Page 56 of A Heart So Savage

“Okay,” she acquiesced with a little yawn. “I’m really tired.”

“It’s been a very long day,” Kingston replied as the elevator came to a stop. The sleek steel doors slid open, revealing an elegant antechamber decorated in soothing cream and gold tones. A double set of ebony black doors took up one entire wall of the space while the opposite ends offered floor-to-ceiling windows with impressive views of the city.

Jack stepped out first, his hand on the butt of his gun as he checked out the space. “Clear.”

Kingston shifted Ava in his arms and touched his finger to a second entry pad on the wall beside the doors. Jack entered the penthouse first, quickly moving through the rooms then returning to the foyer.

“All clear, Boss.”

“Thanks, Jack.” Kingston carried Ava into the living room area. “I’ll let you know our plans in the morning.”

Ava’s head raised from Kingston’s shoulder as Jack exited the penthouse. Giving the large contemporary space a brief glance, she gave another yawn and dropped her head once more. Nuzzling her cheek against the lapel of his suit coat, she mumbled, “Very pretty.”

Kingston’s jaw clenched with concern. This lethargic drop of energy she was experiencing should be addressed quickly. He needed to both hydrate her and feed her something to combat the side effects that came from sensory overload.

Setting her down on the black leather sofa, he grabbed a sable throw blanket that lay draped over one end. After tucking it around her body, he also quickly unbuckled her shoes and tossed them to the floor.

With a sigh of contentment, Ava curled into the blanket’s furry warmth. Her eyes drifted shut again, and a small smile curved her full lips. The silver purse was clutched to her chest as if it were a pillow.

Kingston passed a hand over the crown of her head in an oddly affectionate gesture before stalking into the kitchen. His phone beeped once, alerting him to a message. After reading the text from Paulie, he slid his phone back into his pocket with a distracted frown.

With the open floor plan, he could keep an eye on her while gathering necessary items. Ava never budged from the spot he placed her. Even when he set the tray containing gourmet chocolates, strawberries, and a glass of water on the sleek chrome coffee table, she did not move. Nor did she stir when he carefully positioned himself beside her on the oversized, plush sofa. The leather squeaked softly in protest as he settled in.

She’d fallen asleep, her body curved into a fetal position and her feet tucked beneath her. Her hands curled beneath her chin, the purse’s strap entwined in her fingers. Although reluctant to wake her, Kingston knew it was necessary.

“Ava, I want you to sit up for me now.” He gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her upright. Ignoring her grumble of displeasure, he tugged the purse from her grip and placed it on the table. He knew what it contained; the makeshift weapon she’d stolen from the restaurant.

That brazen act of foolishness would go unpunished for the moment but Kingston could help but wonder if she would try using it against him. Would he wake up later and find that fork embedded in one of his eyeballs?

Tucking her against his side, he pressed the glass of water to Ava’s lips. “Drink this.”

Ava drowsily pushed his hand away. “Too tired.”

“I know, but just a little sip. There you go. Good girl. Look, there’s chocolate. And strawberries. I know you love strawberries.”

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, taking another longer drink of water. Then, in a perfect display of obedience, she opened her mouth and allowed Kingston to pop in a slice of fruit. Once she’d chewed and swallowed, she obediently opened her mouth a second time for a piece of hazelnut-infused chocolate sprinkled with sea salt.

“Because it’s necessary.”

Ava shot him a bemused look. “But why is it necessary?”

“Because you require proper care after I play with you. You were dropping. This will counteract that,” he explained patiently.

“You carried me here, right?” Her gaze flitted around the spacious room with its bright white marble floors and vaulted ceilings. Light from the kitchen provided dim illumination, accented by the darkness beyond the expanse of glass walls studded with the glow of other high rises and the restless city below. “You didn’t drop me.”

She clutched the blanket closer to her chin, opening her mouth as Kingston fed her another slice of strawberry followed by more chocolate. Her gaze was slowly clearing of the cobwebs.

“Dropping happens sometimes after experiencing extreme pleasure or a release of some sort. It’s especially common following a prolonged period of orgasm denial.” Kingston watched as Ava turned the explanation over in her mind. Despite the weariness rolling off her in waves, he felt her reaction once his words sunk in and made sense.

“In the restaurant. What you did to me…” Faint outrage laced her words but she was still too weak to do anything other than open her mouth for another sip of water.

Kingston laid a finger over her lips when she indicated she was done. “Thank me later, lamb. Now that you are feeling better, let’s get you ready for bed.”

Ava’s gaze darted around the living room until she found what she wanted on the glass-topped coffee table. “I need my purse.”

“You’ll manage without it.” Kingston rose from the couch, pulling her up along with him. He almost tossed the blanket back across the end of the couch before noticing how Ava shivered without its warmth. Tucking it around her shoulders, he assured her, “Everything you need is already here. It was all delivered while we were on the jet.”

Ava glanced back at the purse while Kingston took her by the elbow. He guided her down a long, wide hall lit by sconces of sleek silver metal. The soft padding of her bare feet on the marble floor and the sharp click of his dress shoes echoed in the silence.

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