Page 69 of Filthy Hot

“I am always safe, Kyle. You’re the one I worry about.”

“I’ll be safe,” I lie.

I don’t know if I will, but I want to be.

“When I get back, we’ll talk.”

My heart slams against my chest at that word—talk. I don’t want to talk, not like that. Saying you want to talk means there is a problem. I don’t want any problems, not with Rider.

I expect my beating heart to burst through my body and land on the floor somewhere, but it doesn’t. Instead, Rider’s fingers flex again around the back of my neck, his lips curve up into a grin, and he winks before he speaks.

“A good talk, Kyle. About us and what we want moving forward. But the talk can’t happen until all this shit is settled.”

My lips part, and I stare at him in awe. Until everything is settled… what does that even mean? And do I want to know? I’m not sure I do. My staring in shock causes him to let out a chuckle.

“It’s going to be all good, baby,” he rasps.

The hand behind my neck slides around to the side of my throat and slowly glides up my face until he’s cupping my cheek. Then I feel his thumb slide across my bottom lip, tugging on it slightly as it does.

“Is it?” I chance asking. “Is it going to be good, because right now, nothing feels good.”

“Nothing?” He arches a brow.

“Nothing except you.”

He hums and shifts his head forward slightly. I feel his lips touch my bottom one, giving it a kiss before he leans back slightly and speaks again.

“That’s all that matters, then, baby. The rest of the shit, let me handle it. Stay here. Stay safe, and when I come back, we’ll have that talk about our future.”

“Are you going to save Sal?” I ask.

“I’m saving everyone and everything, Kyle.”

“Why?” I ask on an exhale.

His gaze focuses on me, his face hardens slightly, and his next words do something to me. They make me feel… safe all over again.

“Because that’s what a man does.”

And that is that.

That is what a man does.

There are no simpler words to be said that could ever mean more to me than those.

That is what a man does.

I’m in love.

And I don’t know that in just a few hours, that love is going to be hanging in the balance, along with my freedom and, ultimately, my life.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

GNAW

King,Atomic, and Guts are at my side as we ride toward our destination. Rim and Dennis drive behind us in the pickup truck. I’m not sure what information he’s given yet, but Dennis does know things. None of this is by chance or happenstance.

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