Chapter 6

I'm surrounded by nature all day, every day, and it invigorates me. Yet I"ve never felt as alive as the second Sage"s lips met mine.

She kisses like a dream – soft and warm and perfect. It ignites every savage, animalistic urge I"ve ever had.

I need to claim her. Want to possess her. Have to obsess over every soft inch of fair skin, every touch and caress of her perfect, sexy body. She"s the dream girl I wasn"t ready to fantasize about. Yet here she is in my arms, in my home, and she"s all mine.

For a few days, at least.

I can"t think about any of that yet. All I can do is kiss her harder as her lips part, encouraging me to delve even deeper. Her fingers thread through the back of my hair, telling me that she wants more. Gliding my tongue against hers feels like a gift. Like we"re bonding. Like we"re opening up to each other.

My hands run all over her back, her waist, her hips. Then I stroke down the outside of her thigh. Hitching up the skirt of her sundress a bit to reveal her bare skin, I trail my fingers gently around her knee, then the back of it.

Sage giggles against my lips. "Ack. That tickles."

I respond with a groan, caressing her calf, then her outer thigh. My entire body aches to lift her and take her straight to the bedroom so I could examine every ticklish nook and delicious curve.

But taking my time with her feels…important, somehow. Even though I might only have her for a few more days.

Sage sighs as she sinks into our kiss, her fingers clutching me hard as if she never wants to let go.

"Princess," I murmur against her soft lips, "tell me to stop."

"Mmm…no."

I tilt my head the other way, keeping her close, holding back a groan as the kiss takes on a life of its own. A deep, primal craving is being unleashed inside me, and holding it back is going to be a challenge. Twisting slightly, I fight to keep her just far enough away that she doesn"t feel my throbbing erection.

She pulls back with a start. "I"m so sorry. Do you have to go? Do you have work to do?"

"You apologize much too much." My nose brushes against hers until she giggles. "I deserve a day off. Besides, right now my most important job is taking care of you."

Her eyes grow wide as she blinks sharply. Has nobody ever spoken sweetly to this precious girl before?

"Don"t be sorry, princess. You"re not a bother."

She shrugs with an exasperated sigh. "Except that I am. Here you are, letting me stay here for free, and I can"t even cook for you."

"You can tell me all about your life while I marinate some chicken." I bounce her slightly on my knee. "And if you"re really lucky, I"ll let you shred the lettuce for our lunch salad. How"s that?" Her smile lifts her cheekbones. Analyzing this sweet face will be my mission every second she"s near me.

"It"s great that you eat so healthy."

"You think a grumpy loner bachelor should be living on frozen dinners and pizza?"

"No. I guess I"ve just never thought about it."

My thumb glides along the silky skin of her cheek. "Food is fuel. I"m always busy. Cars run better when there"s quality gas in the tank."

Sage nods. "Mechanically minded. Got it."

Lifting her carefully, we go inside and I sit her on the kitchen counter so she can lean back against the cabinets. I ask Sage questions as I start the marinade for the chicken.

I adore the way she chatters away so brightly once she gets going, but I"m starting to read between the lines. Her mother was clearly neglectful even before she took off, although Sage is too kind to come out and say it. And I hate the furrow in her brow whenever she mentions her brother and his "business".

It"s clear Carl sometimes takes Sage with him as a decoy and a cover when he"s making his deliveries. Aside from that, he ignores her most of the time, except when he"s controlling her. It makes my fists clench and jaw tighten just to think about it. The thought of anyone using Sage makes me physically ill.

Although…I don"t even want to go there…I"m kind of controlling her as well. Sure, I"m using the logic that it"s in her best interest to stay off her foot for several more days to heal and be safe, whereas Carl is clearly manipulating her for his own benefit. And yet…hmm.

The longer she stays with me, the more comfortable she might become. The more she might feel at peace in this house. Feel healthy and happy while living out here in the forest. Feel secure in this incredible connection between us.

It"s not being manipulative if I"m positive it"s great for us both…right?