Saige dropped her forehead to Quinten’s and minutes ticked by before Coulter watched the other couple pull themselves together.
“Thank you for telling us,” Saige said. “I know you’ve trusted us with information you weren’t supposed to, from the start really, and we both appreciate that.”
Coulter stood and tugged Amber up with him. “It worked both ways, Saige.” He smiled. “Let’s get you both out of here, and I meant what I said, you both can use the beach house for as long as you want to.”
Saige moved over to them, reached up, and hugged him. “Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to us.” She stepped back and hugged Amber.
“Let me wash up and get some shoes on, then we’re ready to go.”
He watched her leave the room and turned to Quinten, whose eyes also followed Saige.
“She’s stronger than me. She’ll be fine,” Quinten observed.
They’d all be fine, eventually.
Day 28
8:00am
* * *
The day he was supposed to die.
Quinten rubbed at his chest not really knowing how he was supposed to feel—thankful, relieved, happy, they all really meant the same thing except he couldn’t help the gloom that had settled over him when he woke during the early hours of the morning. He managed to slip from the bed without waking Saige, and was now on his third cup of coffee. To him, being able to help himself to coffee or food at the drop of a hat was an extravagance, and one that he’d never take for granted again.
For the past six days since they arrived back at Coulter’s beach house, Quinten had gotten into a routine that involved coffee and sitting on the steps leading from the house to the beach to watch the sun rise or set.
He loved the time alone to think, but, if he was honest, he loved the time here with Saige all the more. He needed to get a handle on his need to be able to see her at all times during the day, or to check on her when he entered the house to grab another cup. She didn’t mind, but he needed to stop.
Fabric rustled as Saige climbed into his lap, a sheet wrapped around her. He smiled and groaned when she wiggled around. “I woke and you were gone,” she complained. “Hold me close.”
“I couldn’t sleep.” His arms slipped around her waist. “Please stop wiggling around on my lap.” He pressed a kiss to her neck and groaned when she turned and straddled him.
“What are you thinking about?” Saige asked, her hands rested against his chest, his on her hips.
Smiling, he reached up and caressed her face with a finger. “I was thinking that I was supposed to die today,” he admitted softly. He gave a sardonic smile, and quickly hurried on when he saw Saige’s bottom lip quiver, “I’m thinking that I’m a very lucky man to be given another chance at this thing called life, with you beside me.”
Saige nodded and he could see the struggle for her not to cry, so he cupped her face with one large hand and her neck with the other. He brought her closer until their lips were a breath apart. “I want to make a new memory for this day, Saige...I’ve waited a long time to hold you again, so I don’t want to waste another minute...I don’t have anything to offer you—”
“You have everything to offer me, Quinten,” Saige interrupted. “You love me. You make me happy, and I love you with every beat of my heart.” She leaned forward the inch that separated them and placed a soft kiss to his lips. “Now finish what you were saying.”
Quinten cleared his throat because there was one hell of a lump of emotion stuck in there. “Will you marry me, Saige?” His heart thumped widely in his chest while he watched all the emotions his question had created in Saige flutter across her face.
Saige slipped her fingers through his trim beard to cup his face. “Yes,” she whispered and pressed her lips to his. “Yes.” She giggled and started placing kisses all over his face. “Yes.” The sheet was tossed aside and his breath caught in his throat.
She was nude beneath.
“You’ve been sitting in my lap naked?” A stupid question considering he could see the answer for himself.
He caressed over her shoulders, down her arms and back up. His hands itched to touch more flesh as he slowly moved and cupped both her breasts and rubbed her nipples with his thumbs.
His own body was reacting to the sight of Saige straddling him without any clothes on, and his swollen flesh under her bottom hurt from being restrained.
“You’re so beautiful.” He kissed along her collarbone and the valley between her breasts before he moved back up and captured her lips.
Her hips undulated over his jean-covered dick and, if she wasn’t careful, he’d come before he even got out of them.
“I need you,” Saige moaned, and scooted off his lap, reaching for his zipper. “Lift.” And that was all it took to take his jeans to his thighs, which shook the minute Saige wrapped a hand around his solid length.
“God,” Saige sighed, and dropped her head into his lap.