Page 34 of A Heart So Savage

Kingston reached over and threaded his fingers with hers. “It’ll be okay, lamb.” He squeezed until she looked at him. “No one dares disappoint me and this situation is no different. You’re safe, or I’ll have the head of whoever jeopardizes that.”

A sad smile curved Ava’s lips. “Why should you even care?”

“Because you’re mine and I protect what’s mine. No matter the threat.” When her eyes widened at his fierce response, Kingston realized how much he liked the idea of Ava being his forever.

“Ready for take-off, Mister Winter,” Captain Granger announced via the speaker system.

Using his forefinger, Kingston tipped Ava’s face toward his. “I’m right here, lamb. When you are frightened, just squeeze my hand as hard as you like. Dig in your nails if you must. The alternative is giving you a reason to forget you are even on a plane.”

“How would you accomplish that?”

“By fucking you senseless.”

Ava’s chin trembled the slightest bit as the jet began its taxi down the runway. Closing her eyes, she tightened her hand around his and said in a soft murmur, “I’ll be fine. But if I begin hyperventilating, I’m sure you’ll do whatever you think is best.”

ChapterThirteen

Follow me into the fire,

Burn with me until we are but cinders.

Ava tooka deep breath as the jet leveled off. When a melodic ding indicated their seatbelts could be removed, she reluctantly untangled her hand from Kingston’s and released the latch.

Now that they were in the air, classical music played over the cabin’s speakers. It was soothing, with no lyrics to decipher or hidden meanings to figure out. Just the soft, lilting sounds of violins and pianos.

Ava nervously shifted on the leather seat and glanced about the cabin. It was luxurious in a way that was suited for royalty.

“Was this your father’s?” she asked suddenly.

Kingston shook his head. “I sold his when I took over the business. This is mine.”

“The business,” Ava slowly repeated. “What precisely does “the business” consist of? Other than your philanthropic effort of rescuing abused women and running a sex club.”

Kingston flashed a smile. “I explained before how LIST operates. Mutual experiences for like-minded adults in a consensual setting. There’s nothing lurid about it or its members. Just an exchange of pleasure.”

Ava clutched her wrap closer to her body. “Do you… ah… do you visit it often?”

“Only when I’m in the city. I stay apprised of any issues that occur. Of course, I also personally approve membership requests.”

“I suppose women from there visit you at The Den?” She didn’t know why it mattered, but it suddenly did. Her chest was tight as she questioned Kingston, but to his credit, hewasanswering her.

“Sometimes,” he drawled. “Although I’ve not had another woman since the day Oliver dropped you in my lap.”

Why does that please me? Why does the thought of his self-restraint make my insides tremble? It shouldn’t, especially when I’ve no idea if it is the truth. He tells me what I wish to hear. Whether it is intended to make me more obedient, or simply for his own amusement, I have no idea.

“What else do you do?” she questioned bravely as he slowly swiveled his chair back and forth in a languid manner. With an elbow on the armrest and his chin cupped within his hand, he watched her with dark eyes and a wicked curve to his mouth.

“You know what I do, lamb. I loan money to foolish men and collect double what they owe. If man doesn’t pay his debt, I take everything he has.”

She should stifle her curiosity, but Ava couldn’t help herself. He was patiently answering her questions, treating her with gentle concern. And gentle was not a word normally used when describing a man such as Kingston.

Amicable.

He was being amicable, but it was much more than that.

It was the way he looked at her. How he held her hand during take-off, as though he could somehow erase her irrational fear. There was an implied intimacy when it came to holding hands. It was a declaration of belonging. Of comforting one another. Holding hands existed on a different level. It spoke of affection and caring. It meant more than kissing. More than sex.

People in relationships held hands all the time. It was just something that couples naturally did.

---