Page 105 of Rose
Savior wasn’t trying to force his way into her healing. He was just… here. Present. Patient.
And for the first time in a long time, that felt safe.
As Ahzii flipped through shows, pretending to be undecided, she kept glancing at Savior. Something was off. His body was here—massaging her feet like he had all the time in the world—but his spirit? Somewhere else.
She debated whether to ask. Asking meant caring. And she wasn’t supposed to care. But her mouth moved before her mind caught up.
“Savior…”
His eyes shifted from the TV to hers as his hands slowed on her legs.
“What’s wrong? You’re more tense than usual.”
A smirk tugged at his lips. “So you be paying attention to me, huh?”
She rolled her eyes. “Fuck it. Forget I asked.”
He chuckled, low and gravelly. “Got into it with my father. Over business.”
She gave a small nod. Sarai had already hinted at the strained relationship between Savior and their father.
“Must’ve been a bad argument?”
Instead of answering, Savior plucked a piece of fruit from the bowl with his eyes.
“Can I get one?”
“Only if you elaborate on what your father did that has you upset.”
That made him chuckle again, a little bitter this time. “It’s nothing new. Nothing I do ever satisfies that man. I could run the whole fucking world and he’d still find a way to say I failed. I’ve done more for this family in four years than he has in ten, and I still don’t get my credit. But I’m used to the shit. He’s been like that my whole life.”
His voice was calm, but his jaw tightened, and Ahzii saw right through it.
“That doesn’t make it okay, Sav. No matter how much you brush it off, itdoesbother you. His opinion matters. Not hearing what you need to hear from your father creates a hole—one that don’t just go away.”
Savior leaned back like her words hit too close. “Watermelon, Allure.”
She rolled her eyes but fed him the fruit anyway. He took it slow, dragging it out as his mouth pulled it from her fingers, then sucked the juice from her fingertips. Her breath caught, arousal flickering between her legs. She looked away, hiding the heat rising to her cheeks as he casually went back to massaging her feet.
“What about your mom? Does she support your decisions?” she asked, needing the distraction.
“Pineapple this time?”
She gave a quiet laugh. “Only if you answer. Honestly.”
“All I know how to be is honest, Allure.”
She waited, eyes on him.
“My mom carries the guilt. She wasn’t the mother I needed her to be. My father ruled the house, and she never challenged him. She watched me break and kept quiet.”
“Damn…” was all Ahzii could manage. Her heart ached for the little boy who had to become a man too soon.
“Pineapple, please,” he said, bringing the tension back down.
She laughed again. “Damn, and they say you’re patient.”
She picked up a piece to hand it to him, but he leaned in, stopping her.
