Page 19 of Beautifully Savage Butterfly

“What do you want?” I ask again.

“I want to take you somewhere. There’s something I want to show you.” He’s still smiling, like he’s just some guy asking me on a date, and not one of the most feared men in the city, coming back again and again no matter how many times I try to convince him to fuck off. If I didn’t hate him so much, I might find his stubborn persistence endearing.

“Why?” Maybe it’s a stupid question after our last two encounters, but I just can’t seem to figure him out. Is it really as simple as lust?

“Because I asked,” he answers, and then his eyes flicker with mischief. “And because you still owe me for the debt I paid off.”

My muscles tense and I grind my teeth together again. I take a step forward, ready to tell him exactly where he can shove the debt I never asked him to pay. Amusement dances in his expression, and I notice a slight blush creeping into his cheeks. He’s winding me up. He’s trying to get under my skin on purpose. Why? So, I’ll get rough with him again?

My cock twitches. I drag my tongue over my bottom lip, tasting the salty flavor of my sweat and weighing the words ‘fuck off’ without actually spitting them out. I don’t need a list of reasons to steer clear of Elio and his whole family, but I have one. There’s no doubt that giving in to this game he’s trying to play with me is going to end badly for me. Even so, I’m human and the curiosity is there. Where does Elio want to take me? What could he possibly have to show me? And why do I care?

“Fine,” I bite the word out harshly. “Let me shower first, and I’ll meet you outside.”

Chapter 9

ELIO

I lean against the sleek hood of my Jaguar, watching the movement through the large windows that line the front of the MMA gym. I’m paranoid that Orion is going to slip out and take off without me noticing. I wouldn’t put it past him to leave me standing here all night, looking like an idiot. I suppose I could hunt him down if he did, drive to his place and pound on his door this time. Or maybe I would find him at that nursing home he’s always visiting. Does he volunteer there? Something tells me that isn’t it, but digging up the details of who he might be going to see six nights a week feels like a step too far. Borderline stalking him is bad enough, but I can’t pretend I regret it.

The point is, I can easily find him if he decides to give me the slip, but I don’t want to. I didn’t pay off his debt just so he would come after me, but it was certainly an added bonus. How many other ways can I piss him off and get him to chase me around the city in a fit of rage?

A hot tremor rocks through me at the idea, and I grin to myself.

I catch sight of Orion through the window. He looks pissed, which I’m starting to realize seems to be his default. Maybe the scowl is more armor than threat, but I don’t know him well enough to be sure yet. I want to, though. I want to peel off his mask and see what’s underneath, even if it’s only more justifiable rage. His hair is loose and damp, hanging over his shoulders as he strides through the gym with long, purposeful steps. He’s mesmerizing, ethereal, fucking gorgeous, and terrifying all at once. It’s laughable now that I spent ten minutes worrying he’d slip out without me noticing him. I couldn’t miss Orion if I tried. My eyes are drawn to him like he has his own gravitational pull.

He gathers his hair into a messy knot on top of his head, not breaking his stride as he ties it up out of his face and off his shoulders, using his elbow to push through the door when he reaches it. I hold my breath as he steps out into the night, and his gaze snaps to mine, like he can’t escape the pull any more than I can.

I push myself up off the car and jerk my head towards the passenger side. Orion gives a stilted nod and grunts before going around and climbing in. I slide in after him, the smell of his bargain-brand shampoo filling the small space in a matter of seconds. It’s something floral and too sweet, offensively covering up the scent of sweat and adrenaline I’ve started to crave smelling on him after a fight.

“So where are we going?” he asks as I pull out of the parking lot. His tone is gruff, but without the usual edge. Am I starting to wear him down a little? Not much, hopefully. I don’t want him domesticated, I just want him tame enough to keep. Actually, I don’t need that either. I want him to want me. Outside of that, he can stay as feral as he likes.

“You’ll see,” I answer with a smirk, drawing a predictable, rumbling growl of frustration from him. The sound vibrates over my skin and hardens my cock. “Who was the kid you were sparring with tonight?” I ask, changing the subject. He arches an eyebrow questioningly and I shrug. “I might have been watching for a few minutes before I came in.”

Orion’s quiet for a second before he answers. “Fitz Morgan. He’s a good kid, hardworking, with a good head on his shoulders. Don’t go dragging him into your mob shit.”

“Hey, whoa.” I take my hands off the wheel for a split second to hold them up in surrender. “Who said anything about that? I was just making conversation. He’s scrappy. Good form, too.”

He grunts, then clears his throat. “He is,” he says. “You know, he wanted to be a doctor, but he decided he couldn’t afford the tuition. Then his mom got sick, and he’s looking at having to take on his two younger brothers. He’s been training his ass off, earning some money in street fights to put food on the table. He’s hoping to go pro and make enough to really set them up.”

Orion stares out the passenger window, the lights from the passing buildings flickering across his face, his hand resting on the door handle like he’s not sure yet whether he might need to fling the door open and tuck and roll at any second. It’s the most words I’ve ever heard him string together at one time, a mixture of anger and sympathy for Fitz dripping from each and every one of them.

“I’m sorry he has to deal with all that. Life deals out some shit hands, doesn’t she?”

He scoffs, then mutters, “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

My fingers twitch around the steering wheel, and our destination comes into view up ahead. Maybe this was a bad idea. There are at least even odds that this will blow up in my face. Of course, that means there’s an equal chance that I’ll manage to change the way Orion sees me. Here’s hoping it’ll be for the better.

I pull into the parking lot, and he sits up straighter in his seat, squinting through the windshield as if he’s sure he’s seeing things wrong.

“You brought me to a motel?” His voice dips lower. “Is this how you’re planning to collect on the rest of what I owe you?” The familiar irritation in his tone is laced with just enough amusement that I wonder if I was right earlier, if he really is starting to hate me a tiny bit less than he did before.

He looks over at me, and I notice a savage hunger in his gaze that matches the one gnawing at the pit of my stomach. Whether he still hates me or not, he definitely wants to fuck me. I can work with that. Unfortunately, that’s not what we’re here for.

“Are you open to that option?” I tease, already knowing the answer.

He grunts again, and I chuckle. Yup, that’s exactly the response I was expecting. Orion might not realize it, but I know him. I see all the hard, angry edges, and the rigid morals that hold them in place.

“We’re not here to fuck.” I ease into a parking spot near the back of the lot. Even in the dark, without a single streetlamp illuminating the lot, I can tell my car sticks out like a sore thumb. That’s okay though, we won’t be staying long.

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