Page 57 of Saving Saul

“Come for me, Tessa. Come right now. Come with me.”

My body heeds his command without delay, and I scream his name in a wail of gratification.

“Saul…Oh, God...Yes!”

He calls my name in return until every drop of his pleasure is spent.

I collapse, and his heaviness falls over me. We lay silently for an eternity while he bites the back of my neck and shoulders. When he reluctantly rises to discard the condom, I flip over and look around everywhere and nowhere. He returns to bed and snuggles beside me, tracing lazy circles around my navel.

He must see the love and contentment in my eyes because he turns and whispers in my ear.

“Tessa, I …want you to go away with me. I want to take you to Ghana.”

I hear him, but I don’t answer. Instead, I sleep, putting off that conversation until tomorrow.

THE AFTERGLOW

SAUL

Not wantingto alarm her sister, I gently wake Tessa at 8:00 am so she can check in.

I brush my hand over her hair as her breathing shifts and her lashes flutter. Her hazel eyes, still soft from sleep, meet mine, and my heart pounds. She deserves peace, stability, and love that grounds and lifts her simultaneously.

Last night’s run-in with the NOLA PD clarified one thing: I can’t stay here. Tessa was right; assaulting that douchebag has caused more trouble than I need. He’s determined to try and put me in my place to assuage his ego. It won’t take a motivated man long to start pulling at loose strings in my past, and my wealth can only do so much. I can’t be stupid about this. I’m a murderer, not a law-abiding citizen.

But I also won’t stay away from her. She has to come with me.

Which means I have to tell her the whole truth. Something I should have done before fucking her senseless.

Damnit, Saul.

As she sits up, I prepare for the most important conversation of my life. I’ve spent the last hour pacing the wraparound porch, rehearsing every word. If I want her to trust me again, I can’t just offer an apology—I have to offer a future where her dreams areallowed to be as big as her heart and as boundless as my love for her.

Sleepily, she looks up and smiles at me. “Hey you,” she mumbles.

I bend down and place a kiss on her nose. “Hey, love. How did you sleep?”

She takes a deep breath and stretches. “That was the best sleep I’ve had in months.”

I hear the underlying accusation in her voice, and I prepare myself to answer anything she wants to know after I paint the picture of our future.

“Tessa,” I start, my voice low and steady, “we need to talk.”

Her eyes sharpen, wary, but she nods. I take her hand, my thumb brushing over her knuckles, grounding us both.

“After what went down at Crescent Hall last week and with the cops last night, I can’t stay in New Orleans,” I admit, the words tasting bitter, “but I also know I can’t stay away from you. I won’t.”

I pause, letting the weight of my declaration settle before continuing: “I want you to come with me to Ghana, just for a while. I need you, Tessa. And I promise I’ll make every dream of yours come true.”

Her brows knit, curiosity and hesitation warring in her gaze. “Ghana?” she whispers, her voice uncertain.

I nod, leaning forward, my hands cradling hers as I pour everything I’ve got into my words. “Accra is buzzing right now, Tessa. New businesses are thriving, and the film industry is on the rise. It’s a hub of opportunity, creativity, and life. We can build something there together—a restaurant, your dream space. You’ll be surrounded by culture, by the kind of inspiration that feeds your soul and makes you come alive.”

I take a breath, steadying myself, then add the part I’ve been holding back. “And my wealth? It doesn’t have to sit in a bankaccount, Tessa. It’s a tool. A resource. With it, we can create something extraordinary. Not just for ourselves but for the people around us. Imagine hiring local talent, mentoring young chefs, and building a legacy that extends far beyond the two of us.”

Her eyes search mine; her lips parted as if she wants to speak but doesn’t know where to begin.

“I’m not asking you to leave your life behind,” I continue, my voice softening. “I’m asking you to share a new life with me. One where your dreams aren’t limited by anything—not resources, fear, or the past.”

---