Page 94 of Sage Haven

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“I’m going to untie you and take you to your room,” I said, flat. “You’ll stay there. Understand?”

She said nothing.

So, I waited.

“Say it,” I demanded.

Still nothing.

I slid my fingers beneath her chin, tilting her face to mine again.

“Sage,” I said, voice low, lips barely a breath away. “Say it.”

She swallowed hard.

And then— “I understand.”

I smiled, slow and dark.

“Then show me and don’t fight me because I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her breath shuddered out, a surrender she couldn’t hide and when I released her, lifting her from the chair, she didn’t fight.

I carried her up the stairs, laid her on the bed in the room I’d prepared.

And when she stood, crossing to the door, preparing to leave, I let her.

Let her test the boundary.

Three feet.

And then my hand closed around her wrist.

Hard.

I yanked her back into me.

My voice was a growl against her ear, “Try that again and see what happens.”

She glared up at me, but she didn’t move.

I smirked, “That’s what I thought. Now, get some sleep, we have a job to do.”

And then I let her go.

Leaving her standing there.

Breathing heavy.

Trapped in a room with too much space, and nowhere to run.

I slammed the door behind me and smiled to myself.

Because no matter how hard she fought it—she was already mine.

21

SAGE

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