“Logan?” Kallie says my name, reminding me I haven’t answered her.
I look down at her. “Hiking. I like hiking,” I say, making something up on the spot. I’ve never been hiking one day in my life. I can’t think of anything worse than the idea of walking through the forest.
“Oh, me, too. Maybe I could show you some trails next time we have a matching day off.”
“I hike alone,” I reply.
Just then, Milo appears in front of us with a beer held out for me, his steel gray eyes lingering on mine in amusement. I take it, nodding my thanks, and Milo strikes up a conversation with Kallie. Two other officers join the group, Sam and Mark. Sam’s a newbie to the force, and he looks it. Mark is in his sixties and almost set to retire. He’s been in Boulder his whole life.
My gaze remains trained on Salena. She must feel my eyes on her, because she looks over her shoulder, her crystal-clear turquoise eyes locking on mine. A smile slowly spreads across her face before she turns back to her friends.
The conversation continues around me, but I barely say a word unless the questions are directed at me. I’ve never been one to socialize, though when I was at Kai’s with Salena and her friends and brothers, I somehow felt at ease in a way I’m not used to. Like the tightening of my throat loosened, allowing my words to flow freely. I haven’t felt like that in such a long time.
Milo draws my attention. “What’s it like in Portland? My wife has been wanting to go there for a while.”
“It’s nice. Wet.” I take another sip of my beer. Milo gives me a smile and shakes his head at my short answer. I glance back at Salena and freeze. A man stands a few feet from her, openly staring at her ass. My hands clench around my beer, and I fight the growl that works its way up my throat.
The man edges closer to her, his eyes never moving from her body. Yes she has a great body, and I don’t blame him for looking, but I fucking hate it. His short blonde hair is styled messy, and he’s dressed in blue jeans and black buttoned shirt. His jewelry screams rich boy, which means he’s probably used to getting things he wants. The thought of him having Salena has my jaw clenching to the point of pain.The man stops just behind her as she laughs at something her friend said. She is absolutely gorgeous with her head tipped back, the brightness of her skin and eyes making her look like a goddess. A goddess I want on her knees in front of me.
The guy reaches out, grabbing her wrist and spinning her around to face him. I freeze, a possessive wildness creeping into my veins. I don’t like anyone but me touching her. The other night was bad enough when I stopped into Crescent Moon for a drink after work the other night and saw that a guy and his friend had her cornered. My heart was pounding in my ears, and I had to struggle to keep myself in check. I walked out of the bar that night without ever having a beer. This time, I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold back if he doesn’t back the fuck off her. My stomach churns with the need to storm over there and rip his arm from the socket and beat him with it.
What the fuck is wrong with me? She isn’t mine. I need to get it together. I’ve never been this worked up by anyone before. There’s just something so captivating about her, something that has my dead heart beating for the first time in twenty-five years.
The guy steps closer to her, getting in her face, and my eyes narrow on where his hand is wrapped around her arm. Salena’s hand lands on his chest as she pushes him back, but he doesn’t budge.
Jealousy and possessiveness overtake me. Before I know what’s happening, I’m pushing my beer at Milo, ignoring his questioning gaze, and storming across the bar. Salena must sense my approach because she manages to spin herself and the guy, so her back is to my chest, putting herself in between us. My arm wraps around her middle, and I drag her backward into me. The guy drops her arm like it’s on fire and takes a quick step back at the thundering look on my face. I don’t say a word as my other hand lands on Salena’s hip and I lean down to kiss her bare shoulder. Her head tips to the side, giving me more room. I obey her unspoken words and kiss her neck, my hands squeezing her as my eyes remain on the dickhead in front of us, daring him to make a move. Salena turns in my arms, and I drop my gaze to hers. A coy smile lights up her face, the look almost knocking the wind out of me.
Her hands loop around my neck, and she leans in whispering in my ear, “Hello to you, too, detective.”
A low growl rumbles from my throat at her teasing tone, and I grip her waist, anchoring her to me. When I look back up, the guy is nowhere to be seen, and her friends are all openly watching us, broad smiles on their faces. My gaze narrows slightly on one of the girls, it’s Rose, and she didn’t look much older than eighteen.
Salena turns her head and follows my gaze, she grins and looks back at me, pausing when she sees the look on my face.
“Is she supposed to be in here?” I ask.
Salena pats my chest. “She isn’t drinking, and we are all watching out for her. No one would dare mess with Rose.”
The cop in me wants to debate this, but the moment Salena’s soft warm hands cup my face, tipping it down to her, I’m gone. Completely lost in those eyes. I’ve been ignoring the way she makes me feel, the way my body responds to her. My fingers flex on her hips as I drag in a deep breath. Her sweet flowery scent is calming and mouthwatering, stirring my blood. Her lips curve up at the side as if she can read my mind. Slowly, Salena closes the space between us, her hands still holding my face, and places those soft, plump lips on mine. All thought flees my mind. I groan, deepening the kiss, my mouth moving over hers.
Fuck, she tastes like whiskey and something sweeter.
I pull back, my heart thumping hard against my ribcage as I stare down into her intense eyes.
“I want you so fucking bad I can’t breathe. I should stay away from you. I tried. But something keeps pulling me back.”
Her blue eyes glimmer with an emotion I can’t name, and I watch in curious silence as her hand reaches up to trace my jaw, her fingers spreading over my cheek, my scars.
“Then stay,” she says loud enough for me to hear over the music.
Her words fuel my desire, and I pull her closer, my lips brushing her ear. “Are you sure?”
I hear her intake of breath and feel her fingers tighten on my arms as she holds onto me. I pull back slightly, and she gives me a gentle nod of her head. Relief floods me. She wants this, too. Grabbing my hand, she pulls me over to her friends, all faces I remember from the barbeque.
I peer around the bar, my eyes catching on Kallie. Hurt that I don’t understand is splashed across her face.
Chapter Sixteen
Salena
