Page 45 of Heartbeats & Highways

“Done what?” I demanded, whirling.

“Gotten in front of me. I wasn’t . . .”

“In your right mind?” I asked gently.

His blue eyes burned with intensity as he looked at me and inclined his head in affirmation. “How did you know you’d get through to me?”

“I didn’t.” I bit my lip. “But I couldn’t stand there and let you get into a fight. I couldn’t let the Jackson brothers get dragged into it either.”

“We could’ve held our own, no problem. We could’ve taken the dumb oaf and any of his friends.”

I nodded. “Yes, I know you could have. That’s why I had to stop it.”

“I don’t get it.”

“I’ve seen you fight, Savage,” I said. “I know what you’re capable of. In the ring, you’re lethal. But out here, in the real world . . . what would’ve happened if you’d really hurt him? Thepolice could’ve gotten involved. I didn’t want you in that kind of trouble.”

He absently rubbed the back of his neck. “Didn’t think about any of that shit. I never do. I just saw the fear in your eyes when he wouldn’t let you go.”

I took a step closer to him. And then another.

“I know.” I placed my hand on his heart, loving the solid steady rhythm of it. “I’ve never had anyone want to protect me like you do.”

“I’ll always protect you, Evie. I’d kill for you.”

My eyes widened in shock.

“You don’t know my world,” he said gruffly. “But we protect our women. By any means necessary.”

I might not know the biker world, but I knew Savage. And to me that was a declaration.

Despite my better judgement, despite my desire not to get attached, I was tired of running, tired of fighting. I wanted him. Every piece of him. His good, his bad, his ugly. Because even his ugly was beautiful to me.

I was falling for a man named Savage.

“Savage,” I whispered, tears glistening in my eyes. “I want—I need you. Take me to bed.”

“You sure, babe?” his tone was soft, but intense. “Because there’s no going back after this. You’ll be mine.”

I exhaled a trembling breath but boldly met his gaze. “Make me yours.”

We stared at one another for a moment and then he leaned close, pausing just before he got to my mouth. And then his lips took mine. He slid his tongue between them, and I welcomed him. I opened my mouth and let him in.

Let him all the way in.

My hands pressed to his chest and worked their way across his shoulders. My fingers tangled in the hair at his nape.

He gently urged me toward the couch and laid me down, so I was flat on my back. Savage loomed over me, his mouth weaving an erotic spell.

His hand slid underneath my flannel to rest on the swell of my breast. His thumb grazed my nipple over my camisole, and when it pebbled, he groaned into my mouth.

“I need to see you, babe,” he whispered.

“Yes,” I gasped.

“Let me see you.”

I opened my eyes and stared into his. They were glimmering jewels of need, raking me over and causing me to shiver.

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