Lost in the Moment (A Savioe Family Novel) (19 page)

“Hey. Did Marie tell you where they put them?” I asked as I approached him.

He nodded slowly. “Ya wanna tell me jus’ wha’ ya two argued ‘bout Saturday?”

I stopped short a few feet away from him. The hostility practically rolled off him in waves. I raised my brow and braced myself for what might come. “It was just a misunderstanding, mate. I took something she said the wrong way and she did the same.”

“Ya’re lyin’. Scott showed me da video. Ya yelled at her, pushin’ her ta slap da fire out of ya.” He growled pushing off the locker and stalked my way.

“Whoa. Did you hear exactly what was said on that video?” A shiver of dread sailed up my spine. I was a dead man for sure if he did.

“Would ya like ta tell me wha’ ya said ta her?” He narrowed his burning hazel eyes at me sensing my rising consternation. “I have a feelin’ dat dere jus’ might be more goin’ on den wha’ either of ya wan’ ta admit.”

I let out a long sigh and admitted. “There is.” His eyes widened in building fury as I continued. “I really would like to date her. She is amusing, fascinating and absolutely a pleasure to be around. She knows of my wishes but she hasn’t said if the feeling is reciprocated.
”

“Have ya done anyting wit’ her?” His face turned a blotchy red as he clenched his fist at his side.

My hand stopped scratching the back of my neck as I debated telling him a very watered down version. He must have taken my silence as a yes because the next thing I know his fist was making contact with my jaw and I lost my footing stumbling backward into the other lockers behind me. He waited until I had regained my footing and tackled me around my waist picking me up off the floor before hip tossing me into the lockers again.

I had had enough. There was no way I was going to allow someone to beat the hell out of me just because he was overly protective of his little sister.
I needed to put a stop to this quickly before one of us got hurt. I stood up anticipating his next attack and blocked the jab with my left arm. I quickly wrapped my hand around his biceps and cranked up on his shoulder. “Beau calm down. There is no reason for us to fight, mate.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and tried to hit me with his other hand. I caught it before it could make contact and applied as much pressure as I could. “Beau. Chill out. I have not done anything with her besides kiss her. Do you really think she’s like that?”

He grimaced in pain before I shoved him away from me. Rubbing his shoulder, he glared at me with lingering anger before he shook his head.

“Bloody hell, man. There is no reason for you to act like a bell-end.
Damn, you had better calm down before lunch otherwise; I will not hesitate to do more than just keep you from hurting yourself.” I opened my locker and grabbed my books then turning to walk down the hall. “And they say I have a short temper.”

             
                                          *****

At lunch, I picked Roxy up at her locker and drove her
to Frank’s. When we arrived the Savioes were already there waiting for us. Luke stood by his motorcycle exuding an air of coolness. His face lit up when he heard Grace rumbling up the lane. Roxy sighed softly in her seat. I had an extreme urge to roll my eyes until I saw Marie and my breath caught in my throat.

She walked beside Jess
on their way from the restroom and time seemed to slow down. Her honeyed hair fluttered around her face. She strode with confidence, her head held high, passing the table of jocks. She rolled her eyes, shaking her head at something they said before laughing. When her gaze caught sight of Grace and those plump lips curved in a sexy smile. My heart picked up its beat at the thought that she’d be happy to see me. I quickly turned off my car and got out of it.

As Roxy embraced Luke
at the table, I met Marie by the bonnet of Grace. She placed a hand against my chest and rose up on her toes to kiss me. I closed my eyes while my hands gently cupped her cheeks as our lips met. A plethora of emotions swirled in me making my chest ache. I pulled back, rested my forehead against hers before pulling her out of sight in between the truck and my baby. “Marie.”

She looked up at me and
gasped. Her hand came up to my cheek as a frown marred her face. “What happened?”

I grabbed her fingers and placed a soft kiss on them. “Don’t worry about
it, luv. Just a misunderstanding with….” I looked over her shoulder across the truck at Beau. “…someone.”

