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CHAPTER TWELVE
The dim room wraps around me, a blanket of soft light. With each step toward Sage, determination thrums in my veins. No turning back now. I've practiced this conversation more times than I'd care to admit.
"Sage." My voice is low, steady. "There's a chasm growing between us. I see you drifting, lost in your own storm."
He can't meet my gaze, the weight of unsaid words pulling his eyes to the floor. An exhale, long and heavy, breaks the silence.
"Iris." He swallows hard. "These doubts, these demons... they whisper that you're here out of... I don’t know, guilt? Like you see a lesser version of me."
My heart clenches. Gently, I grasp his hand. "Remember our first night? The electricity? The tether between our souls? It wasn't about your bronc riding skills or shiny trophies. It's about you. Your fire, your spirit."
His eyes, swimming with vulnerability, meet mine. "Sweetheart, I've changed. I'm shattered."
Life’s trials echo in his words. I cup his face, the warmth of his skin reassuring against my palms. "Life throws curveballs. It's our response, our resilience, that shapes us. You might be broken now. But to me, you’ve still got the strongest soul I've ever seen."
Silence stretches between us, a moment of profound connection. His shoulders slump, surrendering to the raw emotion. A single tear charts its path down his cheek.
"I'm terrified, Iris."
Pulling him close, I let the rhythm of our heartbeats meld. " That's okay. But understand this… My place beside you… It's out of unwavering love, not pity or duty. I Love you Sage"
“I never thought I’d find a woman that could forgive all I had been, and accept me for who I am. I see that in your eyes. I love you too.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A cascade of pastel tints paints the sky, creating a canvas so mesmerizing it steals my breath. Released from the hospital, I take Sage to my small ranch, since it’s the closest. Not only that, he needs help with everything, and there ain’t no way I’m sending him home alone. Took half the day to drive back here. My ranch hand that took our horses home from the rodeo, came to get us in the dually.
The air's electric, a cocktail of hope and want. Somewhere, wind chimes serenade us, their gentle tune weaving magic into the twilight. With a final wave I say goodnight to Wyatt.
“Thanks for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You paid for the whole day, work is work.” Wyatt nods his head with the tips of his fingers pinching the brim of his hat.
He gets into his old beat up lifted truck with thirty-three inch muddin’ tires on it, goosin’ it just enough to break the tires loose on the gravel. The little shit is just eighteen and still looking for trouble anywhere he can find it.
I turn to Sage, and push him the rest of the way inside the living room. Switching on the radio to ease the tension.
"Why not dance?" I quip, my voice heavy with mock challenge, as I pull Sage to the open patio by his hand. His limp noticeable.
Sage chuckles, trying hard to sound aggrieved. "Imagine the chaos these two left feet would create."
"Dancing's like breathing," I murmur, drawing him into my embrace, reveling in the warmth of his closeness. "You don't overthink. You surrender."
His gaze locks onto mine, emotions swimming deep. "Surrendered a lot lately, haven't I, Sweetheart?"
My fingers guide his hands to my waist, our bodies swaying, finding harmony in an age-old rhythm. We're a bit off-beat at first, but as the music wraps around us, our steps sync. There’s an electricity in our touches, our lingering glances, narrating tales of dreams and desires.
Our dance echoes our past – from the exhilaration of our first encounter to the shadows of that horrific accident, from questions to unwavering trust. It's not merely movement; it’s our story, our declaration.
The music ebbs, and I find solace in the rhythmic thudding of Sage's heart. I pull away slightly, our eyes locked in a silent conversation.
"Let's dive into the unknown. Together."
Time seems to freeze, the world fading as our fingers remain intertwined. A silent promise forms, solidifying our bond. The night deepens, passion blurring boundaries, connecting our souls in ways words can't capture.
“I owe you some sweet lovin’. I think I can manage that at least. Take me to your room, sweetheart.”
My face must’ve betrayed me, because he belts out a boisterous laugh.
