Page 10 of Savage Hearts

“Good girl,” Silas said softly.

I didn’t react to that stupid statement, and he didn’t seem as though he was waiting for me to respond anyhow. He let go of me and I let out a small sigh of relief, which was short-lived when he turned to the shower.

I could only stare at him as he began to strip. His shirt came off first, exposing a huge, muscular torso, the familiar tattoos on display. I studied them before I could think better of it, from the black-and-white phoenix tattoo on his left pec that moved all the way down his rib and to part of his back, to the five flaming playing cards that depicted a Royal Flush. In the middle of the cards was a hole with an eye looking through it.

I swallowed, not knowing why it was suddenly hot in this bathroom, or why it felt like the walls had moved, making the room seem smaller than it was. I let my gaze drift down to the intricate black-and-white rose tattoo on the back of his right hand. His other hand remained bare, but I could see small butterflies scattering across his forearms, starting from the inside of his wrist and coming up and around to the fascinating black tribal art that took up the entirety of his right biceps.

How delicate those butterflies seemed on his skin. It was the only delicate thing about him when he was so big, so hard everywhere. His fingers could probably wrap around my own biceps.

His arms flexed a little as he threw the shirt on the bathroom floor. My breath caught, old fears moving to the surface of my skin once more.

I quickly inhaled when I felt a small burning in my chest that told me I had stopped breathing for a while, as he hooked his thumbs under the waistband of his jeans. My eyes flew to his, and he stared back at me with a wide grin and bright eyes.

I let out a small squeak and quickly turned around with my eyes closed when he pushed his jeans down.

He laughed, and I gritted my teeth together.

“Ah, come on, angel. Are you really going to play innocent with me? This isn’t the first time you’ve seen me naked,” he said, his footsteps sounding behind me as he drew closer.

I squeezed my eyes tight. Yes, I had seen him naked before. The image was deeply entrenched in the recesses of my mind. That didn’t mean I wanted to see him naked again.

I flinched when he rested heavy hands on my shoulders. They seemed to weigh me down.

It was a miracle I was even able to remain standing.

He wrapped his arms around my middle. Even with my clothes as a barrier between us, I knew he was fully naked.

Andhard.

I could feel him pressing against the small of my back.

I whimpered.

“Don’t be scared,” he whispered softly to me. As if he was my lover, and he was truly concerned over my own feelings. I didn’t answer him. “We’re not going to do anything tonight. We’re both tired. And dirty.”

The last part was added in a whisper.

His thumbs moved up and down gently over my abdomen, so close to the bottom of my breasts, it wouldn’t take much for him to feel them.

“Let’s just take a shower and go to sleep.”

“And that’s it?” I asked.

He hesitated. “And that’s it. For tonight, at least.”

“Why should I believe you? Why should I trust you?”

Whatever faith or trust he’d been able to build between us was gone.

“Because you don’t have a choice. And I do a lot of things, but I won’t ever lie to you. If I tell you something, it’s the truth, and I won’t go back on my word.”

“I want to shower by myself,” I said miserably. I knew that wasn’t happening.

He confirmed it when he laughed. “We’re saving water by showering together.”

I scoffed, and he laughed again.

He pulled on my shirt until my shoulder was bare to him and, leaning down, he kissed it gently. Goose bumps rose across my skin, and I couldn’t help my small shiver.

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