He leaned forward and kissed her. He smelled and tasted delicious. He’d taken a shower, and she was certain she had morning breath and smelled like sex and more sex. Maybe stale sex.
“You haven’t seen the real monster yet, Seychelle. When he comes out, even my brothers tend to tread softly. I can barely control him. The things he will want to do to you terrify me.”
“They don’t terrify me,” she said truthfully. “You and the monster are one and the same. He’s simply another side of you. You don’t fully understand him. He’s actually a good part. He’s filled with rage because he took that on for others. What does that make him?”
He sat up. “Don’t baby. Really. I go to fucking underground fight clubs where you can fight someone to the death. The only reason I don’t kill someone with my bare hands is because my brothers pull me off. And it takes more than one of them to do it. That person is no saint, and you can’t ever deceive yourself into thinking he is. He knows you. Knows your weaknesses. Knows you love him. He’ll seduce you into giving him more. He’ll take and take from you. You can’t let him do that, and if you think he’s a fucking saint, you will.”
She actually heard a note of very real fear in his voice. His face was an expressionless mask, but his eyes were hard, two blue ice chips. Glaciers.
She stroked her fingers over his features, the bones, his eyes, nose and mouth. “He may think he knows me, but he must have forgotten how protective I am. How extremely loyal. I love my man. He asked me to be strong enough for both of us when the time came. I will. It won’t matter what is happening or what he tries; I only know one thing. Savin ‘Savage’ Pajari is my choice, and I will never let him down. When he needs me, he can count on me. The rest of the time, Savage, if I’m on board, even then when things seem out of hand, just feel the freedom and let go. Trust me to say enough when it is for me. When it is for you.”
She meant every word. There was utter resolve in her mind. In her heart. It wouldn’t matter how erotic or sensual Savage made anything sound; if she could tell he was pushing past where they should be going, she would put a stop to it. Even if it felt like the most sinful paradise ever. She was resolved to stop it.
Savage stared at her for a long moment and then nodded his head. “Lay back down. You deserve to sleep in if you want. I’ve got to get moving. Tell me your plans, baby. Make it something easy, like get in and get out.”
“Honey, you asked me to just get what I needed, and I’ll do that. I’ll be as quick as I can. I can give you a list of the stores in town I’ll go to ahead of time, if that will help. My house. The Floating Hat. The pharmacy. And maybe one of the clothing stores, depending on what your list says. That should do it. After, I’ll go back to my house …”
“You’ll come straight back here. I’m taking you to Crow 287 tonight. We’re meeting Czar, Blythe, Steele and Breezy for dinner. You deserve a fun night out.”
Her stomach knotted. She didn’t know anyone that well, but she wanted to. She wanted friends. She’d moved to Sea Haven with the idea that she’d make an effort and actually have friends. He was making it easy for her. She knew if he was with her, if she got in trouble, saying or doing the wrong thing, he’d get her out. It was a chance to dress up. Crow 287 was Alena’s restaurant, and it was reputed to have great food. Hard to get into. She’d wanted to go. Alena had brought her food when she had broken up with Savage, but she wasn’t able to eat. Not even the heavenly scents had enticed her to eat.
“I love the idea. What time? I need to know so I’ll be ready.”
“I told Alena we’d be there around seven. Lana and Tessa are watching Czar and Blythe’s kids for them tonight.”
“Oh, that could be fun for Tessa,” Seychelle said. Savage’s fingers hadn’t stopped moving. So unhurried. Just that light whisper of a touch, creating the slowest of burns. He circled her clit but never actually brushed it. She widened her legs to give him better access, but he rubbed the cheeks of her bottom with that same gentle circular motion and drew his fingers down over her burning sex in those leisurely caresses that seemed to ignite smoldering embers along her nerve endings.