“Sir?”
Arik pulled his eyes away from Sage’s warm, wanting gaze, ready to punch whoever had interrupted their intense moment. But it was only the teenage cashier trying to return the credit card.
Arik accepted the card and stuffed it back into his wallet, shoving the damn thing into his back pocket. All the while, he kept Sage close enough to hide the erection that was painfully pressing against the zipper of his jeans. Never in his life had he experienced sexual frustration of this level. But then again, he’d never met anyone like Sage. She challenged him in so many ways. She was just so damn independent and, on the one hand, that turned him on. He loved a woman who could take care of herself. A woman who didn’t cling or whine that he didn’t pay enough attention to her.
On the other hand, he really loved it when Sage leaned into him with all of those soft, amazing curves. And yet, it still pissed him off that she wouldn’t elaborate on the “scary things” that had been occurring. What the hell was going on? Who would bother someone as sweet as Sage?
Maybe that was the issue, he thought as he loaded the dog food, doggy beds and three bags of toys into the back of his truck. Maybe someone thought she was too sweet and therefore an easy target. That was definitely possible. He knew that rapists didn’t assault women out of desire. It was a need to control and hurt, to overrule a woman in the most basic way.
“Ready for the next stop?” he asked, opening the back doors so that the dogs could jump in. Xena jumped easily into the back seat, then preened as she turned and waited for the others to join her. But the fluff ball couldn’t quite make the jump into the truck.
With a long suffering sigh, Arik bent down and scooped up the ball of fluff, setting him carefully next to Xena.
“I have car harnesses for them,” Sage explained from the other side of the truck. She climbed into the back seat and Arik’s eyes were immediately drawn to the lovely view of her cleavage as she bent over to secure the dogs.
“I’ve never heard of dogs needing seat belts before,” he grumbled. Not because he didn’t believe in them. He did! Hell, he’d seen too many car crashes not to encourage seat belt use. It was just…well, he was really having a hard time not thinking about those soft, pale breasts. She wore a white bra today. He could see the pretty lace across the soft swells. What color were her nipples? Pink? Tan? Dark, light? How sensitive were they? What would she taste like?
“There!” Sage sighed, happily leaning back on her feet and hiding his view of those lovely, enticing breasts. Damn it! “All safe and secure,” she announced, fluffing their fur once more.
The dogs, bless their sweetly loyal hearts, were already in love with Sage. Go figure! Not that he blamed the dogs. They had good taste and…!
What the hell? He didn’t love Sage!
He looked over at her as she levered herself into the passenger side front seat, the sunshine sparkling on her hair and a bounce to her step that hadn’t been there yesterday. Yeah, she’d finally gotten a good night’s sleep. But there was something more to her attitude today. Was it because of the dogs?
She glanced over at him and he felt it. That zing! It was there and she felt it too. He could see it in her eyes and in the way she held her body, as if she were purposely holding herself back from throwing herself into his arms.
Damn, he wanted to pull her close and feel every inch of her!
“Home?” she prompted.
He blinked, then stared at the dogs, who were staring right back at him. Then he realized what she’d just said and shook his head. “Nope. One more stop.”
“But what about Xena and Minx?”
Arik had just pulled himself up into the driver’s seat when she’d said the other name. “Minx?” he repeated, cocking an eyebrow.
Sage smiled with a shrug. “Maybe. I don’t know. I have to try on different names for him.”
Arik turned and looked at the tiny, male dog. “I’m sorry, little buddy.”
“What?” she laughed. “You don’t like the name?”
He turned on the engine. “Buckle your seat belt,” he warned, then waited until she’d done so before backing out of the parking space. “We’re heading to the police station.”
“I told you that I don’t want to involve the police.”
He laughed. “Honey, I am the police. The police are already involved. And when Simon comes back, he’s damn well going to be involved as well.”
“You can’t tell him!” she gasped, putting a hand on his forearm. “Please, Arik! Please don’t tell Simon. He’ll tell Jade and then Jade will nag me until I just give up and move into her place. I really don’t want to move in with them!”
“Why not? It would be safer than being alone.” Not that he would allow her to be alone. Hell, he was already making plans.
Sage pulled her hand away and looked adorably pouty. “Because it is nauseating to watch those two. I couldn’t take it full time.”
He laughed, nodding his head. “Yeah, I know what you mean. But still, the police are involved. And more will be involved once you finish the police report.”
Sage huffed a bit. “Are you always this dictatorial?”
He barely
