“Bruno. Stop it.”She found herself in his strong arms.”Bruno. Don’t.”She begged as his scent filled her lungs. Sage could feel her nipples hardening, and she wasn’t wearing any bra, can he feel it. Please god don’t let him.
He studied her face.”Did you sleep last night. You look tired.”
“I am.”She admitted.”The boys didn’t get much sleep last night. I only put them to bed a few minutes ago.”
“Why don’t you get help Sage it must be hard to be a single mother of two boys.”
“No we fine. They teething that’s why they so fussy it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Do you want me to take you guys to a doctor?”His genuine concern is touching.
“No Bruno. We’re fine. You need to leave I have things to do before the boys wake up.”
“Can I kiss you before I go.”
“No!”She jumped and moved away from him.”I don’t want you to kiss me or touch me or make love to me, what I want is for you to leave and take your reporters with you. I have a life I need to get back to, a job, so please…”She showed him the door.
“Sage I won’t stay away from you. Let me take you out, you and the boys I want to get to know you better, I accept the boys are a part of you give me a chance to know more about you. All of you.”
Sage cannot believe what she was hearing, was he serious. Men usually run in the opposite direction when they hear you have a child or children, but him… He wants to spend time with them. He couldn’t possible mean it.”Bruno please don’t do this me. I love my boys more than anything in this world, don’t use them only to get me into your bed.”
“Sage I’m not some cruel bastard who’d use innocent kids for his own needs. I mean it when I say I want to get to know you, they are a part of your life and I accept that I accept all of you. Besides we both know I don’t have to use anyone or anything to get you into my bed. So what do you say.”
“Not today.”She said.”They not feeling well.”
“You cannot run away from me.”He told her.
“I’m not running away from you. And thank you for the phone.”She diverted the topic.”And for listening when I said nothing fancy.”
“I didn’t know what you’d like.”He lied.”Come here.”He softly commanded, Sage knows if she can go over there he’ll kiss her into agreeing to anything he’ll say.
“Bruno. You have to go. I’m expecting someone soon.”Not that it was true Sage wanted him to leave the longer she is in his presence the weaker she was getting.
“Who?”He demanded in a deadly tone.
“You don’t really expect me to answer you.”
“As a matter of fact I do.”He bit out.
“Bruno I don’t owe you any explanation. You don’t see me questioning you about your relationship with Lana.”
“Because we don’t have one.”He ground out.”Who are you expecting. Is it a man.”Sage can see the cold, dangerous look in his eyes, why on earth was he
getting so worked up it’s not as if they were dating or anything.
She walked over to the door.”Good bye Bruno.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”He said going to sit down.”In fact I’ll leave once your guest arrives.”
Panic grew in the pit of her stomach the boys will wake up soon and need their bottles if he doesn’t leave now… Sage drew in a deep breath.”I lied, I’m not expecting anyone I only said that so you can leave.”
“It’s not gonna work.”
“I’m telling you the truth Bruno.”She insisted.
“Convince me.”He said.”If you do that then I’ll go.”
“Convince you.”She murmured.”How do you expect me to convince you.”
“I can think of a few things.”She saw that gleam in his eyes and knew exactly what he meant. He came over to where she was standing at the door.
“I’m not going to kiss you.”She said.”Strange things happen to me when I do.”
“But I like kissing you. Kissing you is all I want to do. Don’t you want that too.”
“Oh I do.”She whispered, she shook her head.”No Bruno I don’t want you to kiss me, I want you to go.”Because I’m close to begging you to make me yours, to love me and do all the wonderful things you do to my body.
“I love it when you all confused.”His hands rest on her hips, he tugged her forward.”Can you feel it, can you feel whatever is happening between us.”
She does.”No.”She lied, Sage curled her hands into fists to stop herself from touching him.
“One kiss.”His hands came up to cup her cheeks.”One kiss then I’ll go.”Sage swallowed it will only take one kiss to destroy all the barriers she’d put up for him to weaken and break her defenses, she watched as his head slowly came down to hers she licked her lips due to nervousness. Her eyes fell shut as she eagerly waited for his mouth, seconds passed still nothing a loud knock on the door made her eyes snapped open, then she heard Mr Jensen’s voice.
“Miss Palmer!”
She quickly opened the door.”Mr Jensen, how can I help.”
“Some tenants are complaining about the commotion downstairs. When are those reporters leaving one can’t even get into the building without being
shoved or pushed.”
“I’m sorry Mr Jensen I’m busy taking care of it. They’ll be gone soon.”
“You better make it quick Miss Palmer. People around here love their privacy not like some of us who air our dirty laundry for everyone to see.”
Sage was taken aback by his words.”Excuse me.”He gave her the paper he had been holding in his hand Sage saw a picture of her and Bruno on the front page.
“You’re a mother Miss Palmer perhaps you should start behaving like one.” Sage gasped at his words. How dare he. She didn’t like what he was implying and was about to tell him exactly what she thought when Bruno appeared behind her, he shot a not so welcoming look at Mr Jensen, she saw him squirm under Bruno’s cold hard look. Serves him right Sage thought he deserves it especially after what he said. He might as well call her a whore because that what it sounded like. He hardly knows her yet he’s judging. How dare he.
His words stung, she was not like her mother.”I don’t appreciate your tone or the choice of words you directed at Miss Palmer.”She heard Bruno say.
“Whatever she does with her time and with whomever is her business.”
“I was-…”
Bruno held up a hand to silence him.”Don’t ever disrespect her in anyway like that again or you’ll have me to deal with. Is that understood.”A terrified
Mr Jensen only nodded.”I trust we won’t have this conversation again.”
“Of course. I’m sorry Miss Palmer.”Before she could talk Bruno continued.
“Another thing, I want Miss Palmer to be moved to a bigger apartment, a two bedroom one. I’ll pay for the cost and any extra charges.”Sage’s eyes grew large, what was he saying. She watched as he took out his check book.”That should be enough. For the year.”
“What?!”Sage said.”Bruno. What are you doing. We don’t need to move to any apartment.”
“I want her out before the end of business day. Today.”He said ignoring her.”Is that clear, I’ll be back later on to check on everything.”
Mr Jensen look at the check again with huge eyes, such a substantial amount. “This is more than enough Mr…”He looked for a name.
“Romero.”Bruno said.
“We’ll move her right away Mr Romero.”Mr Jensen said a broad smile on his face as he rushed off probably going to cash the check.
“Why did you do that?”Sage asked.”Who gave you the right.”
He leaned closer to kiss her cheek.”I have to go. We’ll talk later.”