by Nashoda Rose
I collapsed.
His arms wrapped around me and his mouth rested on my throat.
That was when the blue lights flashed in the rear window, and a loud brief siren rang into the air.
My eyes widened. “Shit.” I scrambled off his lap.
“It’s fine,” he said with a chuckle.
He did up his pants, which took him a millisecond, while I had to try and flatten my hair and straighten my dress. And I couldn’t find my panties. God, I no doubt looked like I’d just been fucked.
“Oh, my God.” I closed my eyes, trying to control my breathing.
I’d never had sex in a car. Actually, the most risky, and I wouldn’t even call it risky, was in the dance studio with a locked door and after hours.
There was a tap on Killian’s window.
I groaned, lowering my head so the officer couldn’t see Killian’s bite marks on my neck or my red face from the scruff burn.
Killian pressed the button and the window slid down.
“Sir. Ma’am. Is everything okay here? You’re blocking the alley,” the officer said.
The fifty-something officer looked at Killian then to me and into the backseat then back to Killian.
“Yes. Thank you, Officer,” Killian said. “We were just having a rather… heated discussion.”
Oh. My. God.
The officer’s eyes flicked to me. “I see. Are you okay, ma’am?” he asked.
“Uh, yes, Officer. Thank you,” I managed to squeak.
“Would you mind showing me some ID, sir?” he asked.
“Of course,” Killian said politely.
God, he could go from raw and rough to a complete gentleman in a flash.
Meanwhile, I was still in ‘just been fucked’ land with nerves darting off in every direction and my sex throbbing something fierce.
Killian reached over into the middle tray and opened his wallet, pulling out his driver’s license.
The officer’s gaze followed his movements, and that was when I saw my panties dangling from the parking brake.
Kill. Me. Now.
Killian cleared his throat, I think to cover his laugh because it was obvious the officer saw my panties and Killian was aware he did.
Asshole. I wanted to snatch them away, but that would only draw more attention to them.
Killian handed him his ID.
“Please stay in the car,” the officer ordered.
The second he turned to go back to his cruiser, I snatched my panties, opened the glove box and shoved them inside.
Killian laughed.
“It’s not funny,” I retorted, glaring at him.
He reached over, hand cupping the back of my neck as he dragged me toward him and kissed me.
“He saw my panties,” I continued.
“Yeah, but I think it was your red cheeks and ‘just been fucked’ hair that gave it away. The panties were a bonus.”
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe he thought you were forcing me.”
Killian barked out a laugh. “Baby, you were on top of me if you recall. And fuck, you were hot riding my cock.”
“Sir.”
My cheeks burned because the officer stood at the window, his hand out with Killian’s ID, and he must have heard that last comment.
“Thank you, Officer,” Killian said, taking his license and placing it in his wallet again.
Bastard wasn’t even rattled.
“I didn’t recognize you,” the officer continued. “You’re Kite from Tear Asunder.”
“Yeah,” Killian replied.
My brows lifted and I was surprised when the officer held out a pad of paper.
“Would you mind? My kids are huge fans.”
Killian graciously took the pen and pad. “Pleasure. What are their names?”
“Jessica and Brandon,” he replied.
Killian scribbled something on one page, flipped the page, scribbled again then passed the pad and pen back.
“Thank you. And sorry to disturb you and your girlfriend. But I’d advise next time, keep the alleys clear.”
“Of course.”
“Ma’am.”
“Uh, thank you,” I said.
“Kite. Great to meet you. And thanks again.”
“Anytime.”
The officer walked back to his car, got in and honked once as he backed out of the alley.
Killian started the car and pulled out.
“Do you do that often?”
“Which part?”
“Get caught having sex in a car.”
“Never had sex in the car before,” he said. “I don’t like public sex. I’m private with everything.” But he publicly dated me. We had sex in a car. He had me on his lap at Compass. He kissed me in front of all his friends.
He stopped at a red light and looked over at me, his expression serious. “Seeing you with my friends, Savvy. Seeing that you fit. Fuckin’ irresistible.”
He pulled up in front of my building, got out, then walked me up to my door. I wasn’t sure if he was going to stay or not, but since he didn’t park, I figured he wasn’t. I put the key in the lock then opened the door before turning to him.
“Why haven’t you ever dated before?”
“Does it matter?”
“Well, maybe not. I’m not sure what we’re doing here or if I still have a job, but if we are doing something, then yeah, it’s important.”
He nodded. “We’re doing something, Savvy. And I can’t say you don’t have a job at the club, even though I’d like to. And I’ve never wanted a relationship. The attachment.”
“Why not?”
He hesitated and ran his hand down my arm to my hand. “No one ever measured up to you.”
My breath hitched.
“I don’t want to define this, Savvy. I just want you.” He leaned in and kissed me. “Wanted you from the beginning. And I was pretty clear then what would happen if you ever came near me again.”
“The beginning when?”
He slipped his hand under my hair, fingers gentle on the back of my neck. “When I kissed you for the first time.”
