CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A ri locked his gaze on Sage.

If he looked at Oliver, he was likely to do something he regretted. As Sage began to sit, he held up a hand. “Don’t move, you look fucking gorgeous just as you are.”

He wasn’t lying, she did. She looked like a fucking goddess.

Despite the overwhelming need to possess her, Ari didn’t want to make Sage feel guilty for what she’d done. In some ways, he’d known the two of them would need to get this out of their system.

He finally glanced at Oliver, who was making no plans to move. Smart vampire. He was waiting for instruction and gauging Ari’s reaction. Unfortunately for him, Ari wasn’t going to show him how he truly felt.

If he did, Oliver would be dead.

Ari had to take responsibility for this situation. He could have stopped Oliver from touching Sage, but he hadn’t. Therefore, he had no right to rip the guy’s head off. And Oli was his best assassin.

The entire situation was fucked up.

Sharing females was something they did regularly, and he’d refused to admit she was, or could be, his mate.

Oliver didn’t deserve to lose his life today.

Tracker’s in.

Good.

You want me to go?

That’s up to Sage.

Na man, it’s up to both of you. Fuck Ari, you should have said.

Okay, so maybe he wasn’t hiding his feelings as well as he thought.

Don’t. I want her to decide.

“When did you get here?” Sage asked. “Wait, how did you get in?”

He looked over his shoulder and lied. “The door was unlocked. I just walked in.”

Ari had listened to the entire thing and then teleported inside her house because there was no creature on earth able to stop him from being there. He needed Sage to know he cared and hadn’t disappeared from her life.

Despite everything, he couldn’t stay away, and that was a big fucking problem.

When he’d heard her begin to moan, he’d barely held himself back, but then Sage had said she wished he was there, and his heart had burst open like a giant dam.

“Damn, I’m so charming you forgot to lock the door, Sage,” Oliver teased.

Ari held her eyes and knew he had to stake his claim on this female. He was ready to be inside her again, but it was time for her and Oliver to say goodbye.

This time, as lovers, forever.

His eyes darted to Oliver.

I’m going.

Say goodbye properly this time.

Oliver wrapped a sheet around Sage and dressed while Ari removed his jacket and leaned against the door. He knew she was confused about what was happening, but she would soon know.

“Thanks, gorgeous,” Oliver said, planting the last kiss he’d ever get with her on her lips.

“Um, thanks back.” Sage grinned, returning his kiss.

“Back in a minute,” Ari said, following Oliver outside. They stood on the sidewalk.

“Where is it?”

“Back of her neck,” Oliver answered, then glanced out across the street. “You listened, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And didn’t stop me.”

Sage may be his for eternity, or not. If she was, once the mating bond kicked in, there was no way he’d have allowed it. But this was how their relationship started and he’d seen in her eyes at dinner on Saturday night a need for completion with Oli. Ari was wise enough to let it unfold.

Oliver had needed it too, and it had been the right opportunity to plant the tracking device.

Ari hadn’t been able to stay away.

“I did it for her,” Ari replied. “I’ve been alive long enough to know you can’t possess another being.”

Oliver stared at him for a moment.

“But you want to. Possess her, that is,” Oliver said, then tensed at his reaction. “Fuck, Ari. Don’t fucking kill me for saying that, but someone has to.”

Ari turned for the door.

“Go home.”