Page 40 of Savage Hero

“Of a wedding, or getting married?”

She studies me deadpan as she says, “Of a man.”

This makes me smile. “You sure as shit didn’t give yourself that orgasm the other day.”

Her eyebrow quirks up. “Why the fuck would I marry someone just to get me off? I got a bunny in my drawer—all it needs is batteries.”

While her cynicism is refreshing, that’s not the reason my smile refuses to wear off. She’s not seeing anyone. I don’t have to give in to this ridiculous jealousy. But now I want to know who the fuck crushed her dream of a fairy-tale-style Happily Ever After.

“Let me guess, your parents divorced when you were this big.” I hold my hand three feet off the floor. “Now no one will ever be good enough.”

Her nostrils flare, and I prepare myself for the possibility of Nyx launching herself at me. Instead, she looks away and starts running her thumb around the bottle’s rim.

“Dad never came back from the war. Mom never remarried because, honestly, I don’t think she ever considered herself a widow.” Nyx taps a finger against her chest, just below her collarbone. She’s wearing a dark T-shirt and a pair of white sweats that does incredible things to her plump ass. “She kept him close until the day she died.”

“Which war?”

“Who cares?” Her already dark eyes go darker, and she chugs at her beer like she wishes it was something stronger.

Now it makes a little more sense. You see someone pining after a dead loved one all your life, you’ll end up thinking love is a dismal thing.I would know. It took Father years to recover from my mother’s murder. Sometimes, like late at night when I can’t sleep, I thinkI’mstill recovering.

“No ring,” she says, touching a thumb to her ring finger but staring at the hand holding my beer. “Then again, I guess not every little girl dreams of marrying a monster.”

There’s that word again. Monster.

Savage.

“Must be hard, sleeping alone,” she carries on. “Not having someone to confide your sins to. How haven’t you killed yourself yet?”

I watch her without a word, silently egging her on. Because every time she speaks, the hot well of anger inside me fills more and more. Soon, it’ll be overflowing.

And this time, she’ll only have herself to blame.

“You’re right. No one can love a monster.” I get to my feet, and she watches me like a deer that’s suddenly caught sight of a hunter. No, not a deer. She’s a panther, and I’m a motherfucking bear.

She nods like I’ve proved her point, but when I lean over and grab her jaw, wrenching her face up so I can glare into her eyes, a small frown forms on her brow.

“And why would a monster like me want to save someone like you?” I ask her, and then brush my thumb over her bottom lip. I want to kiss her, but the last thing I need right now is to lose control.

“A midnight snack. You know, for when you can’t sleep.”

Her words are a punch to my fucking psyche. It knocks out my air, my reason, my sanity. I want to sink my teeth into her skin, rip away her clothes, bury myself inside her and show her who the fuck is in control right now.

But instead, I leave.

Because I’mnotin control.

I lose a piece of myself every time I’m around her. I can’t keep letting her win, but I can’t stand to see her lose, either. I saw the hurt in her eyes when she spoke about her mother. I heard her concern when she was reassuring her sister.

Nyx Gray is nothing like me.She isn’t alone in the world. She has friends and family and love.

All I have is a black heart and the nickname that goes with it.

Savage.

Chapter Twenty

Nyx

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