Tough To Love

by Rochelle, Marie

  Vanity glanced over at Sage and then back at him. “Well….there was a time Sage might have cared, but since she has Julian now she doesn’t focus on you anymore.”

  He already knew that Sage was starting to change towards him, but Vanity and Shawn didn’t have to keep shoving it in his face at every turn.

  “Just drop it. I’m not going to argue with you tonight. I want to socialize with a few people and see how much money Julian is lacking to meet his goal. I guess I can ask Sage if I have to, since she is Julian’s right hand now.”

  Placing her hands her hips, Vanity took her defensive stance like she usually did when he mentioned Sage. “Oh, I see what the problem is now. You want to go and talk to your little pet. Can’t you ever spend some time away from her? She’s with another man now.”

  “Vanity, enough with your comments about Sage. I wanted to do this when we were alone, but I’m tired of you. I can’t take it anymore. We’re over. I’m done. Don’t call me or come by my office. You aren’t welcome anymore. Do you understand me?”

  She gasped, placing her hand against her chest. Vanity looked quickly around, trying to make sure no one had heard him, but he didn’t give a damn if they had. He was done with her nastiness towards Sage.

  “You can’t be serious. I’ve been telling people we’re engaged. You can’t break up with me. My parents won’t stand for it. They’re looking forward to us getting married.”

  Rally shrugged. “It was your mistake. You shouldn’t have been going around town telling lies. I warned you about it and you didn’t listen to me. So, now you have to fix it, don’t you? I want Sage. I have no clue why I stayed with you so long. It had to have been one of the worst mistakes in my life, but I’m about to fix it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go over there and take Sage away from Julian.” Rally left Vanity without a backwards glance.

  Storming across the room, he came up behind Sage while she was in a deep conversation with Julian. She flinched when he wrapped his fingers around her elbow and glanced at him over her shoulder.

  “You scared the hell out of me. What do you want?”

  She never asked him that before. She was always pleased to be in his company. Julian’s presence was changing her and he didn’t approve of it, not one bit.

  “I need to speak with you and I won’t take no for an answer.” He glared at Julian, daring him to argue.

  “Sage, go ahead.” Julian answered, returning his look. “I’ve a few things I have to take care of. You can use the patio for privacy.”

  Sage looked back and forth between them like she really wasn’t too sure about going with him. Her actions made him wonder how close she was already to Julian. Was it too late to plead his case and see if she wanted to give them a try as a real couple?

  “Okay, but I’ll be back later so we can leave together.”

  Rally hated how Sage’s words cut at him, but he pushed them down. He would deal with all of this once he got her alone. It could be all an act since he had been so rough with her in the past.

  “Wonderful, let’s go.” Taking Sage by the hand, he took her through the crowd towards the patio. Outside, he shut the door, locking it behind them.

  Sage walked away from him and stood with her back against the railing. “Are you trying to ruin this night for Julian or what? I know whatever you had to say could have waited until another time.”

  He had forgotten how adorable Sage looked when she got her anger up. Her eyes sparkled behind her glasses and her breasts heaved drawing his eyes down to them. After a long stare, he raised his eyes back up to hers. Yeah, he loved Sage and his feelings only grew more each and every day.

  “I love you. I broke up with Vanity. I told her you were the woman I wanted.”

  ****

  Sage caught herself in time before she fell over the banister from complete shock. She was beginning to put Rally behind her and he pulled this shit on her. What was she supposed to say to him? Did he want her falling into his arms, especially after the way he had treated her?

  “No,” she uttered, shaking her head. She wasn’t going to fall for his games anymore.

  “What do you mean no?” Rally questioned. “I just told you that I love you. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Vanity is gone. She won’t be a problem. I apologize for not seeing how she was treating you sooner.”

  “Rally, you shouldn’t have broken up with Vanity. Maybe if you go back and apologize she will take you back. I’m not going to let you do this to me.”

  “Do what?” he asked, taking a step towards her.

  “Make me believe that you care about me,” she answered. “Now, I do think you love me in your own way, but I want a man to be in love with me, including all of my flaws. Like how I love to eat dry Frosted Flakes while watching television sometimes. Or how on Sunday mornings I love to go outside and feed the birds in the backyard before going to church. You know, little things like that.

  “You only think you love me because you’re sexually attracted to me. You aren’t thinking with the right head. I can’t ruin my future on girlish dreams anymore,” she said.

  “Come here,” he said, his voice deep and rough.

  She had never heard Rally sound like this before, especially towards her, so she couldn’t move. His gaze was hot and glittery as he stared at her; it was like he was trying to undress her with his eyes while seeing straight into her soul at the same time.

  “No, I won’t do it.”

  “Damn it, I said come here.”

  Slowly, Sage made her way towards him but she stopped, leaving just enough space between them. She didn’t want to get too close because her self-control was slipping.

  “When I tell you close….I mean close,” Rally said before jerking her body to his.

  A soft gasp flew from her lips as her breasts brushed against Rally’s hard chest. The heat of him burned her through their layers of clothing.

  How was it possible for one man to ooze so much sex appeal?

