up and head around the island to get a mug and make myself some tea, but Sage stops me with a hand to my waist before I make it to the cupboard.
“I made you tea,” he informs, reaching over and handing me a cup of tea.
I take a sip, realizing it’s just how I like it—dark English Breakfast tea with a little bit of honey. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He presses his lips to my temple then turns me in his arms, walking me two steps forward. Pressing his side into my back, he wraps his hand around my waist while he uses his free hand to remove the pancakes off the griddle.
“Do you two want to go out on the lake with me and Kim?” he asks Willow and Harmony.
I tip my head back to look at him, wondering what he’s talking about. He never told me anything about going on the lake. “The lake?” I question.
His head dips down as his eyes drop to meet mine. “I figure we have a while before dinner tonight. I already pulled the kayaks out of the garage this morning. The lake’s calm and the sky’s clear, so it’s a good day to go out.” He shrugs, adding more batter to the griddle while Harmony moves to the oven, opening it up and pulling out a pan full of bacon.
“I’ve never kayaked before,” I tell him, and he looks at me once more with a smile that’s almost wicked curving his lips.
“Really?” he asks, and I shrug.
“I’m not really an outdoor-activity kind of girl. I’m more of a sit on the edge of the lake or in the sand at the beach and read a book kind of a girl,” I admit.
“You’ll love it.” He kisses the top of my head while his fingers run along my hip under my tank.
“I don’t think you understand. I’m not the most athletic person in the world,” I add, and he laughs.
“It’s all good. You don’t need to be athletic.”
“I’m guessing you’ve made up your mind and no matter what I say I will be going out on the lake,” I deduce, and the girls, who are watching me and Sage like they would a Ping-Pong match, both laugh.
“You’d be right. You’ll like it.”
“If you say so,” I mutter, taking a sip of tea, knowing he has no idea what he’s getting himself into.
*
“THIS WAS A bad idea,” I grumble, and Harmony and Willow laugh as I take Sage’s hand and put one foot in the kayak then the other, hissing “Oh, God” when the boat wobbles side-to-side.
“I’ve got you. You’ll be fine,” Sage assures.
I roll my eyes. I don’t think he understands how uncoordinated I am. We are both likely to end up in the water if I’m on this damn thing. “What are you doing? I thought you were coming with me.” I panic as Sage starts to push me and the boat out into the water.
“I need to get us out a bit before I climb in so we don’t bottom out,” he replies calmly before climbing into the seat behind me. The boat tips again, and I grab both sides, holding on for dear life as I screech at the top of my lungs. Hearing him chuckle behind me, I turn around to look at him and narrow my eyes.
“It’s not funny.”
“Baby,” he says gently, smiling at me. “Take a breath and look around. Tell me this isn’t beautiful.”
With a huff, I turn around to face the front of the kayak then pull in a sharp breath. He’s wrong. It’s not beautiful; it’s breathtaking. The trees surrounding the lake are in varying shades of greens, golds, and browns, and the lake itself looks like smooth dark glass that the sky and trees are reflecting off of.
“It’s amazing,” I whisper as we move smoothly over the water. Turning to look at Sage once more, I see he has the paddle in his hand and is using it on first one side and then the other in an almost circular motion. “Thank you,” I mouth to him, and his face softens. Hearing Willow and Harmony laughing, I glance across the lake and watch them as they speed over the smooth surface, paddling in sync.
Seeing them, I pick up my own paddle. “How do I do this?” I ask, and the boat glides to a stop.
“First one side and then the other. You start us off and I’ll fall into rhythm with you,” he says, and I nod then take the long paddle and begin to put one side into the water. It takes me a few minutes for me to stop going in circles and to get the hang of it, but when I finally catch on, Sage starts paddling with me and we fly over the top of the lake, chasing after Willow and Harmony.
I laugh harder than I have in a long time and smile so much my face hurts. I know my happiness isn’t because of what I’m doing, even though kayaking is a total blast. I’m happy because of who I am with. Sage is one of those people who is just easy to hang out with. He puts you at ease, takes the stress away, and makes you smile, even when you don’t think it’s possible to.
And he is also the guy I’m pretty sure I’m already falling in love with. I just hope with time he can feel the same way about me.
