Page 49 of Savage Game
But now, hearing Charlotte state that she loved him for who he was… and not give a damn about what his money could give her, made him feel emotions he’d never experienced before. He’d won awards aplenty and yet not a single one had made him feel as honored as the woman sitting on his lap did every single day. Looking down into eyes that never failed to make his heart beat just a little faster, he smiled.
“I know that, Kittycat, and I love you as well.” Her eyes softened and yet the firm set of her lips told him she needed more. Lifting his hand, he stroked a fingertip across slightly downturned lips before cupping her face in his palm. Bending forward, he brushed her mouth with his own, the very taste of her enough to make his cock twitch. By the time he pulled back, her face was flushed with desire and far more than her eyes had softened. Her entire body was pliable against his.
“May I ask you a favor?”
“A favor?” she parroted as if the very concept was foreign to her.
He had to force himself not to reveal how the shock in her expression and in her tone made him want to smash his fist into Randall’s face. It was painfully obvious the bastard had never once considered asking rather than demanding anything of his wife, much less acknowledging the fact that being in Charlotte’s presence was a gift greater than any business deal could ever offer.
A soft hand came up to cover his own, bringing him back to what mattered. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Sir. I was just surprised… I mean you don’t have to… the very fact you asked…” She paused and shook her head. “What I’m trying to say, and doing a very poor job of it, is that, yes, of course you may.”
He slipped his hand from beneath hers, capturing it and placing a kiss upon her palm. “Allow me this, Kittycat. You may not need or even want it, but I promise it has absolutely nothing to do with money. Being able to pamper you brings me great pleasure. I know it’s hard for you, that I’m asking a lot, but, please, allow me to spoil you.”
She stiffened slightly, the battle going on in her head obvious as her expression shifted and yet he was already beginning to smile when she finally nodded.
“Thank you,” he said, bending down to kiss her much more forcefully this time. Pulling back, he wrapped his arms tighter around her, shifting her body as he started to stand.
“Oh!” she gasped as he adjusted her so that she was facing him. Her legs lifted to wrap around his waist as his arms dropped to provide a shelf for her ass to rest on. “Wait! What about the food?” she said as he walked away from the table.
“I’ve decided I’d rather have you for breakfast,” he growled. Her giggle turned into a moan when he leaned down to nip at the sweet spot where her shoulder met her neck.
It was lunchtime before they reappeared and as he watched Charlotte move about the kitchen wearing nothing but his t-shirt, knowing she was completely bare beneath the fabric, he reassessed his earlier thought. Yes, while life would never be fair, would always be messy and filled with challenges as well as grief, it was one hell of a ride and fabulous beyond words when you had someone to share it with.
21
Day Twenty-One
“Randall.” Byron squeezed the bridge of his nose and tried to rein in his temper.
“Nolan.” Charlotte’s soon-to-be ex-husband answered with the same lack of warmth in his voice.
Byron glanced over to his kitten, whose shoulders had stiffened at her husband’s name. Striving for a neutral tone, he said into the phone “Why are you calling me?” Despite his efforts, his voice wasn’t the least bit welcoming.
He’d come to loathe the other man, and every detail Charlotte revealed about her life with the bastard made his hatred grow. He wasn’t in the mood for polite conversation, but face it, Liam was still her husband and his business associate, so as much as he wanted to simply ignore the call, he knew he had to take it.
However, Byron didn’t see any reason to draw it out. “State your business, Randall.”
“Now, now”—the other man’s chuckle grated like fingernails on a chalkboard—“is that a way to greet your business partner and the husband of your temporary fuck toy?”
He had no idea if Randall was taunting him with the temporary remark or hoped Charlotte would overhear his derogatory address. He’d wager it was actually a bit of both since he hadn’t seemed too pleased at seeing them together at the charity event.
If he wasn’t involved in any of the man’s businesses, he would have ruined him financially by now. Then again… He squinted into the distance and his attention went inwards. He could afford losing money on Randall’s real-estate business, but the bastard couldn’t. It might be worth the few million bucks just to rid himself and Charlotte of the asshole.
Meanwhile, Randall was blabbering into his ear, and while he didn’t particularly care, he wanted the call to be over with quickly and forced himself to listen.
The guy rambled a bit about business, and Byron leaned back in his chair and watched Charlotte. She’d resumed her work, and he admired her graceful efficiency. Her movements had become more secure over the last couple of days, and she’d settled in his company. She trusted him and seemed to enjoy the work. In no way was he going to allow her to return to the bastard and be forced into the meek housewife role again.
As if conjured by his thoughts, Randall’s next words snapped Byron’s attention back to the phone call.
“I was wondering if you could part from your fuck toy two days earlier?”
Byron shot upright at the man’s words. “Two days earlier? Why?”
Charlotte turned around with an alarmed expression on her face, and he forced a smile and gave a swift shake of his head.
Her shoulders relaxed and she turned back to her task.
“I’m having a party on Sunday, and I need her to take care of the guests.”