Beau got up from the table and walked over to the table of jocks. He leaned down and whispered something to Scott.
Scott turned around to stare at us. His brown eyes narrowed as he nodded his head at what Beau said. He tapped Payne on the shoulder and motioned over to us. I hugged Marie close, her arms wrapped around me under my jacket. I closed my eyes briefly relishing in her touch before turning my attention back to the table with Beau and Scott. Something was not quite right with that.

They were planning something. Scott and Payne got up from the table following Beau as he headed toward us. “Pet, I have a feeling your
brother wants a word with me.”

She turned her head stiffening in my arms. “So that’s what happened to your face. Beau confronted you about that stupid v
ideo Scott has on his phone.”

“Yes luv
, but he hit me when he thought I’d done more than just kiss you.” I admitted keeping my eye on the trio as they stopped on the other side of Beau’s truck. Her arms tightened around me pressing her slight curves further against me.

“But you have.” She said in a husky whisper suddenly bringing my attention back to her. Her topaz eyes sparkled in banked desire bringing a sudden rapid thrum to my heart rate. The potential threat of Beau and his friends was wiped out of
my mind.

The only thoughts that raced were of her on the dryer. I closed my eyes and imagined her taste, the feel of her skin beneath my hand, how she shattered under my touch. My breath hitched when the scene changed to the dressing room. The timid way her fingers tickled up my length before she firmly took me in hand. I mentally s
hivered before opening my eyes.

I looked down at her with a wicked grin spreading across my face and lowered my voice as I nuzzled her ear. “Mmm, pet, don’t remind me. It makes me want to take you over to the restroom and
take you to places you’ve never dreamed.” I kissed the area under her ear and felt her quiver before she let out a gasp. “I’d leave you unable to think. Only feel, be lost in the moment, to lose yourself with me and reach heights like never before.”

She lowered her head to my chest and whispered in her slow southern drawl that made me ache. “Ma
w-cus.” I loved how she said my name.

“Yes, luv.” I kissed the side of her neck that peeked above the top of her turtleneck. I heard her stifle a moan and grinned against the fabric. She pulled away slightly, leaving me somewhat bereft from the lack of contact. I looked up and saw her inner turmoil. That shimmer of uncertainty that lingered in her eyes. I knew then that I had crossed a line
and took a step away from her.

“Drez. Can I have a word with you?” Beau interrupted. Marie and I looked over to him standing
at the back of his truck with his arms crossed over his chest.

Marie grabbed hold of the back of my shirt and
growled at him. “Co faire?”

“This doesn’t concern you.” He pushed away from t
he truck and walked over to us.

“Um…. Yeah it does. Ya felt da need ta hit him earlier jus’ cause ya tought he got a little gogo from me.” She put her hand on her hip and waved the other at him. “Ya know wha’, frère? If he
did it’s none of ya business.”

“Ma
rie Noëlle.” He growled at her.

“Wha’? It’s da damn truth. Ya ain’t my daddy so my personal life is none of ya business. Jus’ ‘cause ya fucked up last year and got dat stick stuck up ya ass. Don’t mean ya have ta suck da damn fun out of everyting around ya.” She barked at him her shoulders heaving in her anger. Beau’s face turned a molted shade of purple as Scott and Payne stood
behind him, their faces ashen.

I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Marie, luv, it’s okay. He just wants to make sure you’
re safe from the big bad wolf.”

She spun around gapin
g at me. “You’re not that bad.”

I ran the back of my knuckles down her cheek. “I’m not an angel,
pet. Your brother knows that.”

She closed her eyes and leaned into my caress. “Fine. But if he or those fucktards try anyting, I’ll make dem wish dey had never been born.” She leaned up and kissed me on my cheek be
fore walking over to the table.

