Page 99 of Savage Hearts

I wished someone had been there to protect my innocence growing up. Even though both Maverick and Killian had tried, they weren’t that much older than me, and our dad was a piece of shit who cared about nothing but the Tiernan empire.

I supposed I should be thankful.

It made me ready to take on this dark world, but that didn’t mean I wanted that for Mila.

I shifted on my feet, and she looked up suddenly, her eyes widening in surprise, and her book fell to the grass.

I walked over to her and picked it up, glancing at the title briefly before I handed it back to her.

Tess of the d’Urbervilles.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, taking the book back.

I watched her for a beat.

Something about our dynamic had changed with her, and I didn’t know why or how.

Perhaps something happened with her and Maverick, and though I didn’t mind sharing her with my brothers, I realized I was jealous as hell over that.

“What are you doing home?” she asked.

I shook away my thoughts and shot her a wide smile. “Taking you to lunch.”

It was late afternoon. This could very well be considered an early dinner, but I hadn’t eaten all day, and looking at her, I was feeling…

Starved.

She frowned. “Taking me to lunch?”

I nodded, my smile widening. “Yup. Why do you sound so surprised?”

Her gaze narrowed on me. “Is this… is this like a date?”

“Ah,” I said, gently grabbing hold of her hand and helping her up. I let my eyes roam up and down her body, taking in the soft pink dress she wore.

It was pretty modest compared to what I’d seen other women wear, especially since it came down past her knees, but the straps weren’t any thicker than my finger, and I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the sight of her bare shoulders.

I let my fingers skim down the skin of her shoulder blade.

She held still for me, taking in my face with those eyes of hers.

She looked pretty.

The scars on her back weren’t noticeable, not unless you looked closely enough, but I had a feeling even if they were Mila wouldn’t have been shy about showing them.

She didn’t seem to view the scars as a deformity, but just another thing on her body.

I hated the scars for the reasons behind it, but I couldn’t hate anything about her body. Not when I was so fucking fascinated by everything about this girl.

“We can count it as a date if you want.”

Her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned. “If you have to say it like that, then it’s not a date.”

She moved around me and I laughed, snaking my arms around her waist and holding her close to my body. I thrust my hips, letting her feel the hard-on pressing on the small of her back. She gasped slightly.

Fuck me, but when was I evernothard with her around?

“It’s a date,” I said softly, letting my lips touch her ear.

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