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  Savvy didn’t know what to do, answer him, and try to get another clue? Ignore the messages? Scream for King?

  It seemed ridiculous to sound the alarm for some text messages. Anyway, whomever the stalker was, was clever enough to cover his tracks, so she doubted they’d get any evidence on his whereabouts from the phone.

  Tell me.

  Savvy didn’t respond.

  You don’t want to make me angry, do you?

  She swallowed.

  Answer me.

  Savvy was frozen, unsure of how to respond.

  If you don’t, I’ll make you sorry. I love you and you treat me like dirt. I can’t take this anymore.

  Savvy never should’ve replied in the first place.

  She sprinted down the hall to King’s bedroom. She frantically knocked on the door, until it swung open. King was in his boxer shorts, and he was bleary-eyed. Unfortunately, she was too upset to appreciate the delicious view.

  “What’s going on? Are you all right?”

  In answer, she shoved the phone at him, at a complete loss for words.

  He scrolled through the text messages, his eyes widening with each swipe of his thumb.

  “He stopped textin’ you.”

  She blew out a breath.

  King carefully pulled out the battery, and the SIM card. “We're gonna hand this over to Stormy tomorrow morning. Maybe he can get somethin’ from it. Although, I doubt it.”

  “I’m sorry, I should’ve told you sooner.”

  “Don’t worry about it. We’re gonna nail this bastard. It’s only a matter of time.”

  Savvy nodded, although she wasn’t feeling sure of anything at the moment.”

  She glanced down the hallway, and the shadows seemed to close in on her. Savvy didn’t want to be alone tonight.

  “Come here, you’re shakin’ like a leaf in the breeze.”

  King wrapped his arms around her, and she was enfolded in his warmth. He rubbed her back, making soothing sounds. She clung to him like a lifeline.

  “We’ll get you a new phone too, along with a new number.”

  Savvy didn’t give a damn about the phone. She felt like giving up technology altogether and becoming Amish.

  “Come on, you need some rest.” He walked Savvy back down the hall.

  She hesitated in the doorway.

  “Hey, it’s okay. There’s nobody in your room.”

  King checked everything, just to be sure. He even opened the closet, like she was a small child, afraid of monsters.

  She sat on the side of her bed but didn’t lie down.

  King stood, staring down at her. “Do you wanna stay with me instead?”

  “Yes.” Savvy didn’t even hesitate.

  He offered his hand, and she took it. “Okay then, but we’ll have to share the bed. I promise, I’ll be a gentleman if you’ll be a lady.” He waggled his brows, and she smiled.

  “You’re tryin’ to make me feel better.”

  “Yeah, is it workin’?”

  She sighed. “Yes.”

  Chapter 8

  The next morning, King woke up aching and swollen.

  Morning wood was nothing new. He’d rubbed one out every sunrise since he was a teenager, but this was ridiculous. His cock throbbed, laying against his stomach. His dick pulsed with a ravenous hunger.

  King wasn’t just erect. He ached.

  And the cause of this erection was plastered against one side of his body. He and Savvy were crammed into a full-sized bed. King took up a lot of room, so they were sandwiched together. He wouldn’t mind the close quarters if he could roll her over and plunge his…

  Don’t even think about it. Professionalism, right?

  King reminded himself for the hundredth time they were building a business, and he couldn’t tarnish the firm’s reputation right out of the gate.

  Christ. Every time she shifted, he moaned.

  King was hyperaware of every little movement and his hips bucked in protest.

  Savvy had wrapped herself around him, and he’d had a devil of a time getting to sleep last night. Savvy hadn’t though. She drifted off in his arms, utterly peaceful.

  And now he was in hell.

  Her soft golden hair was against his cheek. She smelled like peaches and sunshine. He buried his nose in her tresses, savoring the scent of her.

  And more than anything, he wanted another taste, but he refused to take advantage of her. She’d been through enough already.

  To make matters worse, this was a dream come true. Literally.