*
Sage
SLIPPING ON MY dress shirt, I do up the buttons then the cuffs and grab my watch, putting it on before walking out of the closet. Listening to the sound of Kim singing behind the door of my master bath, I smile then laugh. She sounds horrible, but it’s still cute to hear her so happy. I head toward the door and grab my shoes, leaving for the living room, where I take a seat on the edge of the couch to put them on.
We were out on the lake longer than I expected us to be, so by the time we got back in and put away the kayaks, Willow and Harmony left to get ready for dinner, which reminded Kim about our plans for the evening. I know she’s nervous about being around everyone tonight, but I’m relieved. For a long time, I’ve hated going to family functions or get-togethers knowing Kim could be there with one of my cousins. If she were there, I would’ve had to be in the same room with her and not touch her, not talk to her. Fuck, I could barely look at her. It was like torture every time.
But tonight, tonight is different. There are no rules anymore. I can touch her whenever the fuck I want.
Standing from the couch, I head for the kitchen but stop dead when Kim walks out of my room and down the hall toward me. Her hair is half down and pulled away from her face, making her eyes and cheekbones stand out. The dark burgundy turtleneck dress she’s wearing looks amazing with her complexion and skims her body like a second skin, ending just above a pair of knee high black leather boots.
“Fuck.” Seeing those boots, I know going slow just went out the fucking window. I want her. No… want is too tame a word. I fucking need her.
“Is this too much?” she asks, stopping before me and holding her arms out to her sides. “I don’t want to look slutty. I didn’t even think about the fact this kind of screams ‘slut’ with the boots.”
Jesus, my woman is crazy.
“You don’t look slutty, but I’m definitely thinking about you in those boots and nothing else.”
“Sage,” she snaps, and I lean in, wrapping my hand around her hip, feeling the soft material of the dress under my palm.
“Never mind, the sweater’s hot, too. The first time I fuck you,” I lean down, nipping her earlobe while grabbing her ass, “it will be up around your waist, your boots around my hips, and your ass on the counter in the kitchen.”
“You’re not helping me feel better,” she growls.
I lean back to look at her then move my hands to hold her face gently. “You look beautiful.”
“Are you sure? Your mom and dad—”
“They couldn’t give a fuck less what you wear. They already know you and like you. You have nothing to be nervous about. This is my family and the people you’ve been hanging out with for a long time.”
“I guess you’re right. It just feels different,” she says quietly, dropping her eyes from mine.
Giving her jaw a squeeze, I wait until she looks at me once more before I speak. “The only difference is you’re mine now, and everyone knows it. Nothing else has changed. Everyone is still going to be loud and inappropriate. My mom will probably ask about what our plans are, and my aunts will probably hem and haw about planning another wedding. But it will be all good.”
“Wedding?” Her eyes widen, and she visibly swallows.
I laugh. “You know July, June, and Ash, babe. So you know exactly what happens when the women in my family get together. They all start plotting.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
“Oh no, you’re coming. Even if I have to carry you over my shoulder. I have plans for your ass tonight when we get back.”
“You have plans for my ass when we get back?” she repeats, blinking up at me. “I’m not sleeping here tonight. I have to work tomorrow at the shop.”
“Fine, then I’m staying at yours. Or we’ll pick up some clothes from your place after dinner and come back here.”
“You know you are seriously bossy, right?” she prompts, rolling her eyes. “You never say ‘Hey, what do you think about this?’ or ‘How do you feel about that?’ It’s always ‘I’m paying’ or ‘We’re doing blah, blah, blah,’” she mimics in a deep voice, shaking her head, and I fight back a smile. “It’s really annoying.”
“So you didn’t enjoy sleeping in my bed?” I raise a brow.
She frowns. “I didn’t say that.”
“I’m guessing you also hated going out on the lake this morning.”
“Don’t be a jerk,” she snaps, glaring at me.
“I’m not. I’m proving a point. You’re telling me it’s annoying when I’m bossy, yet you sure as fuck have been enjoying yourself.”
“Don’t cuss at me.”
“Jesus,” I growl, running my hand over the top of my head in frustration. “Are we seriously going to start fucking arguing about this shit right now?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know!” she cries, throwing her arms in the air.
I know what she needs. Hell, I know what we both need, and I plan on giving it to both of us as soon as we get home from this fucking dinner tonight.
“I’m freaking out, and then there’s you.” She waves her hand out at me. “You look all hot and muscular, and I can’t stop thinking about what happened this morning, which is making me want to jump you. And I know that wouldn’t be good, because then we would be late, and everyone would know exactly why we were late. And then I would be embarrassed. So please, cut me some slack.” She ends with her chest heaving and her eyes on mine.
