Page 18 of Ruthless Savage

I wish I was more like the other girls, like Karen. She’s had sex with plenty of guys. She knows what she likes and she’s not shy about it. But I know nothing about my own body, and that’s a little pathetic.

“I’m aware of how much danger I could be in.” I clear my throat. “I’m not stupid.”

“Don’t go and put words in my mouth. Never said you were.” His eyes scan my body. “You’re cold.”

It’s when I glance down at my arms that I find them covered in goose bumps.

But it isn’t the cold that caused it. It’s him.

“I’m not.” I bend my arms around my body.

His mouth flattens. “Put this on.”

He shrugs off his suit jacket and holds it out for me to wear.

“Fine.” I pretend he’s doing me a favor.

Of course I don’t want him to know how much I’m still obsessed with his grouchy, insufferable ass.

But really, my chest warms at the thought of wearing something that belongs to him. And as soon as I slip my arms into it, all I smell is Devlin. I practically sigh, feeling like I’m surrounded by heaven.

“Come on, let’s get you home,” he says while I fight not to smile.

I follow him down the stairs, but just as I do, I yelp when my stupid heel gets caught in the concrete, and I almost drop to my knees.

But his arm snaps around my back and he steadies me, tugging my body right up against his, chest to chest.

Always keeping me safe…

“You okay?” Warm exhales bathe my lips. “Almost took a real bad tumble.”

His mouth lifts into a half-smile, and I forget I’m supposed to breathe.

His fingers sink deeper across my hip, keeping my body right up against his, close enough for the swell of his erection to push into me.

“Oh, God,” I whisper, unsure if he heard it.

“You drunk?” He searches my gaze with concern.

Drunk on you, maybe.

My heart flips, and I swear I could cry with the way I love this man. And I know that’s what I feel. Pure love. Yet loving someone who doesn’t love you in return is unending torture.

“No, not drunk,” I tell him. “Maybe a little?” My mouth winds up a fraction. “I’m a lightweight.”

“Well, you’re not twenty-one yet. I shouldn’t even be letting you drink.” His eyes dip to my mouth and his jaw strains before he looks back at me.

“Let me?” I laugh. “I don’t belong to you, nor are you my father.”

He releases an exasperated sigh. For a split second, he closes his eyes, and once he stares back at me, his arms scoop me up bridal-style.

I fist his shirt, and for a moment, I feel his skin and my body zaps with pleasure. “What are you doing?”

But I don’t really care, because he’s cradling me. My arms wind around his neck, and I could truly die happy right now.

“Carrying you. If you get hurt, I’ll have to hear it from your father, and the last thing I want is to piss him off more than I did before.”

My face falls. “I’m sorry. I’ll spend my life apologizing for what I did. It’s not your fault.”

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