CHAPTER THIRTEEN

W hen the limousine stopped outside her house, Sage wasn’t sure what to do. Ari had been incredibly quiet since they’d left the restaurant, and she knew it wasn’t because he was embarrassed about the glass breaking.

The man was so confident you could polish diamonds on him. On those abs, at least.

“Thank you for dinner,” she said as the car stopped.

His dark eyes turned to hers, and his hand reached out and took her chin.

“ La mia luce stellare , you think I would drop you at the curb? Come.” He directed her out of the car as the door was opened for them.

Sage’s heart pounded at his use of more affectionate Italian. In fact, she was close to swooning. She had to remind herself this big, tall Italian man was not looking to settle down.

I’m not here to ask you to marry me. Today or any other day. The words he’d said to her when they met.

Plus, she had her Life List to follow, and Ari really wasn’t her type. Well, except in the bedroom, where he was absolutely everything she could have dreamed of.

Just because he’d taken her on a date didn’t mean he’d suddenly become her boyfriend. Sage wasn’t going to be that girl and suddenly fall in love with him. Plus, Ari shared his lovers, and that wasn’t the type of man she was looking for.

Even if they did begin dating more, because of what she’d done with Oliver, it would be all kinds of awkward. Sage wasn’t na?ve; she knew some people lived in polygamous relationships. She just didn’t know if it was for her.

No. She knew it wasn’t.

Sure, from a fantasy perspective, it was hot as hell. She hadn’t been lying when she said having both Oliver and Ari the night before was incredible. Her body still buzzed from the memory.

Tomorrow was Sunday, and she needed to finish her promotion application and get on with her life. Maybe she’d date Carl, or maybe she’d meet someone else.

Whatever happened tonight, if he wanted to come in or go home, she had a feeling it was the last time she’d see Ari.

She’d focus again on her life plans.

She crossed her fingers mentally at the promotion coming through next week, then she would give Tom notice. She wanted her home back so she could peacefully watch TV in her own living room and make a meal in her kitchen without having to clean up someone else’s mess.

Ari finished talking to the driver, wrapped his arm around her, and directed them up the stairs. Sage pulled out her keys, and he took them and leaned into her ear to whisper, “That meant my starlight. ”

Her body shivered under his touch with need. “Say it again.”

“ La mia luce stellare, ” he repeated, his voice thick.

“Very sexy.” She smiled, leaning into his chest. “Are you going to come in?”

She just wanted a few more hours with him.

“Is that what you want, Sage?” When she nodded, he unlocked the door. “I cannot resist you.”

They quietly made their way into her bedroom, and she turned to him when the door closed. Ari reached behind her, and her dress fell to the floor. With little effort he picked her up and kicked it away. Her eyes followed the garment as she let out a little gasp.

Then she was against his chest and Ari was gripping her chin. His mouth slammed down on hers with so much dominance it nearly blasted the air out of her body.

She clawed at his chest as their mouths hungrily explored each other’s. They parted, and her bra and panties disappeared.

“ Scusate, mia cara , I will replace them,” Ari said, taking her breasts in his hands. Sage had no need for his apology. She wanted his mouth on her.

She needed it.

Boldly she pulled out of his arms and his eyes narrowed as she stepped back and lay on the bed. She widened her legs and ran a finger over her stomach.

Who was she?

If this was going to be their last night, she wanted him, and only him, tonight. She would do anything he wanted and make sure she enjoyed every single second of it.

“Sage,” Ari growled. He climbed on the bed between her legs, running his fingers everywhere but there. She writhed and twitched and moaned.

“Ari,” she begged. “Please.”

“Where are your toys?”

Sage’s eyes grew larger. “I like the one on your body, thanks.”

His lips stretched into a smile. “You will have it, but first I want to play. Now, where is your vibrator? I know you have one.”

She attempted to reach beside her bed, but Ari did it for her, opening the drawer and pulling out her purple rabbit vibrator with the clit stimulator.

“Is this what you use? At night, when you are alone?” He slid his fingers through her wetness and turned on the rabbit.

“Yes.” She arched into his touch.

He ran the vibrator over her clit, and she let out a little mumbled noise. Over and over her flesh, he circled until he pressed it against her entrance. “Like this?” he said, adding pressure and the tip slid inside. “Do you do this as you imagine a man licking you, lying over you, desiring you?”

She nodded, her heart pounding and body trembling.

Ari slid the device in further, leaning over her as he’d just described, and suckled on her nipple. “And this?”

