Page 60 of Bright Like Midnight (Savage U)

“Is that part of my job?”

“Does it need to be to get your sexy ass in a dress and grinding on my leg?”

I swallowed hard, but it did nothing to clear the thick coating in my throat. “I don’t know,” I whispered. “I don’t...I’ve never done that.”

He took a handful of my butt and squeezed. “I know that. Believe me, I know that. I’m gonna make it happen for you, Zadie. All the things you haven’t done because of that piece of shit, I’m going to give them to you.”

Perfumed sheets.

“So, it’s part of my job?”

The heat in his eyes dimmed. He let go of me to take a step back. “Does that make it easier?”

I nodded. “I need to remember what we are.”

“We are what I say we are.” Taking me by the shoulders, he swiveled me around then opened the SUV door and practically shoved me inside, copping a feel as he went.

The drive home wasn’t quiet, but Amir didn’t speak. He cranked up the sound system, drowning out the silence with explicit rap. I thought he’d pull up to the curb and dump me out, but he turned into a spot and put the SUV in park.

Reaching across the console, he unbuckled me, grabbed my wrist, and tugged. “Get over here, mama,” he gritted out. The heat was back, but this time, it was a raging fire, and I feared it was directed at me.

I should have run. I should have done anything other than crawl across the console. But I didn’t. Amir took me by the waist and guided me to sit sideways on his lap, like he’d done that first night. And the second.

He might have been angry, but he stroked my face so gently, I didn’t feel any of his wrath.

“What are you doing tonight?” he murmured.

“Staying in and studying. What are you doing tonight?”

He exhaled through his nose. “Work.”

Work probably meant more perfumed sheets, or maybe bloody clothing and bruised knuckles. Quite possibly both.

“Have fun,” I whispered, unable to keep the melancholy out of my voice.

He canted his head, studying me, really taking me in. “I’m taking you out tomorrow. It’s part of your job, if that’s what you need to hear.”

“Okay.” At this point, itwaswhat I needed, to keep what was happening with him compartmentalized. It was the only way I’d walk away at least somewhat whole.

His thumb pressed into the corners of my mouth. “What’s this about? Why does it look like you’re sad?”

“I told you, it’s been a lot lately. Too much.” I blinked at him, then let my eyes fall. “I need...I don’t know. I don’t know what I need, but I just...I don’t know.”

He stared at me for another long beat, then he did something so unexpected, I went with it. Cradling the side of my head in his wide palm, he pushed me down until I lay on his chest and wrapped his arms around me.

And it was...a hug. Amir was hugging me. The backs of my eyes stung from how tender the gesture was. I didn’t even know hecouldbe tender, yet here he was, holding me when I needed it badly.

The scent of his warm spice invaded my nose. His calm heartbeat thrummed in my ear. Fingers trailed up and down my arm and along my spine. It was so nice, so sweet, so perfect, I would have thought I was dreaming, if not for the fact that I didn’t have nice dreams like this anymore. Not lately at least.

My tight, stressed body relaxed as the minutes ticked by, and I melted into Amir’s embrace. Then he kissed the top of my head, and my heart shuddered so hard in my chest, it felt like my sternum was close to cracking.

I couldn’t do this. This wasn’t wise.

I lifted my head. “I should go in.”

“Yeah.” He took my jaw in his hand, pulled me close, and touched his lips to mine. “Get out of my car, Zadie.” His lips ghosted over mine again, then his head fell back on the rest, and he watched me under half-mast lids.

“’Kay.” I forced my limbs to move, retreating to the passenger seat to grab my messenger bag. With one hand on the door, I looked at Amir. “Thank you.”

He lifted a shoulder. “Don’t like you sad. I didn’t know that about myself until now. But yeah, I don’t like it.”

There. There he went saying things that would inevitably lead to my heart breaking. I should have punched him. Instead, I smiled. His gaze lowered to my lips while his turned up ever so slightly.

“Who knew you could be kind of sweet?” Swinging open the door, I hopped out onto the pavement, then spun around, looking up at Amir. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I kissed my hand, then waved a goodbye, closing his door behind me.

I had always known Amir was dangerous, but there in the front seat of his vehicle, he’d given me a glimpse of howtrulydangerous he was.

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