Sage wrinkled his nose. “I so don’t need that visual.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s gross.” Sage began wiping around Garridan’s mouth.
“It will happen again if someone tries to hurt you,” Garridan said. He felt the car stop and then the engine shut off. A car door opened and closed and then they were alone.
“You know that’s the most words you’ve ever strung together at one time. At least that I’ve heard. I like your voice. It’s deep and has this gravelly quality to it. It makes me think about…your mouth. Maybe you can read our book to me next time. You do know how to read, right?” Sage asked and kept wiping around Garridan’s lips. That last part might have offended a younger shifter, but some of the older ones had lived a long time and had never learned to read. Some of them were so old they weren’t allowed to read, especially the shifters of African descent who had lived during slavery times. Most slaves hadn’t been allowed to learn how to read. If Garridan had been a slave then it would make sense that he didn’t know how, and since he had been held captive by the vampires for so long that he hadn’t had an opportunity to learn. He knew Bennett was in his forties, so Garridan was at least twenty years older than that, but Sage was guessing he was even older. He could be hundreds of years old for all Sage knew.
“I know how to read. I remember how,” Garridan said.
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure how old you were. Hard to tell sometimes. I’m only thirty-two years old. I know I only look like I’m in my early twenties. My father looked the same way, while my mother’s age slowed around the forty-year mark. Weird how genetics work, isn’t it? You look like you’re around thirty years old, by the way.”
“You talk a lot.”
Sage looked away from him. “Sorry. I only seem to be like this around you. I don’t know why.”
“I like it.”
“Oh. Good, because I can’t seem to stop. I swear I’m not like this normally. I hate talking. I’m in therapy and I like Dr. Tucker. I justdon’t like talking about the rape. But Dr. Tucker said that if I talk about it, then it’ll get easier to process it.” Sage thought about that for a minute. “Oh. Hey, I bet he’s right. I can talk about it with you.”
Sage hadn’t noticed right away, not until he stopped jabbering long enough to pay attention, but Garridan growled low in his throat, pulling him closer. Garridan started that about the time he mentioned the rape.
“I’ll stop talking. I’m sorry,” Sage said.
“Talk if you need to. Tell me their names so I can kill every single one of them,” Garridan said.
“I don’t know their names. I wouldn’t tell you even if I did. I don’t want you to get hurt.” Sage took one last swipe across Garridan’s lips. “There. I think it’s all off. You’ll have to take a shower when we go inside.”
“I don’t want to leave you again, Sage. I can’t protect you if I’m away from you,” Garridan said.
Sage looked at him for the longest time, trying to decide if he could do that. Finally, he smiled and nodded. Sage laid his head on Garridan’s chest. He could feel Garridan’s heart beat against his cheek and Garridan’s big hand rubbed up and down his back.
“I’ve got you, mate,” Garridan whispered. “I’ll protect you. Always.”
“Get out.” Sage heard Garridan say from behind him.
He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten into his bed or when. Garridan might have carried him. Sage lay on his side. He could feel the weight of Garridan’s arm on his waist. He could smell his own soap on Garridan’s skin. Underneath that was that cookie scent, which was unique to his mate.
Sage turned, wanting to be closer to Garridan, but the blankets were around Sage and not Garridan, restricting him.
“I’m just telling you we’re leaving for home. Are you ready?” Lucas said from somewhere by the door.
“He’s staying,” Sage yelled, still not opening his eyes. Sage was so comfortable. He hadn’t slept that well in so long that he couldn’t even remember the last time. It had been sometime before the kidnapping, before the nightmares started.
Garridan kissed him on the top of the head then started to get up off the bed.
“No!” Sage opened his eyes and grabbed Garridan’s arm, pulling him closer.
“I’m not leaving you. I told you I won’t. I don’t lie.” Garridan averted his gaze to something over Sage’s head, toward the door. “I want you and Bennett to stay here. Go tell him.”
Probably Lucas. “You really need to work on your manners, Garridan. Tell him yourself.”
Garridan growled and climbed off the bed. He had on sweatpants and a shirt. When Garridan started out of the room, Sage felt a tightness in his chest, making breathing difficult. “Garridan!”
Sage scrambled from the bed and practically ran across the room, grabbing his hand and laced their fingers together. “I want to go with you.”
Garridan drew his eyebrows together, his forehead creasing. He nodded anyway, starting out of the room.
