Sage My mouth watered, he didn’t look like he was done with me and frankly, I didn’t want him to be. I don’t know what surprises me, the ease he lifts me with or that he was a lot stronger than he looked. He carried me in his arms and leaned against the table, his cock slipped in easily, my legs were high up in the air and his hands supported me under my ass. “Kaiden,” his name slipped out as a moan as he thrust deeply into me. My eyes rolled to the back of my head with just one movement. His lips came to my ear as he whispered, “Stroke your cock for me, Sage” I gripped my cock with a trembling hand, my whole body shaking from intense pleasure. If I had known this was how I would feel, I would have begged him to take me sooner. I had no idea sex could be dirty and pleasurable like this. I had never visualized myself in this position or even doing this but now, it was the best feeling I have felt. I stroked my cock faster as he fucked me faster, chasing my release just as he w
SageThe coffee shop was very familiar to me and I come here almost everyday but today, it felt like a stage, and I was the nervous lead actor waiting for the curtain to rise. My fingers drummed on the table, the rhythm doing nothing to calm the nervous energy running through me as I waited patiently for her.I had rehearsed my lines in my head so many times that I was certain they’d come out perfectly when the moment arrived. Mara was supposed to come here today, it was her favorite spot too. I’d overheard her mentioning it once in class, and it seemed like fate that we both frequented the same place.When the door jingled, I looked up instinctively. There she was, stepping in with her easy confidence and the softest smile that always seemed to linger on her lips. Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, and she had on a vintage jacket that I thought suited her.This was it.I stood up before I could overthink it, weaving through the tables toward her. My palms were sweaty,
KaidenThe coffee shop door jingled softly as I walked in, scanning the room for Mara. She was sitting by the window, her signature smirk already in place as she watched me approach. She didn’t even bother waiting for me to sit down before she tilted her head and gave me that all-too-familiar look of exasperation.“You’re an idiot,” she said, not even bothering with a greeting.“Hello to you too,” I replied, sliding into the seat across from her.“What the fuck, Kaiden? You are a monster, you know that?” I shook my head, “would you at least let me drink my coffee first before you start yelling?” I asked,“Oh, I am yelling? Is that what you are calling it?”“What is it, Mara?”She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “You really thought this was going to work? That making me the bad guy was your best play?”I sighed, leaning back in the chair and rubbing the back of my neck. “I wasn’t making you the bad guy. I just... needed him to come to terms with it himself. He doesn’t even know
SageThe world was spinning around me as I stumbled through my front door, the taste of cheap alcohol was still bitter on my tongue. The bar had offered me no solace, only the sense of emptiness that wrapped around me like a disease. I dropped my keys on the counter, the sound echoing in the quiet of my apartment.All I wanted was to escape, to wash away the humiliation and heartbreak that clung to me like my natural scent. It wasn’t the brush off that made me upset, it’s the knowledge that I put myself out there. They said to be bold and I was, I embraced my feelings only to be brutally turned down.Without bothering to turn on more lights, I made my way to the bathroom, stripped off my clothes, and sank into the tub, letting the water pour over me.The bath didn’t soothe me as much as I’d hoped. My chest felt tight, and I kept waiting for my heart to tear open from it.Her words played continuously in my head, her apologizing for stringing me along with her words.I wasn’t mad at
SageOur lips clashed as I surrendered to him, his tongue slid it’s way into my mouth and I moaned when the organ wrestled mine for dominance. A battle I lost when Kaiden squeezed the back of my neck in warning. My abdomen tightened in response. I tilted my head back when his hand tugged at my hair, baring my neck to him. I obeyed diligently. Either I have gone crazy or there was something significantly wrong with me. The alcohol in my system made the inability to think straight a priority. I should be pushing him away yet, my fingers curled at the base of his neck, tugging at the patch of hair there. A groan rose from deep down as his hands tightened against me. I writhed in the water, the temperature running cold because we have been in there for so long. He pulled back and gazed at me with genuine concern that made my heart ache the more, “Are you cold?” It took me a minute to realize that my teeth was clattering, goosebumps decorated my body and yet, I pressed my body closer
KaidenI didn’t sleep on the couch.I laid beside him as he slept on the other side of the bed without a care in the world. I on the other hand, I couldn’t sleep.I was so burdened by guilt that sleep eluded me. My fingers trailed his cheeks in a feathery touch, careful not to wake him. I did this.I broke him.I was the reason for his breakdown tonight and to think I came over with the intent of fucking Mara out of his head. I wanted my name to be the last thing he whispered.I had no idea I would meet him broken and vulnerable. I was so angry with myself for letting things get too far and I was also angry with Mara.She was just doing what I told her to but why does the mere thought of her hurting Sage drive me nuts. Maybe she was right, I had to tell him the truth and get it over with.It would be safer to know that he wanted to be with me instead of knowing I manipulated him to do so. I would tell him the truth tomorrow, that I was in love with him.The truth about Mara dies with
