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“I love you too. I’m so gone for you, Ms. Bergen. As soon as you let me, I'm going to make you Mrs. Snyder.” I punctuate my plans with her by grinding between her thighs, twitching at the heat radiating from between Sage’s core.

“I think I’ll need a little time before I can agree to that.”

“Hmmm, maybe next week then.”

Her laugh quickly turns into a moan as I pick up my grinding, I’m almost certain my dick is going to have an imprint of my zipper with how hard I’m pushing out bodies together.

“Let me move in first.” She pants the words out, her hands crawling under my shirt to pull it over my head. I don’t respond immediately, instead helping her strip the both of us. Once we are fully naked, I sink into Sage’s warmth with a moan.

“We’re moving you in next week.”

We settle into a routine over the next few days until Mother is transferred into a rehab facility. It’s not the traditional ending to our holiday week but we’re able to be together for the kids to keep up our Christmas tradition.

I was even able to get my assistant to sneak away to the store for me, I needed to get Sage a few additional presents to open, refusing to leave her with the generic gift I had originally gotten her before I knew how important she was going to be.

Eventually, the rest of my family has to return to their lives. I have to return to mine as well but I’m able to coordinate a few days off in a week or two to travel with Sage back to Arizona to get more of her things.

Being in her space is exhilarating, seeing a more intimate side to her may have whipped me into a little bit of a frenzy to claim her in every area of the house that didn’t remind me of Mother. It makes me even more excited to officially have her living in my home.

Our home.

30

SAGE

We’ve been back home for a week now, it’s still insane to me to think of York’s house as home but it feels right. Most things feel right when it comes to being with York. Bea is moving into a retirement community soon, one close enough to home that York and I can visit whenever she feels like company. Or, more likely, gets sick of the food and demands that I come and save her from starting a hunger strike.

I was surprised with how easy it was to pack up and leave Arizona. Settling in with York has been even easier. I’m sure there will be growing pains after we grow out of our honeymoon phase but I’ve never felt better about a decision in my life. His assistant, Bernie, has been a giant help. She’s organized movers to do almost everything, I barely lifted a finger.

I haven’t made a decision about joining the catering company yet but they’ve reached out twice since Bea’s accident. I’m leaning towards accepting, I don’t want to look for another personal chef gig. Working for Bea was the best job in the world and there’s no way I’d be able to work for someone else and not compare them at every turn.

York has offered to financially support me to give me some time to make sure I’m going to be doing something I enjoy. We may have moved on a faster track than normal but I’m not ready to put all that responsibility in York’s hands.

“Honey! You have to see this!” York’s voice calls from the main level of the house. I finish pulling my socks on before rushing out of our bedroom and down the stairs to see what’s got York so excited. “What’s up?” York is elbow deep in a giant box, digging around.

Packing paper is spilling out the sides as he continues to rifle around. “Reese sent us a care package. Or, I guess, his boss did?” York pulls out a card with ‘Warren Honey and Apiary” printed on the front. He’s silent for a moment while he reads the card.

“Is that where Reese works?” I step into his side, wrapping my arms around his waist.

While York continues to read, I take a peek into the box. “Oh wow!” I drop my hold on York and start digging into the box, pulling out a collection of different flavored jars of honey.

“These look amazing!” I read the labels, there is regular honey and a variety infused with other flavors. There is a bundle of honey sticks and a milky honey lotion in a tub. My little chef heart pitter-patters as different recipes start to filter through my head.

“This is hilarious.” York’s chuckle pulls me out of my thoughts. “The owner sent us a care package thanking us for letting Reese join their team. There’s even a note for Mother.”

“That’s so cool.”

York hums in agreement, pulling a honey stick out of the bundle. He bites a hole into the stick, sucking on it before placing the stick against my lips. I greedily suck up some of the honey, my tastebuds singing once the sweet flavor coats my tongue. I moan as York pulls the half empty stick from my mouth.

“Damn, honey. It’s almost as sweet as you.” York takes the stick between his teeth before he pulls me into his arms, lifting me onto the counter. My behind pushes against our new treasures but I’m more focused on the swoop of heat in my belly.

“That is some high quality stuff. Think we could get a subscription delivery or something set up?” I ask but York doesn’t respond, he’s too busy nuzzling against my neck. His breath is hot as it puffs against my skin. I’m reminded of our first night together, he’s got me placed in the exact same position.

“I’ll have to talk to Reese. Get it set up for you. Later, though. I have something much more important that requires my attention at the moment.” I don’t protest when York takes me through a recreation of our pre-Thanksgiving entertainment. All thoughts of honey quickly disappear from my mind.

TWO MONTHS LATER

Heat dries my eyes out as I pull out the mini cake pans out of the oven.