Page 66 of Savage Keepsakes

I look up and when our gaze locks. I bite my lip. “Want to move in?”

He stops stirring and leans against the sink. “Big step. You sure? I don’t want you to decide on an empty stomach.”

I roll my eyes and clear the table as he dishes up our plates. He walks over and plants a kiss on my head before going back to the pot and dishes up our plates.

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

“Of course I want to. It would be an honour, darlin’.” He brings both plates over and sits across from me. “You had barely any vegetables, but we can go tomorrow after our date.”

I look up from the table.

“What?” I had prepared to hunker down and write all day before having to sleep for work.

“The one I planned. I promise it’ll be better than the random picnic in the woods.”

Memories of the forest fill my mind — fear, tension, and desire.

“That was an amazing date, too. They don’t always have to be something huge.” I finish up the cut-up vegetables before he takes my plate before returning with the pasta and bread.

“Do you have more products to ship?”

“Nah, got it out today.”

I nod, and we spend the rest of the meal in a comfortable silence, savouring each bite.

Afterward, we clean up together. His phone fills the room with the nostalgic sounds of the best 90s grunge music. Once the last dish is in the cupboard, Billy grins at me.

“Porch?” I ask and hand him my laptop. He pouts and tries puppy-dog eyes that almost get me, but I push him until we’re at the door. I love sitting out here in the evening.

“Her eyelashes laid on her cheek?” He looks at me through his piercing stare.

“Yeah, like they’re obviously long.”

His laugh bellows out, a full belly one before he shakes his head.

“What?”

“Did they, though? You have gorgeous lashes, darlin’, but they don’t rest on your cheek.”

He finishes up reading what I have, and he seems eager about the torture scene I have sketched out.

“It’s good. I’ll figure out the measurements for the drill and hole so you can add a little more detail.”

“How would a guystay hard?”

Heat rises on my neck. I am sure my face is about to turn bright red. Fucking fair-skin problems. Every time I’m slightly embarrassed, the world has to know.

“Depends. He might be into it. I’ve never personally fucked a brain, but I imagine that it’s wet, warm and has the same squish.”

“The thought is gross, but it works for the story,” I say as a shudder goes through my body.

“Might not be tight, though. I mean, think about it. The hole would provide room, but I guess the brain is pretty packed in there.” He strokes his moustache and looks out into the yard.

“Thank you,” I whisper and take the laptop back. Standing, I turn to return inside.

“This is what we do. We help each other. It’s called a healthy relationship, I think?”

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he grins and shadows my every move while I make my way to my office and then the bedroom.

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