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I step up next to Savannah, lightly gripping the back of her neck. “Cici, this is my wife, Savannah. Savannah, this is Cici.”
Cici, always quiet around new people, gives a small smile. “Pleased to meet you.”
Savannah looks up at me before addressing Cici. “Hi Cici, I’m a prisoner here.”
I shake my head and address my cook, “We’ll take our meal in the dining room.”
Cici’s eyes flit back and forth between me and my troublesome wife. “Oh. Um, okay.”
Savannah tosses her hands up, and I flex my fingers on the back of her neck. “My staff will treat you with the respect you deserve as my wife. But they won’t cross me for you.” Savannah glares up at me. “It’s not personal, Honey. I just pay really well.”
She scowls up at me, and I can’t help myself. With my grip on her neck I drag her closer and press a kiss to her furrowed forehead.
* * *
I watchas she slides another mouthful of perfectly cooked steak, surrounded with buttery pastry, into her mouth.
And when she finally breaks her silence with a moan of pleasure, I break my own. “Knew you’d like it.”
She slowly raises her eyes from her plate to look at me. “It’s fine.”
I scoff, “It’s more than fine.”
She picks up her steak knife and slices off another piece before lifting the knife, letting the light glint off the blade. “Aren’t you worried about giving me a weapon? Or is that why you seated us so far from each other?”
The thought of her trying to come at me with a knife makes me laugh. She’s a runner, sure, but she’d never draw blood. Not on purpose.
“I don’t see how this is funny.”
Instead of answering, I pick up my plate and utensils in one hand, and my heavy crystal water glass in the other and carry it all down to her end of the table.
When I’d told Cici we’d eat in the dining room, I hadn’t meant for her to set us up at opposite ends of the large rectangular table with seating for fourteen. But since Savannah looked like she could use some space, I gave it to her.
But time for space is over.
I set my things down at the spot closest to her knife hand. “You won’t try to kill me.” She doesn’t answer me, just rolls her lips before forcefully shoving a forkful of potatoes into her mouth.
Watching her eat is fucking adorable. I’m so used to being at fancy dinners and shit like that, where the women, big or small, always seem to pick at their meals. As though females aren’t allowed to eat. But watching Savannah destroy that steak has my cock perking up. Again.
I should probably leave her alone.
But that’s not my style.
“Cat got your tongue?” I smirk.
She stabs a pile of green beans, muttering something about lion eyes.
“I didn’t quite catch that.”
Savannah ignores me, and I watch her every move as she meticulously works her way through the plate.
Already done, I’m relaxed back in my chair when she sets her fork down, wiping her mouth with the white linen napkin. Neither of us leaving so much as a scrap behind.
“Would you like more?” I ask, knowing it’s the first time she’s eaten all day.
Savannah slides her chair out, angling her body to mine. “What’s the Alliance?”
I drop my head back and groan. “Fucking Nero.”