  He’d fantasized about her countless times, but the reality was so much better. Although, when he’d imagined waking up next to her, things had gone very differently.

  The erotic daydreams had gotten him through many cold and lonely nights.

  But the attraction wasn’t just physical. The more he got to know her, the real Savvy, the more he liked her. Savvy was becoming a reality to him. She was no longer a fantasy he had on a pedestal, she was a flesh and blood woman in his arms and in his bed.

  He’d had the chance to sing with her yesterday, and King still couldn’t believe it.

  Nicole would’ve been so jealous.

  In many ways, she reminded him of Nicole. Like his wife, she was creative, unusual. When Savvy wasn’t worried about being killed, she took the same pleasure in simple things. Before Nicole died, she enjoyed every day to the fullest, treating it as an adventure. Yes, there were many similarities, but it wasn’t the only attraction.

  Wincing, he put Nicole from his mind deliberately. He couldn’t think about his wife at a time like this. King had never really moved on from her death. Sure, he found the occasional woman to warm his bed, but it was meaningless. Savvy wasn’t a one-night stand. She meant something to him, and King didn’t know how to handle it. He’d do anything for her.

  Although King didn’t just want Savvy to survive this, he wanted her to thrive.

  She shouldn’t have to worry about sales and money. Nor should she be forced to make inferior music. Savvy should be singing her own songs, on her own terms.

  Zane poked his head in the door.

  “What the fuck are you doin’? Get out of here.” King spoke in a hushed whisper.

  Zane smirked, turning his head this way and that, trying to get a better view of Savvy.

  She was fully clothed, but King fluffed the covers around Savvy anyway. He didn’t want to risk waking her up, but he needed to punch Zane right in the throat.

  “I need your help.”

  “Get somebody else.” King pointed to the door. “Leave.”

  Instead of exiting the room, he walked in the door and stood at the foot of the bed.

  “I can’t. Nox is God only knows where and West took everybody else to Cincinnati, brother. There’s nobody here but you, me, and Savvy.”

  Fuck it all.

  “If you think I’m gettin’ out of this bed, you’re outta your mind.” King could stay here for the rest of his days, thank you very much.

  “Even to solve a mystery?”

  “Who are you? Scooby Doo?” Savvy shifted, and he glared daggers at Zane.

  “No, but I keep hearin’ a strange noise coming from Nox’s room.”

  Awww, hell. It could be anything. Chances are, it was something sexual. Despite himself, his curiosity was piqued.

  “See? You’re intrigued.” He cast a speculative look in Savvy’s direction. “Anyway, how are things goin’ with your country star?”

  “She’s not my country star.” Savvy’s not my anything.

  She could be if you’d get off your ass and do somethin’ about it.

  Savvy had kissed him the other night, not the other way around. Clearly, she was attracted to him.

  King pushed a hand through his hair, trying not to think about it.

  “Could’ve fooled me.” He nodded to the bed. “Come on, tell me.”

  “It’s none of your damn business.”

  He whistled. “That good, huh?”

&
nbsp; “I don’t want to discuss it.”

  Zane watched him with narrowed eyes, and King grew more and more uncomfortable. He had a feeling his brother wasn’t buying King’s bullshit.

  “Oh, Jesus, you’re fallin’ for her, aren’t you?”

  “No.”

  “Well argued.” His lips curled. There was something puckish about Zane, and it was pissing King off.

  “I just like her music.” Lord knows he was already halfway in love with her before she’d even shown up.

  “Yeah, you suck at this. King, you practically worshipped her for years, and you look as cranky as an old grizzly bear because I walked into your den.”

  “Yeah, I like her, but it ain’t goin’ anywhere. It can’t.”

  “Who says?”

  “Says anyone who’s sane. So, drop it.”

  In a few weeks, she’d be touring European countries and singing on the stage. She’d forget all about him. That’s the way it should be. They came from two very different worlds.

  “I think you’re wrong. And what’s more, she’s got a thing for you too.”

