<h4>Chapter 556: Shed that control tonight</h4>


    Sage pressed the bell of Katelyn’s apartment while hiding the flower bouquet behind him along with the gift bag. A few secondster, the door opened, and Katelyn weed him into her apartment.


    Sage walked in and removed his shoes before slipping his feet into the provided slippers while Katelyn led his way inside.


    "Take a seat. I’ll bring water for you," Katelyn said, turning to face him.


    "For you, Kate," Sage said, forwarding the bouquet of red roses to her. "And also this small gift," he murmured.


    "Thank you," Katelyn epted the gift from him while holding the bouquet too. "They are lovely. But don’t buy too many bouquets. Once the roses wither away, I have to throw them out," she muttered softly, a practical consideration mixed with her appreciation.


    "Sure," he replied.


    "Have a seat. I’ll be back soon," Katelyn replied, cing the red roses and the gift bag carefully on the coffee table. She then headed toward the kitchen, returning shortly with a ss of water for him presented neatly on a small tray.


    "The Princess shouldn’t be burdened with such chores," Sage said, immediately rising to his feet again, gently intercepting the tray from her hands with a familiar gesture of chivalry.


    Katelyn’s eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "Weren’t you the one who once loudly proimed that I was a spoiled, entitled princess?" she challenged, her eyebrow arching yfully.


    "Well, you were," Sage admitted with a wry smile, cing the tray down. "You threw quite a lot of theatrical tantrums back then." He picked up the ss and sipped the water, quenching his thirst.


    Katelyn naturally shifted their conversation to the upheaval in his family.


    "How are your sisters doing? After what their mother did, they must be devastated, especially Zoey. She seemed to be extremely attached to their mother," Katelyn asked, her voice softening with genuine concern.


    Sage leaned back, a heavy sigh escaping him. "They wille out of that betrayal; they’re strong girls. Also, to be fair, they were always aware of the strain in our home, and how their mother often treated me. So, they did have some idea that their mother wasn’t exactly... Maternal. But a mother is still a mother for her children. Dad mentioned that Zoey wasn’t taking her meals in the beginning, but things are starting to stabilize now."


    "And what about Vance?" Katelyn probed gently, asking about his half-brother.


    "Well, he’s still my half-brother," Sage answered. "Despite everything, I decided to extend a lifeline and offered to help him with some work. But so far, he hasn’t shown himself to im the offer. I wonder where he has disappeared to," he mumbled, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face, suggesting Vance’s absence might be intentional.


    "Maybe the truth was too much for him to handle. He might be wanting some space for himself," Katelyn remarked, trying to offer a charitable exnation for Vance’s absence.


    "I think so," Sage agreed, epting the possibility. He then changed the subject to a more immediate, cheerful topic. "Shall I order dinner?"


    "No. I’ve made the dinner already. Let’s go then and have our supper," she pointed, already heading toward the dining room. Sage followed her lead and was immediately impressed by the scene: the elegant candle stand resting on the table’s center, illuminating many different dishes set out beautifully.


    "You prepared all of this alone by yourself!?" Sage asked, genuinely surprised, knowing her background.


    "No. I took help too. I called maids from Brother Gabriel’s house," Katelyn answered honestly, setting the record straight. "I’m not as good a cook as you are, Sage. But I wanted a homemade meal with you tonight," she asserted, her expression conveying the effort and thought behind the gesture.


    "That’s so thoughtful of you. Thank you," Sage said with a genuinely warm smile, touched by her effort to create an intimate evening for them.


    "Now, let’s sit and enjoy our supper," Katelyn pronounced after lighting the candles and switching off the remaining lights in the room, creating a romantic atmosphere.


    Having enjoyed the hearty meal, Sage and Katelyn enjoyed the wine in the end, allowing the conversation to drift into more personal territory.


    "Sage, have you thought about where to go for our honeymoon after we get married?" Katelyn asked, biting her lower lip with a hint of shyness and excitement.


    "Not yet. But I do have a few ces in my head," Sage replied. "I would prefer your choice, though."


    "Umm... Let’s go to Ind Zekotia," Katelyn suggested. "I heard during the winters, it bes a breathtakingly beautiful destination."


    "Yeah, I’ve heard the same. Then, I’ll book the resort there," Sage stated firmly.


    "I’ll contribute too," Katelyn replied seriously, intending to be involved in the financial nning.


    "Are you serious, Kate?" Sage chuckled, amused by her insistence on contributing.


    "What about a private resort where only you and I be present? I don’t want any disturbance," Katelyn stated, emphasizing her desire forplete privacy.


    "You mean, you want to be in the bed all day and night!?" Sage teased her, his eyes warm with affection.


    "What? No!" Katelyn’s cheeks flushed red as she quickly took thest sip of wine from the ss before pouring herself more, attempting to hide her embarrassment with a rush of activity.


    "All you think about is... Sleeping with me," Katelyn murmured, trying to maintain her shyposure but taking another defiant sip of wine.


    "What’s wrong in that? We love each other," Sage stated, his fingers tracing the rim of the ss as he held Katelyn’s gaze. "Well, you’ve been too shy so far, but I am not in a hurry. I have learned to keep a good control," he asserted.


    Suddenly, she stood up, the wine giving her a sudden, bold rity. She leaned toward him and initiated a kiss. Her fingers deliberately traced the outline of his lips before she pulled back an inch. Her eyes, darkened with sudden desire, held his as she whispered, "Then, you can shed that control tonight."


    Sage’s pupils instantly changed color, his inner Alpha surging to the surface, as he quickly rose to his feet. Katelyn had straightened up too, ready. He closed the distance between them with a single step, pressing his body against hers while capturing her mouth in a passionate, consuming kiss that swept away all their remaining inhibitions.