Savage (The Callie Leveaux Series Book 2) Read Free Page A

fucking mess.
    “Thanks,” she manages, pushing a cleansing breath from her lungs.
    “Why are you freakin’ out?”
    “I’m not freakin’ out,” she lies.
    “Bullshit.”
    “Damn, Tommy,” she huffs. “Do I have to tell you everything?”
    “Yes.”
    “Ugh! Fine!” she snaps. “I’m nervous about going to see your brother.”
    “Why? You love Richie.”
    “Yeah, but shit’s different now.”
    “How is shit different?”
    “Um… Hello?” she says, gesturing between us like I need to get a clue. “I wasn’t fucking you before. Well, I guess a couple times I was, but not like I am now. I was still turning tricks then, so it wasn’t serious. Now it feels serious to me, does it feel serious to you? I mean, Richie has to know we fucked before, but not like we’re fucking now. Not that I think we’re just fucking or anything. Shit! I don’t know Tommy! I’m just fucking nervous, baby!”
    “Okay first of all,” I start, unable to hide the amusement from my eyes. “You need to fuckin’ chill over there. Second, I still don’t get what you’re so nervous about. So we’re together, what does that have to do with Richie?”
    “Richie’s your only family, Tommy.”
    “So?”
    “So… what if Richie doesn’t like the fact that you’re with me?”
    “Then Richie can go fuck himself,” I laugh.
    “Tommy, I’m serious!”
    “And I’m not?” I start as I pull into the parking lot of the convenience store next door to the diner and cut the engine. Turning to face her, I watch her let out a deep breath as she continues to stare at her fidgety hands. “Look at me, babe.” When she meets my gaze, the pained look in her eyes kills me. “I don’t give two shits what anyone else says about us being together. Not your parents, not Richie, no one . I don’t know what the hell you’re freaking out about anyway. My brother loves you, Cal and since when do you care what anyone thinks? You never cared what anyone thought before.”
    “That’s almost true,” she says quietly as she faces me. “Save for one, I’ve never cared what anyone thought of me. Just you.”
    “Well, baby, you know I love you so why are you worried about seeing Rich?”
    “Just because I don’t give a shit what Richie thinks doesn’t mean he can’t still hurt me,” she says in a low voice, shaking her head before facing me fully. “Tom, what if we go over there and he sees us together and he hates it. I’m not going to let you walk away from the only family you’ve got left. Not for me,” she proclaims, shaking her head with resolve. “Or what are you going to do if he tries to fuck me like he did the last time we all hung out? You gonna be able to walk away this time if he pisses you off? Because I couldn’t, Tommy… Not anymore. There’s just too much shit in the air right now with seeing Richie and I’m sorry to lay it all on you last minute. I should have told you sooner, but you asked and I’m not gonna lie to you. I just… I don’t want to deal with it yet.”
    While I knew Callie loved me, her admitting how she felt about everything shed a new light on things I’d never realized she felt. Not only did it show me the vulnerable side she often shut off to the world, but it proves to me that she is serious about us. Although I’d never tell her as much unless she asked me, I’d be lying through my teeth if I said that hadn’t been a concern of mine.
    Rubbing the pad of my thumb across her cheek, she leans into my palm and I search her features. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this woman, so my next decision is a simple one.
    “Come here,” I whisper, pulling her to meet my mouth.
    I slowly press my lips to hers, loving the way she holds my eyes as I deepen the kiss. Dipping my tongue in to taste her, I pull a small whimper from her as she melts into me. As I pull away, I suck on her lower lip before hovering, still staring into her, savoring our connection as I brush the pad of my