Hiraeth

Chapter Thirty Nine

Sage awoke to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the sheer curtains of her bedroom. The sunlight painted everything in warm gold hues, illuminating the contours of the room where she and Beckett had spent the night. Her heart swelled with a sense of contentment that she hadn't felt in ages, the remnants of their intimate conversation and laughter from the previous night still echoing in her mind.

As she turned to see Beckett, she tound him still asleep beside her, a serene expression on his face. He looked peaceful, the strong lines of his jaw softened in sleep. A twinge of affection washed over her, and she couldn't resist reaching out to brush her fingers lightly across his cheek. The warmth of his skin ignited something deep within her, a longing that had simmered beneath the surface for far too long.

He stirred at her touch, his eyes fluttering open. A lazy smile spread across his face as he caught her gaze.

"Good morning, beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

"Good morning," she replied softly, feeling her cheeks flush under his gaze.

The warmth of the morning sun paled in comparison to the heat radiating between them.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, propping himself up on one elbow, the sheets falling away to reveal the detined muscles of his chest.

"Better than I have in a long time," Sage admitted, her heart racing as her eyes traced the outline of his body. "I think having you here makes all the difference."

Beckett's expression turned serious for a moment, and he leaned closer. "I want to make you happy, Sage. You deserve that and more."

His sincerity tugged at her heartstrings. "You already do," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. The air between them shifted, thickening with an electric tension.

Beckett's gaze darkened, desire flickering in his eyes as he reached for her, drawing her close. The warmth of his body against hers sent shivers down her spine, igniting every nerve ending in her body.

"I've been thinking about this," he said, his voice low and husky. "About you. About us."

Sage's breath hitched as she felt his warm breath against her skin. "What do you mean?" she asked, though she already knew.

"I want you, Sage. I want all of you," he confessed, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race.

Before she could respond, he captured her lips in a searing kiss, pouring all his emotions into the connection.

She melted against him, her hands tangling in his hair as she pressed herself closer, wanting to feel every inch of him against her.

He deepened the kiss, their breaths mingling as the world outside faded into nothingness. Sage felt the warmth spread through her body, pooling low in her belly as she responded to him with equal fervor. The kiss became frantic, desperate, as if they were trying to bridge the gap that had kept them apart for too long.

Beckett pulled back, his forehead resting against hers as they both gasped for air. "I need you," he breathed, his eyes dark with longing.

Sage's heart raced at his words, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. "I need you too," she admitted, her voice trembling with desire.

With a shared understanding, they shifted under the covers, their bodies intertwining as they sought each other out. Beckett's hands roamed over her skin, igniting fire wherever he touched.

His fingers traced the curve of her waist, pulling her closer until she was pressed against him, every contour of her body fitting perfectly against his.