Page 29 of Savage Lust

The way he watched me was like he was finding a place to put my words. He heard them, he understood them, but he wasn’t quite sure what he was supposed to do with them.

I kind of felt that way anytime I talked to anyone.

“Being alone sucks.” He spun the half-empty cup, his tone contemplative and a little sad. “Having no one to lean on, nowhere to belong, is the worst feeling in the world.”

A part of my chest felt like it was being jerked through my skin. My breaths were suddenly painful. I looked out the window into the empty parking lot to keep from looking at him, so he couldn’t see me flinch.

He was right, but I didn’t need a reminder that in a week I’d be right back where I was. A little cushion for my landing but flying solo. The lone streetlight blinked every few seconds, threatening to go out. That’s how it felt to be me. The bright spots were brief and constantly interrupted by the darkness.

“Is that why you joined the club?”

“Patched in.” He was still studying me, like he was afraid he’d spook me. “You have to be invited. Archer—” he tilted his head toward Robbie “—dated Ro for a while, sponsored me.”

I blinked once. He’d brought me here, not to show me a side of himself but to show me something about Archer only he could.

“She knew your mom, too.”

The way he said that stopped me. He’d said only a few Desert Kings had known I existed. He was obviously one of them. I couldn’t process Ro, or what she knew about my parents. Not yet.

“How long did you know about me?” I absently twirled the straw around the large cup.

“A while.” He didn’t sip the coffee. Instead, he spun the cup on the table, mirroring my motions with the straw, and watched me. It was like he was deciding what to tell me.

“I moved in with him when I was about sixteen. Shit with my mom got too deep, she OD’d, and I was too much for Ro to handle. I think he told me about you as a way to relate. We’re close to the same age.”

“But he didn’t even know me.”

Cam shrugged, then leaned across the table. “Even if he hadn’t, darlin, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have wanted you riding around with me in the middle of the night.”

There was a sexy rumble to his voice, but I snorted a laugh. “I’m so scared.”

“Maybe you should be.” It wasn’t his words, but the way he narrowed his eyes, like a predator zeroing in on his dinner.

I shivered. “Archer keep you out of trouble?”

“Got himinway more than out.” Robbie snorted a half laugh as she expertly passed plates from her arm to the table.

“I’m going to wash my hands.” Cam slipped out of the booth.

Robbie busied herself at the table arranging a fresh bottle of syrup until he was out of earshot.

“He’s never brought a woman to see me.” Ro sighed. “I was excited for a minute until he told me who you were.”

I flinched and my stomach tightened.

Reading my expression, she hurried on. “Oh no, nothing bad, honey. I’m sorry I phrased it like that. Archer’s kid? Of course, he’d keep you close. Your daddy would want him to, that’s all I meant.”

“And you knew him well, my…dad?”

She sat in Cam’s seat. “I did. Your mom too. I didn’t get with him until after she’d left, but we were all close at one point.”

I had so many questions, but I was lost. Anything I’d want to ask would take time to unpack and the answers even longer.

She stared toward where the restroom door swung shut. “Cam’s got a good heart. Life hasn’t been kind to him, but he keeps dusting himself off.” She turned her gentle eyes toward me. “Life’s been a dick to you too, huh?”

I laughed. “Yeah.”

“I should have never introduced him to the Kings. But—the shit he got into wasn’t going away. Not without help.”

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