Page 55 of Savage Hearts
When I don’t respond, he leans close to my ear and says, “Who’s the liar now?”
His voice is low and husky, and his wild, woodsy scent is in my nose. An involuntary shudder runs through me. I close my eyes and moisten my lips, desperate to pull myself together.
“You’re right. There’s no panic button. But I’ll still haunt you forever if you kill me.”
“People don’t come back from the grave.”
“You have no idea how stubborn I am.”
He turns his head, and his beard tickles my cheek. Looking into my eyes, he presses his thumb against the throbbing pulse in my throat, then doesn’t do anything for several seconds.
I think he’s counting my heartbeats.
He could also be deciding where to bury my body.
“Why aren’t you afraid of me?”
“I am afraid of you.”
He examines my expression. “Not very much.”
“Does that insult your ego?”
He makes a motion with his head that’s not ayesor ano,but more like amaybe.
“If it will keep you from killing me, I’ll act very scared. I’ll cry and everything.”
He’s starting to look frustrated. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
“I can’t help it. I really did believe you when you said I wasn’t in danger from you.” I think for a beat. “I mean, mostly. You are pretty scary. And very large. And Spider almost shit himself when I told him I saw you in the bookstore.”
“Spider’s the blond bodyguard who was with you?”
“Yeah. Oh—can I ask you a favor? Will you please not hurt him? Kieran, either. He’s the other bodyguard. The bigger one. They’re both really nice.”
Malek stares at me in disbelief.
“Sorry. Is that asking too much? It’s just that I’d never get over it if they got hurt because of me. They’re only trying to do their jobs.”
After a moment, he says angrily, “You know who I am. You know what I do. Correct?”
“Yes. I’ve been filled in on the particulars.”
“And you’re lying there with my hand around your neck asking me not to hurt your bodyguards.”
He says it like my sanity is in question. “I know it’s maybe a little unorthodox.”
“No,” he says flatly.
“Please?”
He growls, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“There’s no need to get testy.”
“Testy?”
“I’m just saying. You don’t have to get all mad about it.”
