Page 42 of Savage Game
He buried his face in her neck and licked and sucked at the hammering pulse point.
Caveman or not, his words and actions never failed to reduce her to a hot, lustful mess. She turned her face to the side and back, giving him as much access as possible.
Dressed comfortably in designer jeans and a light sweater, Charlotte admired the tall man beside her. Everything about him screamed confidence and control. He was cordial to her and everyone they met, but he commanded his surroundings without even trying. Where Liam’s dominance came with a lot of posturing, threatening, and throwing his weight around, Byron didn’t have to act the part. People took one look at his posture, stride, and the way he held his head and instinctively knew he wasn’t a man who followed.
Charlotte also found the respect and deference the people in the city paid him extended to her, and she was actually enjoying their outing.
Until Byron held open the door of yet another fashionable boutique, and she almost collided with a woman she recognized. Taking a leaf from Byron’s book, Charlotte pulled her shoulders back and gave Kimberly a polite but distanced smile.
The unpleasant woman bit down on her lip, ignored her, and shot Byron a simpering look. Seriously?
Byron inclined his head but ignored the brunette. The woman was stunning, Charlotte had to give her that.
When Byron silently pulled Charlotte into his side and lifted her hand high enough to take over the bags containing their purchases from the last shop, Kimberly frowned. “I’m not sure what you see in her but”—she gave Charlotte a scaling glare–“I can totally see why she’s with you.”
Beside her, Byron stiffened at the comment, and Charlotte fought not to show how the remark hit home. She pushed out her chin. “Really?” She hoped her stare matched the other woman’s in coldness. “Your comment is petty and uncalled for. You don’t know me, and you have absolutely no clue about our relationship. Do yourself a service and get over yourself already. Envy is an ugly look and doesn’t suit you.”
She turned her attention to the man next to her. “Come on, dear.” She slid her hand into his and tangled their fingers together. “You wanted to look for shoes next, right?”
She almost giggled when Byron allowed her to lead him away, and she wondered who looked the most stunned of them—Kimberly or her Master.
They were about ten paces away from the green-eyed monster when Byron caught up with her and was back to his unflappable self.
“Whoa.”
Okay, maybe still a little flapped. She giggled.
“Where did that come from? You were amazing.”
Her chest swelled. “I was, wasn’t I?”
“Yup.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed the tip of her nose—not in the least embarrassed by the public display of affection. “I think I just fell even more in love with you.”
18
Day Eighteen
“Can we go out for dinner tonight?”
Byron lifted an eyebrow at the completely unexpected question. Pride warmed his chest. He’d suspected their run-in with Kimberly would have set Charlotte back in her growth, but instead she seemed to have grown with the experience.
He pulled her onto his lap and nuzzled the juncture of her neck and shoulder. “Of course we can. What do you want to eat?”
She shrugged. “I don’t really care. I just want some nice food, good wine, and to leave the penthouse for a while.”
“You’ve been out yesterday,” he reminded her—more to gauge her reaction than as a real objection.
She wrinkled her nose at him, and he pressed a kiss on the furrowed skin between her eyebrows.
“I just don’t want to hide inside, and while yesterday’s encounter with Kimberly wasn’t pleasant, I’m pleased it happened.” She frowned. “Why are you smiling?”
He widened his eyes and schooled his features. “I’m not.”
“You so are.”
He wrapped his hand around her chin and anchored her in place. Then he closed the distance and kissed the pout of her lips.
“Have you given your future more thought?” Byron unfolded the napkin and placed it on his lap.
