Loch’s head whipped around so quickly, she thought it might break. “Don’t fucking touch her.” His growled words were fierce as he stormed over.
His body covered hers as he lay on top of her. From head to toe, she was shielded. Her legs between his, his arms bracketing her head. Sage was…safe. There was no other word for it. Having been sheltered her entire life, never once did she actually feel safe. Not like Lochlan made her feel.
The hardness in his gaze was circled with concern for her. “Did he hurt you?” He still hadn’t lost the ferociousness from his tone.
“No.”
“Did he touch you?” His teeth ground together with the question.
Unable to look him in the eye, for fear of the disgust he would surely feel, Sage could only nod her head.
“That fucking son of a bitch is dead.” He was seething at this point, getting ready to climb to his feet.
Her hands gripped his sides tightly as she begged, “Please don’t leave me.” He was torn for a second before settling back down on top of her. His own emotions shining bright like stars on a dark night.
“I’m so damn sorry, Sage. I promised you’d be safe, and I let you down.” His face was buried in her hair. She could do nothing but comfort the anguish he must have felt upon learning she was gone.
“You can’t control everything, Lochlan. This isn’t your fault. It’s theirs.” She could never blame him. Not for this. Not for her selfish parents. Not for Morgan’s sick fantasies. He wasn’t at fault.
“Maybe not, but Angel, you’re mine to protect. How can I do that when I’m not even there? When you aren’t mine fully?” His voice was bleak in her ear.
“I am yours, Lochlan,” she insisted. No matter what happened in her life, she would always belong to him.
Pushing his body upwards, his gaze searched hers before saying, “You’re not. Not in the eyes of the law. I want you to for my own, Sage. Completely.”
“I don’t understand.” His words were genuine but confusing.
“Marry me. Be mine, and I’ll be yours, and no one can ever take you away again.”
Speechless, she didn’t know what to say. They barely knew one another. In their hearts maybe they did, the calling so powerful that nothing would keep them apart. But were they compatible?
“I–I–I don’t know what to say,” she finally whispered.
Before he could respond, Nox was whispering in his ear and pointing to the paramedics. “Fuck. Fine. But she’s not leaving my sight.”
“It’ll be alright,” she reassured him again as he helped her to her feet. His arms wrapped around her like he was afraid to let her go. “Lochlan,” she whispered.
“No.” He growled again as the EMTs came closer again. “You’re mine, and the last time I let you out of my sight, they took you.” The last couple of words were so caustic she almost couldn’t understand.
“But you have me now, and I’m here. Frank is arresting them. We can move on.” Trying to comfort him made it easier on Sage. She was terrified to overthink on what would have happened had they not shown up when they did.
“How can you be okay with all this?” The confusion mixed with his pain and anger softened her body into his hold.
“I have very few things in my life I can count on, Loch.” She waited to continue until his gaze met hers. “I have faith. I have to believe in that. And I have you. You more than anything else on this earth, I will always believe in.”
Sage could feel the emotions bleeding from his body as he took in her words. “You can always trust in me, Angel.” His rough fingers gliding through her hair worked to soothe him more.
“I do. But please, I just want to go…” She almost said home. Only to realize she didn’t have one. Sage had nothing.
“Home.” He finished for her.
“I guess I don’t have one anymore.”
He didn’t say anything for so long, she became nervous that she was acting clingy again. Placing his hand on her jaw, he lifted her head. “As clichéd as it may be, home is where your heart is, Sage. It’s not just a roof and four walls. It’s not just a shelter. It’s where you’re happiest. It’s where you feel safest.”
He was right, so very right. And she knew all of that. Always had. Sometimes hearing it from someone else worked better than telling herself, and that’s exactly what he had done. “I guess that makes you my home then.” Her murmured words were barely above a whisper. Afraid of rejection, her gaze shifted to the side. However, he wouldn’t let her hide.
Not a word needed to be said as his lips met hers softly. A gentle placement meant to convey their vulnerabilities. A meshing of their hearts without the words.