“Ohgod.” Sage moaned. Now it was deep inside her, the clit stimulator on the outside reaching the right spot, taking the pleasure to a dangerous level.

In and out, he slid the vibrator slowly, changing the angle until she could barely think.

“And who do you imagine when you are about to come, Sage?” he asked.

“I, ahh.” She couldn’t get the words out.

“Do you imagine a man in your mouth and one in your pussy?” Ari asked, changing his position on the bed. “Is that what you desire, Sage? Two cocks, three?”

Sage’s lips parted as Ari pressed inside her mouth, never easing his thrusts with the vibrating rabbit.

“I’m fucking your cunt and your mouth, Sage. That’s it, good girl, suck me harder.”

Ari hadn’t pushed himself in deep tonight, just the tip, and she knew it was because he wanted her words. She moaned around his hard, thick cock, then he pulled her off him.

“Tell me what you want, Sage, and I will make your fantasies come true.”

She panted. “I want it all. Oh, fuck, Ari, please.”

“Is it me you want, mia cara? Or another?” He demanded in a possessive-sounding growl as his cock slapped against her lips.

Sage felt completely out of control. Her body buzzed with desire, willing to do anything, but she knew one thing. The only man she wanted right this minute was Ari.

“I want all of you,” she cried, “Just you.”

He grinned seductively.

“Be honest, Sage. I can have a male lapping your juices while another fucks you. I would be in your mouth and pleasuring your breasts.” He growled. “Say the word and I will organize it.”

She moaned as he slid back inside her mouth, this time deeper.

“Suck me more, Sage, while you imagine all of them on your body, pleasuring you, fucking you,” Ari said, and the rabbit pressed even deeper.

Her eyes opened, and she looked up at him. His eyes were on hers, flicking to her pussy, and he seemed so close to coming.

“Would you like that, Sage? To be filled with cock?”

Sage cried, and her mouth fell off his erection as her orgasm hit. Ari gave her a minute, but then entered her again. “Back in your mouth. Suck me off while I come. Yes, fuckkkk, yes.”

Sage came again, this time harder than she ever had before in her life. Before she was done, the rabbit was removed, and her brain zeroed out as Ari lay down and pulled her on top of him.

How was he erect again already?

“Take me inside you, Sage,” Ari instructed, and he slid inside her.

Her eyes widened as they connected, and they stared at each other. Ari’s eyes were burning with desire, but she saw his possession and a little slice of doubt.

“You okay?” he asked, and she nodded. He ran his fingers over her forehead and moaned.

It felt far too intimate for what they were doing and Sage bit her lip, then clenched around his cock. “Oh, God, Ari, shit.”

“Yes baby, you feel so good.” He groaned and pulled her down and took her lips in his. As with everything else he did, he fucked her mouth in a passionate kiss.

Then they were on their sides and her leg lifted over his big body. He pumped into her again and again, both of them desperate for more.

“Ohfuckohfuckohfuck.” She clenched around him as another orgasm rose within her.

Ari’s eyes held hers with such intensity, she felt him in her soul. “Come now, Sage,” Ari ordered as he thrust into her, throwing his head back with a primal cry.

THIRTY MINUTES LATER , Sage lay with a bunch of Kleenex jammed between her legs, splayed over Ari’s enormous body. His fingers were mindlessly running over the top of her ass, and she was trying to stay as still as possible, so he didn’t leave.

She wanted him to stay.

She didn’t want this to be over.

There had been something more between them. A connection she knew had surprised them both. She’d seen the shock in Ari’s eyes and how he’d glanced away from her trying to dismiss it, only to pull her in closer and hold her in ways a simple lover shouldn’t.

Finally, he shifted, and she lifted her head off his chest and looked up at him.

“I will stay until you fall asleep,” he said gently. “Then I will slip out.”

She nodded and lowered her head again.

“Sage.” Ari’s voice had turned serious, and his fingers dug into her ass a little painfully, but she knew he wasn’t aware. “I need to know. Do you want those things?”

Those things.

She knew exactly what he meant. Did she want multiple lovers? Did she want to repeat what she’d shared with him and Oliver and try new things with even more men? While his words had quickly brought her to orgasm, and experiencing it in reality was probably extremely hot, Sage knew it wasn’t what she wanted.

Correction. She would absolutely do it.

Just not with Ari.

When she was with him, it was more. More intense, and she only wanted him there. He had different needs. Sage knew she wasn’t the woman for him, and while she’d never pictured being with someone like Ari, she couldn’t deny the feelings she had for him so quickly.