My pulse spiked and my body heated. “We were teenagers, Killian.”
“Yes. And I was too fucked up to have a girl like you. Never thought I could have you. I’m still fucked up, and you’ve had a taste of that.” He leaned in, his lips next to my ear. “Breathe, Savvy.”
“I can’t,” I whispered.
He half smiled then kissed me. It was brief, but it was all Killian—confident, casual, controlling, with a hint of fierce, raw emotion.
I wanted so badly to trust him, but I needed time to think. Today was overwhelming, and my head was spinning with Killian and what he did to me.
He released me. “I’ll call you later.”
I stood in the hallway, leaning against my door watching him as he jogged down the stairs.
“Did I win the bet?” My head snapped over to Trevor standing in his doorway smirking. “Because with that face, you were definitely just fucked.”
“Oh, my God. I never made a bet.” I opened my door and slammed it behind me, hearing his laughter.
I texted Savvy as I walked toward dick David’s studio.
Will you stay at my place tonight?
A sleepover?
I chuckled, which was exactly what I needed before confronting her scumbag ex.
Yes. We’ll order in. And watch a movie. Naked.
She didn’t reply right away, and I imagined her tapping her finger along the side of the phone debating. I knew she was hesitant real dating me. Fuck, she was hesitant fake dating me, but there was no denying what was between us.
I hadn’t been able to see her for two days as we’d pulled a couple of all-nighters recording at Logan’s. But I’d called, texted and sexted. And the fuckin’ girl was a natural at sexting, leaving me with a perpetual hard-on.
Sounds like a slumber party.
What kind of slumber parties have you been to naked?
L
OL. Can I choose the movie?
Pick you up at 6
I pocketed my cell and walked into the dance studio. Marble floors. Leather couches. Artwork on the walls. Expensive artwork by the looks of it. There was one of those fancy coffee machines and a juicer with a bowl of fruits and veggies on a table in the waiting area.
And Savvy was living in a fuckin’ shit building with more than likely drug dealers. Jesus.
I approached the reception desk where a young girl sat and smiled at me.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“David Knapp?”
“He’s teaching a private lesson at the moment.” She glanced at her screen. “But he’ll be done in twenty minutes if you’d like to speak with him then.” She tucked the few strands of hair that had escaped her bun behind her ear and tilted her head smiling. “Is there something I can help you with? I can book your daughter or son in for lessons with David or one of our other instructors. Daphne is here with a beginner class. You can go in and watch if you’d like.”
If I ever had a daughter, which I wouldn’t, not a chance in hell would I let her near scumbag David’s studio. Fuck, I’d probably never let her out of the house.
The parents who waited on the leather couches had their eyes on me. I was accustomed to the stares, whether they recognized me from the band or they just eyed up my piercings and tattoos, I certainly didn’t fit in this high-class dance studio.
And neither did Savvy. Not that she wasn’t classy. She was in her own right, but this place was cold and sterile. I pictured Savvy in a place where it was real and warm. Brick walls. Worn hardwood floors. No reception area, just maybe a laptop and benches for people to sit on while they watched. Everything out in the open, not behind closed doors.
But then dick David liked closed doors, didn’t he? I wondered how long he’d been fucking other women behind Savvy’s back.
“Which room is he in?” I asked, my jaw clenching.
Her smile dropped, and she nervously glanced at the double doors on the left before saying, “If you’d like to help yourself to coffee or juice, he won’t be long.”
But I was already making my way to the double doors. She called after me and then the click of her heels followed. “Sir, you can’t go in there.”
I threw open the doors and strode in.
The girl behind me gasped then quickly spun around and left. I didn’t.
I shut the doors and stood with my arms crossed and legs braced as I faced the couple with half their clothes off. She was pressed against the mirrored wall. He was doing the pressing.
“I’d advise you leave,” I said to the barely legal girl.
She quickly crouched, grabbed her top and held it in front of her, then ran through a changing room door on the other side of the room.
David didn’t bother hiding the fact that he was doing a lot more than teaching. Or maybe this is what he taught. Fuck, Savvy had taken lessons with this asshole. She’d worked for him. She’d lived with him.
Christ. Had she fucked him in here? Had he had her up against the mirror?
I gritted my teeth thinking of his scummy hands all over her.
“Get the fuck out.” David’s shirt lay at his feet, but he didn’t bother putting it on.
He obviously knew who I was. Good. The less time I spent here, the better. And I wanted him to know I was with Savvy.
I remained silent for two reasons. One I needed a second, and two because I wanted David to sweat. It wasn’t hard to figure out why I was here.
He walked across the room to a bench where he picked up his phone. “I’m calling the police.”
Fuckin’ coward. “Please do. I’m curious to know how old the girl you were just about to fuck is?”
His head jerked up from his phone. “She’s legal.”
My brows lifted. “Maybe. But I’m betting the parents waiting outside for their kids in the next room have no idea what you were doing during one of your private lessons?”
