Chapter 33
“Evie. Evie, wake up.”
“No.” I snuggled deeper into the pillows. “Dreaming. Nice dream.”
“I know, you’re dreaming of me.”
My eyes flipped open, and my heart soared in happiness. And then I leapt at Savage who was sitting on the edge of the bed. I could only see the faintest outline of him because he’d left the bedroom light off, but the nightlight in the hallway was lit.
His mouth sought mine.
“Missed you so fucking much,” he said against my lips.
“Not as much as I missed you,” I whispered.
“Not possible.”
His hands skated up and down my body. Shivers of desire erupted along my skin. He’d already taken off his cut and shirt and my hands traced his shoulders and then my finger sank into his hair.
Savage laid me back against the pillows, refusing to remove his mouth from mine.
He undressed me slowly, peeling my clothes from me like he had all the time in the world.
“Savage,” I whispered.
His mouth moved from my lips to my cheek down my neck to my collar bone. He paid homage to my breasts and nipples, taking them into his mouth. He lavished them with focused attention until they strained into peaks. But eventually, he drifted lower and his tongue slipped between my thighs.
“Missed this, too, babe.”
Savage ate like a man having his last meal. He ate like he’d never tasted anything so sweet in his life. And he didn’t stop, not even when he wrung a cry from my lips and tears filled my eyes.
He didn’t even stop as I came on his tongue, shaking with the tremors of my release.
And while I was in the throes, he slid up my body and into me.
He groaned and dropped his head. “I don’t care about anything else. I just want to live inside you.”
“Yes.” I arched against him and my nails clawed his back.
“Mark me, babe. Gouge me. Draw blood.”
I was mindless with pleasure. It was like I’d been plugged in to an electrical socket. I felt everything. Maybe it was the hormones. Maybe it was our reunion.
Maybe it’s just Savage.
He ground his pelvis against me, rubbing his massive shaft on that perfect spot inside me and white spots of lightning appeared behind my eyes.
“Squeeze me,” he commanded.
I clenched around him.
He thrust and thrust until I was coming and then he was coming too, and the sounds of us mixed together in a joyous symphony of pleasure and release.
Savage stilled inside me. He framed my face with his hands and placed kisses all over my forehead, cheeks, nose and lips.
“Don’t move,” he said as he slid out of me.
I clenched again as he went, causing him to shiver. He got up and felt around for something and then he turned on the lamp.
He had a week’s worth of stubble and I knew I’d have whisker burn on my skin.
“This is for you.”
He held out a long thin box wrapped in black paper with silver ribbons. I took it from him and lifted the lid. It was a velvet jewelry box. I flipped it open and saw a dainty gold chain with two pearls inside a golden pea pod.
“Two peas in a pod,” I said quietly.
His hand settled low on my belly. “When I saw it, I thought of you immediately.”
“Savage,” I whispered. “I love it.” I leaned over and brushed my lips across his. “Put it on me?”
“After.”
“After what?”
“After we shower.” He took the box from me and set it on the nightstand.
We showered, lingering and touching, soaping each other. We kissed and stayed in long after we were pruny and steam filled the room.
“How did you get into the building?” I asked, sliding into bed, my wet hair sticking to my neck.
“I’ve had a key to the bakery for ages. And Brooklyn texted me the new security code.”
Savage climbed in bed next to me and then hit the lamp.
I groaned. “My alarm is going off in two hours. That’s going to mess with my sleep schedule.”
“Because middle of the night homecoming sex didn’t.” He opened his arm, and I snuggled into his side. And because Savage was finally in bed next to me, I fell into unconsciousness quickly.
It felt like I’d been asleep for five minutes when my alarm went off. I silenced it, hoping it didn’t wake Savage.
He slept right through it.
I got dressed and quietly crept from the bedroom and went down to the bakery to make sourdough.
A few hours later, with the sourdough loaves cooling, I went back upstairs to the apartment. The strong coffee the barista had brewed smelled earthy and bold, so I brought Savage a cup, along with a breakfast sandwich.
But he was still asleep.
Grinning, I decided to wake him up.
I gently pulled back the covers and grasped his morning erection.
He wasn’t fully cognizant when I wrapped my lips around him, but I knew he was enjoying himself when he sank his fingers in my hair and used me and then came in my mouth.
I swallowed him down, loving that I didn’t leave a drop.
When I removed my mouth and I looked up at him, his eyes were glittery with desire.
“You might want to text Roman,” he rasped.
“Why?”
He grinned. “You’re gonna be late for work.”
“I can’t be late for work,” I protested. “I’m leaving early tonight for the baby class. I don’t want to take advantage of them.”
“Babe, I just got back in town, and I need to be inside you again. Now are you gonna text Roman and tell him you’re running late or what?”
“What a gorgeous necklace!”
I looked up from the piece of scrap paper I was doodling on and stared at the blonde. My hand instantly went to the chain around my neck, and I remembered the gift Savage had given me just that morning.
“Thank you.” I smiled and then booked her another appointment with Virgil.
Once she left, the parlor was quiet except for the faintest sounds of tattoo guns buzzing in the background. I got lost in the sketch I was creating as I sipped on a carton of chocolate milk.
The door opened and I looked up with a smile to greet the new customer. My smile died on my lips when Duke walked in.
He didn’t have an appointment, so I assumed that meant he wanted to speak to me.
