by Angel Steel
She knew the safe thing to do was move on, and find a nice decent guy, One who would love her for who she was, and not break her heart the second she gave it to them. Her heart needed protecting.
As she stepped onto the ground level, her mind retaliated, demanding that she had to fight for what she wanted, and not to back down from one little obstacle that was stopping her from having it. Maybe it was time to listen to her heart more in this instant than her mind; it never turned out too well when she allowed her mind to take over. Her heart won out this time; she could not begin to contemplate the idea of all of them right at that moment. Her heart hurt too much.
She was going to hold her head high as she walked in there, trying desperately hard to show that his arrival didn’t affect her in any way; she just had to hold her feelings in check and not listen to her head demanding she fight. It wasn’t getting a say at what she was doing right now. She just hoped she could get through the night with him sitting at the same table as she, with that bitch right beside him. Thank Christ, she had her girls.
CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
Mac didn’t expect to see Sage at their parents’ ranch. He had brought Sarah with him, wanting to erase all thoughts and images of Sage and their time they had spent together. Nothing he did erased her from his mind though.
Knowing bringing Sarah here would erupt some kind of commotion with his brothers, since they had all been with her at the same time, wasn’t the reason why he did it. Looking across the table at his mum as she frowned towards Sarah while she sat beside him, running her hand up his thigh, he gritted his teeth together, pushing his desire for Sage down. The hand stroking his thigh was doing nothing for him. If anything, it was just pissing him off.
Sarah was an easy lay for all of them. She wasn’t the type to bring home and introduce to his parents, yet there he was, sitting at the family dinner table as both of his parents looked his way. He kicked himself for bringing Sarah into his family home, especially knowing she had started the rumours throughout the community about the Harpers. He was only thinking with his dick and not his head, although that wasn’t even happy to have her hands near him, in that way.
As the main door to the kitchen pushed opened, out walked Logan, Caleb and Zeb, still not noticing that he was sitting at the table. Lifting his arm, he wrapped it around Sarah; her hands rested on his chest, caressing him, as if they were in the bedroom ready for some fun. He couldn’t keep thinking of Sage the way he was. She was too young for him and his brothers, and with what he wanted to do to her, it wasn’t something she would be into or go for.
Sarah’s hand travelled down his body and gripped him through his jeans, as her other hand slid between hers. She never cared where she was; if she wanted something, she would get it at any cost.
He had more respect than she had. Stopping the movement of her hand, Mac wasn’t going to give his parents a show.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in. You actually remembered where you were meant to be,” Caleb growled.
Logan stormed over towards him, pushing his chair back. Mac stood up, prepared for what was to come.
Before he had a chance to say a word, he spoke first, “Don’t bother saying anything, big bro. You’d be wasting your breath.”
“How could you bring that bitch here, Mac? And especially knowing Sage was here?” Logan grounded out.
At that moment, Sage and the rest of the girls walked through the doorway into the dining area, and all eyes landed on Mac.
His mother stood from her chair and walked into the kitchen. His father sat where he was, allowing them to sort the differences between them. He always allowed them to say what they needed to until they stepped out of that barrier.
Sarah wasn’t the best choice he’d ever made, but she knew exactly what he wanted and gave him that and more. He saw the emotions pass over Sage’s face as Sarah stood beside him and pushed herself onto him. Bri and Lilly stood beside her, both holding onto her arms as Sarah’s hand slid down his body, but before she could reach his junk, he stopped her. Sage’s body went ridged in their hold. Bri scowled towards him and Kaidence mumbled something he couldn’t quite hear. All three of his brothers stepped up to him, flanking Logan where he stood.
His eyes stayed glued to Sage as several emotions covered her face: first lust when she’d taken him in, but that was before Sarah moved towards him; then followed hurt, as he allowed Sarah to do what she was doing in front of everyone. Just as quickly as that emotion arrived, it passed and her walls were erected.
