Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 163885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 656(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 819(@200wpm)___ 656(@250wpm)___ 546(@300wpm)
“I’m not even with him, exactly,” she said. Uncertain. Wanting to cry. Feeling sick inside and confused outside.
“She is. With me, I mean,” Savage corrected, walking in so confidently. He handed her two white tablets. “For your headache.” He took the bottle from her and unscrewed the cap. “Drink. And we’re more than friends, and that’s all the time.”
Her heart jerked hard in her chest at his declaration. He wasn’t going to let her go back on her word so easily. Still, she tried to play it casual, rolling her eyes. “He’s being difficult. He likes to mess with everyone.”
“Maestro, I know you want her to sing with you.” Savage caught her hand and brought it to his thigh, his thumb sliding back and forth over the back of it. “Give us a little time. We’ll go home and talk it over.”
When he did that, pressed her hand tight against the muscle of his thigh and rubbed his thumb like he was stroking little caresses, she went damp. Her breasts instantly ached. She wanted him with every breath she took.
Seychelle just needed to run. Self-preservation was kicking in. “I’ve got to go home. Thanks for letting me sing with you tonight. You’re the best musicians I’ve heard in years, maybe ever.”
“Back at you, babe,” Master said. “I haven’t heard a voice like yours ever. Say yes.”
The others murmured their agreement and walked out, leaving her alone with Savage.
Savage brought her hand to his mouth. He nibbled at the pads of her fingers and then scraped with his teeth. Her heart nearly stopped. Her sex clenched hard. He pressed a kiss into the center of her palm.
She tugged until Savage released her. Standing was difficult because he didn’t back away. Her body was up against his, so tight she could feel every breath he took.
“Can you drive safely?”
She nodded, although she was shaking so much she wasn’t positive, but she had to get out of there before she lost every single thing she’d fought so hard for. Her pride. Her independence.
“I’ll walk you out to your car.”
She was so weak with relief that he was letting her go that her legs nearly gave out. At the same time, she wanted to weep that he didn’t care for her the way she did for him.
“Thank you.” There was nothing else to say. She couldn’t take it if he left her time and again for other women, and he would. She couldn’t sing in the bar knowing those women had a part of him that really should belong to her. How could he so casually declare they were past that? She wasn’t past it. She would never be past it.
She kept her head down as he went to the back door and opened it, showing her the exit from the meeting room at the end of the hall. It was dark outside. The band was playing again, and most everyone who had been smoking cigarettes or weed was drifting back inside.
Savage didn’t say anything as they walked to the car, but he kept his arm around her shoulders. In some way that arm was comforting; in another, it felt like a heavy chain binding them together. She knew she was slightly hysterical, but she was going home and packing up and driving to another state as fast as she could. Nevada was looking very good to her. First, she was heading into Fort Bragg and buying a pack of cigarettes.
He took the keys from her hand and unlocked the driver-side lock with a simple button push, as if he’d been doing it for her his entire life. “I know you’re scared, baby, but don’t do anything foolish tonight. Just drive straight home and crawl into bed. You’ll feel better once that headache disappears.”
She didn’t make the mistake of arguing; she just nodded her head. Savage caught her chin and lifted it, forcing her to meet his eyes. She didn’t know why she felt so guilty and yet defiant at the same time.
Savage shook his head. “You could trust me a little to take care of you, Seychelle. Whatever you’re thinking of doing is just making you miserable. You made the decision, and we’ll make it work. I was miserable without you. You were the same without me. We’ll find our way.”
She didn’t shake her head or protest. She was so close to getting away. Once she was out of his presence, she could break free of his spell. The door to her car was open, but he had the keys in his hand.
She wouldn’t go home right away, just in case he went there to check on her. She could go to one of the bars in Fort Bragg, smoke to her heart’s content, drink a few drinks and check into a motel, hide her car. That way, if he went to the house, he’d just give up by morning. She could go home, pack and get out. Drive away. What was tying her there besides her home? She could have a management company rent it out. If she was in Nevada, they couldn’t find her. No one could. She’d keep going . . .