Page 26 of Vicious Sabotage

Her dimple popped out whenever she was angry. It appeared and then smoothed away as she searched his eyes.

She lowered her stare to his chest. “I…need to finish out the night.”

“I’ll walk you.” Still, he hovered over her, unwilling to move away when her lips were so close, so ripe for the taking.

When he took a step back, she didn’t move, but she spread her hands on the building as if she needed to steady herself.

Was she as fucking dazed by that kiss as he was? His eyes hooded as he trailed his gaze over her stunned expression, down to her lips that were swollen from his kisses.

He hadn’t gone easy on her, and he wouldn’t. That wasn’t his way. If he had to guess, Livia didn’t want a gentle lover either. She wanted someone she could fight and bite and fuck and orgasm with until dawn broke the sky.

In silence, he walked her back to the door of Badlands. She slipped inside and walked away from him without a backward glance…but he did note how her demeanor had changed since he laid the flat of his palm on her rounded ass.

She returned to her post behind the bar and started slinging drinks immediately. Carver took up his position at the entrance and fought the impulse to grab her and carry her outside for round two.

The rest of the night went off without a hitch. No fights broke out. He didn’t need to toss anyone out or ban them from ever stepping foot in Badlands again.

Livia closed down the bar and said goodbye to one waitress. When the other server, Emory, hung back, Livia looked up from removing the cash from the till.

Emory stepped up to her. Carver couldn’t make out the words she spoke, but her bowed head and slumped shoulders gave away that something was wrong.

He shut out the low strain of music still playing in the jukebox in the back of the bar in an attempt to hear what they were saying.

Livia stepped up to Emory and drew her into her arms. Emory’s thin frame seemed to shake. They only held on for a second before they broke apart.

Then Livia reached into the front pocket of her own apron and pulled out a wad of cash—her own tips from the night of hard work she put in as much as the rest of her staff did. Without bothering to count it, she stuffed the money into Emory’s apron.

Whatever she said to the server, he couldn’t hear, but she nodded. Then she turned away from Livia to leave. As she passed Carver, he gave her a nod.

She shot him a polite smile before leaving Badlands.

Just to ensure that she made it to her car safe, he watched her cross the parking lot. At least she had the good sense to park under a light.

“Did she make it okay?”

He turned to face Livia. “Yes. What the hell was that, Livia?”

“It was nothing.” She swung away from him, but he caught her arm and drew her close.

“What do you say we start being open with each other and you tell me what that was all about?”

“Sure. You go first.” She tipped her chin in that cute little show of defiance that made him want to kiss her until she was soaking wet for him.

Hell. He hadn’t thought about his words before blurting them out.

“That’s not how this works. You first.”

“Oh, is this another rule of yours?”

“Liv-i-a.” Her name rolled off his tongue as a warning, but he heard the gravel of need in his voice.

“Wo-l-fe.” She dragged his last name out with an attitude.

“Cute.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Mean.”

“If I’m going to protect you, I need to know everything that goes on.”

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