CHAPTER FOUR

MACK

Walking around the sanctuary with Sadie, I’m in a daze. I’ve been looking forward to this date since Yvonne called me. Part of me also can’t help wondering how I’ve gotten so lucky. This is completely out of the blue and it’s hard to trust things that seem too good to be true.

My life has been rather boring. Uneventful childhood, got into an apprentice program with a great mentor, later took a job at that shop before moving to a new one for several years and then landing a spot at where I currently work, Ink Expressions.

Even my past relationships have been pretty low-key. I’ve dated casually, had a few relationships that lasted a couple months to a year, parted amiably, and went on with life. No great love affairs or anything close to finding the so-called one. My attraction to Sadie has been the first spark in my life that flared unexpectedly and brightly.

Her confusion over our date momentarily threatened to extinguish that spark, and real pain lit across me with the speed of a sucker punch. Thankfully, things were straightened out and now here we are walking hand in hand around as darkness moves in.

As we walk, discovering all the animals that have found refuge here, Sadie chats about each one and I smile at her enthusiasm.

The lights around the sanctuary keep the worst of the darkness at bay, yet as evening turns into night there’s no escaping the looming dark nor the fact that our date is rapidly coming to an end.

All too soon, an announcement comes with the warning that they will be closing in fifteen minutes.

The small gift shop is already closed when we leave. I don’t miss the quick flash of disappointment on Sadie’s face. We’ll definitely have to come back here another time and plan to come earlier.

The parking lot is deserted, with just our two vehicles remaining. The employees must have a staff parking lot.

Walking Sadie to an older boxy tan car that has seen better days, I try to reconcile the fun and bubbly woman at my side with her choice of rides.

We face each other and all the words I want to say are bottled up and stuck in my throat as I stare at her lovely face. Her blue eyes shine brightly and even in the overhead parking lot’s harsh yellow lights her skin looks creamy and utterly soft. My eyes drop to her lips and the urge to kiss her is almost unbearable, yet I hesitate, not wanting to rush things.

Sadie doesn’t seem to have the same inclination as she rises on her tiptoes, grabbing ahold of my vest and yanking me down to her level. Suddenly those lips that I’ve fantasized and dreamed about are pressed to mine, molding and curving in a delicious way that sends blood surging down to my dick in a rush that should leave me lightheaded.

Taking confidence from her initiative, I palm her face and lower my head so she’s not straining as much to reach my mouth. Our lips grasp and glide, teasing and tasting as pleasure sings hotly through my veins.

As one our mouths open, her tongue meeting mine and a wet and passionate duel commences.

My back hits her car as she presses against me, her fingers anchoring in my hair, while her other hand clutches at my neck. The writhing of her body making it clear that she’s as into this as I am, I don’t even attempt to hide my erection from her. I grind myself into her soft stomach feeling the hot slide of my pre-cum sticking me to my boxers.

I love how forward and sexy Sadie is. I’ve been dreaming and longing for this for so damn long that now that she’s in my arms, her tongue stroking mine, it all feels like at any moment I’m going to wake up alone in my bed.

My fingers tighten on her face when her lips leave mine before I regretfully let her go.

“This has been fun, Mack. Why don’t we continue things at my place?” She playfully rakes her teeth over her wet lower lip, making me ache for another taste of her sweetness.

My dick throbs in my pants, fully on board with that suggestion. If it were any other woman, I might go and whatever happens happens. But not with Sadie. Now that I have a real chance with her, I want to explore our mutual interest and not risk blowing it by rushing into sex.

“Better not.”

The warmth in her eyes drains away as her face tightens. She moves back, putting some space between us, and immediately I miss the contact of her body against mine.

“Do you think I’m a slut?” she asks in a small voice.

“No! Anything but,” I sputter. “I’m very attracted to you.”

Wincing, she pulls further away. “You don’t have to yell.”

A lump forms in my chest that drags away the happiness of moments ago. Volume control has been an issue lately for me and one that I’m really struggling with.

Shoving that to the side to deal with later, I reach out for Sadie, needing to explain and make things right between us again. Her hand is limp in mine, but she doesn’t pull away.

“Sadie, I was thrilled when Yvonne called me about a date with you. For two years I wanted a chance with you and now-”

She cuts me off. “If that’s the case, why didn’t you just ask me out?”

