Savage Ending (Savage Trilogy 4)

And then we melt into each other and the couch, Rick sliding to the side just enough to protect me from his weight. For long moments, we lay like that until I say, “You liked the lingerie?”

He laughs low and deep and leans on his elbow to look at me. “I loved you in the lingerie.”

“And the cake? It was good, right? Especially yours. They liked the half you didn’t eat.”

He chuckles. “Yes. They did seem to like the half I didn’t eat.” He eases to my side fully and rolls me to face him. “It was perfect.” His hands slide down my leg and over the cross pinned to my stocking.

He glances toward it and I explain, “My mother’s cross. My father gave it to me.”

His eyes warm. “Like I said. It was perfect. She was there with you.”

“She was,” I say. “She would have loved it. And you.” I rest my hands on his face. “I can’t believe we did it. We’re here. We did this. We’re married.”

“Yes, we did this,” he says, stroking hair from my face. “And now it’s just you and me against the world.”

“I like that. Just you and me against the world.”

“Forever,” he says.

“Forever.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Savage

Candace doesn’t just roll with the punches when it comes to having escorts on our honeymoon. She brings them breakfast. We step on the private Walker-owned jet just in time for an eight AM flight to San Francisco set to last a good five hours. We’re greeted by Adam and Lucifer, who are already on board, in the front of the plane. “Morning, Fin Boy,” I greet Adam, and to Lucifer, “Morning, devil boy.”

Candace, on the other hand, hands them each a bag so full they both have half of McDonald’s menu inside. “The breakfast of champions,” she says. “Thank you for doing this. You’re amazing.”

The guys are all blown up with big heads that I’ll have to smash down later. And I get the chance when they start playing poker, and Candace is so unfazed by their presence that she suggests we play. My little wifey proceeds to beat all our asses.

“Army brat,” she declares. “If you can’t play poker, you’re a disgrace among the ranks.”

About halfway through the play, I don’t miss the way she digs for the perfect gift for Lucifer, either. “Where are you from?”

“Austin, Texas.”

“Oh wow,” she says. “We’re from San Antonio. Adrian is from Texas, too. Is your family still there?”

“They’re dead,” he states, tossing in his cards. “And you’re killing me.”

I also don’t miss the way he tries to move away from the topic of his parents.

“Were they military?” she asks, because Candace isn’t one to be put off.

“My father was. My mother owned a couple of coffee shops. She smelled like coffee beans all the damn time.”

Adam tosses in his cards. “You won again, Candace. If Savage wasn’t your husband now, I’d call you a bitch.”

“And I’d bitch slap you,” I assure him.

“No, you wouldn’t,” Candace replies, “Because I can take it like a soldier. I am a bitch. The one that just beat you again, Adam.”

We all laugh. We never get back to Lucifer’s story, but for the first time, I see him as more than the guy I don’t really know or trust. I still don’t trust him, but I’m not hating him either.

“I need a nap,” I say, catching Candace’s hand. “And I know you need a nap.”

Her cheeks flush at my reference to last night, which included very little sleep. “Ah, yes. A nap would be good.” She stands up and together we head to the rear of the plane, where I pull the curtain. There’s actually a fold-out bed, and despite my best efforts otherwise, all we use it for is sleep. The good news, if there is any good news, to being in bed with Candace and only sleeping, is that we arrive with a hell of a time change and we don’t feel like shit.

That night we stay in San Francisco, walk down to the docks, and spend time at a little restaurant with a view. The next morning, we head to Sonoma and Candace is like a little kid, she’s so excited. “I have always wanted to go to wine country,” she says as we load in the rental, driving separately from the guys. I’m making every effort, and so are they, to make this trip about me and Candace and to downplay how present our protection has to stay.

On the way to Sonoma, Candace lures me into a “how well do you know me” game.

“What’s my favorite food?”

“You act like I just met you. Macaroni and cheese. What’s mine?”

“A hamburger, but donuts are a close second. What’s my favorite movie?” she asks.

“An Officer and a Gentleman because you’re a sap. What’s mine?”