by Juniper Hart
Sage knew the relationship couldn’t last forever. Micheline was a human. Her father would not be able to hide his immortality forever. “I understand. I hope that we can keep in touch,” Sage finally said after realizing her departure probably was for the best.
“You’ll see, Sage. This will be good for him. And, you’re a young woman now. I think it’s time you move on from your father’s home. You don’t have to stick around.”
In the end, Micheline had left, knowing that Sage needed to remain and care for her father, despite her avid warnings.
Micheline had proven to be a poor prophet regarding her husband, however. David’s drinking grew worse, and he no longer talked about ways to make money. He simply plugged through the days, resigning to his fate as a carpenter, drowning his sorrows in his beer with the pennies he gathered.
He was a wonderful father, regardless of his shortcomings. He took Sage camping at the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, fishing on the Delaware River. They attended pack meetings together and laughed a lot. Sage loved her father, and if not for his constant drinking, she would have had no complaints, but there was a lingering fear in her. She was sure that one day, David would kill someone in his pick-up truck and live with that shame for the rest of his life.
Sage’s real mother had abandoned them both before Sage turned five years old, and as Sage developed into her teens, she became the spitting image of the woman whom her father had loved so well. She could see the pain in his eyes when he looked at her.
I am a constant reminder of what he lost, she realized one day after Micheline had disappeared and left them alone. It was then that Sage understood that she, too, needed to give her father the space he needed to grow. Micheline’s words echoed through her often in those days.
“I am leaving him because I love him. He will never figure out who he is if I continue to indulge his delusions.”
And with that echo came a decision.
She was not wrong, Sage had thought, horrified. If not for me, maybe he would have had time to heal, but I look so much like her, he can’t. I have to get out of here so he can move on with his life. He won’t do it if I continue to coddle him.
The realization had filled her with a bittersweet emotion, a part of her wanting to stay by her father’s side and watch over him but knowing he needed to be free. She had to let her father go and find himself.
When Sage had returned home from training after four months, David had remarried a platinum blonde French girl named Angeline. She was twenty-three and the very replica of Micheline.
That’s Daddy, Sage thought. Always looking for someone to take care of him. He’ll never find out who he is, but I won’t make the same mistake.
The server returned with her wine and took her order without any interest, a slight sneer of disdain curling over his lips, as though she were competing with him. But when he turned to leave, he paused to toss a remark over his shoulder.
“I’m not supposed to tell you, but that man is paying for your meal,” he said with anger she didn’t understand. Sage’s head whipped up, and she called after his retreating back.
“What? Which man?” The server did not answer, heading into the galley kitchen to speak with the chef, leaving Sage to glance around the restaurant in confusion. Was it a joke?
There were five occupied tables in the gourmet establishment, and each one contained more than one patron. She counted four men, and she studied them, thinking perhaps it was a pilot or fellow flight attendant, but she did not recognize anyone. Had something gotten lost in translation? Maybe the waiter had meant to say something else, and she had just misunderstood.
She settled back against the chair, rolling her eyes at her own gullibility.
The kid thinks he is being clever, getting me to look around the restaurant like a giddy school girl, she thought with some annoyance. She turned her head, and she locked gazes with a man sitting at the bar. Her heart began to thud as he smiled a familiar smile and raised a glass of club soda toward her in a silent toast.
It was the passenger from seat K9.
4
She is more beautiful up close, Cruz decided as he peered at Sage’s face over the candlelight of the table. Her brilliant eyes held flecks of brown, gold, and green, and they seemed to dance hypnotically against the shadows as he studied her almost surreally perfect features. The entire scenario didn’t seem real, somehow, as if he were moving in a dream. A headiness had fallen over him, like he was drunk, even though he knew he wasn’t. Although she is intoxicating, no doubt about that.
