Rules 25 - Growing Feelings

David had spent the last few days basking in his surprising new victory. Without him having to do much, Sage had tanked her marriage for him. She hadn't even tried to kick him out yet. David took it as a sign that she wanted him there. Sure, she seemed a little more distant than normal, but that would probably pass over time. He sat in a large lounge chair in the living room, twirling his finger around the rim of his whiskey glass as he heard Sage's coming down the stairs. He glanced over at her, surprised to see her in a floral dress and full makeup.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" He asked. Sage stared at him blankly.

"I'm going out." She replied dully.

"Well, let me get my shit and I can come with." David lurched forward as Sage walked toward the entryway.

"No, I need some alone time," Sage replied. She threw on her sunglasses and checked her phone. David froze halfway out of the chair.

"Al-alright. Have your fucking alone time then." David slouched back in his chair before taking a deep swig of his whiskey. He tried to catch Sage's gaze with no luck.

"Are you heading home today?" She asked, never looking up from her phone.

"Why the fuck would I do that, Jeremy seems perfectly happy there." David tried to keep a tempo of indifference. But hearing Sage's disappointed sigh cut him deeply.

"Fine, try not to trash the place when I'm gone, ok?"

"I'm not a fucking animal. Our house will be fine."

"My house," Sage corrected.

"Uh huh, yeah. Whatever. The house we're both fucking living in. It'll be fine," David shot back. Sage responded by opening the front door and leaving.

It had been more and more like that lately. Sure, David could get Sage to fuck him each night. But the energy was fading, Sage appeared increasingly disinterested in their game, and David could feel it.

He didn't understand why the fuck he cared. He was getting exactly what he wanted. He was living in a nicer house, fucking someone else's woman whenever he wanted. He had won, this fucking couple was completely under his control. And yet... it felt like she was farther away than ever before.

David's fingers dug into the chair's leather arms. It didn't make any fucking sense. It was Sage's fucking fault. She could at the very least pretend to be cheerful when they were together. She was probably pissed about the whole Jeremy thing. David knew it wasn't his fault, Sage was the one who fucking told him everything. But still, he knew how ladies worked. If there was a problem they made, they'd blame it on the first guy who walked by them.

"Fucking dumb broad..." David mumbled to himself. All she had to do was play along and keep her mouth shut. If she had done that, their game could have continued happily. But now it was clear that this was David's problem, and he would have to fix it.

If he could cheer Sage up, this whole thing would blow over.

If he could make Sage happy...

"What the fuck is wrong with me," David shook his head. It wasn't his fucking job to coddle Sage. It was her job to keep her shit together and take care of him. Yet, something tugged at him. An old emotion long forgotten, a feeling of duty he had thrown away years ago.

Whether he liked it or not, he and Sage were something.

Whether or not he would admit it, David needed her to be his.

He stood up from the couch and looked around the living room. He grimaced, noting the countless empty bottles and cans he'd accumulated over the last few days. Sage's perfect little house was turning into a pig sty. Maybe that was it then. Maybe Jeremy didn't do this kind of pig shit. Maybe David needed to do all that homemaker shit so that Sage would finally get the message that he was better than that little cuck.

David went to work, lumbering around the house while haphazardly picking up his filth. He threw random knick knacks into random drawers, half-heartedly cleaned the kitchen, and even managed to get a few trash bags in order, all the while hating himself for it.

This was supposed to be Sage's fucking job. He made the fucking messes, and she cleaned them up. Why the fuck did he care if she liked him or not? Why didn't he want to be in his own fucking house, following his own fucking rules?

He missed watching his games. He had stopped when it became clear Sage didn't approve. He missed lounging in his underwear, another thing he'd put an end to when Sage made her disgust obvious. He missed laughing at his sitcoms. He missed getting piss drunk every night. He missed not giving a shit how he looked. Now, he was shaving every morning.

He definitely wasn't in as good of shape as Jeremy. Maybe that's what it was.

Spinning thoughts on endless tables. Always moving before David could get a chance to really look at any particular one.

He didn't want to think about it too much, and he hated himself for that. Not that any of it mattered. All that mattered now was getting Sage under his thumb.

But David was realizing that meant more than it did before. Her reluctant obedience wasn't enough. He needed Sage to want him.

More than that, he needed her to want them.

Then, he could finally say he had won.

David walked out of the house with trash bags in hand, feeling his chest swell with pride as he looked at his house and pictured Jeremy wallowing inside. That little cuck was going to lose. For all his good looks, success, and charm, David was determined to make him a thing of the past in Sage's life.

A smirk formed over David's face. He was better than Jeremy, he knew it. All he had to do was make Sage see it too.

