Savage Daddy, page 10
Grabbing the painkillers, he also found some cough medicine. He walked back into the living room just as she laid the baby in the bassinet. He looked like he was getting too big for it.
“Here, sit down and take these.” He handed her the painkillers. “I found this too.” He held up the cough medicine.
“That’s for kids.”
“I’m sure adults can have it too. Not like you weigh much more than a kid.” He checked the back and doubled the dose. Then poured it out into the measuring cup that was resting over the lid.
She shook her head. But another cough rattled its way out of her chest.
“No arguments. Open.”
“Open?”
“Yes, be a good girl and open your mouth. Take the cough medicine.”
Was it his imagination or did longing fill her face as he called her a good girl?
Did she like that?
Slowly, she opened her mouth and he poured the liquid in. She grimaced and reached for the glass of water. He steadied her hand as she gulped some down.
“That tastes awful.”
“Doesn’t matter as long as it helps.” He poured her out the rest and made her drink it. “Be a good girl and swallow.”
Yes, that time he was certain he hadn’t imagined it. A mix of longing and arousal filled her face. Of course, he’d made his voice go husky with his own arousal as he told her to swallow.
“Says the person who doesn’t have to swallow.” She glared up at him.
“Swallowing is definitely your job, babe.”
Her lower lip dropped open. “Sav!”
Damn, he hardly ever smiled. But here she was, making his lips twitch without even trying.
He frowned at her as she coughed again, then he glanced over at the pillow and blanket.
“Why is the baby’s bed down here? Wouldn’t it be easier if he slept upstairs with you?”
“We slept down here last night,” she explained.
What the hell?
“Why would you do that?” The sofa looked like it was uncomfortable as hell.
“Because I cough during the night.”
“Oh, and you don’t want to wake the boys?”
“Hmm, no, they sleep like the dead usually.”
“Then why?” he asked.
“Uh, well, because I didn’t want to wake you.”
He just stared at her for a long beat. Then he gently set the medicine down on the coffee table, trying not to lose his mind. “You’re sleeping on a worn, uncomfortable sofa while you’re ill because you don’t want to wake me up?”
“Well, I wouldn’t have worried about it before, but then you told me . . .” She trailed off, her face growing even redder. “You told me about how much you could hear.”
He sat on the coffee table again, not wanting to loom over her like a dickhead. He stared down at her bare feet with a frown. She should have socks on.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It . . . I’m just so embarrassed.”
“Why?” he asked her. “Would it make you feel better to hear me jacking off?”
“What? No!”
“Look at me,” he pressed gently.
Her gaze hit his chin.
“Livvy,” he pressed.
She raised her gaze to his.
“I want you sleeping in your bed tonight, understand? And every night. I was an asshole to say that to you and you should totally kick my ass. I’ll let you take a shot at me when you’re feeling better, all right?”
She made a scoffing noise.
“But no sleeping on an uncomfortable couch because you think you’ll keep me awake. Understand?”
“It’s not that bad down here.”
“Understand?” he said firmly. Because he was done arguing.
“But Wyatt’s asleep in his bed,” she murmured. “I can’t get him and the bassinet back up the stairs.”
“How did you get it down the stairs?”
“Uh, by carrying it.” She gave him a confused look. “Without him in it.”
“It’s too heavy for you to carry it up and down the stairs, Livvy,” he scolded.
“It’s not that heavy. But I don’t want to risk dropping it while Wyatt’s in it.”
“I’ll carry it upstairs,” he told her firmly. “You’ll wait right here for me.”
She gave him a confused look. “I really don’t understand what’s happening right now.”
“What’s happening is that I’m taking care of you. I’m also calling Hack to come here and check you over.”
“It’s just a cold. I’m fine.”
He shot her a look.
“Fine. Fine. If it will make you feel better.”
* * *
Livvy made her way slowly into the kitchen.
Crumbs, she hoped she felt better tomorrow.
“Livvy!” Buster said around a mouthful of pizza. “Want some pizza? Can Cinnabun have pizza?”
“Swallow before you speak, buddy,” she told him gently. “It looks yummy. And no, she can’t. She should be outside now.”
She wished she could eat it. Or any of the other food that Sav had brought over. But her appetite had disappeared.
“I’ll run you a bath and get your pajamas ready.”
“Sav is gonna get us ready for bed,” Buster told her.
“What?”
“Yep. He even promised to do the voices.”
“I’m not sure how good I’ll be at them, but I’ll give it a go.”
She turned so quickly that the world swayed. Reaching out, he took hold of her arm to steady her.
“Livvy, you okay?” Ethan asked in alarm.
“I thought I told you to stay on the sofa,” Sav said quietly in her ear. But as quiet as it was, it was also filled with steel.
Yikes.
He had the whole Sav-In-Charge thing going on. And if she wasn’t suffering from a cold and standing in front of her nephews, then she might have been turned on.
She smiled over at Buster and Ethan. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired. I’ll be good as gold tomorrow. Can you go get your pajamas ready and brush your teeth?”