He wanted someone like Piper. And yeah, that really hurt.

“No,” Sage answered quietly. “I’m sorry. It’s just not for me.” She felt, rather than heard, his sigh under her and figured he was disappointed.

“Go clean up and then we will sleep,” he said, patting her bottom, and she went to the bathroom. When she returned, he was holding her phone. “Unlock it and I will give you my number.”

Her mouth fell open.

What? Why would he do that? She could see by his expression this wasn’t something he did often.

“Are you sure?”

“ Si ,” he replied as she pressed her thumb on the button. “I want you to know you can contact me if you need me.”

Sage frowned as he punched in his number, let it ring, and handed her back the device.

“You don’t need to do this,” Sage said, sitting on the bed. “I can look after myself.”

He tucked her back in his arms. “Maybe I’m not done with you yet.”

“Oh, yeah?” She smiled despite herself. “When do you think you will be? So I can plan around it.”

“Hard to say,” he replied, lifting her chin to his. “You are a surprise.”

Sage’s smile faded.

“I know I’m not what you want, Ari. We are very different.”

His smile dimmed too. “Oh, cara , I am very different from you, believe me. I have lived a very long and unusual life compared to most.”

Sage shook her head. “Stop making out you’re ancient or something. You are, what? Five, seven years older than me? It’s no big deal. How old are you?”

“Fifteen hundred and twenty-two years,” he replied, and she laughed. “But I feel much younger.”

Sage rolled her eyes. “Well, you’re looking pretty good for that age. Keep it up Granddad. And let me know your beauty secret.”

Ari pressed her down against the sheets and kissed her. “Blood. Can I taste yours?” He made his way down her neck, nipping it sharply. She giggled and jumped a little, then his knee went between her legs.

“I’m totally fine with that. I have a vampire fetish.” She purred, playing along with the joke. “In fact, did you know they’re probably a thing? Like, a real thing.”

Ari’s head lifted. She expected to see disbelief on his face, but didn’t find it. Instead, his eyes had turned dark. “Do you really have a vamp fetish?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Sure. Big, powerful vampires—what’s not to like?”

He let out a groan and pressed his erection into her. “You need to stop, or I will fuck you again.”

Did he think that was a threat because she was totally fine with going again, although she was starting to feel sore. Sage’s smile faded as his cock slid through her flesh, teasing and making her wet all over again.

“So, vampires are real?”

“I think it’s possible.” Sage moaned, struggling to focus. “You saw the news last year, right?” The head of his cock was at her entrance, circling, promising nothing.

“I did. I was told it was fake news.”

“Ari, I can’t focus when you do that.” She arched, trying to take him inside.

“Answer the question and you can have it, Sage.” He growled, kissing her jawline and down her neck. “Tell me about the vamps.”

“Is this another fantasy thing?”

“Yes. Do you want me to bite you?” He growled and she went silent. The scientist in her wanted to yell, hell no. Human mouths contained more germs than any other animal on the planet. She didn’t want him to bite her. And yet, the thought of him marking her, making her his in that possessive alpha way they described in vampire novels, was hot as damn hell. “Ask for what you want, Sage, that’s how this works.” Ari sucked on her nipple. “And soon, because I don’t have much time left.”

“Yes, maybe just a little bit.” She groaned as he licked her neck and then suddenly, she felt sharper than normal teeth drag along her veins. “Oh, God.”

Sage moaned as his cock pressed harder against her core and the sharpness of his bite increased. Then suddenly he flew off her.

“Fuck,” he cried. Her eyes flew open, and she blinked at what looked like extended incisors.

Jesus, she was losing the plot.

Ari wiped a hand over his face, forcing his mouth closed, and dropped his head to her knees.

“Ari?”

“Give me a minute,” he ground out.

Sage looked around the room, confused. Then he pulled her against him. “You okay?” she asked.

“I need to leave in a few minutes,” he replied. “Sage, we shouldn’t be playing with shit like that.”

“Sorry,” she said, embarrassed, and he took her chin.

“Don’t. We were both playing. It’s okay. I just don’t want to hurt you.”

Her heart fluttered. Those words touched her in a way they shouldn’t. “You don’t believe me, though. About the vampires?”

“Oh, I do,” Ari replied. “And because of that, I really need you to forget—”

Next thing Sage knew, she was curled up, dozing off as Ari kissed her forehead, promising to call her.