Chapter 398: Key to one’s heart
Katelyn returned to the kitchen after her bath, her hair still damp. The moment she stepped inside, her nostrils were instantly filled with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked food. Her eyes followed the source and landed on Sage, who was carefully placing the last of the dishes on the dining table.
"You’ve cooked so much!" Katelyn exclaimed as she moved closer to the table.
"Yes," Sage replied warmly. "I thought a hearty meal was necessary to make you feel good." He pulled out a chair for her. "Here, sit down."
Katelyn obeyed, her heart skipping at the unexpected gesture. As she settled onto the chair, she tilted her head just in time to catch Sage untying his apron. Her gaze drifted to the spread before her, and her eyes widened in astonishment.
"What are all these dishes?" she asked, almost breathless at the sight.
Sage’s lips curved faintly as he gestured toward the table. "This one is pan-seared salmon. You should try it with the lemon butter sauce. Since there was some salmon left, I decided to make teriyaki salmon as well, best with steamed rice. And from the meat, I made garlic butter steak bites." He glanced briefly toward the counter before adding, "I noticed you had a bottle of red wine, so we’ll open that too."
Katelyn let out a small laugh, her smile softening into something tender. "It feels like I’m in a restaurant," she murmured.
Without a word, Sage leaned forward and served a portion of the pan-seared salmon onto her plate. "Taste it," he said.
Katelyn lifted her fork and obeyed, placing the bite into her mouth. The flavors were rich, buttery, and bright with lemon, the salmon melting with the very first chew.
"That’s absolutely delicious," Katelyn said, her smile lighting up her face. "You cook like a top-notch chef."
Sage allowed himself a small smile before rising and heading to the counter. He retrieved a bottle of wine and two glasses, returning to the table with careful steps. Pouring the wine into both glasses, he set one beside Katelyn’s plate before taking his own seat.
Katelyn’s appetite got the better of her. Without hesitation, she served herself and began eating quickly, until Sage gently interrupted her.
"Eat slowly," he advised.
Katelyn chuckled softly between bites. "Honestly, the food is so good that I can’t stop myself. I’ve been famished since morning, and this rich meal... It makes me genuinely happy," she murmured, savoring a bite of steak.
"I’m glad you enjoyed it," Sage replied, picking up his fork and beginning to eat from his own plate.
When they finished, Katelyn couldn’t stop praising him, her tone warm and teasing. "I never imagined an alpha could cook such delicious food. Most never step into the kitchen. Sage, you truly have a remarkable talent."
She walked toward the sink with him, smiling as he carried the last remaining glasses. "I’ll wash them," Sage offered.
"No," Katelyn said, grabbing the gloves from his hand. "You can’t do that," she added.
"Why?" Sage arched his eyebrows with amusement in his voice.
"Because you cooked for us. You must be tired. So just take some rest," Katelyn replied softly.
"You mean here in your house? In your bed?" Sage teased, a playful glimmer dancing in his eyes.
"No," Katelyn said, still smiling. "Just rest in the living room. The couch is big enough, you know," she murmured.
Katelyn lowered her gaze as Sage gently took the gloves from her, placing them on the counter. He leaned against it, pulling her closer until his arms wrapped firmly around her lower back.
"I’ve never seen you smile at me like this before," he murmured. His eyes lingered on hers, then slowly drifted toward her lips.
"You annoy me all the time, that’s why," Katelyn whispered, her lips curling into a small smile again.
"Well, the same goes for you," Sage countered softly.
"When did I annoy you?" she asked, narrowing her eyes while keeping her smile intact.
"A lot of times. When you run away from me, when you tell me I can’t even be the guy you like, it annoys me," he said. He lifted his left hand to her temple, brushing away damp strands of hair with care. "When I found out you have someone else in your heart, it pissed me off. Then, I saw you looking at Karmen in a way you never looked at me. But today... You looked at me with the same gaze. It made me wonder if I have to impress you by cooking for you every day. If that’s what you want from me, then I have no problem with it."
Katelyn bit her bottom lip, glancing away for a moment.
"I won’t agree to marry you just because you can cook well," she said softly but firmly.
"A good meal is a key to one’s heart," Sage replied, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Yeah, that’s true," she admitted. "But you have to make my heart flutter. You have to show me that no matter what, you will stand by me, even in the worst possible situations. You have to protect me from everything. You see, I’m a princess with a lot of tantrums," Katelyn asserted.
She suddenly realized she had never spoken to anyone like this, not even to Karmen when they had gone out for dinner. She had never been able to express herself so openly to the man who once rejected her for her naivety. A thought crossed her mind: perhaps Sage might be different, yet maybe he was only showing this side of himself now... And could change later.
"Well, I like it when you throw tantrums," Sage answered. He inched his face a little close to hers, his breath fanning over her lips. "And as for fluttering your heart, it’s not tough for me. I only have to kiss you once," he whispered.
Katelyn’s fingers curled and she didn’t blink. Her heart did race rapidly. Then, she felt his thumb moving over her lips before it stopped in the middle. Leaning down, he kissed his thumb, a gesture which certainly fluttered her heart.