He didn’t quite feel sorry for how he’d treated her; it was the way he was, plus he had to keep up that appearance for her, let alone himself. He couldn’t keep doing whatever they were doing between him and Sage. Nothing good was ever going to come out of it. He wasn’t going to cross that line with her again; it was a mistake that should have never happened, as much as he enjoyed every second with her. But with the thoughts of what he wanted from her, his desires so thick and raw for her, and the things he wanted her to do for him, and to her, it was wrong on so many levels.
She would never accept them or him. Even if she did, it would last so long till he had enough of her, and moved on, so this was the easiest thing to do, hurt her. It didn’t matter that he had loved her for the last ten years, but she would never be enough for him.
Bri whispered something in Sage’s ear, pulling her out of the staring contest she was having with him, or rather with Sarah before she moved into the kitchen. His father sat where he was, while Caleb, Zeb and Logan circled him.
“She needs to leave, now,” Logan gritted out.
Sarah side-stepped him and stood in front of Logan, running her hand down over his chest. Fuck! Maybe it was a bad idea to bring her here. She was going to think that they were all going to spend the night together, like they had last year.
“Don’t be like that, Logan. I’m sure we can think of something to get you all back in a good mood.” Her hand slid lower but was stopped when Logan ripped her hand from his body. Pushing her back towards him, Logan growled, “That is never going to happen again.”
Mac gripped Sarah’s arm and slid her in front of him. “Go and sit down.”
Sarah spun around, placed her hands on her hips and pouted, “I just wanted to have a little fun.”
“If you’re a good little girl, I’ll take you out to the barn later, and you can show me just how good you are at being a cowgirl.”
Bouncing up and down on the spot, Caleb groaned as well as Zeb at his words. Mac hated encouraging her, but he had to get her away from his brothers before the shit really hit the fan.
Logan closed in on him, ready for more when the door to the kitchen opened up and out walked his mother, the girls and the family cook, Margi. Caleb plastered a smile over his lips as he stepped away and helped her with the platter she was carrying. Zeb moved towards Margi as she pushed the cart, and Logan took several steps back but never moved away completely.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as his father stood from his chair, placed his hands on the table and spoke, “Boys, let’s enjoy this mouth-watering meal both your mother and Margi have prepared. Then later on, you can sort out your differences.”
Sage and the girls stayed where they had stopped. Caleb helped their mother into her chair, although she didn’t need it, and sat beside her.
Zeb sat opposite Caleb, leaving the remaining of the chairs unoccupied. Logan shook his head and faced Sage. Lifting his hand, she stepped forward and took it. Something in his chest ached. Jesus! Stop this you bloody loser! Pushing whatever it was aside, Mac moved back to his seat and sat down. Sarah dropped her phone back in her bag and practically sat on his lap, as Logan directed Sage to her seat, which was directly across from him. Fucking great!
The rest of the girls sat in their seats. Bri sat on the right side of Sage, as Logan sat on the left, and Lilly and Kaidence were at the end of the table. How in the world was he going to deal with his shit with Sage sittin
g right in front of him?
Throughout the meal, Sage never once glanced his way. Unless she was being extra stealth about it. Although, Sarah distracted him just enough to not keep his focus solely on Sage. But when her scent, her laughter, the sweet little moans came across the table while she was eating, it drove him insane. His erection throbbed against his jeans. When Sarah’s hand slid up inside of his thigh, she felt the hardness and shifted closer to him.
He allowed her hand to travel all the way up and stroke him lightly through his jeans. He knew allowing her this was wrong and disrespectful while in his parents’ house, but it was the only way to cope with Sage sitting across from him. Closing his eyes briefly, he was determined to enjoy this sensation of a hand on him. But the only hand he could picture on him was Sage’s. A small moan escaped his lips, causing Sarah to slip her hand under his jeans.
