Savage (Demented Souls #15)

30. 30

30

D onna sat beside Savage in the booth at the little diner he’d found after the movie and didn’t bother to resist the urge to lean her head on his shoulder.

“Getting tired?” he asked, picking up a fry off his plate and offering it to her.

“Not really, just enjoying being together. I like your brothers and the others but it’s a lot. Other than in the tent at night we don’t get any time where it’s just us.”

“I know, babe, but that will change after we get home. After a while you’ll be happy to get rid of me or to spend a little time with the girls. And they really like you, you know that, right?”

“I didn’t. I mean they’ve been nice. They’re not a bunch of mean girls, but I didn’t think they actually liked me. They barely know me.”

“And I barely know you, but I like you. I like you a hell of a lot.”

She didn’t know why but warmth filled her. It started low in her belly and spread until all she wanted to do was curl against him and enjoy the cared for way he made her feel.

“This has been really nice,” she said as she reached up and helped herself to one of his fries.

“What part?”

“All of it. Time with just us. Not having to worry about doing or saying something that might embarrass you.”

“Babe.”

Something about his voice made her lift her head, turn and look at him. He waited until she was looking at him to speak again, then he surprised her with his words.

“I’m not sure you could embarrass me, not in the way you mean. You shouldn’t worry about that. I hate it that you worry about that kind of thing. It shouldn’t even be on your radar.” He swiped the pad of one thumb along her lower lip, slowly.

The gesture felt more like a caress than his wiping something off her face.

“You could strip naked and run through the club house and it wouldn’t embarrass me. It would make me hard. It might piss me off, but only because I don’t want to share. I don’t want anyone else seeing what I think of as mine.” His eyes narrowed as he watched her for a moment, then he continued. “I don’t want that to scare you though. I think of you as mine. But that doesn’t mean mine to force to stay. It means mine to protect, mine to care for, to take care of. But if something were to change and you wanted to walk away, I’d let you. I’d do everything I could to make sure you are okay.” He pressed his lips together and she wondered if there was more that he didn’t say whether he didn’t want to or couldn’t for some reason. “If you decide you want to be somewhere else, you can’t be with me anymore, you won’t have to run or hide from me like you’re having to do now.” He leaned down until his forehead pressed against hers. “I promise.”

A knot formed in her throat. Donna didn’t know what to say or how to get it out if she did. “Thank you,” she whispered after a moment. She felt like she should say more but words seemed to flee her brain. Tears she couldn’t stop pooled in her eyes. She blinked quickly, not wanting them to fall, not here. “I’ll be right back.” She scooted away from him and started to stand. A hand on her shoulder stopped her.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.” She couldn’t help repeating herself as she glanced around and found the sign pointing the way. Finding the way she headed in that direction, barely paying attention to the people around her as she focused on getting to the bathroom so no one saw her tears.

After using the facilities, then washing her hands and her face, she felt much better. Or at least more able to control her emotions and face the world. She was on her way back out to the table and Savage when she spotted him. She knew the moment he spotted her too.

It took everything in her not to let her panic take control and freeze her in place. Instead, she forced herself to keep moving and headed straight for Savage.

“We need to go,” she said when she reached the table. She didn’t sit, but instead reached in and grabbed the little purse she’d brought, looping it over her head like he’d shown her.

Savage looked at her for a moment. She didn’t know what he saw in her face, but his gaze immediately swept the room.

“Who?” he said.

“It doesn’t matter. We need to leave.”

He slid out of the bench and took her hand. “I won’t do anything, babe, but it does matter. I need to know who, so I know what face to watch out for.”

Donna forced herself to take a deep breath and be patient despite her brain screaming at her that she needed to get as far away as possible. Once Savage made it to his feet, she gave him directions to find the man she’d recognized.

“Is he your ex?”

“No. But he’s one of the men of the commune. From the look when he spotted me, I have no doubt he’s looking for me.”

“No worries, I’ll take care of you. Any idea if they’re willing to make a scene or get violent?”