David lowered his phone. “It’s none of their business and it’s consensual.”
Fuckin’ dickhead. I clenched my hands into fists, wanting nothing more than to beat the shit out of this guy. But I couldn’t. All I punched was a bag now.
“Then it won’t matter if I tell them.”
He stiffened. “What do you want?”
I strode toward him. Immediately, his eyes shifted right and left as if contemplating his escape routes. “Simple. I want you to stay clear of Savvy.” I stopped a foot away. “And by clear, I mean she no longer exists to you. You lose her number, her address, her fuckin’ name. Show up at her apartment again, and next time I won’t be this polite.” I lowered my voice. “But first, David, you’ll retract the lies you spread about her. And if you don’t, I will make sure you never teach dance again.”
He had the nerve to smile, although it was tight. And from the slight quiver in his voice, he was nervous. As he should be. “No one will believe you.”
“Try me.”
“You can’t do that.”
I smiled. “I can and I will. And I’d like nothing better than to ruin you like you did Savvy.”
“Did she send you here?” he spat.
Fuck no. “Does it matter? The result is the same.” I was uncertain how Savvy would feel about me being here, but David showing up at her apartment could not happen again. Luckily, Roman had been there and had recognized David entering the building. Luke had given him a picture of David in case he showed up.
This had to end, and Savvy working at the club had to end. I didn’t like it. Yeah, I hated the guys looking at her, but it was more than that. Compass had a link to my father, and with the profit numbers Brett gave me, my dad’s clubs had to be in the red.
He wasn’t going to sit back and let that happen, so I needed Savvy as far away from that as I could.
She loved dancing and the club gave her that, but the warmth radiating from her eyes wasn’t there. The passion was lit, but it didn’t burn like I’d seen in the gym at school when she’d danced.
“Fix the lies—today.” I then turned and walked away before I hit the bastard.
“Savannah is dancing at a club and fucking a rock star. That’s not on me. No parent will want their kid taught by her. She’s finished in this business no matter what I say.”
I stopped, hand on the door handle. “Then you are, too.”
“No one will believe you. I’m well-respected, and you’re a drummer in a rock band who is fucking my ex-girlfriend.”
I opened the door, which took a hell of a lot. All I wanted to do was turn around and put him on his ass. The only reason I didn’t was because of Savvy. She wouldn’t like it and I liked Savvy—a lot.
No. It wasn’t like. It was love.
I probably always had, but I’d placed her in a compartment of my mind a long time ago where I couldn’t find her. Where she was safe from me. From my anger and bitterness. The hurt.
And then she’d left.
She’d left and I’d let her go.
But Savvy came back to me, and she may not have known that was what she was doing, but that was what it was. And I’d do everything I could to keep her safe.
Luke was waiting outside, leaning against the side of the car. “Do I need to call Deck?”
I huffed. “No.” If I beat the shit out of David, the police would be involved, and if the police got involved, I’d need Deck to help smooth things over. “Didn’t touch him.”
Luke’s brows lifted, but he didn’t say anything.
“Where are we with the horses? You hear from Danny?” The kid was supposed to e-mail today, but I hadn’t heard from him.
Luke tossed me the car keys. “Five minutes ago. Your dad isn’t purchasing any new horses.” Which means he’s watching his funds. “He may have something on a horse called Faith. But I haven’t watched the video he sent yet.”
I was driving as I hadn’t wanted Luke to bring the limo and draw attention. I opened the door and looked at Luke ove
r the roof of the car. “If we go after another polo pony, my dad is going to know someone in the stable is responsible. I won’t risk the kid.”
“Danny needs the job,” Luke said.
“Then we find him something else.” Emily knew enough people in the horse world to get him into another stable. I folded into the car, and Luke hopped in the passenger side.
I drove to the warehouse where Luke had left his car.
“She’s staying here tonight,” I told Luke before he got out of the car.
Luke nodded. “I’ll call Roman. You going to tell her about today?”
“Yeah.” David would do one of two things: retaliate thinking he could, or he’d do as I asked. Either way, Savvy would find out, and I wanted her hearing it from me.
Luke left, and I went inside to shower and change before picking up Savvy.
Killian picked me up at six, well five-forty-five because he was always early. He was a perfect gentleman, even though I kind of didn’t want him to be. The most he did was a light touch on the small of my back as he guided me to his car.
He didn’t waste any time when he drove out of my parking lot when he said, “I went and saw David.”
I jerked, eyes shooting to his face. “You did?” I was uncertain how I felt about him doing that, but I wasn’t exactly angry, more surprised. But then it was Killian and he’d been pissed when David had shown up at my apartment even if it turned into a good thing.
“He won’t come near you again.” His tone was abrupt, as if he was thinking about the encounter.
“Did you…?” I glanced at his hands on the steering wheel and when my gaze shifted back to his face, his brows rose.
“Did I punch him?”
David deserved it, but he’d also not take it well and I didn’t want Killian getting into trouble because of me. “Yes.”