A gasp pulled him out of his moment. Opening his eyes, they landed straight on Sage, as she held tightly onto the table top, nails digging in, knuckles white, as her eyes were trained on Sarah. Everyone else was talking around the table with the exception of them.
Lifting the side of his lip, his tongue poked out and ran along the bottom of his lip. Her eyes followed his movement, happy that she was still affected by him just like he was with her, even though he felt like a bastard for it. Her eyes glassed over. She suddenly stood from her chair and quickly ran off towards the kitchen.
Breathing in deeply, the talking at the table stopped when Sage abruptly left and everyone’s eyes instantly landed on him. His mother frowned then shook her head before she stood and went after her. Sarah continued to do what she was doing to him under the table as his father turned to him, and spoke, “I think’s it’s best that either you both leave or she does.”
Maybe it was best if they both left, he considered. He wasn’t doing any favours to himself or anyone here; he was only causing trouble and pain for most of them, but mostly, towards Sage and most possibly himself with his selfish ways.
Removing Sarah’s hand from his pants, he stood up, zipped himself up in front of all of them, and left the table. Lilly and Kaidence gasped while Bri cursed as Caleb slammed his fist against the table. Catching Sarah’s attention, she frowned as she glanced around them, before she slowly stood as his father glared at both of them.
Well, he held the title as being the troublemaker of the lot, but this was most probably the worst thing he had done. His father’s words rang deep inside of him, remembering the day that little Sage entered their world. “If any of you ever hurt that little girl, I will not hesitate to disown one or all. That little girl is the light to all your darkness and also the daughter your mother wished she had, so don’t take that away from her. She will be everything you wished for in a girl and more. Your wettest dreams come true; if you want a girl who will love you for who you are, both the good and bad flaws, that is her. But remember, you fuck up, you better hope to God she will forgive you; otherwise, you have myself and your mother to deal with.”
Moving away from the table, he took one last glance at his father. He knew he was remembering back to that day he told them all that. Now, it was up to him. Mac had to decide whether he wanted to fix the damage with Sage or let it slide and move on with Sarah, or someone else. A choice had to be made soon—very soon by the look his father gave him as he walked towards the front door.
Could he finally allow his heart to be given to the little spitfire who had held it since the first day she waltzed onto the Harper property? Or would he break her heart and lose her along with his family?
~~*~~*~~
Sage walked towards her room, relieved the family dinner had finished. She could not sit there a moment longer, watching as Sarah had her hands all over Mac. It made her sick watching him allow her to behave that way, especially with his parents sitting there.
No one said a word once the food was served. Once the food was placed in front of her, she kept her head down while she ate, never once lifting her eyes. If she had, they would have landed on Mac sitting directly across from her. She could feel the glares from Sarah, who had absolutely no right being at the table, but she couldn’t say anything since it wasn’t her house. Sage clamped her mouth shut, not wanting to ruin the night further with what she was so desperate to voice.
As soon as she was finished eating, she was ready to excuse herself, but before she could say anything, her eyes landed on Mac across from her. His eyes closed, Sarah leant close into him, and the way her arm moved above the table, she knew what was happening under it.
How could he allow that slut to do things to him, especially while his mother and father sat at the end of the table? The grin that spread across Sarah’s face and the way that Mac’s body jolted from what was happening under the table made her gasp. His eyes opened and fixed onto her. The lust she could see in his eyes made her squirm a little in her seat, until he grinned at her. He was enjoying what Sarah was doing to him and didn’t care that she was sitting there lusting over him.
He knew what the whole show was doing to her. The way he licked his lip made her feel sick, as he sat there flaunting his enjoyment at her, knowing it wasn’t her doing it to him, and that she was never going to be enough for him. Pushing herself away from the table, she scrambled off towards the kitchen. How could she be so stupid, allowing him to get to her the way he did? Pushing the back door open, she stepped outside needing fresh air, anything to take her mind off him.