I sauntered over to Beau, leaned against
the back of Grace and crossed my arms across my chest drawing the coat tight against my shoulders. “So, mate. What do you want to discuss?” Beau stared at me not saying a word. His hazel gaze gave nothing away. I suddenly felt the need to shuffle my feet like an errant child. Instead, I let out an impatient snort and pushed away from Grace. His two friends stood at the tailgate of the truck leaning against it watching us.

Beau placed a hand on my shoulder slowly leading me back to the bed of his truck. I shrugged his hand off and took a step back away from them. There is no way I was going to fall for this trick. With my legs braced apart awaiting their move, I glared at Scott then Payne before settling my flinty gaze on Beau. Mustering all the contempt I could I raised my eyebrow and dema
nded. “What do you want, Beau?”

He glanced over at them nodding once. They pushed away from the down tailga
te and encircled me. Shit! They were going to try to jump me. My senses now on high alert I prepared myself for their first move.

Beau scrubbed his face with his hand showing his agitation. “Drez, this thing wasn’t supposed to go
this way and you know it.”

“Just how did you envision this Beau?” My jaw clenched just waitin
g for someone to try to attack.

“You’re supposed to protect her from Jackson and the rest of them. Not move in and claim her for yourself.” He took a step toward
me.

“The rest of them. Like the two behind me?” I gestured to them with a slight nod of my head. “I thought we all agreed no one but the five of us would know. N
ow you bring in these bumders?”

Scott whispered to Payne trying not to attract attention. “W
hat did he call us?”

“F
uck if I know.” Payne answered.

“You know what, mate. You got me. Yes I want her, a blind man would. Does that mean I’m going to give her a good stuffing? No.” I took a step forward letting my anger get the best of me and towered over Beau as I got in his face and spat at him. “Do you want to know why? I am living in your house and I would never do anything to disrespect your parents after they’ve opened their doors for me.”

Luke ran over to us, stepping in between his brother and me, and tried to diffuse the potential violence. “Beau. I need a word with you. Now!”

Beau narrowed his eyes at me as he allowed his brother to pull him next to the Harley. Luke stood facing us, his face turning red as he rapidly spoke to Beau. I couldn’t quite catch what he was saying to him but I recognized the aggressive stance and the sudden slump of Beau’s shoulders signaling his acquiescence.

He ran a hand over his shoulder as he rolled it and shook his head at Luke. He then turned back to us and stomped over to me. “I want to apologize for my attack on you earlier. I was out of line.” He hissed out between his clenched teeth.

My eyebrow rose in question at his
obvious forced apology. I had two options here. Accept his blatant bullshit apology and shrug the incident off for what I thought it was, a brother trying to protect his little sister from some guy sniffing around her. Or disregard it and ensure that this growing hostility between us blossomed into a full on hatred. I choose the former. I nodded at him. “There is no need for that. If I had a sister I would have reacted the same way.”

I heard Scott let out a sigh of relief. Payne shook his head and
snorted before he walked away.

Beau placed his hand on my shoulder and I tensed. “Thanks, man. I normally don’t act like that much of an ass. It’s just….” He ran his hand over his face. “Hell, I don’t know.”

I shrugged at him before heading back over to the table and took a seat next to Marie. Charles was flipping through a graphic novel at the end of the table completely clueless as to what just happened. Jess was talking to Roxy about some guy she wanted to shag as Luke turned his glacial gaze to me. His brow twitched up a scant millimeter as I nodded my head to him.

Luke
took a drink from Roxy’s milkshake before he leaned against the metal table. “You owe me.”

Marie inhaled a sharp breath, pinched my le
g and whispered. “What happened?”

“I’ll tell you on the ride home.” I pushed her hair over her shoulder before placing a chaste kiss on her temple.

                                                        *****

Marie

The ride back
to school after lunch was a quiet one. I could tell that Beau was fuming over something but I didn’t have enough nerve to ask what it was. When we pulled into the parking lot and exited the truck, I pulled Charles off to the side.