SageI woke up to a pounding headache and the kind of dry mouth that made me regret every choice I’d made the night before, a terrible choice judging from the size of my headache. My eyes opened slowly, the dim light filtering through the curtains doing little to ease the ache behind my skull. The first thing I noticed was that I was in my bed.I had no recollection of how I got there.My last clear memory was of sitting at the bar, nursing a drink I didn’t even like, drowning in heartbreak and embarrassment. Everything after that was a blur. I groaned, rubbing my face, and dragged myself upright.I needed to take a shower and brush my teeth.Yawning, I stumbled toward the bathroom, stopping only when I heard a noise coming from the kitchen. My whole body froze, and panic coursed through me.Someone was in my apartment.I glanced around, my eyes landing on the wooden bat propped in the corner. Grabbing it, I tiptoed toward the kitchen, silencing my footsteps.I had a burglar in my ho
KaidenThe sun was barely up when I arrived at the restaurant, already annoyed at being dragged out so early. I pushed through the glass doors, scanning the tables until my eyes landed on my agent, Martin. He was seated in the far corner, sipping what looked like green tea and scrolling through his tablet.All in the day’s work.I strode over, pulling my sunglasses off and tossing them on the table. “Alright, Martin. What’s so urgent you couldn’t let me sleep in for once?”He glanced up at me, one brow arched. “Good morning to you too, sunshine.”I slumped into the chair across from him and grabbed the menu. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. What’s the deal? Jesus, you keep calling me like I took your kidney or something.”He set his tablet down and folded his arms. “The deal is, why haven’t you been picking up your phone? You make me look like a nagging mother other than a respectable agent.”I looked at him, deadpan. “Because I was busy. You’re lucky I even showed up. Respectable agent?
KaidenMy phone buzzed again.I glanced down at the screen through the strobing lights of the after-party. The text was from the professor. “Are you home?” Something about him checking up tugged at my heartstrings. My chest tightened and I wanted to go home even more.Being here was challenging for me. I wasn’t home. I was at the kind of party that used to thrill me. A rooftop venue in the city, neon lights flickering against polished glasses, expensive perfume clouding the air, and beautiful people, too many beautiful people. Some I recognized from the runway. Others from TV. All of them orbiting around free liquor and someone else’s fame.I would have been delighted to have all these people around me,But none of them looked like Sage.None of them carried themselves like the professor.I leaned against the balcony railing, letting the air hit my face. I didn’t belong here. Not really. Not tonight.Months ago, I would have been thrilled to be here but right now, I wanted to be hom
KaidenThe clink of glassware and soft instrumental music floated through the private dining room, but I barely noticed any of it. My attention was locked on the man seated across from me, Desmond, the so-called sponsor, though I knew better now. He wasn’t just another businessman looking to capitalize on talent. He was the distributor. The puppeteer behind the chaos circling my life.Martin couldn’t stop talking. “You know, this whole thing… it’s a damn miracle. The sponsor paid for the new condo in full. Quietly. No credit checks, no delays. Even Sage’s outfit, hell, the professor’s tux too, he took care of it all. Who does that?”He kept saying all the things that I didn’t want to hear. Didn’t he know that I was terrified?I kept my gaze fixed on Desmond. He smiled faintly, swirling his wine like he had all the time in the world. I didn't trust that smile. It was too smooth, too practiced like everything about him.I was skeptical to be here even though I had no choice. I didn’t w
KaidenWhen we got home, Sage was still trembling in my arms.I guided him gently to the living room couch and sat with him, wrapping the throw blanket from the armrest over his shoulders. He hadn't spoken much since we left the boutique. The only sounds were the occasional hitch in his breath and the way his fingers clutched the fabric of my shirt like he needed something solid to anchor him.He really was scared, I can’t imagine how terrified he must have been. Hearing that so close to him must have pushed him off the edge. I hated seeing him that way.“I’ve got you,” I murmured. “You’re safe now.”He leaned into me, his body slowly relaxing as he drew warmth from my presence.“Kaiden,” he whispered, eyes fluttering. “I don’t understand why this is happening. Why me?”“Because you matter,” I said. “More than you know. And I swear, whoever’s behind this won’t get close to you. Not while I’m breathing.”Eventually, his head dropped to my shoulder, and his breathing slowed. I held him
