I woke up feeling tired and grumpy. I sighed and swung my legs over the bed frame and grabbed an almond candy and popped it into my mouth. I had completely ravaged the guy yesterday, to his surprise. I was sure it wasn’t everyday he got a client who had a sex drive as mine. After paying him, and getting home I had instantly crashed, worn out and tired.
There that’s better. I sighed as the almond candy hit my taste buds I stared at the digital clock on the wall and I cursed. 9:46? How long did I sleep? I grabbed my toothbrush and hurriedly scrubbed at my teeth, by the time I was done in the shower and fully dressed it was already past ten. I stared at myself in the mirror and I shook my head. This skirt needs to be shorter, maybe if Mark sees my full butt in a tight skirt that annoying fatherly resolve would break. I smiled to myself and slipped out of the skirt and into another shorter and tighter one. I even changed the blouse into something that packed my cleavage together. There, this should torture him a bit. I grinned and tied my hair into my usual ponytail style. My phone buzzed and I stare at the message; it was from Nathan, the fucker. Where was him when I needed someone to fill me up. I ignored the message and my phone started ringing and I sighed in annoyance. I picked on the third ring. “What is it Nathan?” I asked and he sighed, his voice was raspy on the other hand. “Just saw your missed calls Miss Wesley, you got any job for me?” He asked and I scowled. I put the phone close to my ear and reached for the door knob. “Where the Fuck where you at yesterday?” I asked as I locked the door to my apartment and headed for where I parked my car. “Pleasing a client, you’re not the only one you know” he said and I clicked my tongue. “I feel offended, I thought you had eyes for only me” I joked and he laughed. I smiled, Nathan was also a friend as well as he was my solution to my raving needs. We used to go a long way back. “I am sorry, okay, next time. I’ll leave whatever I am doing and come to you. Even if I am about to…….you know” his voice was full of mirth and I chuckled. “Yeah, do that. I’ll see you later Nathan. I’ll call you” “Okay Miss Wesley” his reply was gruff. “Sage” I corrected. “Miss Welsey” he said stubbornly and I clenched my teeth. “Fuck you Nathan” I said and cut the call but not before I heard him laughing. Damn prig liked messing with me. It’s a wonder how we even get intimate. The ride to work was just a blur, I tore through the highways, blaring Tina Turner on the radio as I drove. Beth was so going to kill me, she was an early bird and hated when I came late. As for Mark, I didn’t know how he would react which was what scared me the most. Would he be angry? Disappointed? Punish me? Punish me. The thought passed through my head like a siren’s whisper. I shook my head. Concentrate Sage, you’re fucking driving I slammed the brakes as soon as I drove into the company’s driveway and I literally ran up the stairs. I ran through the long hallways and stumbled into someone. Someone strong, someone hard, someone male. I look up to find Mark's handsome face staring down at me. He smelled so good. I sniffed and his bright green eyes flickered to mine, I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed that I came late or I just sniffed like a dog. “You’re late” his voice was oddly calm and I stared at him. He was supposed to be annoyed with me, most bosses I knew would have thrown me out, the former one included. “I am sorry sir….I……” “Mark can do little bird, enough to with the formalities already” he said and I stared at him, surprised. “But you’re my boss” I ground out and he raised one elegant dark brow. “Bullshit” he said and my mouth dropped open. Did he seriously just say that? “Well I am still sorry Mark, I was all preoccupied with things yesterday” I said and he stared at me. Pls don’t look at me like that, it’s doing wicked things to me “Mind if I ask what preoccupied you yesterday. That made you come late, the reports showed that you were always early” he asked and I shrugged. Maybe you should know. “Sex” I answered and his green eyes roamed my face as if trying to see if I was messing with him. “I see” he gulped, “Wanna have coffee, I am sure you didn’t have anything for breakfast before coming here” he added and I nodded. Oh we’re just starting sir. I won’t stop until you’re inside me The rest of it was awkward, at least to him. I didn’t mind one bit. I watched as he did coffee from a counter at far end of his office. The office was spacious, too spacious. It looked like he had the office renovated. I walked up to the huge city view windows and watched as Miami thrived. “Like the view?” He asked and my perverted mind thought something else. I shook my head to clear those thoughts. “It’s good,” I said, taking the coffee he handed to me. “I can have your office done like that too” he said and I shook my head. “You’ve done enough Mark. This would be too much” I said softly and he smiled. “Too much? It’s nothing. I can still………” “Why are you doing all this?” I interrupted and he paused. He stepped closer, dwarfing me with his towering height. I forced my head back to stare at his face. Did he seriously have no idea what he was doing to me? “I wasn’t there for you when your dad’s family came for you. Won’t let it happen again, I would be there anytime for you” he smiled and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes. No, no, no. I pleaded, but my pussy didn’t listen. It floodedSage's POVMornings had a way of feeling heavier lately. The sun would filter through the blinds, casting its soft light across the room, but it didn't reach the cold feeling that was inside me.Mark was still asleep, his breaths steady and deep beside me. The room felt unnaturally still, like the quiet was holding its breath, afraid of waking him.I watched him for a moment, the way his face softened when he slept, the boyish innocence, the way his dark hair curtained his eyes. No tension in his jaw, no guarded look in his eyes. Just Mark—unguarded, vulnerable, peaceful. The sight of it did something inside me, something that I possibly couldn’t explain in words, even to him.I wanted to reach out, to touch his face, to brush the stray strands of hair from his forehead. But I didn’t. Instead, I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb him.The floorboards creaked softly beneath my feet as I moved through the apartment, the wooden floor was somewhat cold, seeping through my socks.
