Savage Love (Savage Trilogy #3) - Lisa Renee Jones Page 0,2
it,” I tell him. “I need it in working order.”
His eyes jerk to mine and like most people, his gaze lands on the scar down my cheek. “Oh no,” he stammers. “No, sir. I’ll be gentle with it.”
“I’m never gentle,” I promise him, and he pales whiter than the white that appears to be his normal state.
I turn away from him and guide Candace toward the hotel entrance. “You scared him,” she whispers urgently.
“Good.”
“Rick!” she scolds.
“Relax, baby. I gave him a hundred-dollar tip. He’ll get over it.” I hurry us to the elevator and inside the open car. Once I’ve keyed in the code for the upper level, I pull her close and hold her, my face buried in her hair, inhaling the sweet floral scent. “I could have lost you tonight,” I whisper, my lips at her ear. “I wasn’t going to let that happen.” Some part of me knows this might sound like a defense for my actions, but it isn’t. It’s simply how it is and will be, which is why I catch her face and tilt her stare to mine. “I won’t let that happen.”
Her arms slide around me and she steps closer. “I know,” she says and just that easily she’s said it all, she’s given me everything. She’s offered me her trust.
We stand there, staring at each other, heat and emotion waving between us. One floor after another dings in passing, but life and future years will not pass us by, not ever again. The elevator halts with our destination, and I cup her face, my lips brushing hers.
We reach the door of the suite and Adam opens it before I can. “All clear?” he asks.
“So far so good,” I say, pulling Candace in front of me, and urging her forward.
She steps inside the foyer, and I follow her, shutting the door behind us to find Adam giving Candace a scowling inspection, his eyes fixated on her neck. My gaze follows his and holy fuck. How did I not see the blood marking her delicate skin? What kind of asshole wouldn’t inspect her for injury after what just happened?
“He cut your damn neck.”
“I’m fine, Rick,” she says, touching the wound. “It’s not even painful.”
“You’re not fine.” I tilt her head and now I’m scowling. “You’re cut. You’re bleeding.” I catch her to me and hurry her with me down the hallway, away from Adam.
“I’m fine, Rick,” she insists. “Stop acting like I’m delicate. I’m not delicate.”
Reaching the bathroom, I flip on the light, and pull her inside with me, before kicking the door shut. I settle her back against the door, catching her legs with mine and shoving her hair aside to inspect the seep of blood down her throat. Anger is a hard bite that I direct at myself. I let this happen to her and I was too busy kissing her to consider the killer who held a blade to her neck might have actually cut her. “You’re not fucking fine.” I grab a washcloth, wet it, and wipe her neck to inspect the wound, which is thank fuck, a surface wound.
Her fingers close around my shirt, and she leans into me, tiny and perfect, the only damn thing in this world that matters to me and I almost lost her tonight. “You saved my life.”
“I should have swatted that fly a long ass time ago,” I murmur, my hand going to the door beside her head. “I hate I let this happen to you.”
“You didn’t let this happen to me. This happened because you tried to save a young boy’s life. Had you not have done what you did that day, you wouldn’t be the man I love. I’m in this with you. Rick. All the way. No matter how hellish it gets.”
I catch the back of her neck, my hand gliding higher into the strands of her hair. “It won’t be like this forever. I’m going to get rid of Tag and his lapdogs. Then I’ll choose what jobs I take, for us, for you—to protect you.”
“You were put on this earth to save lives. You chose your work to keep saving lives. And no, I’m not talking about in an operating room. I know that’s not where you belong.”
But she didn’t know when I left. I didn’t make sure she knew, and then I left before I gave her a chance to handle the reality of who, and what, I am. “Candace—”