Page 42 of Save Me

“You’re a little warrior because of how you fight for others. Even those who’ve given up on themselves. Like the girl who killed herself. Her own mother isn’t as invested as you are in getting to the truth.

“The series you wrote on that credit union that was overcharging its minority clients is another example of you fighting for the ‘little person’.”

“You read those articles?”

A few years back, I stumbled across a credit union based here in Williamsport that was charging exorbitant fees to its Black and Brown clients.

“I didn’t work on that investigation alone,” I add. It was a team effort involving three investigative reporters.

“Your name is on it. It’s your investigation,” he says defensively. It feels like he’s defending me to me.

A smile curls the corners of my mouth.

“I’ve read every article you’ve ever written.”

My eyes widen because while he can’t be serious, his tone doesn’t hint at playfulness.

I drop my head, shaking it because I know he’s kidding. He has to be because no one could’ve read every article I’ve written.

“You must have a lot of time on your hands,” I joke.

Dae’s gaze on me remains as intense as ever, though. “When it comes to you, I do.”

His words are too much. I pull back. After clearing my throat, I reply, “This is just us spending time together because it’s the only way you’ll give me information on Blackmon.”

He cocks his head to the side.

“Don’t lie to me, Kennedy. Not while the taste of your pussy still lingers on my lips.”

I suck in a breath as he moves closer, placing his face only inches from mine.

“Let’s not bullshit one another. You’re here because you want to be. As much as I want you here. Your body tells me the truth. The vein in your neck that beats faster whenever I get within a few inches of your body. The way your nipples are getting hard right now because of my nearness.

“And the way the smell of your pussy is starting to fill up the space in this car because you're getting wet from the words coming out of my mouth. You want to be here, little warrior. And very soon, you’ll admit to being mine.”

I start to tell him I don’t belong to anybody. I’ve never told any guy I’ve dated that I was his. Told myself I never would.

I never wanted a man to own me. To possess me like I’m a piece of property.

The refusal sticks in my throat, though. I can’t push it up and past my lips. Not when he’s so close, sucking up all of the space between our bodies. His hand is still on my knee. His lips hovering just above mine.

And he’s right. My nipples are almost painfully hard beneath the padding of my bra and my panties are wet from how turned on I am.

Still, I manage to shake my head.

My refusal only causes him to grin. He doesn’t say anything. Instead, he leans in and captures my lips. The moan that escapes my throat is of its own accord.

“This Wednesday,” he says against my lips when he pulls back.

“Wednesday?”

“Our next date.”

I blink a few times, clearing my mind of the fuzziness from the kiss. “Wednesday,” I start to nod but then remember. “I can’t. I’m having dinner with my family.”

The fact that I give him an explanation is further evidence of what he’d just said. I’ll have to examine that later on. Once I’m out of his presence and can think clearly.

“Thursday then,” he quickly replies.

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