When he had seen the flight attendant sitting alone in the restaurant, Cruz had been sure he was hallucinating, but as he sat drinking his club soda, he knew that he was not dreaming. The stunning redhead in the short, black Alexander Wang dress sipping wine was the same woman who had escorted him from the plane early that morning.
I should buy her a drink, he thought, summoning the waiter to his side. I should buy her an island, but I’ll start smaller.
The boy eagerly hurried over, eyeing Cruz as if the man were his new master.
“Yes, sir?” he purred, his long-lashed lids lowering demurely. He was clearly flirting with Cruz, but the bear hardly noticed. Something else had his attention entirely.
“You see that woman over there?” he asked. The server glanced indifferently at the flight attendant and nodded, turning his eyes back fully onto Cruz.
“Yes, sir.”
“I want you to put whatever she orders on my room.” He watched the young man’s face crumble as though he had punched him in the gut.
I may have just broken his heart, Cruz thought dryly. The server’s feelings, however, were the least of his concerns at that moment. His eyes were fixed on the lone diner as she stared out the windows, apparently lost in thought. She had not noticed him or anyone else in the restaurant, which was fine with Cruz. He was happy watching her from where he sat.
“Don’t let her know that I’m paying,” Cruz called after the sulking waiter, and he nodded curtly, turning away from the bar. Cruz intended to be gone before she knew she had a secret admirer, but he wanted to enjoy the moment, drinking her in. It wasn’t his desire to alarm her or seek her gratitude. He only wanted to do something for this exquisite work of art whom he knew he had no business approaching. He seemed unable to stay away.
Oh, how badly he wanted her to turn and meet his eyes, the power she held over him almost overwhelming and defying all laws of reason. But he knew better. He couldn’t afford to bring her into his world—even if she was a shifter.
Maybe in another life, he thought sadly. He watched as the boy server brought the fiery-haired attendant a drink and scrawled her order onto a handheld writing pad. Cruz found he was tense, relaxing only once the waiter walked away. Good. He did not say anything.
He did not know why, but he suspected that the boy would tell her, despite his instructions not to do so. Cruz knew he was being a giant hypocrite.
Maybe because you’re hoping he will. Maybe because you want to steal a few forbidden minutes with this girl, even if it’s the worst idea you’ve ever had.
Suddenly, he saw Sage call out to the server as he walked away, but the man didn’t turn. She slowly began to scan the room, and Cruz knew that his cover had been blown. He was torn between wanting to flee and seeing how it played out.
You should go. Nothing good can come of this. You can’t pursue this girl, no matter how lovely her profile may be or how the longing in her face is calling out to you, even if she is a bear and fate probably threw us both together by putting me on her flight.
Shaking his head, he made his decision. Before he could slip away from the bar, Sage’s lovely eyes rested on his face. Their eyes met, and impulsively, he raised his glass in a silent toast. Regret instantly coursed through Cruz as he took in the look on her face.
She has the same expression as she did in the plane. She thinks I’m following her. I need to get out of here before she sounds some kind of alarm on me. I do not
need unwarranted attention. What is wrong with you, bringing this on yourself? He found himself frozen in place, but to his surprise, a small smile formed on Sage’s face. She picked up her own goblet and waved a delicate hand for him to approach.
All the doubts which had flittered through his mind evaporated with the invitation. Perhaps he hadn’t acted as stupidly as he had thought. He picked up his drink and ambled toward her, joining her for dinner as warnings fired through his mind. Staring at the curve of her full lips, Cruz knew he was in trouble. Their conversation was light and interesting, but with each word she spoke, he realized he was falling deeper and deeper into a pit of infatuation.
Sage was proving to be more than a pretty face—much more. She was intelligent and well-traveled, of course, but she had a sense of compassion and righteousness Cruz was sure that he had never known. She could discuss a variety of topics and was clearly well-read. He could listen to her talk all night.