Sage’s PovIt was late.Too late.The kind of late that made my mind wander to dark places, filling the quiet apartment with shadows and whispers. The clock on the wall ticked steadily, each second a reminder that Mark wasn’t here……yet. He said he was going, he said he was gonna be here He should be.I paced the length of the living room, my arms wrapped tightly around myself. My phone sat on the coffee table, silent and tempting. No texts. No missed calls. Just a dull, black screen that felt heavier than it should.This wasn’t like him, Not anymore.Mark had made me promises—promises that he wouldn’t leave me guessing, wouldn’t leave me stranded in this limbo of worry and fear. Promises that had felt like fragile, precious things I was too scared to hold onto.But I tried. I’d tried to believe him well until……tonight.I checked the clock again. 2:17 a.m.I sat on the couch, pressing my fingers to my temples, my head throbbing from the endless tempest of worrying. Maybe I should just
Mark PovSage was going to kill me.It wouldn’t be quick either. I am sure she would make it hurt, make it last. Not physically—no, she wasn’t that type, hell she couldn’t even take me on physically, I’ll break her. It’d be worse. That cold, disappointed silence. The way she’d look at me, all those unspoken words weighing on her tongue. Like I’d betrayed her trust.Like I’d lied. And maybe I had.I told her I’d come back, didn’t I? I promised her, forehead against hers, her hands had gripped my shirt like she could keep me from leaving.I promised, but right now I was staring down the barrel of a gun.Cholo’s eyes were dark, his smirk like those bastard in the movies—those fucked up villian. His men flanked him—six, maybe seven, hard-eyed bastards who looked like they’d done more than just rough up a few guys in alleys. I knew their type“Funny thing,” Cholo drawled, taking a step closer. “I was under the impression we had an understanding.”I didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. Just stared r
Mark’s POVSage thought I was leaving her behind. She thought I was walking out that door and never coming back. I could see it in her eyes, the way she clutched my shirt like she could hold me here if she just held on tight enough.She was wrong. I wasn’t leaving her. NeverI was protecting her. I lifted a hand, brushing my knuckles along her jaw. She was so small, I mean beside me—so fucking fragile, and Cholo thought he could take her from me?Over my dead body.“Mark,” she said softly, like she already knew she wouldn’t like what I was about to say.I sighed. “Don’t fight me on this.”Her eyes flashed. “Then don’t shut me out.”I clenched my jaw. Fuck.She always did this. Always wanted a say, wanted a fight. And usually? I let her have her way, but not today Not this time.“You’re staying here,” I told her, my voice flat.She exhaled sharply. “Mark—”I kissed her. Shut her upShe froze for half a second before melting into me, her arms wrapping around my neck, her body pressing
Sage’s POVI woke up to the smell of him. I’d always know is smell anyway, even if you drop me in the middle of the oceanWarm. Musky. A little dangerous. Mark. I stretched beneath the sheets, my body still sore, still aching from what he’d done to me last night. He wasn’t in bed anymore, but his scent lingered on the pillows, on the sheets—on me. I pulled the blanket up to my face, inhaling. God help me. I was so fucked. I turned onto my side, eyes drifting to the empty space beside me. The sheets were still warm. He hadn’t been gone long. He was a light sleeper or even barely slept at all. It had me wondering how much stress and pressure he was under to protect me, I didn’t want anything bad happening to him, never. I….I sighed I had nearly said it, nearly said it to myself. That feelingI pushed myself up, my muscles protesting. I reached for his shirt, the one he’d ripped off last night before pinning me to the mattress. It smelled like him, like us. I slipped it on, an
I drove like a madman. Well that’s if madmen actually drove. My hands gripped the wheel tight, my jaw clenched, my mind reeling with violent thoughts. Thoughts of what length Cholo could go to keep his secret, which means killing……Damn itCholo thought he could take Sage? I wasn’t going to let him, never.Over my dead fucking body.I parked outside the house, stepping out before the engine even fully shut off. My boots crunched against the gravel as I stormed inside. My heart pounded like crazy, scaring me even.Relax Mark, she’s fine. Cholo doesn’t know about this place, at least not yet The guards at the door stiffened when they saw me."Anything?" I snapped. One of them shook his head. "All clear, boss."I nodded once, pushing past them. I found Sage in the living room, curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around her. The TV was on, some mindless show playing in the background, but she wasn’t paying attention. She looked to be lost in thought, for a moment I just stood there