She watched his face as his eyes scanned the room again, stopping in the direction she’d seen Brother Jacob, then continuing. She wasn’t sure if he was looking for anyone who might be with them or just taking in the room.

“I don’t think they’ll make a scene, but I’m not sure. They won’t get violent as long as there are witnesses. But once there’s no one around, all bets are off,” she said, still watching his face. He wouldn’t let them take her. She knew that like she knew her own name.

Savage’s gaze came back to her face. “Come on, let’s go.” He took her hand and led her to the register. After he paid for the ticket, they went out to where they’d left the bike. “Anything else you’d like to do in town, or you want to head back to the ranch?” he asked as they approached the motorcycle.

“Let’s just go back.” Her enthusiasm for the excursion gone.

“I’m sorry they ruined this for you.” Savage turned to face her, used the hand he still held to tug her closer then cupped her face in his other palm. “I’d hoped for a day of fun and just getting to know each other better.”

“I’m sorry.” She tried to look away, but he didn’t release her face. “I’m causing trouble because of them.”

“No. They are the ones causing the trouble. They have no reason to be hunting for you like this. They had no right to try to keep you from leaving. They don’t own you and as much as I think of you as mine, I won’t try to hold you if you want to go. I hope you know that.”

A knot formed in her throat at the tender look on his face. “I do and thank you.”

He watched her for a moment longer then released her as he turned to the bike to pull out their helmets. He handed her the one he’d bought her at the last stop they’d made, then put on his own.

Donna had pulled on the not yet familiar helmet and was struggling with the chin strap when a voice startled her.

“There you are. Whoring around with a piece of trash, I see.”

Donna didn’t turn to see who it was, she didn’t need to. She recognized the voice as belonging to Brother Jacob. Savage would keep her safe, she reminded herself. All she had to do was finish with the helmet, then get on the bike behind her and he would make sure she was safe.

Instead of giving Jacob what he wanted, her attention and fear, she kept her attention on Savage. But he turned to Jacob, the visor on his helmet still flipped up, his face and the ire there clear.

“Are you talking about me?” Savage’s voice came out as little more than a growl.

“Yes, but I was talking to your little whore,” Jacob said.

Donna didn’t turn, she didn’t want to look at him. It took everything she had to stand tall in front of Savage, and not bow her head and cower. She knew if she were close enough, and there weren’t any witnesses, Jacob would backhand her at best, or maybe use his fist. It wouldn’t be the first time for either. She stood, frozen as Savage stepped toward Jacob, moving so he was between the angry man and her.

“You don’t get to talk to her. If you have something to say, you can say it to me. If it’s civil and not just a regurgitation of what a piece of shit you are, I might repeat it to her. But you and your rudeness have lost all right to talk to her.”

“Did your whore tell you she’s married?” Jacob snarled.

Donna winced. It wasn’t true but she wasn’t surprised they were claiming it. It would make her look worse and Noah look like an innocent victim.

“Sure did, and we’re already working on the paperwork for the divorce. I’m sure we can get it pushed through quickly, considering the abuse she’s suffered, don’t you?”

“That little whore—“

“I’m going to stop you right there. You call her that again, or anything like it and you’ll be too busy picking your teeth up off the ground to worry about anything else. If you have anything that needs to get to her, it goes through me. Don’t need to get anything to her. And you can relay that message to the dickless wonder who calls himself her husband too.”

Savage took a step back, not into her but just shy, as if he knew exactly where she stood. “Get on the bike, babe.” He turned his head maybe forty-five degrees, enough that she knew he was talking to her, as if the babe part wouldn’t have given it away, but he never took his eyes off Jacob.

Donna wasn’t sure how to get on the motorcycle without Savage already on it, but she did her best, bracing herself with her hands on the seat, then pushing herself as far back on the seat as she could, so he’d have the room to mount, then waited. He glanced her way, but didn’t turn away from Jacob as he moved to the front of the bike, stepped up and over the seat then started the engine. Savage only looked away from Jacob as he twisted the accelerator and they pulled out of the parking space, leaving him behind.