"Go to bed," I say. My voice is unrecognizable. Harsh. Guttural.
She blinks, dazed, hand coming up to touch her lips. "Shane?".
"Go to bed, Bianca," I snap, louder this time. I need her to leave. I need her gone before I throw her over my shoulder and carry her upstairs. "Now".
She recoils as if I've struck her, hurt flashing in her eyes before she masks it with confusion. She straightens her shirt, pulling it down over her thighs, trying to regain some dignity.
"Okay," she whispers.
She moves toward the doorway, giving me a wide berth. Her scent washes over me one last time as she passes, taunting me.
She stops at the archway and looks back. "You can't just... do that, and then shut down".
I turn to face her, letting her see the darkness in my eyes. Letting her see the monster. "I can do whatever I want. This is my house. You play by my rules".
"That didn't feel like a rule," she says softly, voice trembling but brave. "That felt real".
"This wasn't a mistake, but it’s a warning," I growl, letting the brutal truth settle between us. "I’m a violent man, Bianca, and right now, I’m the biggest threat to your safety. Get to your room, lock the door, and don't open it again tonight, or I'll turn into a beast that wants to tear your clothes off."
She holds my gaze, searching for something—tenderness, maybe, or a shred of the 'good man' she wants me to be. She won't find it. I killed him a long time ago.
She turns and runs up the stairs.
I listen to her footsteps, light and quick, until I hear the soft click of her bedroom door closing. Then the slide of the lock.
Good.
I turn back to the counter, gripping the edge until the stone threatens to crack under the pressure. Cold granite does nothingto cool the fire in my blood. I look down at my sweatpants, at the visible evidence of how much I want her.
"Fuck," I hiss into the silence.
I walk to the sink and splash icy water onto my face, scrubbing at my skin as if I can wash away the feel of her. It doesn’t work. Her taste is branded on my tongue. Her scent is embedded in my pores.
I check the back door again, rattling the handle aggressively. Locked. Everything is locked tight.
But the defense has already been breached.
I pace the living room, the energy too high to contain. Calling Logan crosses my mind. Going to the clubhouse and hitting the heavy bag until my hands bleed seems like a viable option. But I can’t leave. I can’t leave her here alone.
She was right. More than a kiss. A claiming.
I meant what I said. She is mine. I’ve marked her now. And even though I pushed her away tonight, the clock is ticking. I can only hold the beast back for so long.
I walk over to the window and stare out at the storm. The pines thrash in the wind, bending but not breaking.
Up on the eastern cliffs, I know the Costas are watching. They’re always watching. They know the MC is vulnerable when we have civilians close. They know about Maddie. If they find out about Bianca….
My hand drifts to the grip of the Glock in my waistband.
Let them come.
Let them try to touch what belongs to me.
I’ll burn the whole mountain down before I let anyone hurt her.
5
BIANCA