He gazed through the windows of his own living room, the empty space brought back memories. David recalled the first night Sage had wandered over to his house. He remembered the stupid fucking rules she had written down on a sheet of paper. These two idiots had walked into his life willingly and given him the keys to their marriage. Jeremy had willingly given over one of the most attractive women on the planet without a second thought.

And Sage kept coming back. Even when David pushed the boundaries of their relationship, she kept crawling back to him.

Back to his fat cock.

That had to mean something, Sage said she could have picked anyone, but David knew that wasn't true. Sage had picked him, and she was continuing to pick him. He meant something to her. If Sage wanted him out of her house, he would have kicked him out long ago.

All David needed to do was break Sage on every front, not just in the bedroom. Sage needed her entire life dismantled and rebuilt around David, and that was going to start tonight.

--

The sun was setting by the time David was getting back to the house. He went out to buy a new suit, one similar to what he had seen Jeremy wear. He also got his hair trimmed and beard shaved. He even went out and ate a salad for lunch. It tasted like shit, but he figured it was time to cut some weight.

He brought home a dinner for two from the finest Italian restaurant he could find on his phone. Along with it, a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates picked up from the grocery store.

David had no idea if Sage liked Italian, or if she liked flowers, but in his mind, it would be enough to change the tide of this relationship. Once she saw how thoughtful he could be, Sage would be his.

David could picture it, he would walk through the front door and Sage would do a double-take when she saw his new appearance.

"Jesus David! You look so handsome!" She would say. David would smirk, his muscles pulling at the suit as he dropped the food on the dining room table and handed her the flowers.

"I'm full of surprises," David would reply cooly.

"And flowers? This is... I don't know what to say. You even got us dinner?" She would ask, staring him up and down in awe.

"Italian," David would say.

"Holy shit, that's my favorite... don't tell me this is from that place attached to the mall?"

"It is."

Sage's mouth would drop in shock. "That is MY FAVORITE! How did you know?"

"Call me a mind reader. I got you chocolates too," David would smile, Sage's eyes would widen. She would finally understand just how lucky she was to have found a man like him.

Sage would finally begin to see that they could be something more.

David smiled, proud of how clever he was. This was like any other deal he had closed over the years.

David snapped back to reality as he reached the front entrance of Sage's home. He turned the door handle and entered, surprised to find Sage sitting on the couch watching a reality show on the TV. She was in her baggy pajamas, her hair wet from a fresh shower. She glanced at the door, but when she saw David, her eyes darkened. Sage eyed the flowers for a moment, then turned back to the TV without a word.

Without a fucking word.

David cleared his throat, caught between fantasy and reality. Uncertain what to say since Sage hadn't jumped at the site of his grand gesture.

"I uh... got us dinner," He said flatly.

"I already ate," Sage replied equally as flatly. David didn't reply right away. He cleared his throat.

"I... cleaned the place up," He said.

"Thanks for taking care of your trash. Guess we're even since you made me clean your place for god knows how long." Sage shot back.

What the fuck was her problem? David grit his teeth and placed the food on the dining room table.

"It's Italian."

"Please tell me it isn't from that place attached to the mall," Sage said.

"It... it is."

"God I hate their pasta so much, you can have mine." Sage never turned her attention away from the TV, David felt his heart sink.

Fuck it, it didn't fucking matter. It's not like any of this mattered anyway. She was just his fuck toy. She was his plaything. This always was and would be just a game. The reasons bled on and on, mixing with David's rejection and dejection as he sat down at the dinner table.

"Well, I'm going to fucking eat."

No response.

David huffed as he opened his box of lukewarm pasta and ate. He thought it was good at the very least. Well, it was a little bland. The pasta noodles were also pretty mushy. Jesus, why did he pick this restaurant? He reached for the salt shaker, took several more half-hearted bites, then closed the container and placed the two meals into the fridge. He glanced around for a beer, but there were none left. He sighed while the fridge door closed. David glanced at the flowers and chocolates on the table and decided to bring them over to the couch. It was a fucking dumb gesture, this whole thing was fucking dumb, but it was possible that Sage hadn't seen that he'd gotten chocolates with the flowers.

He stepped over to her, gently dropping the gifts onto the coffee table. Sage glanced at them for a moment but said nothing.

Fine, fuck it, they were there and she'd seen them at least.

"Can I sit?" He asked.

"Does it matter if I said no?" Sage replied. David grit his teeth. She could be such a fucking bitch sometimes. Without a word David sat, ensuring his leg touched Sage's. She promptly scooted away from him. Then, with a reluctant sigh, David did his best to focus on the reality show.

