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Yeah, that wasn’t something that was going to happen.

“Yeah, Sage. We can get competitive but that wasn’t okay. We should have calmed down, never should have let it get that far.” Reese rubs the back of his neck in a classic chagrined poster boy maneuver.

“I’d give you a smile to reinforce that I’m okay, but it still kind of hurts. So, can you just take my word for it?” Sage makes sure to make eye contact with both of us and it feels like I can’t breathe while I’m looking at her pretty green eyes. There’s still a small smear of blood on her cheek and it makes my heart stutter. I nod while Reese offers an enthusiastic agreement.

“Well, that’s all fine and dandy but I’m still mad at the pair of you,” Mother tuts. I cannot believe you could do such a thing. Sybil, thank you so much for putting her to sorts. You girls are just the best. I almost wish you were my children instead of these hooligans.”

Reese and Mars explode with false claims of pain and offense but I couldn’t care less about her words. I just want to get my arms back around Sage, hold her and keep her safe. I can still feel the pressure of her forehead against my lips. I want nothing more than to feel that same pressure on other parts of my body.

It was a complete lapse of judgement, especially with Sybil watching, but now that I’d opened the door to physical touch, I don’t think it will be possible to close it again.

I was trying so hard to be kind but detached but seeing her hurt, hearing her sounds of pain, holding her hands in my own, being surrounded by her sweet and savory scent, feeling the heat of her body…

Remembering seeing all the temptation of her naked body, it was impossible to force myself to stay away.

Sage is going to be mine, there’s no other option.

10

SAGE

Ican’t freaking believe I was ruining this wonderful family’s holiday week. I was worse than the Grinch! I felt so guilty for the rest of the day. Bea wouldn’t let me out of her sight and I just knew the whole family's plans for the day had been derailed due to my injury.

My adrenaline crashed early in the afternoon and it took a lot of persuasion but Bea finally relented and agreed to let me head to the guest room and take a nap. Returning to the coziest bed in existence was just what I needed, I crashed as soon as my head hit the pillow.

It’s dark now that I’m awake from my ‘nap’ and my stomach is grumbling. A quick glance at my phone shows me that it’s actually super late. Everyone should be in bed, so I think I can get away with trying to sneak upstairs and grab a quick bite without causing another disturbance. It’s early, or is it late enough, that I doubt I’ll be able to go back to sleep, so I decide that after I grab something to eat, I’ll get back into bed and open up my e-reader until the sun comes up.

I do my best to stay as quiet as possible as I ascend up to the main level of the house. It feels a little weird how still everything is without the hustle and bustle of young kids, rowdy brothers, and Bea filling up the space.

In the silence, I get to take in everything without interruption. This house is utter perfection.

With all the mishaps and anxiety of intruding on this family gathering, I haven’t really had a chance to take in any details of the home. The layout is a dream, big enough to accommodate the whole family plus one, but not too big it felt cold or impersonal.

I’m in love with the kitchen. Very cliche for a personal chef, I know, but the top of my ever growing list of regrets during this trip is not being able to cook anything while I'm here. Don’t get me wrong, the caterer York had hired is amazing. Everything I had tasted had been absolutely delicious.

It’s actually torture to not cook for this family, though. Maybe I could sneak in a side dish or something for tomorrow’s meal?

My stomach grumbles, reminding me I need to focus on feeding myself at the moment. Plans to sneak my own creation into the already coordinated meal would have to wait.

For the moment.

I finish off my late night meal and do my best to clean off the plate. I’d done all I could to be as quiet as possible but I wasn’t as successful as I had hoped because I can hear footsteps descending from the top floor.

“Sage?” My name comes out whispered and I want to scream as I recognize it as York’s. “Is that you?” His voice is extra gravely from sleep and it causes a fluttering in my lower stomach.

I answer in a similar whisper, “Yeah it’s me.”

The few seconds it takes York to fully join me in the kitchen does not give me adequate enough time to attempt to calm down. Taking in York’s bare chest and low slung pajama pants, I let out a small groan. It’s small but of-fucking-course he hears it in this silent home.

“Are you hurting?” His question is thick with worry and he eats up the space between us. His touch is soft, cradling my face just like Bea did earlier but my body’s reaction is in complete opposition with her son’s hands on my body.

“I’m okay.” It’s hard to answer with how fast my heart is racing. God, he’s so pretty. His eyes are such tantalizing pools of sapphires. I can feel his gaze burning a hole in my face.

“I’m okay.” My second reassurance seems to break through his concern.

“You’re okay.” York’s hands slide up my face, fingers tangling into the roots of my hair. It feels so good, each touch feeling like a straight shot to my clit. Unbidden, my hands move to rest on his hips. His skin is warm, soaking into my skin and spreading the warmth up my arms.

“I’m oka⁠—”