Page 65 of Savage Beauty

“I enjoyed that.” It feels like a confession.

“I could tell.”

My teeth grind down on his chin.

He lightly slaps my ass, then palms it. “In case you couldn’t tell, so did I.”

We should talk about something. About the case. About my sister. Something.

“Everything’s good for tomorrow?”

“Should be. Waiting for some confirmations.”

“What confirmations?”

“Stella didn’t say. I’d imagine it has to do with air traffic control. We’re on an island that sees plenty of private planes come and go. Plus, the jets are in use, so maybe she’s confirming pilots.”

His phone vibrates on the table. “This could be confirmation.”

He stretches to grab it from the floor where it must have fallen.

I’m a tall girl. Gangly. But, next to him, I’m miniscule. He collapses back against the sofa, and I let my fingers wander over the curves of his muscles and twirl the smattering of golden chest hair. He stretches an arm out so he can see the screen, and I read it too.

Ginger

I bought you a plant and some throw pillows to brighten up the space.

The photo is of a beautiful blonde taking a selfie on a sofa. To her side is a neon pothos plant, and there’s a bright yellow pillow behind her, but what my gaze catches on is her cleavage. Cleavage covers approximately twenty percent of the photo.

“Is that your girlfriend?”

“Ex.” The phone clatters across the coffee table. “Ex-girlfriend. We broke up four years ago. She’s married.”

“I meant ex. Obviously. You wouldn’t cheat on someone else. I wouldn’t be with you if…” I let out a sigh as my index finger swoops along his thick bicep. “She’s really beautiful.”

“On the outside.” He sounds sad, so I lean forward and press my lips to his throat.

“What did she do to you?”

“Well, we were living together. I was spending a lot of time on missions. You know what they’re like, right? Sam ever tell you?”

“You mean you can’t call? Or tell anyone where you are.”

“Right. Well, I returned home from being overseas. And she met me at the door with a ring on her finger. And it wasn’t a ring I gave her.”

“Oh. She’s the one you mentioned. The one who cheated on you.”

“Believe it or not, she tried to deny that she cheated. But, like, how do you go from living with your significant other to being engaged to a different person without some lines being crossed?”

“Right.” I relax against him and let one leg drift between his. “I’m sorry she did that to you.” I close my eyes and see her cleavage. “You know, maybe that’s why you’re attracted to me. I’m her opposite, you know? No boobs, and she has huge ones.”

His fingers spread across my butt cheek and his lips brush across my forehead. “I don’t know about that. I’d say that with you I discovered I’m very much into barely there, hot as fuck breasts. And it has absolutely nothing to do with her.” His fingers leave my butt and trail along my hip and to my ribcage. “But I can’t deny I’d like to see you gain a little weight.”

“I’ll try.” He’s not the first person to harass me about my eating habits. As if on cue, my stomach rumbles. “But we need to go to the market.”

“Can we just lie here a few more minutes?” I tilt my head up at him and scrunch my nose in question. “I’m a cuddler, remember?”

“A big teddy bear.” I say it like I’m annoyed, but I smile into his chest. For once, I don’t really feel like getting up either. I trace his muscles. He’s really, really muscular. “Do you do steroids?”

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