Epilogue
“I still can’t really wrap my brain around my father’s death,” Saige said, staring out at the mountain. Isaac’s back deck was the perfect spot for brooding. She shifted her weight, crossing her legs. The cushions on the outdoor lounger felt like heaven, and so did the sunlight shining down through the trees, but she still couldn’t quite relax. Her life had irrevocably changed, and it had all happened in the space of a few days.
“I’m sorry,” Isaac said, sitting on the edge of the seat. He wrapped warm hands around her thighs. “I know you never meant for it to end that way.” He massaged into her muscles, warm and soothing. “We can’t always predict how things are going to end. Sometimes it happens suddenly. Sometimes not.”
“I know.” Saige sighed. “I don’t know how I meant for it to end, honestly. I didn’t really think about it. I just wanted to live my life like a normal person.”
“What’s normal?” Isaac asked wryly.
Saige laughed, looking up into his startling green eyes. “True.” She reached out and touched his cheek. “You’re certainly not normal.”
“Hey! I resemble that remark.” He smiled.
Saige smiled back, and then sighed, letting her hand drop. “I wanted to be free of him.”
“And you are free. You’ll never have to worry about your father again,” Isaac murmured. His thumb dug into a sensitive spot. “Sure, the circumstances were tragic, but that doesn’t negate the result. Don’t let guilt over something that was out of your control follow you around, sweetheart.”
“I’ll try not to. It’s hard.” Saige put a hand on his arms, stilling his movements.
“Life is often hard.” Isaac moved his arms out from under her grip and curled his fingers around her shoulders.
Saige frowned, obscurely comforted by the weight of his grip. “But what about us?”
Isaac slid his hands up to cup her cheeks. “What about us?”
Saige stared into his eyes. The silver shards in his irises seemed brighter today. He’d trimmed his beard to stubble, too, just this morning. He’s so handsome I almost don’t know what to do with myself when he’s around. Her heart tripped. “We’re connected. In here.” She put a hand to her chest.
He nodded. “We are.” The laugh lines around his eyes looked so ordinary, but Saige knew he was anything but. “Don’t sweat the small stuff, Saige. You’re a Sentry. And you have my memories.” He ran a thumb over her lips. “We’re part of each other, now.”
Saige’s lips tingled. “I can fight,” she stuttered, distracted by his fingers on her mouth.
Isaac leaned in and kissed her softly. “Yes.”
“That’s what we do,” Saige murmured against his lips. He kissed her again, so sweetly she thought she’d cry if he stopped.
“Yes.” He bit her bottom lip hard enough to sting.
Saige gasped, leaning back. “I want to learn how to pilot a starship.”
“Of course,” Isaac said, grinning now.
“And you’re going to take me out to Alpha Centauri. The thought of those Spiders hanging out there gives me the creeps.” Saige pursed her lips. “We need to deploy more sensors.”
Isaac slid his hands down to hers and squeezed. “We’ll go tomorrow.”
“Not now?” Saige felt as though a huge weight had just lifted off of her. She had a purpose, now. She stared at Isaac, hardly able to believe that she’d hated him when she’d first met him. But that’s because he was hiding himself from me, she reminded herself.
“No, not now,” he said, pinning her hands to the lounger. “Right now, I’m going to make love to you. And you’re going to let me.” His voice had gone deep and growly. His eyes gleamed.
Saige squirmed under his grip as arousal slid through her. “But we have so much to do. Amy still has your ring. And your brother Bruno said he’d exchange it with a new one.” Saige pursed her lips. “Amy is going to freak out when she meets him.”
“And we’ll do all of that, tomorrow. Or maybe the next day.” Isaac lifted her hands and kissed the sensitive skin at her wrists. “Right now, I want to remind you that you’re still alive. That we’re still alive.”
“Isaac,” she gasped, shivering as he kissed up to the inside of her elbows. “What about class? We’ll be late.”
“I resigned.” He bit her arm, then soothed it with his tongue.
“Resigned?” Saige sank her fingers into his hair and tilted his head up. “Why?”
He slid over onto the lounger, between her legs. The sturdy wood creaked with their combined weight. “Because the only reason I came here to teach was because of you. Now that we’ve found each other, there’s no need to chain ourselves to one place.” He slid his hands up her thighs again, but this time he didn’t stop on her legs. He pushed up under her sundress and hooked his fingers in the silk strings of her panties.
Oh God. Saige licked her lips. Isaac’s intent was clear, and heat spiraled through her. “What makes you think I want to wander around the galaxy with you?” she managed to ask, ignoring the way she’d just contradicted herself. She wanted to fly with him, more than anything, and right now that meant teasing him the way he teased her.
