She hesitated, then as he opened the door to leave, the words slipped out in a breathless rush before she could catch them. "Do you want to stay?"
Euan froze, then turned, his grin slow and blinding. "Whit kind o' question is that?" He stepped back inside and pushed the door shut behind him. "Nae take-backs, love."
Sage laughed softly, nerves bubbling in her stomach. "You need to sneak out before David wakes up, though."
He lifted his hand, pinkie extended. "Ya are not foolin' that lad, lass. But yeah, promise."
So...d'ye mean..." He shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Am I meant tae take the guest room, then, or..."
"Euan."
Her voice stopped him mid-stumble. She leaned against the frame, meeting his eyes with steady calm. "I'd like to sleep with you. And yes, I want you. I think we're past the phase where we need to dance around these things. I'm old enough to know exactly what I want." She paused, the faintest tremor of nerves under her conviction. "And what I want is you."
For a heartbeat, he only looked at her, breath caught, all his rough edges gone still. Then his smile curved slowly, reverently, as if she'd just given him something more precious than he'd ever expected.
"Is this the guest bedroom?" he asked.
She nodded, touching the frame. "I can't face the master bedroom...too many ghosts."
For a moment, the air was awkward. Then she noticed the overnight bag he set down and narrowed her eyes. "You came prepared?"
Euan shrugged, unrepentant. "A pair of shorts. But honestly, I prefer to sleep naked—a lad can only hope." He caught the quick flush on her cheeks and smirked. "Don't worry. For the sake of your modesty, I'll behave."
Sage giggled, covering her mouth, then they took turns in the bathroom. But it all felt strangely domestic, like they'd been doing it for years.
They stood shoulder to shoulder at the narrow sink, each with their own toothbrush, giving each other sidelong glances in the mirror, foam at the corners of their mouths making them grin and quickly look away. Their elbows brushed as they rinsed, neither stepping aside, both pretending it wasn't deliberate.
At the doorway, they stumbled awkwardly into each other, laughing as she tried to squeeze past him and he moved the same way. Finally, with a playful grumble, he set a hand at her waist to guide her through, the touch lingering.
When she came back, brushing her hair with long, slow strokes, she felt his eyes trace her movements. He watched as she sat on the edge of the mattress on the floor, squeezing lotion into her palm, rubbing it into her arms with methodical care. The simple act seemed suddenly intimate, the faint scent of her moisturiser filling the room. She pretended not to notice, but every inch of her skin burned under his gaze, as if the cream alone wasn't enough to soothe the heat.
She risked a glance and her breath caught. He sat cross-legged in just his shorts, muscles cut sharp in the dim light, thighs like tree trunks, a dusting of dark hair across his chest.
She slipped into bed wearing only a pale slip. When they bedded down, they fit together as though the months had never stretched between them. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close until she could feel every hard line of him pressed against her softness. His erection nudged insistently against the curve of her buttocks, and she was achingly aware of her body's response—her nipples tight, the throb low in her belly impossible to ignore.
He buried his face in her hair, his voice rough with restraint as his big hand smoothed over her soft belly. "I'm goin' tae postpone the ravishin', lass. Tonight...we're just goin' tae edge each other tae the brink o' sanity."
Her laugh caught somewhere between relief and desire, her pulse racing as she melted into his hold.
In the end, they did nothing but kiss—slow. drugged kisses which made her toes curl.
Sage drifted off, tangled in his arms. She woke to the steady thump of his heartbeat against her back, the rise and fall of his chest soothing, unfamiliar, yet achingly right. For a moment, she simply lay there, eyes closed, pretending this was their typical every morning—no ghosts or complications, just them.
Then, the floorboard creaked in the hall, and reality hit like a cold splash of water.
She twisted towards him, whispering urgently, "Euan. David... He'll be up soon."
Euan cracked one eye open, grinning like the devil. "Relax. I promised, didn't I?" He held up his pinkie again, absurdly solemn.
She swatted his chest, unable to hide her smile. "This isn't funny."
"No, it is not," he murmured, pressing a kiss into her hair. Then he sat up, stretching in a way that made every muscleripple, before standing and grabbing his bag. "Operation Sneak-Out is a go."
Sage bit her lip, watching as he pulled on his shirt. God help her, even fumbling with the buttons, he looked unfairly good.
He glanced back, catching her staring. "Stop lookin’ at me like that, or I’ll forget the plan entirely an’ test yer floorboards."
"Euan," she hissed, though her cheeks burned.