“But it’s not even that late.”
“Buster, please,” she said, nearly ready to cry.
“Come on, Buster,” Ethan said as Buster grumbled. “Let’s put Cinnabun in her cage and go to bed.”
“He hates going to bed,” she said to Sav as the boys left.
“Hmm, I know someone else who isn’t very good at doing as she’s told.”
Don’t blush. Don’t blush.
He moved in front of her and she kept her gaze on the neckline of his T-shirt. Colorful tattoos wound their way up his neck and she wondered what he looked like with no top on.
Yikes.
She shouldn’t be able to feel aroused when she was this sick, right?
“I’m not a child.”
He just gave her a strange look that she couldn’t decipher. Suddenly, he swept her up into his arms.
“What are you doing?” she croaked.
“Carrying you back to the sofa.”
“But I . . . I can walk.”
“You’re about to fall down,” he countered as laid her on the sofa. “Stay there. I’ll go run the boys a bath. Hack will be here soon.”
“Sav?” she asked as he turned away.
“Yeah?”
“Why are you here?” She made herself look at his face, before blushing and looking away.
Sheesh. What was wrong with her? She couldn’t even look him in the face?
Pathetic.
But he was gorgeous. Sexy. Intimidating.
She let out a deep breath.
And occasionally an asshole.
Although if he thought she’d called him gross then she guessed she couldn’t blame him for the shitty attitude.
But she could blame him for telling her that he could hear her using her vibrator.
“Looking after you.”
“But why?”
He stared down at her. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“You don’t know me that well.”
“Maybe I’d like to know you better.” He turned and left.
She stared after him for a long moment. Why were guys so darn confusing? She reached over to grab some tissues, groaning as she found the box empty.
Shoot. She sat up.
“Where are you going?” he asked suddenly from the doorway.
“How do you keep sneaking up on me?” she demanded, putting her hand on her chest.
He shrugged, his face a cool mask.
“Lie down. Now.”
“Are the boys all right?”
“Yep, they’re in the bath. What do you need?”
“Uh, some tissues.”
“I’ll get them, where are they?”
“You really don’t need to do any of this.”
“You’re dead on your feet. You need someone looking after you.”
“And you’re that person?”
“You got anyone else to call?” he asked.
She flinched at the reminder that she was all on her own.
“Fuck.” He ran his hand down his face. “Babe, I didn’t say that to hurt you.”
“Didn’t hurt me,” she lied. “It’s just the truth. Ricky would come help, but he’s a bit of a germaphobe.”
“That’s your friend? The one who is over here quite often, with the mohawk?”
“Yes,” she croaked out.
“Look, if it makes you feel better, I’ll call some friends of mine. Female friends. They’ll come over, help take care of you and the boys.”
Great. So then she could hang out with women he was fucking? No thanks. Maybe she’d never pique his interest, but that didn’t mean she wanted to be around women he was having sex with.
Way to make her feel inadequate.
“Not those sorts of friends, Little girl,” he grumbled at her.
She tried not to let a flush of pleasure work through her at the endearment.
Didn’t mean anything. Like him calling her babe or good girl. He probably called every woman in his life, babe.
You’re not special.
“Actual friends. They’ve all got their own men.”
“It’s none of my business,” she told him.
“You jealous, babe?”
“What? No! I’d have to be interested in you to be jealous.”
“Uh-huh. You called me a wet dream, remember?”
“That . . . I . . . any woman between the ages of eighteen and eighty would think that. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Right. Stay there. I’ll get you tissues.”
“You’re so freaking bossy.”
“Yep. Tissues?”
“Main bathroom cabinet.”
“Oh, and just so you know, babe,” he said as he turned back at the door. “You’re a terrible liar. I can tell you’re totally jealous.”
Dead. She was dead.
She was still mortified as he returned with some tissues. She blushed as she wiped her nose. Yeah, if there had ever been a sliver of a chance of him being attracted to her that was gone after this.
He went back upstairs to check on the boys, right before a knock sounded on the door. Before she could get up, she heard footsteps moving down the stairs then voices at the front door.
Sav appeared in the doorway and walked over to loom over her. “Hack is here.”
“He really didn’t need to come. Are the boys okay?”
“They’re fine and he did.”
“Hello, I hear I have another patient,” Hack said with a smile, walking in. “Another case of the yuckies?”
“I think so,” she replied. “You didn’t need to come out.”
“Better safe than sorry. You can give her some room, Sav. I promise not to steal her away.”
She didn’t understand what that meant as Sav glared at Hack. But he moved aside, watching Hack’s every move as he checked her over.
Hack kept up a steady stream of conversation, but Sav just grunted and glared.
At one stage, he went upstairs to check on the boys.
“How are you getting on with the old grump?” Hack asked.
“He’s confusing.”
“I bet. Well, Miss Livvy. I am definitely, almost, not quite certain that this is a case of the yuckies.”
“Another official diagnosis.”
He winked. “You know it.”
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with her?” Sav asked, walking back in.