Slowly, a glimmer of understanding seemed to color her cheeks as she realized they had more in common than a simple flight. As they drank, Sage seemed to relax, her tone taking on a more playful, lilting timbre. She sat back in her chair and peered at him pensively.
“Did you want to ask me a question?” Cruz prompted, sensing that she was building up the nerve to ask him bluntly who he was. What part has she figured out? That I am Jett Reyes’ son, or that I am Cruz Reyes himself?
“Yes…” Sage drawled, but she did not elaborate. Her light eyes twinkled mischievously.
“Am I to guess?” he teased. Sage laughed, and he was even more smitten than he had been.
“You can try, but it is probably easier if I ask you directly,” she replied, taking a sip of her wine.
“I’m all ears,” he told her, leaning closer to take in her words fully. Sage chuckled again, and she dropped her head into her hands to stare intensely at him.
“Are you like me?” she asked brazenly. Cruz’s smile deepened.
She’s figured out that we’re both shifters. Very good. It was clear she was nowhere near as old as he was, but given time, she would easily be able to detect a bear in mere seconds.
“I guess time will tell that, won’t it?” he laughed, nodding as he spoke. “But yes, I am a shifter, too.” Sage sat back and continued staring at him.
“May I ask you another question?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
“You can ask me all the questions.”
“What were you doing on the plane after everyone else had left?”
Cruz was taken aback by the query, and he returned her stare, wondering what she thought he was doing. He hadn’t been expecting that when their impromptu date had been going so well.
She’s still suspicious of me, even though she knows we’re both shifters. That’s not good.
“I was making a life or death decision,” he told her seriously. Sage’s pale face seemed to whiten, and she moved back slightly.
“That sounds… dangerous,” she offered lightly, but Cruz could hear a new tension in her voice.
Don’t ruin this. Everything is going swimmingly. Don’t get upset. She’s getting to know you. Don’t scare her away.
“It’s only dangerous if you’re me,” he told her, watching her brow furrow in confusion. She parted her lips like she wanted to ask something else, but she seemed hesitant. Her eyes shifted to his empty rock tumbler and then back to his face.
“I was deciding whether to text Theo Veriday,” Cruz offered gently, suddenly wanting to wipe the somewhat stricken look from her face. Confusion laced Sage’s face, understandably, and she moved back to rest her forearms on the table.
“The bear from the Council of Seven?” she asked dubiously. “Is something wrong?” She reached forward to cover his hand with hers, and he was momentarily distracted by the softness of her long fingers. He hadn’t expected the contact, but he certainly wasn’t going to let it go if she was offering it.
“No,” Cruz answered. He tightened his grip around her palms, worried she would snatch hers away. Well, not wrong according to the rest of the world. Wrong according to me, but it’s nothing that you should bother yourself with.
“I am afraid I don’t understand this cryptic conversation,” Sage sighed, and Cruz could feel a slight irritation in her demeanor. “I understand if you can’t talk about it, but if the Council of Seven is involved, it must be something serious, right?”
“Theo, Raven, and Lane have entrusted me to do something which I am not particularly happy about,” he explained. “And I was going through a crisis of faith back on the plane.” To his relief, Sage did not question him for details, even though he could see she wanted to.
“I imagine that anything pertaining to the Council is always a matter of stress,” she responded jokingly. “That’s why I have always tried to live my life to avoid the Council at all costs.”
Cruz grimaced.
“Sometimes, there is no other choice,” he told her grimly. “Sometimes, we’re just in the right place at the wrong time, and we get sucked into drama we have no interest in dealing with.”
The flat answer seemed to fluster Sage, and she looked away before he could add anything.
Why are you letting the Council ruin this perfectly beautiful night? he chided himself. You are in incredible company with incredible food and top-quality wine. What else could you want for your last night as a decent man? Enjoy this feeling of normalcy before you become an even bigger monster than you already are.
He could think of one more thing he might want, and as he thought it, a hot flush burned at his cheeks. He should thank her for a lovely evening and bid her good night. He had no future with her, and he couldn’t allow her to believe there could be one. It was deceitful and immoral.
