Page 27 of Safe and Sound

I wish I could have said the same for myself. But obviously there was a giant elephant in the room involving my true self–my involvement in the Kavanaugh clan. Most women who pursued me heard rumors of my family’s and my dealings in the underworld. For those who had a bad boy kink, it was a dream come true.

Although I could’ve stayed talking to her all night, she wanted to dance. Considering everything she’d been through in the past few months, I wanted to do everything within my power to give her an enjoyable evening.

Once Ava found the spot she wanted, she began to move to the music. Immediately I noticed a difference in the way she was dancing now to how she had previously. When I didn’t join in with her, she furrowed her brows at me. “What’s wrong?” Ava asked.

“Where’s the carefree woman I saw earlier tonight?”

Surprise sparkled in her dark eyes. “You saw me dancing?”

Nodding, I pointed at the VIP roost. “I was watching the crowd when you caught my eye. That’s the reason why I was there to save you. I’d come down to find you.”

Unblinking and unmoving, Ava merely stared at me. After a few moments passed, she questioned, “Why?”

“Are you really asking me that?”

“Does it surprise you that I would want to know?”

“Considering the ball buster you are, it does.”

“Maybe that’s all a front,” she argued.

I hated the doubt that swirled in her eyes. I knew her ex and his actions had put those emotions in her head. It made me want to string him up and beat the hell out of him. My thumb traced along her jawline.

Her hand covered mine against her cheek. “Out of all the women in here, why did you choose me?”

“I liked what I saw when you were dancing.”

“And what did you see?”

“Complete and total freedom.”

“And what else?”

“Someone totally uninhibited.”

“Free and inhibited aren’t usually traits men like.”

“I’m not like other men.”

The corners of her lips quirked. “No, you're not. And it’s the sexiest fucking thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

After snaking one of my arms around Ava’s waist, I drew her soft curves flush against the hard angles of my body. We swayed to the soft beat of the music. Pressing her head to chest, Ava inhaled sharply.

At her satisfied sigh, I asked, “My cologne meets your approval?”

“Mm, hmm.” Grinning up at me, she said, “There’s something about a delicious-smelling man that was like liquid sex to me.”

“I like hearing that.”

Ava brought her arms up to encircle my neck. When her fingers began playing with the hair at the base of my neck, a shudder ran through me.

“Did I just discover one of your erogenous zones, Mr. Kavanaugh?” Ava teasingly asked.

I grinned. “You’re on to me. I fucking love when a woman plays with my hair.”

“We have that in common.”

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