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When she woke up in the morning before him, she’d been terribly shy. No matter that he found her demureness sexy as hell, she had been nervous. He’d fought back his lust to claim her one more time before they went home in favor of her modesty.
She likely thought his mother’s place would afford her solace to gather her thoughts and courage. Being intimate with Sage superseded anything he’d guessed lovemaking to be. She was fire and wind. Earth and water. Grace and sensuality. Everything he could have asked for in a soulmate and so much more.
Shutting the engine of his car off, he quietly exited, going around to her side. After opening the door and unbuckling her belt, she glided effortlessly into his arms. Pushing the door shut with his hip, he turned to see his mother standing in the doorway with a young woman behind her. He recognized her but couldn’t place her in the dimmed lighting.
“My honeymooners.” His mother grinned.
“Hi, Ma.”
“Your room’s all ready.”
“Thanks. I’ll put her to bed and be right down.” Taking his time going up the stairs and into his old room, he lay Sage down on the bed. Slipping her shoes and socks off, he left her pants and t-shirt on. Not wanting her to be embarrassed or upset if she woke and he wasn’t there.
Kissing her lightly on the forehead, he murmured, “I love you, Sage.” Her contended sigh followed him from the room.
Hearing hushed voices from the kitchen, he followed the smell of percolating caffeine to find his mother holding the young lady’s hand. “What’s going on, Ma?” Their visitor wore a look of worry and fear on her face.
“Lochlan do you remember Allegra? From Hayes’ graduation party.”
At her explanation, it clicked. Hayes’ friend Brett couldn’t take his eyes off her the entire time Loch had been there. “I do. How are you, Allegra?” He didn’t watch her as he spoke, instead pouring a cup of coffee, sensing she didn’t like the attention.
“Well, thank you.” Her words were as quiet as Sophia’s had been at first.
“Allegra will be staying here for a couple of days.” He looked at his mother then. “Her parents are out of town.” The lie was right there in her gaze, but he didn’t call her on it. Something was clearly wrong at home for the young woman.
“Alright. Hayes aware of this?” he asked her pointedly, knowing she knew he knew she was lying.
“No. She’s busy with school and helping Levi with the gym. I know she would have offered their home, and I figured I have no one here to entertain anymore, so why not.”
“Makes sense,” he responded, still watching the scared girl. When she shifted in her seat, alarm rang through every protective instinct in his body. Bruises were being covered up along her collarbone, hiding discernable abuse.
His gaze met his mothers, and she shook her head slightly, her eyes begging him to remain silent on the matter. He would. For now.
Allegra excused herself to go to bed shortly thereafter, unmistakably uncomfortable with him around. Loch waited until he was sure she was gone before asking, “What’s really going on, Ma?”
His mother, the matriarch of their family for years, looked more haggard in that moment than he’d ever seen her. “She was here when I arrived home this morning. She wouldn’t tell me when she got here, but I suspect it was overnight.”
On the verge of tears, Loch gripped her hand in support. “Has she said anything? What happened?”
“Nothing. She asked if she could spend the night. I told her she could stay as long as she needed. I recognized something was wrong, Lochlan. Who knows how long she’s been suffering? Or how, or why? That young lady is only fifteen!” Her words were as fierce as Loch had ever heard.
“Go to bed, Ma. We’ll figure this out in the morning. Get everyone over here.”
“That wouldn’t be wise. She’s skittish, and men terrify her.”
“What about Hayes’ friend Brett? He seems to care for her.”
“Hayes says Alyssa has been keeping Brett away from her because of the age difference. Besides he’s at college now. We’ll figure this one out. Find some options for her.”
Given that Allegra had spent the entire graduation party attached to his mother, he figured she knew the girl best. “If you say so.”
She smiled, nodding her head as she stood. Grasping his left hand in both of hers, a teary-eyed smile crossed her face. “My baby is married. Your father would be so proud of you, of the man you’ve become, Lochlan.”
Touched, he stood, kissing her cheek. “Thanks, Ma.”
As he placed his empty mug in the sink, he heard, “You’re missing so much Lucas,” as she left the room in search of her own.
Chapter Sixteen
