Chapter 56
FIFTY-SIX
HARLEY
I breathe in the salty air, filling my lungs and slowly expelling it as I take a step toward Savannah, where she’s standing at the end of the pier.
I didn’t even know this place was here, but if I did, I probably would have come here a lot sooner.
It’s a hell of a lot quieter than the pier we first met on, not having any of the attractions and being in a quiet, peaceful area.
“You shouldn’t be out on your own,” I say softly, and she jumps before spinning around, her eyes wide. As soon as she realizes it’s me, her shoulders relax, and she turns back, facing the sea.
“Asshole,” she mutters. “You scared the shit out of me.”
I chuckle. “How do you think I felt when you weren’t in the library or your dorm?”
Sav shakes her head. “How did you find me?”
“Logan tracked your phone.”
“He tracked my phone?” she all but screeches, and I can’t help but laugh. Sure, maybe it was a step too far, but we were worried about her, so she’ll just have to deal with it.
Logan wanted to come along and talk some sense into her, but I managed to convince him to let me do it on my own. After all, I’m pretty sure I’m the reason she’s here to begin with.
It was a nice one-hour drive—very scenic—but would have been a hell of a lot better if I wasn’t stressed the fuck out about the girl in front of me. She has no idea how much we all care about her well-being, but she’ll figure it out eventually.
She looks so beautiful, bathed in moonlight, wearing leggings, a hoodie, and no makeup. I smile, enjoying seeing her like this when she never dresses like this at school.
“He did,” I reply after a moment. “We didn’t know where you were and panicked.”
“And so you drove all the way here just to check on me? It’s an hour’s drive.”
I tilt my head, not understanding her point.
“Of course.” She looks at me over her shoulder, her face twisted into an adorably confused expression, and I sigh.
“You don’t get it, do you?” I take a couple of steps toward her until I’m right in her space, my arms coming out to hold onto the metal so that I’m bracketing her against the railing.
“We’re gonna do whatever it takes to make sure you’re safe. ”
“You don’t need to do that,” she whispers, staring out over the dark waters while I can’t take my eyes off her.
“I don’t have a choice, baby.”
That makes her turn in my hold to look up at me, a furrow between her brows. “Why? Is Logan making you do it? Because you know if you don’t want—”
I cut her off by pressing my lips softly against hers.
It’s quick and gentle, barely scratching the surface of what I really want and need, but it’s enough for now.
“That’s why. I don’t have a choice. I need you safe, Sav.
I need you to be okay. Things might still be rocky between us, and I know you don’t trust me, but I’m gonna be here for as long as you let me, and probably longer still. ”
“You’re not yourself anymore,” she whispers, her eyes darting to the side, and confusion fills me.
“What do you mean? Of course I’m myself.”
Sav shakes her head adamantly. “Not the side of you I’m used to seeing. I understand you’re not always like that, but you did always take what you wanted, and you were never gentle. Not like you’re being right now.”
“I’m still that person, I just didn’t think you wanted that,” I murmur, but she doesn’t say anything. Not a word, she just continues to gaze at nothing beside my face. “Is that what you want, baby? You want me to take what I want?”
Her eyes meet mine, and the fire in them has anticipation buzzing in my veins and my cock thickening.
“It is, isn’t it? You’re so much of a slut for it, you want me to take whatever I want, whenever I want?” Her pupils dilate, and her lips form an O. “Yeah, that’s exactly it.”
If I knew this was what she really liked a few days ago, I would have gone along with Noah’s idea of kidnapping her instead of taking my time trying to win her over.
I push her backward with my body until she’s right up against the railing and we’re touching almost everywhere.
Grinning, I trail my fingers lightly over her cheek before clasping her chin with my thumb and forefinger.
Tilting her face up to mine, I press my thumb against her lower lip, and her tongue comes out to meet it, making me groan.
“You’re killing me, little devil,” I say, and crush my mouth to hers, reveling in the taste of her. My tongue invades her mouth and tangles with hers as she whimpers.
Reaching down, I grab her thighs just below her ass and lift. She doesn’t fight me, she just wraps her legs around my waist and brings her hands to my hair before deepening the kiss.
Everything about this moment is perfect.
Every. Single. Thing.
But still, I need more.
I need to feel her, be surrounded by her, engrave her onto me. I grind against her, rubbing my hard dick against her pussy, and fuck, how I wish we didn’t have clothes between us right now.
I’d love nothing more than to strip her bare and fuck her right here, but it’s risky. Too risky.
I’m used to fucking her in public spaces, but not out in the open like this. While this may be a quiet town, that doesn’t mean someone won’t see us, and I won’t take that risk. Not with her.
I’ve taken too many risks with her already, and it’s about time I started protecting her instead.
“Harley,” she whines and rips her mouth away from mine, panting. “I need more.”
Fuck.