Page 62 of A Heart So Savage

Standing back up, she drifted around the living room. For a few moments, she stood before the huge windows and marveled at the bird’s eye view of the bustling city below. The penthouse was so high up, it was dizzying to look down at the streets surrounding the building. Vehicles appeared to be minuscule toys and people scurried around like ants.

Tearing herself away from the view, Ava looked around the living room. It shared space with the large kitchen and was constructed much like the hub of a wheel with different hallways serving as spokes. Moving toward the kitchen, she lingered by a large knife block.

Touching the gleaming handle of an elegant paring knife, she decided against taking it. No doubt Kingston would notice its absence. He would search her and her purse. She would be caught with an actual weapon and that would be the end of that. With a sigh, Ava moved on, trailing her fingers over the expensive countertops.

Further exploration of the penthouse revealed one hallway containing three additional bedrooms with attached baths, and a guest bathroom meant for general use. Another hallway led to an impressive gym with several workout machines and free weights and an entire wall of windows overlooking the city.

On the opposite side of the kitchen was a large window and a glass door with a keypad leading to a private rooftop pool. Lush landscaping and several canopy-covered seating areas surrounded the lovely space. Too bad she didn’t know the code. It would have been nice to sit in the sunshine.

A third, shorter hallway led to a single room and a locked door with the same style keypads as the others she’d seen.

This must be Kingston’s office. Ava traced the wood grain of the door, wondering what secrets were held within that necessitated it being locked up so tight.

“Are you ready to go?”

Ava let out a little yelp of alarm. Whirling to meet Kingston’s gaze, her back pressed against the office door. “You scared me.”

He smiled at the accusation, moving closer until there was nowhere she could go. His hands settled on her hips. For a long time, he simply held her there then murmured beneath his breath, “I forgot my own rule.”

“What rule is that?” Ava hated that her voice sounded breathy. She didn’t want Kingston to know how much he affected her, but it seemed impossible to keep it hidden. He wore his usual somber outfit. The custom-made suit and tie only made him appear more dangerous than she already knew him to be.

“No jeans for you, ever. It keeps me from being able to fully access every part of you.” His thumbs rubbed the fabric covering her hips.

Ava turned her head, bracing her hands against his wide chest. His cologne teased her nostrils, the scent spicy, sweet, and enveloping. “You had more than enough of me yesterday, don’t you think?”

Kingston shook his head with a little grunt of annoyance. “It won’t ever be enough, Ava, and that’s the damnable thing about all this.”

“You could still let me go. Even after everything you’ve done… I wouldn’t tell anyone. I promise.” Ava held her breath as Kingston gripped both her wrists in one hand, pulling them high above her head and pinning her against the solid door.

“Yeah, I could let you go.” His lips skimmed across hers in a teasing motion. “But I won’t. I told you before, Ava. You’re mine, now. Mine to protect. To torment. To adore.” His voice grew rougher. “To fuck.”

He claimed her mouth, devouring her until Ava couldn’t breathe. She could only kiss him back and hope her heart survived his possession.

“I didn’t fuck you last night, Ava. Nor this morning when I easily could have taken what I wanted.” Like a warm wind, his words fanned across her cheek as he nibbled the corner of her lips.

“Why didn’t you?” She was genuinely curious about that. Why he had restrained himself after the incident in the restaurant.

He chuckled softly, his hand tightening around her wrists. “Because I thought I might try being a gentleman. An unfamiliar role, to be sure. But if I had taken you in that fragile state, being the bastard that I am, I would not have stopped until you were completely ruined. Oh, don’t misunderstand me. You would have enjoyed every minute of it, but it was unwise to push you any further. After you dropped so hard and fast, I didn’t want to risk triggering one of your night terrors.”

Strangely enough, Kingston’s explanation made sense. He only wanted to claim her when she was fully aware and functional. Anything less than one hundred percent participation in her own destruction was unacceptable. Finding out that he voluntarily locked down his own desires for her sake sent a tingle through Ava. The idea that he had taken care of her sank a little deeper into the cracks around her heart.

It wasn’t much, but it was something. A silver of consideration he would never have extended before. Unexpected warmth spread tendrils around Ava’s insides, but she was still torn between self-preservation and willing self-destruction.

He could have done anything he wanted, used me in ways that would have broken me—both in mind and spirit—but he didn’t. Why? Why spare me that torment if he means to destroy me anyway?

Could it be that Kingston was beginning to care for her? Was it possible this callous man with a heart as cold as winter snow was falling for his captive?

Of course, it was possible. After all, wasn’t she falling in love with her jailor?

“I wouldn’t stop you now, sir,” she whispered recklessly. The thought of Kingston thrusting himself inside her made her core ache in the most delicious way. Offering him any part of her soul was crazy, but Ava could not deny how badly she wanted him. It was stupid and dangerous and would be the end of her life as a sane person, but it couldn’t be helped.

“I’ll warn you not to play with fire, Ava. I was a fucking idiot last night, and I’m definitely not a gentleman. Don’t offer me a single thing unless you want me to take it all.”

“Take everything.” Ava arched toward him, her breasts grazing his chest in a teasing manner. A harsh laugh escaped her. “I already know you aren’t a gentleman. Show me how crazy you are for me because I swear to God, I’m beyond psychotic for wanting you after everything you’ve done.”

One of Kingston’s hands tangled in her hair while with the other, he kept her wrists imprisoned in a lose grip. A feral gleam sparkled in his eyes. Ava shivered at the madness she saw in those velvety blue depths. A madness that was surely mirrored in her own gaze.

“You want the monster to come out and play, little lamb?” His words were a growling reminder that he was an untamed creature with very little control when it came to her. “Be very sure of your answer. I won’t let you change your mind once we start.”

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