Isaac smirked just as his fingers slid beneath her panties. “The only reason you were in school was so you could escape your past. I have your memories, too, Saige.” He stroked over her labia, then gently slipped into her body. “Mmm. So slick already.” He teased her clit.
Saige shuddered. Her body betrayed her. “Fuck.” She let her thighs fall open wider. Isaac knew just how to touch her to make her crazy.
“Not yet.” Isaac’s clever fingers rubbed in all the right ways.
“What?” she gasped, confused.
“No fucking just yet.” He kissed her knee. “Soon.”
Saige shook her head. “Isaac, please. You’re killing me here.”
“Tell me you want to spend another year sitting in a classroom,” Isaac said, even as his hands continued to tease her.
“Are you seriously trying to have a conversation with me right now?” Saige asked, eyes sliding shut. He knew she had no desire to sit in class when they could be flying to other planets. She gripped the edges of the lounger as his fingers took her right to the edge … and then stopped. She panted, waiting, and then when he slid away, she opened her eyes. “No, don’t stop! Isaac, I swear…”
“Patience, sweetheart.” He stood up and stripped off his shirt.
Saige’s mouth went dry as he revealed miles of smooth skin and ridiculous muscles. “You do not look like a professor when you take your clothes off.” She let her gaze roam over his chest, then down to his groin. He unbuttoned his jeans, then slid them down. His thick cock sprang out. “God,” she muttered, sitting up. She wanted to touch him.
“Take off your dress,” Isaac said.
Saige licked her lips and drew it up and over her head, then tossed it on the deck. The sun warmed her skin as she trailed her hands down her chest. She liked the way he looked at her. She ran her fingers over her nipples, gasping at how sensitive they felt.
“Now your bra,” Isaac told her, half growling.
Saige slipped off her bra. Her nipples jutted out, and she could barely keep herself from touching them again.
“Your panties.” Isaac stepped closer. “Take them off, too. I want to see you spread out for me.”
Jesus. He has a way with words. Saige lifted her hips and slid them off slowly, savoring the expression on his face as she revealed her dripping wet pussy.
“Fucking gorgeous,” Isaac said, dropping to his knees. “I can’t wait to taste you.”
“Isaac, stop,” Saige said, grabbing at his arms.
He stopped, head tilted.
“I want to—” Saige broke off, flushing. She looked at his erection. She sensed the exact moment he understood what she was too shy to ask. His emotions washed over her in a rush: arousal, amusement, and love. So much love she thought she’d die of it if she ever lost him.
Isaac chuckled. “Oh no, not today. If you suck my cock, I won’t last long enough to satisfy you properly.” He nudged her legs apart and then leaned in, kissing the inside of her knee. “This time is all about you.” He bit her thigh.
Saige jumped as his teeth sank in just to the edge of pain. “But that’s not fair.” She wasn’t sure if she was upset that he wouldn’t let her touch him, or excited over what he planned to do.
“No, it isn’t.” He hauled her down the lounger. The cushion slid with her, half falling off the wood slats.
“What the—” she began, but then Isaac’s mouth was on her clit and everything she meant to ask him flew out of her brain. “Oh my God,” she moaned when his tongue flicked the hood. “Fuck. Isaac, don’t stop.”
He mmm’d and stretched her legs wider. “Hold still, sweetheart.”
Ha. While he’s doing that? As if. Saige shuddered. “Not a chance.”
Isaac glanced up at her with a wicked grin. “I can tie you down, you know.”
Saige’s eyebrows flew up. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“You think I won’t?” Isaac smirked. “Just for that…” He grabbed the ties from the cushion and ripped them off.
Saige stared. “What are you doing?” Her empathic senses had blown wide open, and all she could sense from him was arousal. Isaac was somehow even more turned on than she was. Which I’d have thought was impossible.
“Shh.” He leaned up and grabbed her left wrist. “No talking.”
“Isaac—” Saige tried again, but he leaned up and kissed her, hard. Her bottom lip stung when he nipped her.
“I’m going to tie you up, and then I’m going to drive you insane. And you’re going to take it, my lovely Saige.”
“Why should I?” she taunted, knowing that she could say no at any time and he would stop. He’d never be able to truly hurt her. Because then he’d be hurting himself, she knew. Their empathic connection went both ways, in an irreversible loop. Everything she felt, he felt. Maybe I should tie him up tomorrow. He’s enjoying this way too much.
