“Jesus, man,” the guy stammered, trying to push back, but Viper didn’t budge.Viper only tightened his grip.
“Viper!”Jase shouted, stepping in.“He’s not worth it!”
Viper wasn’t listening, he cocked his other hand back, ready to swing.
“Hey!Viper!”King’s voice boomed from across the shop.
He and two other brothers rushed over, grabbing Viper by the shoulders.It took all three of them to pull him back.
“Get him outta here,” King barked, jerking his chin toward the customer, who scrambled for the door, face pale as a ghost.
When the man was gone, Viper stood there breathing hard, chest heaving, eyes still dark with fury.
Mara’s pulse was still racing, but not from fear.From something else, something she didn’t want to name.
She stepped out from behind the counter.“What the hell is wrong with you?”Mara asked Viper.
Viper turned, the wildness in his eyes flickering for a moment when he saw her.“He touched you.”
“I can handle myself,” she snapped.“So can the others.You think I need you storming in here like some lunatic with a death wish?”
He put his hands on you,” Viper repeated stubbornly.
“Yeah, and I was about to take care of it before you tried to rearrange his face!”
Her voice echoed through the shop, sharp and furious.A few of the mechanics were pretending to work, but everyone was listening.
Viper looked like he wanted to argue, then he didn’t.He turned away, dragging a hand through his hair, muttering something under his breath.
“God, you’re impossible,” Mara said, following him toward the back of the shop.
He stopped near the doorway leading to the break room and spun to face her.The look in his eyes stopped her dead.
“That man put his filthy hands on you,” he said, voice low and rough.“And I couldn’t stand it.”
The words hit her like a blow.
She froze, staring at him.“What?”
“You heard me,” he said, stepping closer.“You don’t get it, Mara.Every night I tell myself to keep my distance.Every damn night.But then I see you like that,” Viper tightened his jaw, then continued, “and something in me snaps.”
Her heartbeat stuttered.
She’d tried to read him for days, tried to figure out what went on behind those storm-gray eyes.She’d flirted, teased, tested him.He’d always pulled back, walls solid and unbreakable.
Now, though, those walls were cracked, and what she saw behind them made her breath catch.
“Viper—”
Before she could say anything else, he grabbed her wrist.His grip wasn’t hard, not like the other man’s, but firm and possessive.Viper pulled her closer.
The scent of him hit her first.Leather, smoke, the faint trace of motor oil and heat.Her pulse jumped as her body brushed his.
“I don’t want anyone touching you,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.“Not anyone.”
Her breath caught.“You don’t get to decide that.”
“Maybe not,” he said, eyes dark.“But I sure as hell feel it.”
