Page 47 of Savage Lust

“This is the closest thing to a real family I think I’ve ever seen.”

My chest tightened, pride making me stand a little straighter. “A shit load better than what I was born with.”

She leaned on the rail, looking out into the small rock and shrub garden I’d helped Dylan plant a few summers before. “I had Mom, always thought that was enough until…”

“You didn’t have anyone else.” I finished for her when she trailed off. It was a sentiment I understood and the reason I’d clung so tightly to the Kings.

“It’s never been easy like this.”

“All of us aren’t like this.”

She caught my gaze, wrapped her arms around herself, and nodded as if she understood. But how could I explain to her when—if I did, I’d be going against the vows that had saved me? Turning my back on the only real family I’d ever had.

“Well, thank you for showing the parts of you that are.”

I put the cigarette out on the rail, dropped it into the little bucket set in the corner, and then rolled the fading tension from my shoulders about the time AP cracked open the door. “Yo Savage, I need you at the Black Cat by midnight.”

Black Cat meant putting my game face on. After what Merc had said about Ky’s girls, I wouldn’t be surprised if I had to answer some questions when I got there. Sure, the club needed to handle business, but Archer was barely in the ground.

AP’s expression was solemn. “It’s the kid. You know he won’t deal with Preacher. I need the two of you, punk.” There was truth in what he said about Ky. The younger Ukrainian got sketchy when Preacher was around.

Hell, I couldn’t blame him.

“The Black Cat?” Riley’s sultry voice licked at my attention. When I glanced back at her, she was looking at me with that never ending curiosity.

“It’s a titty bar!” Dekes drunk shout cracked out of the screen door.

I sighed. “It’s business.”

“Sure, it is.” But she was grinning.

I expected her to be jealous, to act out. She surprised me again and didn’t.

“I’ll get Dylan to drive you home and have someone hang out there until I get back.”

“Okay.” The teasing tone left her voice. “I’ll be fine.”

She didn’t know our world like I did. Dylan could stay at the house, Puck and a few other guys outside.

I leaned in, almost brushing my lips against hers. It felt natural to kiss her like that. But the closer I got, the more my body heated, and I wanted to do more than drop a quick kiss. I wanted to mold her body to mine, kiss her hard and remind her of all the dirty things I was going to do to her when I got back.

There was a flash of knowing across her face and her cheeks turned a vibrant shade of pink as she looked away.

“Be safe.”

Those two words, spoken as she glanced away, were almost my undoing.

Nobody had ever cared if I was safe or not.

Then she laughed. “No running from the cops and doing crazy shit.”

She really had no idea.

“And go easy on the lap dances. I haven’t had a real shot yet.”

Or maybe she did.

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