Page 37 of Savage
I nodded, feeling too raw to argue with him. I moved toward the door and noticed Calvin standing behind Elio. He kept his gaze trained on the ground, and my heart ached. I wanted to pull him into my arms and apologize until he forgave me.But would he?Calvin had been right. I ruined so much and never could contribute beyond a month.
Sayge slammed the car door, and it jarred me out of my thoughts. I jumped as I peeked over my shoulder at him. He gave a sheepish grin and wrapped an arm around mine.
Maybe he knew where my thoughts were. I wouldn’t be surprised. Sayge had always been that way. He leaned his head on my shoulder, and the knot in my stomach unwound slightly. I turned away from him, sighing. I’d have to speak about what happened eventually but now wasn’t the time.
I met Elio’s gaze. He studied each of us with that unnerving stare as if he was trying to pry into our souls. It was intense, but something about it made me want to bare myself to him.
He turned and headed to the warehouse with us following him. The gravel under my shoes crunched with every step. I didn’t think we’d ever be back there, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it yet. Not when our lives were up in the air.
We made our way upstairs. We might have only been there once, but walking into Elio’s bedroom felt like coming home. Nothing would touch us there. Reality stayed outside of his walls. In there, we could disappear into some fantasy.
Elio kept moving until he was in the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on, but all I wanted to do was get into the pillowy soft bed. It was like sleeping on a cloud. Even the bed we bought with the money we’d received from him hadn’t been nearly as comfortable.
“Sayge, Calvin.” Both of them looked to Elio. “Get undressed and in the shower.”
Sayge glanced my way, and I shrugged.At this point, what else could happen to me?Calvin said nothing as he headed toward the bathroom, not even glancing back my way. My chest ached, and I absently rubbed at it. In all our years out on the streets together, there had never been such a riff between us. Still, who was I fooling? The stress, responsibility, and pressure were bound to break him sooner or later. I’d seen it coming and did nothing to stop it.
Stupid. I was so fucking stupid.
Elio ate up the distance between us in three smooth strides. He reached for my hand, and I hissed. His lips dipped in a frown. It was the only facial expression I’d received from him since he came to pick us up.
He turned and took me to the other door in the room. It led to a closet that was nearly as big as the bedroom. We headed to the back, and Elio rummaged around until he pulled out a first aid kit.
“Sit,” Elio said, pointing to a chair in one of the corners.
I didn’t argue. My feet ached, and I was ready to get off them. A heavy sigh broke free as I sank into the chair.
Elio was right there, kneeling before me. Even on his knees, he felt intimidating. He cleaned my knuckles with some spray, and I winced at the cold sting. He glanced my way, and I shut my mouth. He meticulously cleaned out any dirt from my wounds. He was taking care of me as if I were someone special.
My stomach twisted, and I fidgeted in the chair.
“Never do this again,” Elio said.
I shrugged. “I was mad.”
He grabbed my face, his fingers digging into my cheeks and making my jaw ache. “Only I’m allowed to hurt you. Are we clear?”
Who in their right fucking mind would agree to that?
I stared into his green eyes, seeing nothing but his words’ severity. I swallowed, trying to tell this man he could go fuck himself. Still, I liked when he hurt me. I’d liked rough sex since I became sexually active, but no one had ever handled me like Elio.
Unable to talk, I gave him a curt nod.
“Good boy,” Elio said as he released me.
My heart fluttered. I’d never been anyone’s good boy. And I doubted I was good at all, but I wanted to be Elio’s. I looked away, and he went back to bandaging my hands. His rough fingers felt surprisingly soft. I was enveloped in warmth as I sat there.
“Elio.” Sayge’s voice carried into the closet. He stood in the doorway dripping wet with Calvin behind him, still staring at the floor.
Elio glanced his way and stared at Sayge with a blank look. To my friend’s credit, he didn’t flinch. He just smiled. “I mean, daddy.”
“What is it you need, angel?”
Angel?I mean, I could see it. Sayge was sweet when he wanted to be, but the man had the devil in him sometimes. I found it hot, but angel, he was not.
Sayge shook his head, a few strands of his platinum blond hair falling from the bun on top of his head.
“We have nothing to wear to bed. I’m fine staying naked, but...”
