Page 4 of Filthy Savage

He drops his fist off Xander, but from the looks of him and the way his hands ball at his sides, it won’t last long. “You have five minutes to get out of this fucking hotel. I don’t care where you go, but you’re not staying here.”

Xander coughs up a laugh. “Yeah, okay.”

“I guess you’re hard of hearing.” He draws nearer, until his face almost touches Xander’s. “We own the place. So unless youwant to see what happens to people who don’t do what we say, I suggest you get lost before I lose more of my patience.”

He owns the hotel? Holy shit.

Xander glares at me, muttering something inaudible before stalking off.

When he’s finally gone and the stranger’s eyes lock with mine, something passes through me.

Something that makes my gut flip. Something that feels almost like yearning. Or maybe a deep desire to have a man care for me for once.

Stupid Amara. Conjuring up fairy tales in your head. Don’t you know by now? Fairy tales don’t exist for girls like you.

His eyes scan my body, but not in a gross way. Like he’s assessing me for injuries. When his attention lands on my arm, his nostrils flare. My eyes round when I remember the fading black and blue from another time Xander grabbed me.

“He did that to you?” A flash of rage passes through his features.

I shrug. “It’s okay. It happened a while ago.”

My gaze darts to the ground, unable to look at this man anymore. Too embarrassed from it all.

He approaches, hand lowering to my chin, and I break out with goose bumps when he lifts my gaze up to meet his. The raw intensity there, the way he looks at me—not at my body or my mouth, but atme—causes more tears to come.

When has anyone ever looked at me with such care?

I know it’s pathetic to think I matter to him. We just met.

Xander was nice at first too. But they change, don’t they?

“It’s not okay.” His smooth, raspy baritone causes me to choke up on my emotions even more. “No one has a right to put their hands on you.” He glances at my trembling lips. “How about I get you some food?”

“Uh, no… You don’t have to do that.”

Wiping at my lower lashes, I think of ways to get away. It’s not good for me to be around him. To be so inexplicably drawn to this man.

The last thing I need is another man to complicate my life.

I don’t want to leave, though. I want to stay right here. With him.

Because for the first time, I feel safe.Hemakes me feel safe, as stupid as that may sound.

It makes no logical sense. No way to explain why I feel this way, but I do, and I want more of it.

“I know I don’t have to.” A gorgeous smirk tugs on his cheeks. “I want to.”

Warmth cruises down my limbs, like a blanket I want wrapped around me on a blistering cold night.

“Okay.” The word slips out before I can stop it.

But it’s too late to take it back, and I’m glad.

It’s like my mind is warring with itself. On one hand, I want to get to know him better. On the other, I don’t want to grow attached.

Even if Xander and I are done, it’s too soon for someone else. And more so, this guy is way out of my league.

“Do you have the keycard to the room you two were sharing?”

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