“We have to chop it off,” Hack said seriously.
“Chop what off?” Sav snapped.
“All of it. Fingers, toes, heads. It all has to go.”
“Heads?” she asked. “I wasn’t certain that I had more than one.”
“I was referring to Sav, darlin’. He’s got two of them, don’t you, Sav?”
Oh. Lord.
She giggled as Sav glared at Hack.
“Livvy is fine. Just a cold. Sleep. Fluids. Medicine. She’ll be fine. If she’s not you get your money back.” He headed toward the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll see myself out.”
“Thanks for coming, Hack,” she called back.
“Welcome, darlin’.”
Sav walked him out and she stood, ready to head upstairs. Sav stormed back into the living room, scowling as he saw she was standing.
“No moving around on your own.” He picked her up, ignoring her sigh.
“I’m fine.”
“You will be if you rest.”
She sighed as he reached her bedroom door. “You can put me down now.”
Wait, how did he know which was her bedroom?
Oh right, because he’d heard her getting off on the other side of the wall.
Why couldn’t that have been some sort of nightmare? Her life really did suck sometimes.
He made a scoffing noise and pushed his way into the room. She blushed bright red, glancing around frantically. The bed was unmade and one of her bras was on the floor. But at least her vibrator was put away. She couldn’t leave that out with children in the house.
After setting her at the end of the bed, he straightened her covers, then drew them back.
“Come on, in you get.”
“I, uh, I’ve got to use the bathroom.”
With a nod, he reached for her again.
“I can do it.”
He eyed her for a long moment. “All right. I’ll go check on the boys.”
After using the bathroom, she climbed back into bed right as Buster raced into the room, followed by Ethan.
They were in their pajamas.
“Are we going to school tomorrow, Livvy?” Buster asked, climbing into the bed with her.
Lord, she’d love not to have to get out of bed and get them all to the bus in the morning, but they needed to go to school.
“Yeah, I’m afraid so.”
“Bummer,” he muttered. Ethan climbed in as well.
“Read us a story here, Sav,” Buster demanded.
“Ahh,” Sav said hesitantly.
Were his cheeks red? They weren’t, were they? Was he embarrassed at the idea of reading in front of her?
“Please,” Buster pleaded. “Livvy likes the story with the giraffe, right, Livvy?”
“I do, but Sav doesn’t have to—”
“I’ll do it.”
Wow. She was starting to think that he was a really nice guy under all that gruffness and the intimidating stares and grunts.
“I’ll get it!” Buster said, running off.
When Buster returned with the book, Sav glanced around for somewhere to sit.
“Just sit on the end of the bed,” she told him, her eyelids already growing heavy.
He sat gingerly, the bed creaking under him. Then he started to read. He was a bit hesitant as he read, but soon he grew more relaxed. Her eyes kept closing. But she had to stay awake.
“Right, boys,” he said quietly. “Bed.”
She opened her eyes, saying goodnight to Buster and Ethan.
Sav stood there, looking slightly awkward. She knew exactly how he felt.
“I’ll head out. The lock I installed will lock automatically behind me so you don’t have to get up. If you need anything, thump on the wall. You also have my number. Where is your phone?”
She glanced around. “I don’t know.”
He gave her a stern look.
“Probably downstairs.”
With a nod, he disappeared, thundering down the steps and returning soon after with her phone. “It’s gone dead.”
She took it from him, plugging it into the charger.
“I came over here to get some answers from you. But guess they’ll have to wait. Call or bang on the wall if you need me. Promise?”
“Yeah. I promise,” she replied, even though she wasn’t sure she meant it.
9
Livvy walked down the stairs with Wyatt, frowning as she heard voices. She was running late. Again.
There was no way Wyatt could go to daycare today, so she needed to call in sick.
A deep voice spoke, followed by the boys’ higher pitches.
Walking into the kitchen, her stomach rumbled at the scent of scrambled eggs and toast. On the one hand, it was a relief to be hungry again . . . on the other, she wasn’t sure she could actually keep much down. How long had it been since she’d had a proper meal?
At least Wyatt was looking better. His eyes weren’t glassy and he no longer had red patches on his cheeks.
“Livvy! Sav is making us scrambled eggs!” Buster said.
“Is he? That’s nice.” She stared over at Sav then the boys, who were all dressed and ready for school.
What the heck? Sav didn’t seem the domestic type. He was a guy living alone. And yet . . . he’d gotten the boys to bed last night. He’d even read them a story. And he was making them breakfast. They were dressed and ready for school earlier than she’d ever managed.
Sav walked over with two plates of eggs and toast, setting them in front of the boys. Something bulged in the pocket of his jeans, capturing her attention.
“What do you guys say?” she asked.
“Thanks, Sav!” Buster said, digging in.
“Yeah, thanks, Sav.” Ethan gave the eggs a suspicious look, but he picked up his fork when his brother managed to eat them without keeling over.
Sav moved over to her. “Go sit down before you fall down. You look terrible. You should be in bed.”