“Because you want to give up that control to me, Saige. Because it will make you feel good. Because you’ve been taking care of yourself for so long, you’ve forgotten how it feels to just give in,” he said, looping the soft fabric over her wrist. He tied it to the chair’s arm rest.
Oh. Wow. Saige stared at him, speechless. It’s like he opened up my brain and scooped all of my thoughts out. She closed her eyes, even more aroused now. She’d let him do whatever he wanted to her. She’d never thought to give that kind of power over her body and life to a man, to anyone, yet here she was.
“Saige?” He looped another strand around her left wrist. “You still with me?”
She nodded, tears pricking her eyes. She cleared her throat. “How did you know?”
He knotted the tie, and then leaned down, elbow on the armrest near her wrist. The heat from his body washed over her. “Because I feel everything that’s in your heart, Saige.” He touched her cheek with a finger, then slowly trailed it down her body. He stopped on her left nipple, playing with it until she trembled. More moisture seeped from her core.
“You’re killing me,” she whispered.
Isaac leaned back and ripped another tie loose. “Yes. And you’re going to enjoy every moment of it.” He ran the tie down her leg, then stretched it wide. He secured it to the lounger, then did the same with the other leg.
Saige’s gripped the armrests so hard her fingers hurt. “Now what?” she asked hoarsely. Every single part of her lay open and exposed. The sunlight tingled on the most private part of her body.
“Now, I’m going to make love to you, sweet Saige.” Isaac settled between her legs and blew on her clit.
Saige let out a breath. “Dear God, Isaac, don’t tease me. Not now.”
“You’re still thinking too much.” He touched a finger to her entrance. “I think we need something to fill you up.” He knelt between her legs, then brought his cock down, teasing at her opening.
“Isaac.” Her voice sounded wrecked.
He smiled, then plunged inside her with a single, hard thrust.
“Fuck!” Saige pulled against the ties. His pleasure washed over her in waves, but he didn’t move. “More, please,” she begged.
“Not yet.” He pulled out, breathing harshly. “I can feel your mind racing, Saige. Let go.” He swatted her pussy lightly.
Saige froze. Shit. Why did that feel good? She wanted him to push her harder.
“Hmm, you liked that.” He swatted her again, harder this time.
“Oh God.” Saige yanked against her ties again. “Please.” She could barely force the words out.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get there,” Isaac said. He fucked into her again, almost brutal this time. The sting from his slap spread into a delicious warmth as his cock pushed up against her womb.
Saige moaned, tossing her head. She couldn’t think straight anymore. Isaac knelt above her, strong and impossibly large. His hands pressed on her wrists as he sucked in harsh breaths. She sensed that he was near the edge of his control, but somehow, he held back.
“We are so going to do this again,” he said, pulling out. “Tying you up was definitely one of my better ideas.” He swatted her pussy three times in rapid succession, harder than before.
Saige groaned as her clit swelled. “More,” she croaked.
Isaac nodded. “Yes. Definitely more.” He swatted her again, then dropped back down and sucked her clit into his mouth.
Saige screamed, but just as she was about to climax, he backed off. “Oh God, oh God, no, no, no,” she muttered, wrists burning against the ties. “Come back.”
“Christ, you’re so fucking perfect for me,” Isaac said, hands on her thighs. His fingers dug in painfully.
Saige opened her eyes. “Isaac,” she said, sounding drunk. “Fuck me.”
He knelt up, hands going to her wrists. “Let go, Saige.”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
“You can. Let go of all that shit in your head.” He tapped her temple, then leaned in. “Let go of all the regret you have in there. You can’t bring back the past,” he whispered in her ear.
Saige shivered. He’s right. Oh my God, he’s right, she thought, tears leaking from her eyes. “You too,” she said, voice cracking.
He nodded, eyes bright. “You’ve got me, now. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Saige pulled against the ties. “Let me out of this.”
Isaac kissed her, then leaned down and ripped the bonds off of her wrists and ankles.
The moment she was free, Saige wrapped her arms and legs around Isaac. He groaned into her neck, and his erection found her entrance.
“Fuck me, fuck me,” Saige chanted. She wanted to forget everything in her life but him. She wanted to brand him onto her skin and bones. “Nothing else matters,” she said, knowing he’d understand what she meant.
“Nothing matters but you and I,” Isaac said, pressing his cock inside her body so slowly she thought she’d die.
“Yes,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Only our future matters,” he said, leaning up to cup her face.
Saige nodded, gripping his wrists. “Only the future.”
Isaac pulled out, and then surged into her. Saige exhaled as she twisted her legs around his waist, locking them at the ankle. “Again.”