“Evie,” he greeted, his tone soft.
“Hi, Duke.” When he stood there, clearly unsure of what to say, I ventured out, “You and your wife have a habit of accosting me at my place of work.”
He smiled slightly. “Corner you, you mean, so you have no chance of escape.”
I laughed softly. “Can I get you something to drink? I’ve got soda, chocolate milk or?—”
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
When he fell silent once again, I prodded, “So, are you going to talk, or are you going to make me pull it out of you?”
“I wanted to have a word with you. In private, if we can.”
I looked at the computer. There was only one more client due that afternoon.
“Oh.” My brow furrowed. “Let me ask Roman if I can bail earlier than expected.”
“Sure.”
I headed into the back and quietly rapped on Roman’s door. The sound of the tattoo gun fell silent and then he opened the door a crack.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked.
“Can I cut out early?”
“Savage is here already?”
I shook my head. “Duke. He . . . needs to talk to me. Homer only has one more client the rest of the afternoon. You might get some foot traffic, but?—”
“No sweat. Virgil can cover the front after he cleans up his station.”
“Thanks.”
He pitched his voice lower. “You good?”
I nodded.
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
I went back to the front and grabbed my purse and keys.
“I’m ready,” I said.
“Great. There’s a diner a few blocks from here. You want to follow me?”
“Yeah.”
I was in the twilight zone. Duke had barely spoken to me the night I’d gone over to his house for dinner. I’d heard what he’s said to Savage about me. And soon I’d be sitting across a table from him. Just the two of us.
Twenty minutes later, we were in a booth, our menus handed to the waitress and Duke’s attention was completely focused on me.
“Savage won’t talk to me, and he won’t return my calls,” Duke said finally.
I frowned. “You didn’t speak at all while you were both on the road?”
“The road? Oh, you mean Idaho?” Duke shook his head. “I didn’t go. Not with Willa close to her due date.”
“Ah.”
“I don’t blame him, but . . .”
“I never meant to come between you,” I voiced. “You have to know that.”
“I do.” Duke nodded. “Willa told me I was being a bonehead, and she’s right. The fact of the matter is that it doesn’t matter how I feel about your relationship. You and Savage are together now. He and I have been friends— family —for years. I won’t lose him over this.”
“I understand,” I said gently. “But that doesn’t change how you feel about me.”
“I don’t know you.” His eyes searched my face. “Savage has a protective streak. A reckless streak too. I just don’t want it misplaced, you know?”
“I know. Believe me, I know how this looks.”
“Is that why you haven’t ripped into me?”
“You’re protective of him. I understand that. But I love him, Duke. I’m not going anywhere.”
The door to the diner opened and Duke’s face went slack. I frowned in confusion at his reaction and then looked over my shoulder.
Savage strode up to our table, looking from me to Duke.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in surprise.
“Wanted to know why you were at a diner a few blocks from Three Kings when we’re supposed to have an early dinner before our baby class.”
“But how did you know I was here?”
“I’m tracking your phone.”
“You’re what? ” I squeaked.
“Scoot over, babe.”
I was still reeling from his announcement when I scooched over. He slid in next to me and placed his hand on my thigh. “Gotta know you’re safe.”
“You could’ve told me,” I muttered.
He squeezed my leg. “We’ll talk about that later.”
“Brother,” Duke greeted.
“What are you doing, talking to my woman without me?” Savage’s tone was angry, harsh.
It was my turn to put my hand on his leg.
“How long are you gonna do this?” Duke demanded.
“As long as I feel like it.”
“Don’t be a dick,” Duke grumbled.
“You started it,” Savage shot back.
“I apologized to you. What the fuck more do you want?”
“Apologize to Evie,” Savage stated. “Apologize for what you said about our relationship.”
“What did I say?”
“You insinuated that this shit isn’t real. So, apologize.”
Duke stared at Savage and then his gaze slid to mine. “I’m sorry, Evie. I want to get to know you. And you’re welcome at our home anytime.”
Savage wrapped his fingers around mine.
“Thanks, Duke,” I said.
“We good?” he asked, his gaze bouncing between me and Savage to finally rest on Savage.
“Yeah, we’re good.”
“You still want to punch my face in,” Duke said.
“I do. But I’ll get over it.”
The scent of our food arrived just before the server appeared.
“Here ya go. One pastrami on rye. And a burger well done with a side of fries.”
“Thank you,” Duke said.
The voice of the server sounded familiar, and I looked up. Recognition flashed across her face when she met my gaze. “Evie?”
“Hi, Roxy,” I murmured.
“It’s good to see you!” she said. “Daisy and I have been wondering how you are. After you got fired, I wasn’t sure what happened to you.”
My heart beat in my ear and the words tangled in my throat. “Me? I didn’t know you worked here.”
“Just started last week.” She looked at Savage and grinned. “Guess the chin nod thing actually worked in your favor, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” I said, feeling Duke’s eyes burning into me.
“Can I get you something, Savage?” she asked.
“I’m good. Thanks,” he said. His tone was light, unbothered, but his leg had tensed under my hand.
A bell dinged and she looked over her shoulder. “I gotta grab that order. But I want to catch up, Evie!”
She dashed away before I could reply.
“Huh,” Duke said. “That was weird. She knows you both. And oddly enough, made it sound like there’s history there.”
Savage and I remained silent.
“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Duke demanded.