Page 87 of Sunrise & Serenity

“Dammit, Sage,” he growls. “You don’t know⁠—”

“Please don’t tell me I don’t know what I want,” I tell him. “I do. What do you want?”

The blood rushing through my ears is so loud I’m worried I might miss his answer.

“I don’t want any confusion between us.” His voice is gritty, tense.

I inhale sharply, hurt and embarrassment making the backs of my eyes sting. But before I can open my mouth or pull away, he grabs my chin and forces me to look at him.

“I’m telling you this because you need to know that if this happens, it’s not going to be a quick fumble in a barn that you can file away in your Colorado experience folder. I won’t do just one night, not with you. If we’re done fighting this, then while you’re here, you’re mine.”

Maybe the words should make me wary, but for the life of me, I can’t come up with a single reason right now why that would be a bad thing. “As long as you’re mine too.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I wet my lips, an ache of anticipation blooming deep in my core.

He focuses on my mouth, his jaw tightening.

“Tell me what you need from me, Sage.” He skates a finger down my cheek. “Do you need me to be gentle?”

My heart thumps against my ribs. “Gentle is good… sometimes.”

His throat works with a rough swallow. “Is this one of those times?”

“No. I don’t think it is.”

“Good.” His mouth is on mine before I can blink.

Heat and desire crash through me, hard and fast. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and kiss him back. His tongue strokes deep, exploring my mouth, pulling a moan from me.

He nips at my bottom lip, then breaks the kiss and leans back. The blanket we huddled under all night has slipped away, giving me an incredible view of his chiseled body as he looms over me.

“As much as I’ve enjoyed you wearing my jacket,” he says, “I need it off you now.”

He grips the zipper and draws it down, gradually exposing my overheated skin to the chill of the barn air. My nipples harden, rasping against the flannel lining that still barely covers them. With a tug to release the zipper completely, he flicks both sides of the garment open, leaving me bare except for my panties.

He sits back on his heels, lacing both hands behind his neck as he stares down at me. “Fuck me,” he growls. “You’re so damn beautiful.”

I squirm, pressing my thighs together to ease the building ache.

He lets out a dark chuckle. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m going to take care of that for you.”

He lowers his big body over mine, bracing his forearm beside my head. We aren’t quite touching, but he’s close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from him.

I take him in, anticipation thrumming in my veins. His dark, serious gaze holds mine as he skates the fingers of his free hand up my bare thigh.

Goose bumps pebble my skin, and a breath shudders out of me. Our eyes stay locked as he brushes the edge of my panties and dips the tip of his finger beneath. If he keeps going, he’ll soon feel the arousal already seeping from my core. “I-I thought you weren’t going to be gentle,” I croak.

His lips curl, his fingers stroking higher. “There’s a difference between being gentle and savoring something.”

As he reaches the slickness at my center, he groans, his lids sliding shut. When they open again, his pupils are blown so wide that he looks almost drugged.

I can’t take much more. My breasts are tight and achy, and more arousal seeps from me with every stroke of his fingers. With a hand at his nape, I tug. “Please, Holden.”

He doesn’t make me ask twice, his mouth finding mine again in a fierce kiss that drags a whimper out of me.

He buries his fingers in my hair and tugs, sending a rush of sparks directly to my clit. Then his mouth is gone, his hand holding me in place as he turns his attention elsewhere.