He got up off his stool and came around the counter to me. Savage reached out and pulled me to him.

I buried my nose in his chest and breathed him in.

“You never flinch,” he murmured against my hair.

“Hmm?”

“When I approach you or touch you. You don’t jump or pull back.”

“I feel safe around you. Protected.” I tilted my head back so I could meet his eyes. “I’m not afraid of you.”

His hand cradled my face, and he skimmed a thumb across my cheek. “And I’ll never give you a reason to be.”

Chapter 25

When I pulledinto the parking lot of Three Kings, Virgil and Roman were already there. Roman climbed out of his car and reached into the passenger side to grab a brown paper bag.

I unlatched my seat belt and reached for the door.

“Wait,” Savage commanded. “Let me get it for you.”

“I’m perfectly capable?—”

“It’s a manners thing, woman. Let me be a gentleman. All right?”

My lips quivered in amusement. “All right.”

I waited for Savage to come around and open the door for me. He took my hand and helped me out of the driver’s side of the car and then he pulled me to him.

“Have a good day today,” he said.

“You too.”

Savage didn’t seem to care that Roman and Virgil were taking their sweet time going into Three Kings. He leaned down and brushed his lips over mine. I clung to him, silently demanding more. He obliged and slid his tongue into my mouth.

We didn’t pull apart until Virgil’s howling and whistling became too much.

I couldn’t help but laugh at Savage’s annoyed expression. He looked at me and raised a brow. “You think this is funny?”

“Yes, I do.” I pecked the end of his nose. “Virgil is just trying to get a rise out of you. I think it’s working.”

“Something’s working.” Savage shifted positions, his thigh brushing against my leg. “You get a rise out of me . . .”

I blushed.

“I never did get my dessert,” he whispered in my ear before biting my lobe.

“Good things come to those who wait,” I teased. “See you later.”

I reluctantly stepped away and headed toward Three Kings.

“Morning,” Virgil drawled, waggling his eyebrows.

“Behave,” I reprimanded.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Where’s Homer?” I asked.