  “I love you in your glasses, but they’re going to be in the way.” He took them off her face and slid them into the front pocket of his tuxedo. “I want to be able to touch you.”

  Running a finger along the side her face, Rally traced her cheekbone and then placed his hand under her chin. Tilting her face back, he stared into her eyes. “You aren’t going to date Julian anymore. I let you get by with it for a while, but it’s over. He’s your friend and nothing else.”

  Sage couldn’t focus on anything but how good Rally’s body heat felt against her. He was the man she longed to be with, but could she finally believe the words coming out of his mouth? He possessed such a silver tongue. He was able to make her believe most things he told her, but was this finally the truth? She couldn’t tell for sure.

  “Do you know how much I want to kiss you?”

  “You’ve kissed me before,” she whispered, getting lost in his emerald gaze.

  “I know, but that was out of anger and power. This kiss will involve need and passion. I need to sample you.”

  Bending his head, Rally ran his tongue along the side of her mouth. “I remember the first time you kissed me and you tasted like strawberries,” he breathed.

  “It was my lip gloss. I haven’t worn anything like that in years,” Sage admitted. The intoxicating scent of his rich cologne circled around them, making her senses shoot into overdrive. “I also remember what you tasted like, Rally.”

  “How did I taste, honey?”

  “Like power…sexy and potent.”

  “I think I want to change your opinion of my kisses,” Rally whispered the second before his mouth captured hers.

  His lips moved over hers. The kiss sent spirals of excitement through her. Moaning, she wrapped her arms around Rally’s neck and pressed her body even closer. The masculinity of him engulfed her, making her lose all rational thought. She should be shocked at her eagerness at returning his kiss, but she wasn’t.

  “Open your mouth.” His warm breath whis
pered against her mouth. “I want to taste you.”

  “No, this is wrong,” Sage whispered, trying to come to her senses.

  “Baby, this is so right,” Rally uttered a second before his tongue traced her mouth and slipped inside.

  Her fingers curled into his hair as she pushed all of her arguments to the back of her mind. Rally was making her body hot and achy. She didn’t want it to end. He was doing everything she had ever wanted since she turned twenty-one. Blood rushed through her veins, her heart pounded away in her chest, making her knees weak.

  “Sage,” Rally moaned hungrily.

  The sound of her name on his lips shocked her out of whatever trance she was in. Shoving Rally away from her body, she moved away from him to place some distance between them.

  “What am I doing? Julian doesn’t deserve me betraying him like this.”

  “Honey, listen to me. We can both tell Julian together that we love each other. He’ll understand.” Rally reached for her, but she slapped his hand away.

  “No, I never said I loved you.”

  “Sage, don’t do this,” he warned in a dangerously low voice. “I know you’re torn between your loyalty to Julian and what you feel for me. But, you need to make the right decision and pick me. Baby, I love you.”

  “See, and there lies the difference between you and Julian. You love me, but he’s in love with me. The choice is easy for me. Goodbye, Rally.” Easing around his body, she made it to the door, opened it, and went through it.

  Sage hurried down the hallway as if the hounds of hell were after her. She was finally having some independence and Rally wasn’t going to ruin that for her. Maybe things were finally over with Vanity, but he shouldn’t have thought he could come running to her. She wasn’t about to welcome him with open arms. If he was looking to burn off some steam, it wouldn’t be with her.

  ****

  “I knew that you dumped Rally out of your life, but did you have to get rid of me, too? I thought we were so close.” The light teasing sound of Shawn’s voice made Sage stop watching the kids on the playground at Serenity.

  “Hey! What are you doing here? I thought you would be at work this time of day,” she answered, giving him a hug.

  “After the way Rally stormed off the patio last night, I thought I’d come and check on you. Are you okay?” he asked, sitting on the top of the picnic table. “I’ve never seen him that steamed before. I thought he was going to follow you, but he changed his mind at the last second and left.”

  “I don’t care what is going on with your brother. I told him the same thing last night, even after he confessed he loved me.”

  Shawn’s head spun around so fast it was almost comical. “He what? I can’t believe it. Isn’t that what you’ve been waiting for? Why aren’t you with him right now? I remember a time when you couldn’t get enough of Rally. Are you sure you truly want this?”

  “It has to be this away. My hero worship of him ended a while go. I think it would be better if I just stayed away from him completely. Didn’t you move out to prove a point to him? I’m just doing the same thing.”

  “Hell yeah, but I still go and see the dumbass. He’s my brother and I love him, despite the fact he can drive me up the wall with all his complaining about Lara. I’m not about to marry her, but he doesn’t seem to understand that. Why don’t you go and see him? Talk to him, Sage. Rally wouldn’t have told you that he loved you if he didn’t mean it.”

  Why was Shawn pushing so hard for her to go and see Rally?

  “I can’t. I’ve plans with Julian.”

  “Sage, I know Rally wasn’t that caring or loving to you for years, but I think he’s seeing what he had been fighting. Did you know he broke up with Vanity at the charity event last night? He came to you right afterwards, and it took a lot for him to do it. We both know how much it took for him to do that. He’s trying to make you see how much he cares, but how can he do that if you’re avoiding him at every pass?”

