"Leave me alone."
"Listen—"
"If you think I have herpes, why did you sleep with me?" she snaps. "Seems pretty irresponsible on your part."
I grab her hands, turning her so that her back is to the countertop, and then step in front of her.
"I didn't mean it like that," I tell her. "Honestly, I didn't. I don't think you have anything." I lean in closer to her ear, lowering my voice, and add, "I just want to fuck you bare. I want to feel all of you—you feel so fucking good, Saige. I want to come inside you."
Her breath catches a little, and I press a slow, soft kiss to her lips.
"Youprobably have something," she says, but her tone is less convincing than before.
"I don't. I'm very careful. And I donate sperm occasionally, so I get tested somewhat regularly."
Her eyes widen. "Youdonate sperm? That's a terrifying thought. You really do have a god complex, don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you don't do it because you need money."
"No, I do it out of the goodness of my heart. Because I'm smart, funny, and ridiculously handsome, and the world could use more of me."
"Like I said—terrifying."
"Stop deflecting," I tell her. "Take the test and let me come in you. You know how good we are together; hell, the whole house probably knows it."
"Dax…stop."
"I'm not doing anything."
"I haven't had sex withanyonewithout a condom in two years," she says. "And I have been tested."
"Good." I slip my hand into the back pocket of her jeans. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
She doesn't answer, but the side-eye and scowl tell me she disagrees.
"Let me do that for you, Saige," I say, taking the spatula she's using. "You can sit down, okay? I won't tell Elias."
"I think I'll just go," she says.
"You need to eat first."
"I have a meal plan."
"Yeah? I have a meal plan, too," I tell her before pressing my lips to her own. This time, there's no hesitation on her part; she lets my tongue slip past her lips easily, twisting it with her own.
Good. I know she wants me.Sheknows she needs me. The sooner she accepts it, the better. I meant it when I told her this would be good for her once she accepted it. It'll be good for all of us.
"My plan is you on your back on top of the table with your legs spread…" I whisper against her lips just as Nolan steps into the kitchen.
"Morning," he says, sitting at the table with his laptop.
His presence startles Saige, and she jumps back.
Yeah, she's definitely afraid of him. We're going to need to work on that, and I'm not very patient.
"Good morning," I tell him cheerily. "Go sit down, Ripley."