Walking up to the paddock fence, one of the horses, Maximus, approached her cautiously. Placing her hand out, Sage waited as it sniffed her hand and stepped closer to her. Lifting her hand up, Sage ran it through its mane. Snorting breaths of hot air, she rubbed between Maximus’s ears.
Sage desperately wished she didn’t feel so strongly about Mac, but she couldn’t erase the feelings even if she tried, and she had done exactly that several times. Shaking her head, Sage stood there for as long as Maximus accepted her touch. Once he moved away from her towards the barn entrance, she dusted her hands and made her way back.
As she drew near to the back door, she listened for any kind of noise. Nothing, absolute quiet. Stepping through the doorway, walking past the open door in the lounge room, she noticed both Mr and Mrs Harper sitting on the sofa, relaxing. Tiptoeing away from them, she quietly made her way up the stairs and towards her room. She needed to distance herself, mainly from Mac, but also Sarah too. She couldn’t believe that he had brought her of all people to his parents’ house. That girl loved to cause trouble, and she couldn’t understand why Mac was with her. However, they suited each other to the T. Perfect for each other considering the way they treated everyone around them.
As Sage opened her door and stepped in, a movement from the corner caught her eye. Ready to scream, a shadow fell upon her and a hand covered her mouth. The hard body pushing her against the door was one she knew all too well, but she had no idea what the hell he was doing.
Pushing him back, she ripped his hand from her mouth and faced him. “What are you doing in here, Mac?”
He stepped closer to her, pushing his body against hers. His hands rested beside her head as she leaned back and looked up at him. She could smell the alcohol on his breath as his eyes locked onto her mouth. She couldn’t help but run her tongue along her now-dry lips. His eyes followed her movements. Mac shifted even closer to her, his hips touching hers, and she felt the obvious erection behind his pants.
Moaning at the touch, she started to lift her hand, but he slammed it back against the wall, holding her in place, unable to touch him. Struggling against his strength, she wiggled against him, coursing a moan from his lips.
Her breathing accelerated as he slowly slid his other hand down her side and gripped her hip, pulling her harder into him.
“You are such a little tease. You know that, right? My cock has been hard for you since the moment my eyes landed on that perfect little body of yours. And that mouth of yours, all I can think of is it being wrapped around me as I fuck
your mouth,” he groaned against her neck.
Oh, sweet heaven.
She gasped at his words, never hearing anything like it from him before. Her pussy clenched wanting the words he said to be reality. Her legs shook as his hand slid down her body and straight for the centre of her. Not wasting a second longer, he pushed her legs apart and shoved his hand down inside of her shorts, finding her soaking wet. Her body arched from the door as he drove two fingers hard and deep inside of her. His mouth covered hers, catching the scream that fell from it. There was nothing sweet or slow about this, and she was panting and moving her hips against his fingers as they slid back and forth.
Relieved that it wasn’t just her who felt this connection between them, she grabbed the moment by the horns, determined to make him hers, even if it was for only right now. She needed this as much as he did.
He lifted her up and wrapped her legs around his waist as he backed away from the door and moved towards the bed. Lying her down, he ripped her shirt and shorts from her body. Squealing, she didn’t have time to say a word as his mouth latched onto her. Her clit throbbed as his teeth pulled, nipped and sucked; Sage’s nails dug into his head when his fingers returned where she needed them most. His speed and roughness made her melt and desire more. She loved that the boys were all so different; it was this especially that she liked. Mac could easily consume her.
Sage’s hips ground against his mouth; her orgasm was coming harder and faster than it had ever arrived before while he continued to ravish her. The growl that erupted from his mouth coursed through her, sending heat throughout her body. Her thighs clenched around his head as he inserted a third finger inside of her. Digging her heels into the bed, she lifted up, her head thrown back as she moaned loudly with the intensity of the orgasm that shot through her body. She didn’t get a chance to recover from it as Mac removed himself from her and stood, removing his clothing.