Chapter 117 Be Safe, My Love Roman There’s something seriously wrong with this guy. I don’t care what mask he tries to wear, what polite act he now puts on, what harmless little smiles he casually throws in Savannah’s direction — I can see it. Smell it. Feel it. He’s hiding something. I mean, of course he is. Any man who agrees to a grand scheme of staging a wedding is not to be trusted. And anyone who avoids eye contact as much as he does is already guilty of something. Doesn’t matter what. My gut never lies. Dean. Fucking Dean. He’s leaning against his car in my courtyard like some kind of half-baked gentleman, waiting for Savannah to be done with her goodbyes so he can cart her off. His eyes have barely lifted to mine since he arrived, but I’ve felt them grazing my skin in quick, cowardly flickers. The kind of look a man gives when he knows he’s already lost. And he has. Because she’s with me now.Savannah’s clinging to me like I’m oxygen, and I bury my face into her hair, inhaling her scent like a man starved. Feminine. Sweet. Comforting. Something soft and dangerous all at once. “I’m going to miss you,” she murmurs against my chest, her voice breaking just enough to claw at my insides. I tilt my head down, pressing my chin onto her crown, holding her tighter. “I miss you already.” My voice is low, steady, but it costs me everything to keep it that way. “Call me if he tries anything funny. Do not get too comfortable. Do not engage in unnecessary discussions with him.” She nods, her face brushing against my shirt. Brave little thing. She pulls back slightly, and her lips curve into that sly smile that makes my chest ache. She opens her bag, and then tilts it toward me like she’s showing off contraband. Pepper spray. Lots and lots of pepper spray. I can’t help but laugh. She knows me too well. I pull her closer again, sliding my arms around her waist. “That’s my girl. But I’ll still be monitoring your location,” I whisper against her ear. “For my peace of mind.” She nods again. “Okay.” “Sav, we need to leave soon,” Dean calls out, trying to sound casual. Trying to sound like he hadn't crushed her. Savannah rolls her eyes so hard I almost choke on my laughter. Then she turns back to me with a mischievous glint lighting up her gaze. “Wanna make him uncomfortable?” I grin. My evil little minx. “Why the fuck not?” She doesn’t hesitate. She presses her soft body into mine, grabbing me by my shirt, and crushes her mouth against mine. I responded immediately. My lips crash into hers, my tongue sweeping past her defenses, my hand at her lower back pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us. She moans softly— a sound meant only for me — and it vibrates through my chest like fire. I nibble her bottom lip, tugging, claiming, devouring. My fingers wander over her curves, deliberate, slow, until they slide lower, squeezing the firm swell of her ass. She melts into me with a hunger that has nothing to do with performance. But I glance sideways, because I want him to see it. I want him to see what he lost. What he gave up. I wanted him to see how happy she makes me. And hopefully, how happy I make her too. Dean.He’s shamelessly watching. His eyes locked on us, not even pretending to look away. Good. I want him to have a taste of his own medicine. He made her cry by putting on a disgusting display back in New Hope. So I hope he loves what he's watching now. His hawk-like gaze drinks in every detail. The way she arches into me, the way my hand grips her possessively, the sound of her sighs, the flush painting her skin. He sees her lips swollen from my kiss. He sees the way she clings to me. And then his eyes finally meet mine. I smile against Savannah’s lips, squeeze her tighter, and his jaw tightens so hard I can practically hear it crack. The look on his face is pure satisfaction to me. He knows it’s over. He knows she’s never going back to him again. Savannah finally breaks the kiss, gasping slightly, her lips red and glistening. Dean clears his throat, voice cracking. “Umm… Sav, we really need to get going now. Might rain soon.” I press one last kiss to her mouth, slow and lingering, before pulling back. “Be safe, my love. Call me whenever you feel like.” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, savoring the dazed look in her eyes. She nods, eyes still heavy with desire. “I will.” She hugs me again, her arms wrapping around my waist, her head resting on my chest. “Don’t forget to eat something later.” I chuckle softly, squeezing her once more. “Run along now, Sav. Before I change my mind and don’t let you go.” She grins up at me, but then her face shifts into mock-seriousness. She leans up and whispers, “You better not be meeting with Penny. I’ll find out if you do. And I’ll haunt you in your dreams. And in broad daylight. And even at work. Everywhere.” Her threat makes me laugh out loud. “Goodbye, Savannah.” She narrows her eyes, blows me a kiss, then finally turns to leave. This woman will be the death of me. I stand there, arms folded, watching as she strides toward the car. She ignores Dean’s every attempt at courtesy — opens the door herself, slides in without looking at him, buckles herself in with quick, sharp movements. Good girl. The moment her head dips down with her eyes on her seatbelt, I move. I’m at his side before he realizes it, crowding him against the car door. My shadow swallows him whole. “You better keep your fucking hands off my woman. Do you understand me?” He blinks, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Look, I’m not trying to—” “I don’t fucking care what you’re not trying to do,” I cut him off, my voice sharp as ever. “I care what you’re planning. If you so much as breathe wrong around her, if you so much as let your voice scrape the wrong way against her ears, I’ll kill you. Do you hear me? I will fucking end you. And don’t think for one second that I won’t be watching.” I step even closer, my chest nearly brushing his, my hand fisting his collar. His breath comes out in short, panicked gasps. His knuckles fold so tightly against his side they turn white. “Roman?” Her voice cuts in. I blink and force myself to release him, stepping back smoothly. Slowly, I turn toward Savannah. She’s standing just a few feet away now, her brows pulled together in confusion. “What is this?” she asks, her tone uncertain. “What are you doing?” I force a smile, smoothing out Dean’s collar as if I was fixing it all along. “Nothing. We were just talking. Weren’t we, Dean?”Dean’s eyes are burning holes into me, but his voice comes out strangled. “Yeah. Let’s go, Sav.” I take a step back, raise my hand, and wave at her like nothing happened. “Bye, sweetheart.” She looks uncertain, confused, but still waves back at me before climbing into the car again. Dean shoots me one last glare before slipping inside and starting the engine. I watch them drive off. Her face flickers past the window, then disappears. The longer I stand there, the darker my thoughts become. Dean. He thinks he can stand between me and what’s mine. He thinks he can breathe the same air as her, sit beside her, look at her like he hasn’t already fumbled his opportunity with her. He thinks this is temporary. It’s not. It's permanent. She’s mine. Every breath she takes, every smile she gives, every inch of her skin that still smells like me—mine. All mine. And if anyone tries to forget that, I’ll remind them. Again and again, until there’s no doubt left. No man touches what’s mine.Not Dean. Not anyone.