Page 50 of A Heart So Savage

“Oh? And what impression might that be?” The corners of Kingston’s mouth kicked upward.

“That I’m content to be here. That Iwantto be here.” Ava sighed in exasperation. “They’ll think we’re a couple rather than what we really are.

“I don’t care what anyone thinks. I want to dance with you.”

“Why?”

He chuckled at her annoyance. “Because I want to feel your softness pressed against me. Have your sweet perfume tickle my nose. Are those good enough reasons? Besides, you’ve been a good girl since we entered the restaurant. I want to reward you.”

ChapterNineteen

Sweet like sugar

I gorge myself until I’m sick.

Then come back for more.

Always more.

Reluctant interest flashedacross Ava’s features as Kingston rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. He thought about kissing her.

Hell, I’m always thinking about kissing her.

“One dance, Ava.”

She shifted on her feet. “May I remove the toy? Sir?”

“What do you think?”

She sighed at that, seemingly resigned to his insistence that she endure the rest of the evening with the vibrator in place.

“One dance,” she agreed as though she held any bargaining power at all.

Before she could change her mind, Kingston pulled her from the alcove. Nodding at an almost invisible bodyguard—the building was filled with them, not withstanding Jack—he led Ava onto the dance floor as the band drifted into a new song, the arrangement sweetly stirring and infinitely classic.

Kingston reeled her fully into his arms, one large hand resting at the low curve of her spine just above her buttocks. As the band’s singer, a young hipster guy around Ava’s age, crooned the lyrics of an old song by The Platters, Kingston trapped Ava’s free hand with his. He tucked it against his heart while her other hand rested lightly atop his shoulder.

Kingston’s lips tightened. Even in her high heels, he towered over her. Big. Scary. Brutal.

He truly was the monster who had stolen the princess.

They swayed in silence for several moments before Ava tilted her head. “This was one of my parents’ favorite songs.” There was a glint of moisture in her eyes.

“Was it?” Kingston drew her closer until her arm draped loosely over his shoulder. Her fingers hovered close to the nape of his neck, softly brushing the skin exposed by his shirt collar.

“Yes,” Ava said quietly. “They often danced to it.”

“I did not know that. If it’s too painful, I’ll have the band play something else.”

She shook her head. “No. I like hearing it. It reminds me of them and it’s a happy memory.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when they passed. It must have been difficult for you following the funeral.”

Ava bit her lip, her gaze darting away from his. “It was a nightmare. Carson was worse than ever. He-he broke into my apartment. Stole things my mom and dad had given me. Anything he could sell. Jewelry and artwork. Stuff like that. And when he ran out of money, he began harassing me to give him the little bit I had saved up. When I refused, he trashed my car. I lost my job at the bookstore because he kept coming there and hounding me for funds. That’s when I decided I should get out of Bitter Springs. Get away from him.”

Any further mention of their brief encounter at her parents’ funeral went unspoken, but Kingston felt a jab of remorse all the same. What kind of hell had she gone through when he moved away?

He remembered the harsh words he said to her the day of the funeral. Instead of berating her and instructing her on being strong, he should have enfolded her in his embrace and promised to shield her from the ugliness of the world. He should have done more to protect her from Carson. He failed her then, but he wouldn’t repeat that mistake. “I’m sorry, Ava.”

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