Page 54 of Ruthless Savage

“Delicious,” I whisper, my heartbeats quickening the more his eyes bore into mine.

He grunts as he peers at my lips like he wants to kiss me, and I wish he would. I lean in closer, our knees touching, butterflies erupting from within me.

“You’ve got a little something.” He points to the corner of my mouth, and I fumble as I wipe. “No, not there.” His lips spread into a half-smile. “Let me.”

I hold my breath as his thumb feathers over my mouth, and it stays there for long moments while his gaze remains locked with mine.

“Eriu…” he breathes.

“Yeah?”

My heart beats faster. Every feeling is amplified, wanting so badly to kiss him.

Please tell me you want me as much as I want you. That you’ll marry me and end this hell.

“The check whenever you’re ready.” The waitress zaps us out of this moment, and he immediately turns to her.

“Yep, gonna pay now.”

He hands her a credit card, and she walks away with it.

“I’ll drive you back to school,” he tells me.

“Yeah, thanks.” I play with the hem of my shirt, unable to look at him with what I’m feeling.

Will it ever stop? Will I always be in love with Devlin McHale?

I can’t imagine anything worse than that. Not even my marriage to Mason Reynolds.

CHAPTER 13

DEVLIN

As soon as I drop her back off at school, I remain in my car and ring Tynan as she enters her dorm.

“Yeah?”

“How the hell do I get your sister out of this feckin’ marriage?”

He laughs briskly. “Find someone more suitable before the wedding.”

“I’m serious.”

“Me too. My father cares about her protection. If you can find someone better suited, he may change his mind about Reynolds.”

“I can protect her.” The words come out instantly, and I close my eyes, realizing what I said and how it sounds.

Silence greets me. “What are you saying? Are you asking for her hand?”

Yes. I’m in love with her, and I have no idea how to stop it.

How the hell can I let her be with someone else? It makes me wanna rip out my own bloody heart. But how can I claim to be capable of keeping her safe? My past could be comin’ for her at any moment. She would be safer away from me.

But no matter how many times I tell myself that, I can’t seem to let her go.

“No. Of course not,” I reply instead.

“Shit, for a second there I thought you were about to tell me you’re in love with my baby sister.” He chuckles like it’s something unfathomable. I guess it would be, since I’ve known her since she was young.

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