Page 182 of Sunrise & Serenity

Their voices fade as they get farther away. And halfway there, River swings Ruby up onto his shoulders.

“Guess she’s getting a ride after all,” I say.

“Mmm.” Mia watches them closely, a little crease between her brows.

“River will look after her,” I assure her. “He might act like nothing fazes him, but he’d never let anything bad happen.”

She nods, but the little crease doesn’t completely disappear.

“Okay,” Dad calls out, clapping once. “Who’s hungry?”

Responses go up all around, and the whole crew—minus River and Ruby—troops toward the house.

As the space clears out, I go to the back seat of Mia’s truck and grab Sage’s bag.

When I turn, I find her still outside, watching me.

I approach, gripping the strap of her bag tight to stop myself from dropping it and pulling her into my chest. “Are you hungry?” The question comes out more gruffly than I intend. “Dad’s got a full spread set up out back.”

She wets her lips and tilts her head to the side. “I lost my appetite for a bit, but it seems to be coming back.”

I’m not sure if I’m reading more into her words than is actually there.

And it hits me then. I told Sage I loved her. She told me she loved me back. And now I’m acting like she’s made of glass.

I set her bag down and reach for her slowly, holding her gaze, giving her plenty of time to pull away. When she doesn’t, I trail my thumb down her cheek.

Her lashes drift closed, and she lets out a sigh. When they flutter open again, the same need I’ve been struggling with shimmers in her eyes.

It’s all the permission I need.

With one arm around her waist, I tug her against me. “Sage.” I skim my other hand up the side of her throat. “Tell me if it’s too much. Too soon.”

She wets her lips. “It’s not. It isn’t.”

I slant my mouth over hers, soft at first, waiting for her reaction. When she loops her arms around me and arches up, I let go, pushing my tongue into her mouth. Every nerve ending in my body goes on full alert, and all I can see and feel and think about is her.

Too long. It’s been too fucking long since I’ve tasted her, felt her, inhaled her. I smooth my hand down over the curve of her ass, and she responds by pressing herself against me and letting out a low moan. My damn dick doesn’t seem to care that she’s been hurt. It strains against my zipper.

I trail my thumb over her jaw and down the column of her throat and consider blowing off lunch. Blowing off the celebration. I want to drag her into my truck and drive her back to my cabin, lay her out on my bed and show her just how happy I am to have her back in my arms.

But I can’t for more than one reason.

Reluctantly, I pull back.

Her hands are still fisted in the front of my shirt, her cheeks flushed, lips pink and swollen.

Unable to resist, I bend my head and press a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you.”

She blinks, one corner of her mouth turning up. “For what?”

“Letting me kiss you.” I scrub my hand over my face. “You have no idea how much I needed that.”

A breath shudders out of her. “We both did.”

Her eyes are soft as she studies my face. “Taryn told me.”

I frown. “About what?”