Chapter 10
Savage continued to hold me long after I’d recovered. When I finally made a move to leave the security of his embrace, his arms tightened.
“Another minute,” he murmured, resting his chin on my head.
I smiled against him.
“Waverly told me once that a twenty second hug triggers the release of oxytocin which helps reduce stress, improves your mood, and deepens emotional connection.”
“We’ve hugged longer than twenty seconds,” I pointed out.
“Hmm. True. But I like you here.” He squeezed me and then let me go.
Savage grabbed the plate of brownies and headed toward the bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I asked, turning off the light and following him.
“When I wake up in the middle of the night, I’m going to need a snack. Don’t want to risk waking you, ergo, the plate of brownies is going next to the bed.”
“Ergo, huh?” I asked with a smile.
The bed was already mussed, and I made a move to straighten it up. Savage placed the plate on the nightstand and then sat down to take off his boots. After he did, he stood again and then hung up his leather cut and stripped out of his jeans and shirt.
That left him in nothing but a pair of boxers with his bare chest exposed.
My eyes widened. “ Oh my .”
He smirked. “Oh my? Is that your version of a swear word? If so you gotta put a dollar in the jar.”
I bit my lip to stifle my grin. “Not even close. You will be the only one contributing to the swear jar.”
“What are you going to do with all the money I end up shelling out?”
“Not sure. Maybe I’ll buy myself a present.” My gaze wandered back over his body. I stared at his thigh.
His muscular thigh. The thigh I wanted to bite.
Good lord.
“Eyes up here, babe. I’m not a piece of meat.”
My head shot up and he grinned.
I gestured to the bathroom, flustered at being caught staring at him. “I don’t have a spare toothbrush, but feel free to finger brush with toothpaste.”
“A woman concerned about oral hygiene. I like that.” He winked and then sauntered to the bathroom.
Yeah, I’m in so much trouble.
The admission about my past hadn’t tripped him up. And my show of emotion hadn’t terrified him either.
Savage returned to the bedroom, and I went to brush my teeth. I looked in the mirror. My cheeks were flushed and the shadows beneath my eyes were disappearing.
Maybe I was slowly coming back to the land of the living. Maybe my husband hadn’t beaten the spirit out of me.
I rinsed my mouth and dried my face with the hand towel. After shutting off the light, I went back to the bedroom.
Savage had already climbed into bed and made himself comfortable. The lamp next to the bed was turned on so I hit the main light, and the room went mostly dark. I crawled into bed and flipped over onto my back, pulling the covers up to my chin.
“That’s not really going to work for me,” Savage said.
I looked at him. “What do you mean?”
Without a word, he lifted his arm and patted his chest. “Let me turn off the lamp.”
The room was suddenly bathed in total darkness as I scooted closer to him and settled in the crook of his body. My hand went to his pec, and he covered it with his own.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
“For what?”
“For letting me stay the night . . .”
“Thanks for wanting to be here,” I replied.
He brushed his lips against my forehead. “Night, Evie.”
The next morning, I found myself sprawled on top of Savage. My hip was hiked over his waist, and I felt his erection pressing against my leg. My nightgown was bunched around my waist. I felt his hot skin . . . everywhere.
Embarrassment coasted through my belly, but delicious desire pooled between my legs.
I hesitantly looked up to see if Savage was still sleeping.
He wasn’t.
His blue eyes were open and clear.
I swallowed. “I should move.”
Savage’s arm tightened around me. “Don’t you dare.”
“But I’m?—”
“Exactly where I want you to be,” he interrupted.
I bit my lip in worry, his gaze dropping to my mouth. And before I could over think the moment his lips covered mine and his hands delved into my tousled hair.
He held me to him as he rolled me over onto the bed so that I was on my back. Savage hovered over me. Our bare legs tangled, and he deepened the kiss.
I closed my eyes and sank into the mattress, and I wrapped one leg around him to keep him pressed against me.
His hand skated up my leg to grip my outer thigh. He kissed me as he stroked my skin.
I tumbled deeper into the cavern of desire where there was no light, only the sensations of Savage’s warm breath, his tender touch, and the leisurely, easy movements he made to tantalize me.
I wrenched my mouth from his and sucked in a breath of air. “Savage,” I moaned.
“I know,” he said, pressing his forehead to mine. “God, I know.”
With a groan he forced himself away from me.
My fingers went to my lips. They were swollen and tingly.
With just a few kisses, my body was begging for him. It was greedy and demanding, and it took over every part of my being.
My mind had no say in the matter.
He looked at me, his eyes liquid with need.
I licked my lips. “Please.”
“Please what?”
“I want you, Savage.”
“I know, baby. I can feel the heat of you.”
Savage moved toward me, sliding his leg between my thighs and gently pressing against my cleft.
I moaned as sparks of pleasure shot through my core.
“You want me?” he rasped.
I nodded eagerly.
“Not right now,” he murmured, dotting my skin with his lips. “Not this morning.”
“Why not?” I panted as his hands skated across my body.
“Because I want time with you. Nice and slow. Not a quick fuck.”
“Savage—”
“Yes, I am a savage. An animal. But you deserve to be fucking worshipped. You don’t deserve a quick roll in the hay.”
“Rolling in hay can be fun,” I purred.
“You’re a vixen.” He laughed softly. “Plenty of time for rolls in the hay . We’ll get there. Trust me.”
I sighed in remorse, my ardor cooling despite the heat of his body near mine.
He kissed me on the lips, quickly, and then pulled back. “So, let’s drink some coffee and in a few hours, I’ll drive you to work. And tonight, I’m taking you out to dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“Yeah, babe. It’s called a date. And I promise it won’t be at a taco truck.”