“Come here.”
“What?” She frowns, and I hold out my hand toward her.
“Come here.”
“Why?”
“Trust me,” I urge, and she places her hand in mine. Leading her to the kitchen, I turn her to face me then slowly slide my hands up her hips, bunching up the soft sweater as I go.
“What are you doing?” she pants, but I don’t answer.
As soon as I have her dress up around her hips, I skim my hands down over her hips, feeling for her panties. Coming across the smooth material, I wrap them around my fingers and pull them down, lowering to my knees and muttering “step out” when they reach her ankles. Holding onto my shoulders, she does as I asked, and I lean in, placing a kiss to her stomach above her pubic bone. Hearing her pant and smelling her arousal causes my already hard cock to twitch and my hands to tighten into fists. I shove her panties into my pocket and wrap my hands back around her hips, lifting her to the counter and hearing her gasp as her ass hits the cool top.
“Lean back and spread your legs for me,” I growl, fighting myself to stay calm. This will be a test of self-control if I’ve ever had one. The idea of eating her turns me on, and I know I’ll want to fuck her. I know the second the taste of her hits my tongue I’m going to want to fuck her until neither of us can walk. Only I can’t do that—not now anyway. But I can get her off and help her relax a little so she’s not so on edge.
“I don’t think….” she whispers, tightening her knees together, and I shake my head.
“Don’t think, just do. Lean back and spread your legs for me,” I demand, and her eyes widen and the tip of her pink tongue comes out to touch the edge of her lip.
Seeing that, I lose what little bit of self-control I was holding onto. Forcing her back to the counter, I grab her knees and spread them open. Dropping my eyes to her already glistening pussy, my hands fucking shake and my mouth waters. I trail one shaky finger up her inner thigh and move my eyes from the skin below my finger to her face, wanting to see her reaction to my touch. The moment my fingers slide through her folds and over her clit, her eyes slide shut and her head tips back, exposing the elegant slope of her throat as her back arches.
So fucking beautiful. So fucking perfect. All fucking mine.
“Sage,” she breathes, her thighs visibly shaking as I take her in.
Hearing my name leave her mouth and seeing her reaction to my touch, I dive at her pussy, licking and sucking every inch of her. Using my shoulders, I keep her thighs spread wide and focus on her clit while plunging two fingers inside of her. Her moans and whimpers make my cock leak as I flick her with my tongue.
Feeling her pussy tighten around my fingers, I know she’s close, and as much as I wish I could prolong her orgasm, I can’t. If I keep going, I know this will no longer be about me getting her off. “Give it to me.” My growled words against her clit send her over, and her body starts to shake as she comes on my tongue. I keep my fingers planted inside her as I stroke over her G-spot while she comes down from the orgasm, only pulling them away when her glazed eyes open on me. “You feeling better?” I ask.
Her eyes slide shut, and her head falls back as she lets out a puff of air and a laugh before covering her face. “I’m not sure I’m better, but after that orgasm, I think I’ll be okay,” she says, pulling her hands from her face and smiling at me.
Helping her sit up, I take hold of her face and kiss her until her nails are digging into my skin through my shirt. “You sleeping here?” I ask as soon as I pull my mouth from hers.
Her eyes flutter open. “Yes.”
“Good.” I drag her ass from the counter and help her right her dress then wash my face and hands.
“I need my panties.”
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do,” she argues.
“You don’t,” I deny, moving her toward the front door.
“I’m not having dinner with your family wearing nothing but my dress.”
“No one will know but you and me.”
“Yeah, and then something freakish will happen and my ass will come out and everyone will see e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.”
“Nothing will happen, and sure as fuck no one will ever see your ass but me,” I growl. Just the thought of someone, anyone, seeing her the way I have makes the uncomfortable feeling of jealousy roll through me. “Now come on or we’re gonna be late.” I hold open the door, and she huffs a little but moves past me, grabbing her coat and bag as she goes.
Shutting and locking the door behind us, I hit the key fob to set the alarm and move toward my Caddy, where Kim is already climbing into the passenger seat. I get in behind the wheel and start the engine as she pulls down the visor and starts applying a coat of red lipstick to her lips, making them look even fuller than they already are.
Fuck me, it’s going to be a long fucking night.