Her gaze moved over his face, and then one hand came up and cupped his jaw. She was so gentle his heart felt like it might burst in his chest.
“I’ll get us out, Savage. You absolutely can count on me.” There was utter resolve in her voice.
Savage wrapped his arms tight around her and just held her for a long time, even though he knew he still had to apply the lotion to the faint stripes on the front of her. Right at that moment, he needed the closeness between them as much as she did. She was strong. She was courageous. He believed her. She would pull them both out of the fire when it was needed.
“Babe, wake up, just for a minute.”
Seychelle groaned. She refused to open her eyes. She had no idea how many times he’d already woken her up, but it had to be a million. She wasn’t moving. Savage might be the hottest man in the world, but she was exhausted. And her body was super sore. If he wanted her, she was going to be a lifeless rag doll.
“Go away, Savage. If you don’t, I’m going to find Sabelia and have her teach me some kind of hex to put on you to make body parts start dropping off.”
She could have sworn he laughed, but then there was cold air on her body. He flipped her onto her belly, and the flat of his hand smacked her very sore bottom several times. Hard. Very hard. She yelped and threw her hand back to cover her bottom.
Savage caught her wrist and easily brought her arm to the small of her back, all the while peppering her bottom with more slaps. It felt like fire raining down.
“Asshole,” she muttered into the pillow. “You are so going down.” She was visiting Sabelia today. If she could ever move again.
“Are you seriously going to pretend you don’t like this?” He leaned down and pressed a kiss into the small of her back. “If you didn’t like it, your adorable little pussy wouldn’t be wet and ready for me.”
“Savage, I like you too, and my adorable little—um—vajj likes certain parts of your now-not-so-adorable, er … oversized and overactive … um … thing, but I’m too exhausted. Go away. And don’t spank me anymore, please. Whether I like it or not, I don’t honestly know, because I don’t honestly know if I like you or not. I just want to sleep. So go away.”
He burst out laughing, the sound rich and masculine. She loved the sound, and she couldn’t help opening her eyes just enough to look at his face as his weight settled on the mattress right next to her.
“My thing? It’s my cock, baby, and you’re very, very fond of that particular portion of my anatomy.” He took her limp hand and stroked her palm over the swollen denim of his jeans.
She groaned, her eyes on his. “Are you always hard? Maybe that thing is broken. There’s no turn-off button. That’s the trouble. I need a remote so I can just turn that bad boy off when it gets stuck on.”
He rubbed her bottom gently. “You have to learn to actually say cock, Seychelle. Thing is not going to cut it, although I have to admit, it’s cute as hell. And makes me hard.”
She gave an exasperated groan. “Everything makes you hard. Whatever wasn’t working before I came along is totally fixed now.” She brightened. “I fixed you. Now go away. I’m sleeping. I don’t even think you’re real. I’m just dreaming.” Deliberately, she closed her eyes.
His hand kept rubbing her bottom gently. “Your car’s in the garage. The keys are on your dresser. Tank is full, the oil’s been changed, new fluid and windshield wipers.”
She started to turn over, but he put pressure on the cheeks of her bottom, holding her in place, and it was too much trouble. She really was exhausted, although it was so sweet of him to take care of her car—and she was elated to have it back.
His hand was mesmerizing. “You need to pay attention, Seychelle. This is important. I don’t like leaving you alone. I’d rather you stay here at the house, where I know you’re safe, or keep you with me at the clubhouse, but you have to get your things. You’re going to need clothes for the run. Whatever you want to bring with you.”
She didn’t think now was the right time to engage in an argument about her objections to going with him. She was too sleepy, and he seemed tense. “I’m listening.”
“I’ve left a list of suggested clothing. Things you might want to bring. We travel light. We’re on the bike, but we’ll be gone a few days. Go to your house in Sea Haven. I’ll have one of the prospects on you. When you’re ready to leave here, text me. I’ll let you know when he’s here waiting to follow you. Don’t leave until he’s with you. Understand?”
“Of course.” She wasn’t going to object, although now that Joseph Arnold was gone, she was certain she was safe. Savage was the one with the hit out on him. “I’ve been thinking about this security thing. I’m happy to oblige you. But I do think you need to have a couple of your brothers with you at all times until the threat against you has passed.” She did her best to muffle her voice in the sheets, because she didn’t want to sound like she was laughing. She knew what his reaction would be.
There was a long silence. “Babe.”
That one word. Another long silence. She dared to look up at him from under the sweep of her lashes. He was weighing his words carefully. She buried her face deeper in the pillow.
“You do recall that I told you I am a trained assassin.”
“Ummm. I was thinking about that, Savage. Your skills might be rusty.” She was really tired and not at her best, but she could mess with him as long as he couldn’t see her face. “I think you should promise me that you won’t go anywhere without someone with you just so I’m not so nervous all the time.” She pushed just a tiny quiver into her voice. Not a lot. He’d know then.
Savage continued rubbing her bottom soothingly as he bent his head close to hers. “Baby, you know I’d give you the fucking moon if you asked for it, and the brothers do usually ride with me, but I don’t want you going around worried. There’s no need. I’ve got all my skills and I’m on alert. Let’s keep the focus on your safe …”
He trailed off, his lips against her ear. Suddenly, his teeth were there, biting down on her lobe, and she burst into laughter, the sound muffled by the mouthful of pillow.
“Ow. Ow. Ow.” She pushed at him, still laughing. “You deserved that. And you are getting kind of old. Who knows if your mind is going? I haven’t seen you practicing your ninja skills. Shouldn’t you have one of those obstacle courses set up in the backyard to keep you in shape?” She patted his stomach. It felt like iron, but she acted like he might have a little pouch.
“You weren’t saying I was old last night.” He nuzzled her neck, pushing her hair out of the way so he could have better access.
“Go away. You’re waking me up, and I was having a blissful dream about … umm …” She closed her eyes and subsided into the pillows again. “Best not to rile you up again.”
“If you were about to say another man, that’s not permitted, even in your dreams.” He gave her a very hard smack on her bottom and looked satisfied when she yelped. “I really do prefer you just stay home today and wait for me to take you to your cottage.”