Page 20 of Filthy Rogue

What the hell are you thinking?

What I was thinking was finding a way to get my car fixed. I certainly wasn’t going to ask for a handout and a loan would mean we’d have to talk again and that couldn’t happen.Why?

My inner voice was certainly active this time of the morning. Because I’d promised myself there would be no additional complications. I’d worked hard, saving every penny so at some point I could have a nice house. He couldn’t enter into the picture, and I knew he didn’t want me to.

I couldn’t fall to that level of humiliation. It was just too…

So, you’re going to become a thief. A little desperate, aren’t you?

Hissing, I tried to shove my inner voice aside. Maybe I’d find a way of getting it back to him. Yes, I could stop at the front desk and get his first name. Right, like they’d tell me. At least I would try.

What would it hurt to borrow a few hundred dollars? I wouldn’t take it all. That wasn’t the kind of girl I was. Just four hundred. No, five, just in case the labor was higher than I thought it might be. I’d been forced to have an alternator replaced in my last car. Five hundred should do it, give or take. Okay, six hundred but that was my limit. No, I forgot about the tow. Seven hundred and that was positively it.

Swallowing, I realized my hands were shaking as I glanced at him again. He’d rolled over, oblivious to the thief standing just a few feet away from him. Shit. I wasn’t certain what I should do.

Standing here isn’t going to make up your mind.

No, that was true. I quickly dressed, telling myself that if he woke up, I’d have one answer and if he didn’t, I’d have another.

He remained fast asleep. I had my answer. I snatched the money, counting out seven bills, hating myself for needing help from anyone. But at this point, I was desperate. Then I knew what to do. I found a pad of paper in the desk and a pen. I only prayed the cheap piece of plastic would work.

Savage,

I’m sorry for doing this, but I’m desperate. Please forgive me. Here is my email. I will return the money to you. I promise.

Sassy

At least it was something. “Goodbye, sexy man.” As I walked out, I glanced one last time. He was sexy as hell, and I wouldn’t have minded spending another few nights with him.

Hey, at least a girl could dream.

* * *

Savage

My eyes snapped open, and I immediately jerked to a sitting position, trying to rid myself of the cobwebs as I took a deep breath. The light streaming in the room was enough to create a haze, which matched the fogginess of my brain. I hadn’t slept that deeply in a long time.

Because of her.

I glanced at the floor, realizing she’d already left. Where the hell did she think she was going to go? Sighing, I shook my head as I planted my feet on the floor. Then I noticed my wallet on the dresser. I’d been meticulous my entire life, which allowed me to notice the damn thing had been opened. What the fuck? I moved closer, grabbing the piece of paper lying on top, scanning it quickly. The girl had to be kidding me.

“Fuck.” I flipped through my wallet. The girl had stolen seven hundred bucks from me. I couldn’t care less about the money. It was obvious she needed a break, but it was the principle of the thing. She could have asked. Granted, I would have given her a hard time, but I wasn’t the kind of man to allow a woman to remain in distress. How the hell long had she been gone?

Then I searched for my keys. If she’d stolen my bike, I wasn’t going to be nice. No, she’d left them. She only needed cash to get her damn car working. Hmmm…

I threw on a clean set of clothes, skipping the shower. As I pulled the tee shirt over my head, I gathered her scent. The desire for her had hit me like a ton of bricks. I shouldn’t have touched her, but damn it, she’d pressed every button, driving me to the point all I could think about was having her underneath me, writhing as she moaned my name. That had happened on the third round.

After grabbing my things, I headed down the stairs and into the main office. The same guy was inside. “Did the girl I came with leave?”

He opened his eyes wide as he peered up at me like I’d give him a beat down if he didn’t answer.

“She got a ride, mister. I don’t know who with.”

A ride. She was putting herself in more harm’s way. What the hell was wrong with her? Did she have a death wish? “Thanks.” There better be only one place she’d go or the next round of punishment she’d get would prevent her from sitting for a long time. I roared the bike to life, driving out of the parking lot. As I rolled down the street, I looked for her in case she’d driven the person she’d bummed a ride from crazy.

I shouldn’t worry about her. She was a big girl. However, she needed to learn that stealing wasn’t in her best interest. It was obvious the earlier spanking had done her little if any good.

As I pulled in front of the shop, I noticed she was arguing with one of the mechanics. I was off the bike and headed in her direction before she noticed a new arrival. The second she turned her head briefly, I could see the color drain from her face.

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