I’m so grateful for her. She’s been my rock since we were little girls. Never judging me for any of my bad choices. She hated Callum, thought he was an arrogant ass right from the get-go, but she supported my choice. And stood next to me on the altar. She was reluctant with me getting involved with Cage too, and it turns out she was right again.
It’s time for her to spin and face the other way, but she misses the cue. I try to get her attention, but she’s locked on something behind me. Her eyes growing wide as a weary look forms on her face. I turn to see what’s making her so nervous, and as soon as I do, my stomach is filled with nerves.
Cage is stalking toward me. His lips formed in a tight line. Eyes narrowed in, laser focused right on me. He looks pissed. I start to back up as he closes in, but I find myself up against Chass.
“How did he find me?” I whisper. I never told him where I was.
“I don’t know, but you need to run.”
As soon as she says the word, I turn and start rushing in the direction of the parking lot. I make it past the bar, when I’m suddenly hooked around the waist and caught in his big arms.
“Don’t you dare fucking run from me.” He’s breathing so heavy, voice so tight, it feels like he’s a steaming pressure cooker ready to explode.
“Dude, you need to take your hands off her.”
I turn and see the bartender from earlier glaring him down, or trying to at least, but Cage has a half of a foot on him in height, and who knows how many more pounds of muscles.
“If you had half a brain, you’d walk away right now and mind your fucking business.”
“Not walking away until you let the girl go.”
It’s obvious the bartender doesn’t have a brain. His only saving grace is the fact that Cage doesn’t want to unlock his hold on me. At least, that may spare the poor guy’s life.
“You have a death wish, son, because this is my woman and I’m not letting her go.”
His woman?
“You haven’t called me for over a week, Cage. Then out of the blue you text me saying you want to meet up.” I fight to turn in his arms, wanting to face him. “If that’s how you treat your ‘woman,’ then it’s a hard pass, Outlaw.”
His hand is suddenly at the base of my neck, holding me in place. The tension is so tight in his body, he’s practically shaking.
“I had to leave town to deal with club shit. Fires were going off in every direction and duty fucking called. Then the moment I get back, I text your ass, because I couldn’t stand going one more second without seeing you, and you gave me some bullshit acting like this is over.” His fingers squeeze me tighter, and I can feel his hot breath cast over me as his head moves in. “Let me tell you something. This is far from over. You’re mine, Cowgirl. Now, you have three seconds to give me those sweet lips, otherwise, I’ll be bending you over my knee right here in front of everyone at this bar, and I will spank your ass.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, honey, don’t tempt me.”
“Why didn’t you call?” It is the 21stcentury. Cell phones exist.
“Because I had a burner with me, and like I said, I was dealing with a heap of shit. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to call, baby. I can promise you that. Thought about you every damn second while I was away.” He did? All week I was thinking he was with the sweetbutts, but I was wrong. “You’re down to your last second, doll. What’s it gonna be?”
“Next time, tell…”
His mouth slams against mine, stealing the rest of my words. And it all fades. The doubt. The insecurities. The sadness. It all gets replaced with the incessant hunger. I need to have this man inside me.
I’m suddenly hoisted around his waist and being carried off in the direction of the parking lot. The crunching of gravel under his heavy boots is in time with his deep breaths. His entire frame is locked tight with tension, and the kiss only seems to be winding him tighter.
He comes to a stop and I see that he brought his truck tonight.
“Get in and get your panties off.”
He hoists me up into the back and then stands and waits for me to follow his orders.
“People will see me if you don’t close the door.”
“Take the bottoms off, Payton.”
I make quick work of removing my shorts and underwear, while he watches me like a caged animal. Prowling at the door. Waiting for it to open so he can attack. Those clear eyes glowing with a menacing look. He’s a wolf on the hunt.