He couldn't believe Sage liked this shit. Maybe she was more of a dumb broad than she let on.

"Games on tonight," David said dryly.

Sage responded with a very loud, and intentionally long sigh.

"It's fine though, I can always watch it later. This show's pretty interesting." Why the fuck did he say that? He wasn't some cuck like Jeremy, he didn't need to ask for Sage's permission. She was supposed to be bending to him, not the other way around.

As time rolled on, the flowers and chocolates became an increasing distraction for David. He desperately wanted Sage to acknowledge them, he wanted to receive the praise he knew he was worthy of getting.

The least she could do was try the chocolates. David knew once Sage did, her face would light up. She would finally understand just how fucking lucky she was to have someone as great as him in her life. David leaned forward and slowly grabbed the box. Then, he gently placed his hand on Sage's thigh.

He touched her in a way he never had before. Soft and vulnerable. It was enough to make Sage glance over at him in confusion.

"Would you like one?" David asked, offering the box to Sage.

"What are you doing?" She replied.

"What the fuck do you mean what am I doing?" David began to fumble over the box of chocolates, putting them down quickly next to the flowers. Sage looked at the gift, then back at David with a cold stare.

"I'm not your wife, David," She said coldly. David's face contorted in frustration.

"I fucking know that!" David averted his eyes, a hint of pain flashing through them. Sage tilted her head, and after a brief pause, she spoke.

"You're not falling in love with me, are you?" She asked. David scoffed and stood up from the table.

"Fuck you," He said, lumbering over to the fridge and opening it. No beer, he forgot. He opened the pantry where drinks were stored. Also no beer. "Jesus fucking Christ is there no fucking alcohol in this fucking house?!"

Sage's silence spoke volumes. David knew she was preparing some kind of smart-ass remark. She always did. She was lucky he was willing to put up with her bullshit. He took a deep breath and glanced over at her. She was staring at him in interest, her fingers tapping against the back of the couch.

"Is this why you've refused to go back home? Did you want to play house with me? Were you hoping you'd get to have me like Jeremy does?"

"Fuck. You!" David shot back, relieved to find a half-finished handle of vodka in the freezer. "Thank Christ."

"So you're saying that isn't what you wanted?"

"I already fucking have what I want. You're giving yourself too much fucking credit." David pulled the cap off the vodka and went to chug it, but paused when he saw Sage's judging eyes fixed on him.

He promptly got a glass from the cabinet.

"What if we do play pretend?" Sage asked. David froze mid-pour.

"What?"

"What if, for tonight, I do treat you like my husband?" Sage's words were losing their edge. Her tone of voice became soft and familiar. The same flirtatious tone he had been fighting against since the beginning of their relationship.

And as always, he didn't know what to make of her question. David never knew what angle Sage was playing at. He took a swig of vodka to clear his head.

"I don't want to be your husband..." David said softly. Sage slowly stood and walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Jesus, even in her fucking dumpy clothes, she was unbelievably hot.

"Even for one night?" She asked. Sage's hand had already moved to David's crotch before he could answer. The blood drained from his brain, mixing with the buzz of his freshly downed drink.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" It was possibly the most honest question David had asked all night. Sage was, as far as he could see it, certifiably fucking crazy. Someone needed to get her under control.

"Oh come now honey, you had such a hard day. But despite how busy you always are, you went out of your way to get me chocolates and flowers?" Sage's grip tightened around David's shaft, she bit her lip as she leaned forward, her face only inches away from David's. "You deserve to be taken care of sweetheart."

She grabbed his hand gently and led him back over to the couch. He willingly sat down, his heart racing as Sage curled up beside him and rubbed his arm gently.

"How was your day today?" She asked.

"It... it was fine," David said. He needed to be cautious. Sage was like a fucking snake, even when it made no fucking sense, she was always planning something. Still, her gentle voice, her soft body pressed against his, and her wonderful smell enraptured him.

Is this what it was like to be married to her? Is this the kind of attention Jeremy was getting?

"Honestly, I'm so lucky to have you taking care of me. I don't know what I would do if you weren't in my life." Sage said.

"Yeah... I thought I was just your fucking bull?" David was slipping, that question was far more vulnerable than he would've liked to admit.

"Not tonight you're not. Tonight, I can be my full self. Tonight, I can truly show you just how much I actually care about you, David." Sage slid down from the couch, and knelt between David's legs, spreading them wide as her hands slid up his thighs. "The truth is, you are so much more to me than just a bull. Isn't it obvious?"

David found himself speechless. As he stared into Sage's beautiful green eyes, he found himself beginning to believe her.

He wanted to believe her.

