Page 20 of A Heart So Savage

“Stay here.”

“Why?” she dared question, yanking her bra on under his heated gaze.

“Because I said so, brat.”

Her hands were shaking from the earthquake of the climaxes he’d given her, making it hard to fasten the bra. She didn’t understand what was wrong with her. Kingston’s gruff response made her want to lie back and spread herself wide for him again, even though her brain recoiled in disgusted shame. Biting her lip helped control that urge.

A little.

“Stop biting your lip,” Kingston growled. “I can’t fucking handle my business when you do that.”

Ava immediately stopped chewing her lip and worked on fastening the buttons of her shirt. Anger curled around her bones as reality sunk in. What did he have to be so irritated about? She wasn’t to blame for his lack of control around her. She’d done exactly what he wanted. Participated in the taking of her virginity with hardly a single tear shed for its loss.

Kingston let out a frustrated grunt at her silence.

“We have unexpected…uninvitedguests,” he abruptly explained. “Since they are not the sort I welcome with open arms, you will stay here until I’ve dealt with the nuisance. It’s safer.”

Ava meekly nodded, but her mind whirled with questions and ways she might escape this room before Kingston had the opportunity to haul her off to his bed.

ChapterEight

Ipulled off your wings

Watched you flutter in front of me.

Kingston closedthe door behind him and motioned Jack over.

“She doesn’t come out and no one goes in. Seems her brother sent associates here in an ill-advised attempt at recovering her. Whoever he has running cover for him when it comes to law enforcement in Bitter Springs won’t help him here, but he insists on acting foolish.”

Jack pulled a handgun from a holster, checking the clip. “Should we anticipate trouble?”

Kingston shook his head, smoothing the fabric of his coat with a brush of his hand. “We’ll be ready, but these guys aren’t stupid enough to insist on searching the house. They don’t have a search warrant, but I wouldn’t put it past them to get one for LIST just to prove they can.”

His biggest concern was not the possibility of a raid on his exclusive club, but how to secure Ava’s safety. Carson’s actions would likely turn more desperate, which meant he would become more dangerous.

“Does she, um, need anything?” Jack nodded toward the billiards room.

Giving the bodyguard a chilling stare, Kingston cocked his head. “I don’t know, Jack. Doyouthink she’s in need of something?”

Jack flushed. “Not if you don’t think so.”

Kingston’s jaw clenched. “Don’t go turning into another Paulie, for Christ’s sake. If it were left to him and Neil, she’d have full run of the mansion and everyone in it. Just make sure her little ass stays inside that room.”

With a quick nod of his head, Jack positioned himself beside the door.

“Don’t let her fool you. She’s got a devious streak I never knew existed.” Kingston strode toward the end of the hallway, throwing over his shoulder, “And she’s learning how to use it.”

Upon reaching the mansion’s foyer, Kingston paused, raking his hands through his hair and restoring the waves to order. It gave him a moment to consider his approach before confronting the two men standing in the center of the wide, marble-lined space.

Examining his hands, a rueful smile flickered across his lips. His fingers… they smelled of sex. Like honeysuckles drenched in lust and possession.

Ava.

It was a sweet, intoxicating perfume. A reminder of his obsession and the unexpected, deep-seated need to keep her safe. It was a development he was becoming increasingly accustomed to. Now that he’d taken her innocence, there wasn’t a bastard alive who could steal her from him. She was his for as long as he wanted her, whether she liked it or not.

“Gentlemen.”

Kingston’s greeting drew the attention of the men as he descended the marble stairs.

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