But he could feel it. He could feel her body taking him deeper, her inner muscles clenching around his shaft and quivering, right on the edge. Moving faster, wanting to give her this, to give her everything, he thrust into her heat, shifting slightly so that he rubbed against that sensitive nub with every thrust.
When she screamed, arching her back and shaking her head, only then did he release his own control and fall into the blissful climax that he’d held off on allowing himself. When it finally came, it felt as if he was pouring his soul into her body.
And after it was all over, he collapsed against her, burying his face against her neck as he tried hard to slow his breathing. For long moments, he just stayed there, feeling their pulses meld, her body quivering in reaction.
She blew a soft sigh and Arik knew that he’d have to move before he smothered her. Pulling out of her, he moved into the bathroom and cleaned up as quickly as he could. He took a few extra moments to check on the dogs. Sure enough, Xena was still spread out over the guest bed, right where Arik had left her. She was snoring slightly, but what really caused him to smile was the way that Minx was spooning against Xena’s belly. The bigger dog was protecting the smaller canine, but he was pretty sure that Minx thought it was the other way around.
Speaking of women with complicated minds, he moved back into Sage’s bedroom to find her curled up on her side, the sheet pulled up over her nakedness.
“Hey,” he whispered, rubbing a hand along her back. “You okay?”
“Yes,” she replied, her tone indicating that she wasn’t even close to being asleep.
Arik pulled the sheet back and slipped in behind her, pulling her close. “Want to tell me what that was about earlier?”
“No,” she whispered flatly. He felt her shudder at whatever memory hit her. Arik wrapped his arms more tightly around her, holding her close. For a long time, she was stiff in his arms, refusing to let him comfort her. But eventually, sleep overcame her inhibitions. Slowly, she relaxed into him and fell into a deep sleep.
For a long time, Arik stared up at the ceiling, replaying the whole scene in his mind. His body was tight, eager for a repeat, but more importantly, he wanted to understand. He wanted the story behind her rage in that moment when she’d pulled back.
It clearly wasn’t that Sage hated sex. He tossed the issue around in his mind. She’d covered her mouth so that he couldn’t hear her moans. She’d tried to stop herself from wanting him, but she’d been just as involved as he’d been. But the real clue was when she’d pulled away. What had she said? No, it wasn’t something she’d said. It was her fear that he’d stop.
What the hell? Why would any man stop when a woman like Sage was in his arms? She was beautiful, sexy, and so damned responsive. Even now, his body ached to make love to her all over again. Arik wanted to feel her body tremble with her release, to see her shudder as her climax overwhelmed her. In that moment, he knew that they were more deeply connected than ever. Sage had been all his.
So, who had stopped? Who had punished her for showing her desires? Because that was the only explanation he could come up with for why she’d react that way.
He pulled her on top of him, needing to feel more of her against his body. With a gentleness he never knew he had in him, Arik pressed a kiss to the top of her head, wanting her to know that he was here, even if she only recognized that fact through her sleep.
Chapter 6
Sage woke up alone.
No, not alone. She smiled as a small, fluffy dog toddled from the foot of her bed to nuzzle her cheek.
“Good morning, Minx,” she said, fluffing his fur. Instantly, the sweet guy snuggled against her side, nudging her hand whenever she stopped petting him. “Do you need to go out?” she asked. Then she looked around for Xena. “Where’s your friend?”
Minx jumped up and leapt off the bed, but at the doorway, he turned to whine at Sage, wondering why she wasn’t moving fast enough.
“I’m coming!” she said, sliding her legs over the side of the bed. Sage tried to ignore the sadness lurking in her heart. Arik hadn’t bothered to stick around, but she should have anticipated that. Wasn’t that what men did?
Sighing, she ignored the pain throbbing in her chest. “Come on, sweetie! Let’s go find Xena. We’ll take a long walk and…”
Sage froze in the middle of her family room, staring at the muscles rippling over Arik’s back.
“You’re still here?” she asked, but her voice was so soft that she doubted he heard her.
She was wrong! He turned around, a spatula in his hand.
He turned, a burning heat in his eyes as they moved down over her figure. Sage tugged at the hem of her camisole, trying to cover the tiny boy-short panties that she’d worn to bed last night. And pulled back on before leaving the bedroom.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, lifting her up onto her toes as he kissed her. It was just a soft, sweet kiss, his lips lingering ever so slightly, before he pulled back.
“Of course I’m still here,” he told her, his voice husky, sexy, and oh, so delicious! “Did you think I’d make love to you and then vanish?” he asked. Then Arik shook his head