SageIt was entirely unfair for someone like Amir to be real. Tall, lean, with chiseled features that looked like they belonged on a movie poster rather than in a security file, and a voice that dripped with smooth, practiced calm. He was the kind of handsome that made your thoughts scatter just a little if you looked at him for too long.And I was doing exactly that.“Mr. Amir, right?” I asked, extending a hand, hoping my voice didn’t tremble like my fingers did. “I’m Sage.”He nodded, his grip firm but not overbearing. “I know. It’s a pleasure.”He smiled and I don’t mean the empty kind people give when they’re on duty. It was warm. Polite. And it made my stomach flip in a way I hadn’t expected.But as he turned toward the room, I caught sight of Kaiden and the professor.Both of them were glaring.I blinked.Kaiden’s jaw was tight, eyes narrowed like he was assessing a threat he didn’t like the look of. The professor, arms crossed, stood with the energy of a man who’d already decid
KaidenWhen Martin dropped me in front of the professor’s house. I barely waited for him to drive off before I dug out my phone. My fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before I hit Bryan’s name.He was the only one who was making an attempt to help me right now. He answered on the second ring, his voice calm and clipped, like always.“Kaiden?”“Yeah, it’s me.” I moved to the far side of the room, away from the windows, and lowered my voice. “Something weird’s going on. I need to tell you about it.”“What kind of weird?” His tone sharpened immediately.I told him everything. The prepaid boutiques. The law firm. The condo being bought out. The way no one could or would tell me who was behind it. I could practically hear him frowning on the other end of the line.“You think it’s Sage?” he asked quietly.“No,” I said quickly, too quickly. “I don’t know. I mean—I don’t want to think that. And it’s not the professor either. I know that much. They would tell me if they are trying
KaidenI stared at the silver-trimmed envelope resting on the counter between the professor and me like it was some kind of explosive. The award ceremony. My name was on the guest list, of course. It had to be. I was the damn honoree.“I have my own invite, thanks to my connections,” the professor said casually, leaning against the kitchen counter. He swirled his coffee slowly, watching the dark liquid spiral. “But I think Sage should go with you.”Sage, sitting cross-legged on the couch and peeling a tangerine, looked up with a sheepish smile. “Would that be okay with you?”I didn’t even think about it before I answered. “No.”Their expressions changed almost instantly, surprise flickered across the professor’s features and Sage’s smile faltered.“It’s enough that Sage’s already in the spotlight,” I said, trying to keep my voice even, my words reasonable. “With the way everyone’s been talking and taking photos, I don’t want to put him in harm’s way, more than I already have. If you
Kaiden The clock on the bedside read 3:12 a.m. I rolled onto my side, confused by the soft glow seeping under the bedroom door. I blinked the sleep from my eyes, and when I looked over, Sage was still fast asleep beside me, his breathing steady and rhythmic. I reached out, touched his hair lightly, then slid out of bed. The hallway was silent except for the distant hum of the fridge and the occasional rustle of the wind brushing the windows. I padded barefoot across the wood floor, and as I neared the living room, the scent of whiskey hit me first. That, and the sound of papers being shuffled with irritation more than purpose. The soft overhead light in the corner cast a gold sheen across the professor’s back. He was hunched over the coffee table, glass of whiskey in one hand, papers spread out like an autopsy, calm chaos wrapped in tension. He didn’t look up when I entered. “You’re still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “I have work to do,” he said, not looking at me. His
KaidenI watched Sage’s chest rise and fall steadily, his breathing finally even and calm after a long, exhausting day. The faint hum of the heater filled the small apartment as the evening air drifted colder through the windows. He looked peaceful in sleep, peaceful in a way that didn’t match anything we’d been living through lately. It was a lie his body told, one I was grateful for, even if I knew it wouldn’t last. The last thing I needed was for him to keep worrying about the unknown.Today took a toll on him.I sat at the edge of the couch, elbows resting on my knees, hands folded, but my thoughts weren’t still. They kept drifting back to the question he asked earlier about whether we’d ever go back to how things were. And now I knew for certain: we couldn’t. Not with this storm closing in around us, not when every time I let my guard down, something tried to take Sage from me.I haven’t even figured out how to apologize to the professor, it took me a lot of thinking to realize
SageThe next morning, Kaiden and I walked to school in silence. The meal we shared was so brief and he stayed with me. The professor didn’t come home and when I called him, he said he was working late and we should enjoy ourselves.I knew it was because he didn’t want to spend time with Kaiden. After their argument, they have been tense with each other.I didn’t want to Interfere in their problems as it could escalate into something I wouldn’t be able to control.I looked at Kaiden, I know we have already talked about this but I was so curious.I wanted to ask him again about where he’d really been that day, but the tension in his jaw warned me off. Still, I couldn’t help myself. “So,” I started, kicking a loose pebble on the sidewalk, “you never really told me where you went. Like, actually went.” His steps didn’t falter, but his grip tightened around the strap of his backpack. “I told you. I needed to clear my head.” “Yeah, but that could mean anything,” I pressed. “You just