As his defenses melted, a feeling he had not felt in years came pouring back from his memories.

The faint sound of laughter, the warmth of an embrace by someone who truly loves you, the assurance that they would be there even in your darkest hours. It reminded him of a time that had passed decades ago, of a relationship he had long buried and forgotten.

Beyond sex, beyond ravaging a gorgeous woman.

This is what it meant to own someone.

"Do you mean that?" He asked. Sage slowly undid his pants, letting David's dick slap her cheek before she wrapped her delicate fingers around its base.

"You already know the answer to that question," Sage replied. Wrapping her lips around his cock. She was far more gentle than usual. Delicate, caring, compassionate. She swallowed his length while keeping her eyes fixed on his.

The head rush was overwhelming. David had forgotten what this kind of sex felt like. His heart was leaving him, it was being given over to Sage as her lips popped off his dick and she kissed it gently.

"I'm so lucky to have you David, you mean so much to me," Sage said softly. She swallowed him whole once more, his massive length easily filling her throat as he threw his head and moaned.

"I... I always wanted you like this." David's guard had dropped, he meant every word of what he just said.

Sage slowly slid her lips off his shaft and began stroking it with her delicate fingers.

"I know," She replied. She slowly climbed on top of David, straddling him as her lips drew close to his.

"I wanted you like this too, I was just too scared to admit it," Sage kissed him deeply before David could answer.

It was a kiss unlike David had ever felt before. A deep level of passion he didn't think he could have ever experienced. His mind flung away from his body, he melted into a swirl of euphoria.

David grabbed Sage's head gently and pulled her in close as their mouths opened and their tongues connected. He felt her slide out of her pants, and carefully align his throbbing mass with her entrance.

Sage pulled away from their kiss and looked longingly into David's eyes.

"If only I could have met you sooner," Sage touched the side of David's face, and slowly slid down onto his cock.

She was so tight, David found himself struggling not to cum for the first time. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her deeply once again. They fucked slowly, passionately.

So this was it, this is what Jeremy got to experience every day. David already knew he could never go back to just fucking Sage, not after this. Their pace began to quicken, David continued to kiss Sage deeply until she pulled away from him.

She rode him with soft moans and reached for his hands, their fingers interlocking as he felt the tip of his cock rub against her womb.

"I want to have your child, David. I've always wanted to have your child." Sage said. David's brain fried over, completely lost in the primal desire to make this woman his.

"I want you to be my wife," David replied.

"I already am," Sage said gently in his ear, "I love you."

David immediately buckled, he thrust upward, letting out a gasp as he dumped his load inside her. His thick hands dug into Sage's hips, pulling his body close to hers. "I love you, David," She said again.

David didn't say a word. He didn't make a violent retort, he didn't try to fight her. Instead, he gently grabbed the bottom of her chin and pulled her in for a kiss.

David felt bliss, real bliss as his seed filled Sage. He didn't want to leave her, he couldn't think of anything else but having her and her alone.

Until he heard a familiar voice from behind the couch.

"What... what is this?"

David felt Sage freeze at the sound of Jeremy's voice. She shot up from the couch, shocked to find him standing there. David smirked as he watched his cum drip out from her entrance.

"Jeremy, why... why are you here?"

David slid up and glanced backward. Jeremy stood in the entryway, disheveled and exhausted.

"I got tired of playing this game, I wanted to come home," Jeremy said weakly.

"How... how long were you there?" Sage asked.

"Long enough," Jeremy replied. He stared at Sage coldly. "So you love him, huh?' Sage looked at David, but he had nothing to add. Frankly, for the first time, he did feel a little sorry for the poor cuck.

"That wasn't... I didn't mean it like that, Jeremy I--"

David sat awkwardly on the couch, still doing his best to come back to his senses.

"Honestly Sage, don't even bother this time. It... it was fun but..."

"Jeremy it was just a game!" Sage said, "It meant nothing!"

"To you," Jeremy interjected. "To you, it meant nothing. Saying those words to some other guy meant nothing. And that's the problem. I think I'm starting to see that maybe none of this means anything to you. Even what we had."

"You know that's not true! We were doing this together, I'm doing this for us!" Sage sounded terrified. David could see the tears welling up in her eyes.

She had really fucked up this time.

The room went silent, only faintly filled by Sage's final plea.

"Jeremy, please..."

"I'm going to go. Have fun with your new husband." Jeremy walked out of the house. Leaving Sage alone with David.

The air grew cold as he watched Sage take in the greatest blow of her life. But despite Sage breaking down into tears and collapsing on the ground, David couldn't help but smile.

Jeremy was absolutely right, he would be her new husband from now on.