Page 83 of Found in Wild Sage

“I love Charlie. Can I see him? Just a quick glimpse?”

“Um, sure.”

How can I say no to that? I ease open the door and Dec trundles in and rests his hands on the crib. After a moment, he reaches down and presses his large hand over Charlie’s back for just a second. Then he looks up and nods. I follow him out and shut the door.

“I should go back downstairs to the couch.” He looks behind him in the direction of the stairs.

“No. Come sleep in the bed.” He has stayed on the couch the last few days and I haven’t known what to do about it. I reach for and take his hand again.

He shakes his head, feet planted. “No, love. I shouldn’t.”

I tug him toward me without success. “Declan. You’re not sleeping on the couch tonight. You have a lovely bed right here, and your wife is asking you to sleep in it.”

He moves far more quickly than I could have anticipated. His hand slides around my waist and he pulls me close, dips his head, and stops just shy of kissing me before speaking.

“I think you underestimate how much I want you, Evie.”

“What?” It’s all breath with a side of take me now.

“I am out of my mind for you, wife, and sleeping next to you will do nothing to help that.” He dips his head and slides his nose along my jaw, then down my neck.

My heart is hammering now. “Well, I am your wife. There’s no problem with you wanting me.”

His hand slides into my hair and he tips my head back. His blue gaze is hooded as it tracks over my face and settles on my lips.

“I want every piece of you, Evie. I want your body. I want my mouth on every inch of you. I want to feast on you and bring you so much pleasure you can do nothing but moan my name.” His other hand slips up and settles between my breasts, a warm weight against my thudding heart. “I want your heart, too, though. Most of all, even. And I won’t take any of it when I’m like this or when you think you owe me.”

He releases me and steps back. “See you in the morning.”

His heavy footsteps take him back down the stairs. I’m left staring after him with a racing heart and biting my tongue to keep from asking what he means with that last bit about me thinking I owe him.

Oh, and a body absolutely melting for him. Because… what? Who just says stuff like that and walks away? Granted, truth serum, and because of it, I wouldn’t feel right taking things further with him anyway. But. Um.

Yes, please!

We will definitely be discussing this in the morning.

For now?

I’ll probably just dump this water over my head to put out the flames.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Declan

My run this morning feels like trudging through an over-full dumpster. It’s what I get for drinking last night.

I can count the number of times I’ve had any kind of alcohol in the last year on two hands, and one of them was last night. I’m a fairly large man, but I cannot hold my liquor. I have no desire to. It isn’t a part of my life, and my health thanks me for it. I enjoy a beer or glass of wine on rare occasions socially, and otherwise, I’d just as soon have ice water.

So last night was an aberrance, and I feel it today. Not as bad as I expected, frankly, especially now that I’ve suffered through that awful run.

The worst part is how I remember every word I said to Evie. The tension in my body, the longing in my heart, the absolute crush of desire as I said all the things I wanted from her… and then I turned and left.

Good thing. I know it was the right move. But I feel like an utter shit heel for it. I’m sure she felt pressured, and maybe even uncomfortable. I hope she knew she was never in danger from me. But the thought that even my words had made her feel unsteady, unsafe in any way…

I’ve never been so forward. She didn’t seem scared, but can I evaluate that properly? No. Not until I see her and talk to her in the sober light of day.

I finish scrambling the eggs in the pan and serve them onto two plates. Slices of toast pop up from the toaster, so I grab them and slather them with butter, then I cut one of them into little squares for Charlie. On the side, there’s a late summer peach sliced up.