I give her fingers a slight squeeze. “It’s not that simple. We met at my work and I can’t just ask women out there. I gave you my personal number hoping that you would call because you were interested too, and we could go from there.”

Her eyes widen as her lips part. With a curse, she yanks her hand from mine. “How was I supposed to know that?” she demands. “There I was giving you come fuck me looks, and you were giving me the cold shoulder. I thought that number was merely to book times with you, not to book dates.”

Rueful laughter shakes me even as I feel like doing some cursing myself. ‘Come fuck me’ looks? How did I miss those?!

“I fucked up, big time, it seems. And it cost us a lot of time.” I blow out a breath. “I don’t want to waste any more time, Sadie. I’m thirty-nine and not looking for only a good time. I’m wanting more, and I hope you’re on the same page when it comes to that.”

“No smash and dash?” she says, a smirk quirking up her lips.

Unable to resist, I grab her shoulders and steal a kiss from those tempting lips. When I pull away, we’re both breathing a bit fast and my erection, which had gone down, is back painfully tenting out the denim of my jeans.

“No, definitely no smashing and dashing.” I chuckle. “I can’t imagine anyone sneaking out of your bed in the middle of the night.” Hell, if Sadie lets me into her bed and life I have no intention of going anywhere.

Soft pink highlights her cheeks as she grins up at me. “Seeing Yvonne and her boyfriend Henry made me realize how much I want a relationship.” She lets out a giggle. “Okay, not the wicked ex-wife and the terrible ex-step kids. No thanks!”

She loses me on that part.

Her blue eyes narrow. “You’re not divorced, are you? Do you have kids?”

Sadie doesn’t give me a chance to answer, immediately answering her own questions. It sounds odd, but it’s one of the things I love about her. Her energy seems boundless. She’s so joyful and full of life. Happiness radiates from her like sunbeams.

“I’d think that’s something you would have mentioned before,” she muses. “If you had kids, that is. Everyone talks about their children. Okay, maybe not deadbeat dads. You don’t strike me as that type. Now exes are a different story. Nobody enjoys talking about those.”

Her eyes widen as her face scrunches up. “I’m talking too much, aren’t I? It’s a problem I have.”

“Not at all. I love hearing you talk.” And I do, among other things I adore about her.

It’s crazy that there’s so much about her that I don’t know, but over the years I’ve picked up on things. Like how she goes crazy happy when summer hits and she can get peach milkshakes. Or how sunflowers make her smile and rainy days are perfect for staying in and watching horror movies. Which scare the crap out of me, but with her to share a blanket with I’d be willing to watch them all with her.

Bright pink flares in her cheeks and that’s another thing that makes me smile. How she can be so bold and brash yet also blush like she’s shy. Reaching out, I brush my fingers along that rosy glow and smile as she leans into my touch.

“No kids, no ex-wife, a few exes in my past, but nobody that is going to pop up and go stalker crazy on you.” I don’t mention Terry, who works at the shop. We had a very casual fling when I first started working at Ink Expressions and that was the extent of it. It wasn’t a great love affair and was over as quickly as it started. We’ve both long since moved on from it.

“Good!” Sadie exclaims. “I have an ex-fiancé. Totally a mistake. Trust me.” She rolls her eyes, grins, and waves her hands. “I have no clue what I was thinking.”

She’s very expressive when she talks, using her hands and whole body to illustrate her point. Super animated and completely adorable.

I’m beginning to second guess my decision not to go home with her. We both want more, so what would be the harm in moving on with the physical side of the relationship?

No. It’s all too easy to fall into that trap and have other needs being neglected.

A car drives up, the headlights momentarily blinding us. The driver’s side window glides down and the man from the entrance frowns. “We’re closed. You need to leave the area, please.”

Sadie and I exchange a look.

“Sorry about that, just got caught up chatting,” she tells him. “We’ll be on our way.”

“See that you do.” The window goes up, but the man shows no sign of leaving.

“Will you call me?” I ask her.

She surprises me by grabbing my shirt and hauling me down for another kiss. When she lets me go, Sadie winks. “Or, I don’t know, maybe you could call me.”

The sanctuary work beeps, and Sadie gives him a wave.

“See you, Mack.”

After watching her get into her car and hearing the engine turn over, I walk to my truck and follow her out of the parking lot. The smile on my face stays the entire drive home.