Page 35 of Savage Prince

“Now you’re just trying to flatter me,” he says, rolling me over so swiftly it makes me giggle. “But we’re out of condoms.”

“Then I guess you’ll just have to pull out,” I say.

He grunts. “Nope. I don’t trust myself. But I have been wanting to get my mouth on that pretty pussy of yours. I assume you have no objections to me fucking you with my tongue until you come out of your skin?”

I shiver. “I think I could deal with something like that. I mean, if you really wanted to.”

“You’re so good to me,” he says.

Then, he makes me moan, and for the next twenty minutes there is nothing but him. My Ford.

Mine for real and for whatever comes next.

* * *

We reach the swanky hotel’s business center a few minutes after four and get lucky again with another guest letting us in on their way out. I steal a second apple from the bowl, biting into the thin skin as Ford logs on.

Even an apple tastes different than it did earlier today.

Now, this apple isn’t just the apple I’m eating at the moment. It’s all the apples I’ve eaten before and all the things apples mean to me—gorgeous fall leaves and fun in the orchards with friends and pack celebrations with loads of cobbler and vanilla ice cream. This apple has magical, lifetime-of-memories layers.

I never thought I’d be grateful for my past, but I am.

But I’m also grateful for the time I spent with Ford in that fresh new body. It taught me that no matter how dark the road was that led me to this place, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m where I belong and I’m who I need to be to love this man the way he deserves to be loved.

I touch a hand to Ford’s shoulder, and he turns to look at me, surprise lifting his features.

“What?” I ask.

He shakes his a little. “Nothing. It’s just going to take some getting used to.”

“The fact that I’m not fighting how much I like you anymore?”

“Yep,” he says with a grin that makes me laugh.

I shrug and toss my apple core in the trash. “What can I say? I’m old and tired. These days, I only have the energy to fight the things that really need fighting.”

He sobers. “Speaking of, are you ready? I’m going to put the call on speaker, but I’m not going to tell Trevor you’re listening in. At least, not at first.”

“Smart. He’ll feel more comfortable if he thinks it’s just you. I’ll watch the door and run interference if anyone tries to come in.”

He takes a bracing breath. “Okay. Here goes nothing.” He hits the send button on the call and a second later, a tinny ringing sound fills the air. Our eyes lock, the air electrifying between us.

This is the first school cell phone we’ve tried that hasn’t sent us straight to voicemail.

On the third ring, a hushed voice rasps, “Hello?”

“Hey, Trevor. Can you talk for a second?”

“Ford?” Trevor asks, hope flooding his tone. “Is that really you?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” Ford says, as I bite my bottom lip and fight the urge to pace. I need to stay quiet, and I don’t want to distract Ford.

But I’m so nervous I’m about to come out of my skin as Trevor says, “Fuck, man. I’m so glad you’re alive. They said you were dead.”

“I almost was,” Ford says. “Beck attacked me in the water and nearly ripped my throat out. If my friend hadn’t helped me…” He lets the rest of the sentence hang in the air, unspoken.

Trevor curses and his voice trembles as he says, “I knew it. I knew he was lying. He said you attacked him, and he had to defend himself, but that didn’t make sense. I mean, obviously, I don’t know you that well, but you were nice to everyone. Beck was the one who was always plotting shit behind people’s backs. I hate that I tried to be a part of his stupid club. I should have trusted my gut and stayed the fuck away from him and all those brotherhood dickheads.”

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