  Hold on a second. “You think so?” King couldn’t believe it.

  “I know so.”

  “Because I have eyes, and she can’t take hers off you. You should ask her out.”

  “West told me—”

  “Tell West to fuck off. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s datin’ Annie, and he’s her boss.”

  This conversation was going nowhere. It was time to shut it down.

  “Tell you what, let’s investigate, Scooby.”

  “Are you givin’ in to get rid of me?”

  “Yeah. Got a problem?” King carefully extricated himself from Savvy’s arms, placing a pillow against her side as a substitute. It just about broke his heart to leave her.

  “No, as long as I get my way.”

  Grumbling, King followed him out the door. Thank God, his erection had gone down.

  "Did you hear that?" Zane asked once they were in the hall.

  "Hear what?" King got real quiet, listening close. He was on high alert already, waiting for the gunman to make his next move at any moment. Although he hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

  Zane closed his eyes, concentrating on the sound, and King did the same. Sure enough, he heard a mumbled "mmphf" coming from somewhere close. Together, they shuffled quietly down the hallway, until they stood in front of Nox's room.

  Once again, they heard the noise.

  King frowned. " Think we should go in?" There's no telling what they would find on the other side of the door.

  "We gotta. It's the responsible thing to do." Although, Zane didn't look too happy about it, either.

  "We might be scarred for life."

  “It’s a possibility, but this could give us really juicy blackmail.”

  “Be realistic. You can’t blackmail Nox, the man has no shame.”

  “True, but I am mighty curious, are you?”

  "Yeah, I gotta know.”

  King seized the handle, and the door slowly creaked open to reveal a pretty brunette tethered to the bed with an intricate series of ropes. Her wrists and ankles were protected by scarves, so her delicate skin didn't chafe. She wore a black teddy, which left little to the imagination.

  Zane openly stared.

  King averted his eyes, like a gentleman and he smacked Zane upside the head until he turned around.

  “Are you okay, ma’am?” King asked. “Do you need any help?”

  He didn’t know quite how to handle the situation. King had no experience with any kinky activities. Was there a protocol to follow?

  She replied, but it was muffled by the gag.

  King turned to Zane. “Was that a yes?”

  Zane shrugged. "Sorry, I don’t speak Muffle. You know, I suppose we should be relieved. All things considered, we got off light. It could've been much worse.”

  “True. We could’ve walked in on an orgy.” With Nox, all bets were clearly off the table.

  "Let’s check and make sure." King pulled the ball gag out of her mouth and frowned. Spittle clung to it, and more saliva ringed her ruby red mouth. She flexed her jaw, working the kinks out.

  Wrong choice of words.

  At least Nox had silenced this one. The last time he'd gone all Fifty Shades with a girl, he'd kept the entire team up all night long as she screamed with pleasure. King was all for a woman climaxing again and again, but he wanted a decent night’s sleep. Besides, if he wasn’t the one doing the fucking, it wasn’t nearly as much fun.

  "We're sorry to interrupt, but we heard you making noise. Do you need anything?” He sincerely hoped the answer was “no.”

  " I'm fine. Thanks for asking. I’m waiting for Nox." She nodded to the laptop at the end of the bed. It was turned toward her, and the webcam was recording. King could tell because the little red light was blinking.

  Jesus Christ.

  Zane chuckled. "Lord help me, he's makin' a porno."

  "No, he's just keeping an eye on me. Anticipation makes everything sweeter." Her sultry smile was feline.

  “All, I’m gonna say is, boundaries, Nox, get some.” Zane addressed the camera and then beat a hasty retreat, leaving King standing in the middle of the room.

  Aww hell.

  He cleared his throat. "Nice meetin’ you, ma’am.” King backed to the door.

  “Wait.”

  “Yes?”

  “Put my gag back in, please.”

  Yuck. Obligingly, King slipped it back into her mouth, and then glowered at the camera.

  There’d be an ass-kicking later.

