Page 18 of The Savage

It’s just too much and the slight tremble to her lip and the flush to her cheeks are like a powerful magnet as they draw me to her side in a second. As I stand unsure before her, I sense a shift coming that spells trouble for everyone.

To my surprise, she reaches out and touches my chest. “I love your tattoos.”

Such a simple statement that fills me with pride and she points to a dark looking script that lies just above my chest. “What does that mean?”

I look down and say roughly, “It’s Russian for a savage heart.”

As her fingers graze my skin, it’s like the purest torture and she points to another. “And this one?”

She points to a bird in a cage, and I say, “Freedom.”

“But the bird is caged.”

She looks up, and I wince when I see the lust sparkling in her obscenely beautiful eyes.

“It’s a promise of freedom. One day, I will have another image inked to my skin of the cage door open and the bird on the other side.”

“You’re talking about you, aren’t you, Ivan?”

She looks at me with so much sadness and it hurts like hell knowing she’s right. I hate the fact my voice is weaker than normal when I hold her hand against my skin and whisper, “My body is my canvas. It scripts my journey and tells my story to the world. An open book if you like that only I understand the meaning of. One day the story inked on my skin will be a very different one and that is what gets me through the madness.”

She nods and circles a clear patch of skin. “What will you put there?”

I don’t even hesitate. “A beautiful rose.”

She stares up at me in startled surprise and shifts a little closer, her hand reaching behind my neck as she whispers, “Can I ask you for something, Ivan?”

I doubt I can deny her anything right now and I nod before she says hesitantly, “Please, may I steal a kiss?”

She looks worried and the slight break in her voice makes me burn inside and reaching up, I cup both her cheeks in my rough hands and whisper, “Anything for you, princess.”

Our lips connect and as I enjoy my first taste of this woman, I lose every last shred of gallantry I had. She tastes so sweet like I always knew she would and as I suck her lower lip into my mouth and bite down gently on the plump cushion, my cock throbs so hard it physically hurts.

My tongue claims hers and her low moan encourages me in deeper, and as I hold her in my arms, it is possibly the most beautiful moment of my life. She is so innocent. A beautiful angel who has somehow survived what life has thrown at her and approached it with unwavering bravery and curiosity. This is no exception and as her hands lay flat against my chest and she kisses me back, I don’t think I have ever been happier in my life.

As I pull away, I rest my head against hers and whisper, “Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you.”

The light amusement in her voice makes me smile and as I make to pull away, I’m surprised when she pulls me back and says with a sigh. “Can I ask you another favor, please?”

My breath hitches as I nod slowly. “Of course.”

“Will you sleep with me, Ivan?”

I stare at her in surprise, and she blushes furiously. “I mean, not like that, it’s just, well, I only feel safe when I’m with you and I’m so tired I don’t think I can keep my eyes open for another second.”

With a small smile, I nod. “Of course. Come, we could both use some sleep.”

It’s strange slipping naked in between the black silk sheets with a woman dressed in a silk robe. I can feel the warm heat from her body as the fabric caresses it and molds her curves. I physically ache to run my hands down the length of her and plunge my fingers inside to touch her sticky wet heat. I know it’s there but is locked away for someone else to discover. Not me. Not the bastard who took her to hell and almost took up permanent residency there. I need to be better for once in my life and do what she’s asking. Protect her because God knows, there is one thing I can never protect her from and that is the madness heading our way that goes by the name Massimo Delauren.

CHAPTER13

CHARLOTTE

Imust have fallen into a blissful sleep courtesy of the warm bath, sensual oils and the deep soul shattering kiss of a god. Ivan is a god to me. Somehow, he has gone from being an aggressor, a kidnapper and a bastard, to becoming an object of fascination. He intrigues me, and not just because I’m inexperienced. It’s him. The savage warrior who is keeping me alive right now, and that alone is a powerful aphrodisiac.

As I lie in his arms wrapped in decadence, it’s a world away from the depressing place we’ve just left. My life has become a movie and I’m starring in the role of a lifetime with a savage as my leading man. I never thought this would happen to a girl like me, but now it has I’m keen to explore every inch of insanity I possess because I know when this ends, I will never be the same again.

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