For the first time in his life, Cruz wished that having a one-night stand was not offensive to his strong sense of chivalry. He instinctively knew that if he had one night with this woman, he would never let her go.
I must say goodnight now, he thought, because there is no way she is ever going to be a one-night stand. This is my mate if I’ve ever met her. He knew it was a bold thought, but there was no other reason for his uncharacteristic emotions. I love her already. We’re meant to be.
Sage stared at him again, and he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his heartrate rising slightly under her charming leer.
“Do you have any other questions for me?” Cruz asked. Sage smiled beguilingly, leaning forward to trace her manicured nails against the lines of his hand. A shiver of pleasure shot through Cruz as he met her eyes.
“Yes,” she said simply. “I have one more for you.” He stared at her quizzically, the look in her eyes matching the feeling growing inside him.
“Well?” he asked lightly. “Don’t make me guess now…”
She inhaled and smiled. “Will you come upstairs with me?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” he growled.
Sage’s lips were on his before the elevator doors closed, her hands stripping away his suit jacket. Any sense of wrongdoing had dissipated, and Cruz pressed her slender body against the back of the mirror, his mouth parting for their tongues to meet.
Teasingly, they played, their eyes wide open as they took in the other’s expression. Cruz’s hand reached beneath her, cupping Sage’s firm, warm buttocks. She tipped her head back slightly, allowing for his mouth to explore the firm line of her jawline, nipping gently at the tender skin. He relished the sighs of surprise, his fingers tracing the lacy contours of her panties beneath the stretchy fabric of her dress.
His fingertips ventured lower, a frisson of excitement charging through him as he realized she was already warm with desire. Sage parted her legs further, her arms encircling his ever-falling head. Over the tight material, his tongue traced the erect nipples, aching to have them in his hot mouth, but there was no time. The anticipation was becoming unbearable, and Cruz knew he needed to possess her. It was more than just the physical unity of their two bodies c
ombining that he needed, but the feel of them together as one, and he couldn’t wait any more.
Cruz unzipped his pants as the elevator chimed, indicating they had reached the executive floor. Sage did not acknowledge the opening and closing of the doors as he freed himself, pushing her panties aside. He grabbed Sage’s slim thighs to pull them around his waist.
“Wait,” she breathed. Like a gymnast, she wrapped her right leg around his broad hips and extended her other foot toward the button board. With a manicured toe, she pushed the stop button and pulled herself back, smiling alluringly as the elevator shuddered to a stop.
Balancing herself, her hands against the mirror, she enveloped her left leg into the fold around his back and nodded slightly. Closing his eyes, Cruz entered her swiftly, feeling her tense. She was as tight as he had imagined, and he inhaled sharply to keep himself from losing control too easily.
“Harder,” she urged, clenching her muscles and squeezing at him both inside and out. Obligingly, Cruz began to pound at her, his own fingers digging deeply into her milky skin. Sage began to yelp, her mewls escalating as his pounding turned into a hard hammering, her cries becoming screams of unadulterated passion. Cruz was too caught up in his own desire to care about being caught, and soon, they were intertwined, quivering relentlessly as they finally collapsed, spent, against the now heavily streaked mirror. Breathing heavily, Cruz cast a sidelong glance at Sage, who grinned tentatively.
“We should probably turn the elevator back on service,” she giggled, rising to her bare feet. “Before the fire department comes and we have some real explaining to do.” Pulling down her skirt, she released the call button, and the elevator doors opened. Two security guards and the concierge glowered at them from the other side, and Cruz quickly reclaimed his pants, his face aflame with humiliation.
This is so not like me, he thought irrelevantly. What was done was done, and he wouldn’t have traded the elated feeling for anything in that moment.
Sage seemed unconcerned as she scooped up her shoes and brushed past the trio outside.