  ***

  “I’ve got an idea.” King poured Savvy a cup of coffee. “Nox and Zane are goin’ out tonight, and everybody else is stayin’ in Cincinnati, so we’ll have the place to ourselves this evening. I was thinkin’ you and me could have dinner.”

  “Sounds fun. Are we goin’ out? Or stayin’ in?” Savvy took a bite of her biscuit.

  The two of them were seated in the kitchen. He’d gotten her up a few minutes ago, telling her he made biscuits and bacon for breakfast. They weren’t as good as her mother’s, but they were pretty tasty.

  A man had never made her breakfast before, which was strange considering she hadn’t slept with King, in the sexual sense of the term anyway. Waking up in King’s bed had felt right somehow. The man put her at ease. Savvy felt almost as if she’d known him for years. If it weren’t for the overwhelming sexual tension, she would be completely relaxed around him.

  He’d been a perfect gentleman, and she was disappointed. Savvy couldn’t even deny it. Unfortunately, it only made her want him more.

  “It’s up to you, which do you prefer.”

  “Let’s stay in.” Savvy was embarrassed to realize she wanted his full attention on her.

  “Really?”

  “Absolutely, restaurants aren’t so great. For one thing, they don’t cook food anymore. I ordered a steak once, and it came out so bloody, I swear they hacked it right off the cow and put it on my plate.”

  Her father, when he was alive, had cooked well-done steaks on the grill. She’d gotten used to eating them that way, even though most people preferred rare. In her view, it was just bloody. She didn’t eat blood sausage, and she refused to eat crimson steak, too.

  King chuckled. “I know what you mean. Although, instead of five-star cuisine, I had to eat MREs.” He blew out a breath. “Truthfully, I’m glad you wanna stay around here. It would be difficult managing a crowd by myself.”

  “Actually, this is perfect. I haven’t gotten a chance to cook yet.” She rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “Can I give you a grocery list?”

  “Absolutely, and all help you fix supper.”

  “Are you any good with the grill?”

  “I’m the grill master.”

  “I see. We’re gonna have a little kitchen challenge. I like it.”

  A home-cooked meal sounded amazing, especially one made with her own two hands. She di
dn’t even have to use a disguise. This time, Savvy could wear something cute, and she didn’t have to worry about a line of people asking for selfies with her while she tried to eat.

  “Right.”

  Savvy was on her second cup of coffee when a familiar car pulled into the driveway. She had a sinking feeling as it came to a halt.

  King withdrew his gun. “Stay here, I’ll investigate.”

  “Put away the weapon. It’s only Adam.”

  King scowled. “Why is he here?” He acted as though she were to blame.

  “I have no idea. I didn’t tell him to come.” She headed for the door, but he snagged her elbow.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “To talk to him, and then send Adam on his way.” If she didn’t know better, Savvy would think he was jealous.

  “Fine, we’ll do it together.” He opened the door and motion for her to go first.

  “But—”

  King raised a brow. “What did I say…?”

  She gritted her teeth. “You’re in charge when it comes to my safety.”

  “And if you think I’m gonna let you stand out in the open, without any backup, you’re insane.”

  She supposed he had a point. “Fine, let’s get this over with.”

  “Hey, is something wrong?” Savvy asked as Adam got out of his Ford truck.

  “Nope. Can’t a manager visit his favorite client?” Once again, he was dressed in an expensive suit. He looked out of place in the country. Adam might have the aww shucks routine down, but he was a city boy at heart.

  King answered for her. “Not when she’s being hunted by a professional killer. We don’t need anyone drawin’ attention to our location.” He scanned the road. “Did anyone tail you here?”

  Adam flushed. “I wasn’t followed.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Savvy crossed her arms over her chest.

  “And you know this from your extensive escape and evasion experience?” King stood straighter. And was it her imagination or did he grow another foot? King glared down his nose at Adam, as though her manager was a bug he wouldn’t mind squashing.

  Adam didn’t respond.