  “Shawn, you know I would do anything for you. However, I can’t keep getting my heart broken by Rally. I’m trying my best to move past him.”

  “With Julian,” Shawn uttered. “You can’t be serious.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with Julian and we get along wonderfully,” she defended. “You like Julian, so why are you bad mouthing him now?”

  “I do like Julian and I think Serenity is an outstanding organization, but are you getting fulfilled here like you were working with Rally?”

  Standing up, Sage pulled her shirt down and slid her hands into the front pockets of her khaki shorts. “Shawn, I love you, but if you start acting like a smaller version of your domineering brother, than I can’t be around you anymore. I’m meant to be here and I’m not leaving.”

  “Whoa, I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do,” Shawn apologized, jumping up from the picnic table. “However, the only thing I ask is you don’t shove Rally out of your life completely. He’s just beginning to realize how much he needs you and you need him, too.”

  “I don’t need him.”

  “Sure you don’t, kiddo,” Shawn said, kissing her on the cheek. He gave her a quick wink and then headed back towards the front of Serenity.

  “God, I wish I was the only child,” she mumbled under her breath.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Shawn wanted her to come and see Rally, so here she was hiding out like she was scared or something. Sage didn’t know how long she had been sitting outside in her car, staring at Rally’s house. She didn’t consider it her home anymore since she moved out over two months ago.

  Could she still walk right on in without knocking on the door?

  She wouldn’t even be here right now if Shawn hadn’t come to her job and made her feel guilty. Why should she be the one pursuing Rally? If he loved her like he claimed, then the ball was in his court to impress her.

  Every time she got around Rally, she seemed to fall for his charm and sex appeal, but today wasn’t going to be that day. Hell, she was going to walk through that door and act as if nothing was wrong. .

  “Lord, Rally would love to know that I was nervous about seeing him. I need to get my ass out of this car.” Opening the door, she got out and made her way up the steps. Without bothering to knock, Sage went straight inside and closed the door behind her.

  Traces of Rally’s Native American heritage were found throughout the house, from the rugs on the floor to the Shawnee paintings on the wall. Rally had always been so proud of his legacy.

  “Are you going to stand there looking around like you never lived here, or did you come here for a reason? I mean, you have been avoiding me since the charity event when I told you that I loved you.” Rally’s voice blasted from behind her, making her body shiver.

  Turning around, Sage’s eyes widened as Rally came down the steps wearing a pair of black slacks and matching shirt opened at the collar. A lock of raven black hair had fallen across his forehead. The look made him even more mouth-wateringly delicious.

  Whoa girl….calm down. You can’t look at him like that anymore. He’s off limits.

  “I came to check on you. Shawn paid me a visit yesterday and told me I should come and see you. So, here I am.”

  “He shouldn’t have done that. I’m fine,” Rally said, walking around her into the den. “You can leave now and go back to Julian since his love is more important than mine to you,” he told her.

  Swallowing down an instant comment, she strolled behind Rally into the room. “Okay, what’s wrong? I know you usually aren’t home this time of day. Are you having problems at work?” She secretly wished Rally would just tell her he was in love with her again and everything would be perfect.

  Rally pivoted so fast that she ran smack into the middle of his chest. Grabbing her by the arms, he held her against him. “Are you ready to give up this pretend relationship with Julian? You want to be with me? I know you do.”

  She tried to move out of Rally’s grasp, but he wasn’t letting go. “We hav
e been over this. I want more from you. I deserve more. Why can’t you just give it to me?” Sage stared into his eyes and waited for him to respond.

  “God, Sage. You are asking too much of me. I love you. Why isn’t that enough for you?” Rally uttered, stepping back from her. “Why can’t we just be together and leave it at that?”

  How dare he ask her something like that after she had poured out her heart to him so many times? Why would he think she would agree to such terms? She was too special to only have a part of him, and if that was all he had to offer, than she wouldn’t take it.

  “If I can’t have all of you, then I won’t live with only half. I’m not like that. I give one hundred percent to everything I do. How can you ask me to only take fifty percent? I’m not made like that. I want all of you, Rally.”

  “You’re willing to give up what we could have because I can’t marry you?” Rally demanded. “Julian isn’t the marrying type, either. You’re living in a dream world if you think he is.”

  What was he talking about?

  “Rally, I never had you. For as long as I can remember, you found ways not to be around me, from working late at the office to numerous out of town trips. I can’t let you go because you aren’t mine.”

  “Sage, I was fighting my growing emotions for you. I had to try fighting it. Don’t you understand?”

  “I’ll let you keep telling yourself that lie, but we both know why you want me to break up with Julian.”

  Rally eyed her like he didn’t believe she knew. She couldn’t wait for him to take the bait so everything could be out in the open. Sage knew this was going to be something that stayed with her for a lifetime.

  “All right, I’ll ask the question. Why don’t I want you with Julian?” he tossed back.

  “You’re jealous that he’s going to give me everything you can’t: love, commitment, and most of all, children.”