Isaac gripped the lounger. “Hold on to me.”
Saige wrapped her arms around his shoulders. His skin felt like molten silk beneath her palms. “Now, Isaac.” She sensed his emotions break open, and then he crashed into her, fucking so hard it hurt. She smiled, even as she cried. She liked the pain. It felt real. Isaac kissed her and fucked her harder. The lounger groaned, but Saige barely heard it. She held on, and Isaac pushed them both until the pleasure roared through them in a huge wave. Isaac groaned, and his emotions filled her up, pushing into all the places she’d been alone. He filled her body and her mind and her senses. She climaxed once, writhing and groaning, and then she came again as his hips jerked, and his cock swelled and spilled all through her.
“I love you,” he murmured, hips moving more slowly.
Saige smiled into his neck. “I love you, too.”
****
A long time later, they untangled themselves from the deck lounger. Saige winced as she sat up, but Isaac smoothed a hand down her back. Her skin tingled, and the pain disappeared. “I think we broke the chair,” she said, staring at the splintered hand rest in bewilderment.
Isaac laughed as he pulled on his jeans. “We have other chairs. We can spare one.” He helped her back into her dress, and then drew her onto his lap.
“I’m not a child, you know,” she said, but didn’t protest the position.
“I know.” Isaac stroked a hand down her arm.
Saige sighed. “We have a lot of work to do, still.”
He kissed her cheek. “We’ll always have a lot of work, but that doesn’t mean we can’t steal a few hours for us.”
Saige nodded. The sun had just dipped below the tree line. “It’s getting late.” Her stomach growled.
“Someone’s hungry.” Isaac stood up, swinging her up in his arms.
“Are you crazy? Put me down!” Saige said, holding on for dear life. “If you trip, we both go down.”
“I’m not going to trip,” he said, sliding open the door with his foot. “Let me carry you for a little while, sweetheart.”
Saige stilled, sensing he meant far more than just holding her in his arms. “Isaac?”
He slipped inside and headed for the sofa. When he sat down, he settled her on his lap. “Life is a series of difficult challenges, Saige.” He cupped her cheek. “And for a Sentry, the challenges are even more difficult than most.”
“But I’m here, now,” Saige told him. “And even if we live forever, we’ll face whatever happens together.”
Isaac kissed her. “Yes.”
Saige cupped his cheeks, savoring the warmth of his skin and the scratchy stubble. “I think you owe me a ring.”
He grinned. “I think you’re right.”
“And I hope you know how to cook, because I suck at it,” she added, remembering the horrible macaroni and cheese she’d made what seemed a lifetime ago.
“We’ll crash at Greyson’s place. Both he and Eva are great cooks.” Isaac’s eyes twinkled.
“Works for me,” Saige said, amused. My life isn’t going to be boring, that’s for sure.
“Excellent,” Isaac said, just as the viewer in the center of the room pinged.
Saige looked over her shoulder. Part of the grey pillar wavered, then solidified into an image of Isaac’s brother, Sentry Greyson. His wife, Eva, stood just behind him, wearing an apron. She held a set of tongs up over Greyson’s head, grinning mischievously.
“Steak tonight?” Isaac asked mildly, clearly not at all fazed by the sudden interruption.
Greyson scowled. “How did you know?”
“The tongs,” Saige said, pointing. Behind Greyson, Eva touched a hand to the corner of her eye. Saige returned the gesture, feeling like a part of something for the first time in her life. And that’s something worth fighting for. Eva nodded, as if she’d heard Saige’s thoughts. And maybe she did.
“Tongs?” Greyson growled. “What tongs?”
“The sharp, metal ones your wife is holding over your head, Greyson,” Saige said, biting back a grin.
Greyson glanced at his wife, and his expression softened. “Hmpf.” He turned back to Saige and Isaac. “Yes, steak. Be here at seven. Don’t be late,” he said, and then the viewer went blank.
“I like your family,” Saige said, amused.
“They’re your family now, too,” Isaac pointed out.
Saige blinked. The sincerity and complete acceptance Isaac radiated gutted her. “Yeah, I guess so,” she said, slowly. And isn’t that a kick in the gut, she thought, amazed. She’d never expected to have a family again, not with her father hanging over her and her history of weird disasters. Isaac changed everything for me.
“I’m not your mom or your sister, but I love you, Saige. And I’ll love you for the rest of my life,” Isaac said softly.
Saige turned to him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, for saving my life.”
“Always,” he replied, holding her close.
Saige closed her eyes and savored the steady beat of his heart.
The End
Other Books by Erin M. Leaf:
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