“Yeah, oh.” He smirks and tugs me flush against him. “You’re that to me. We have a lot to talk about, and today has been about us spending time together. You getting to know me. Me getting to know you. It’s been light and easy all day, but we’re gonna have to talk about the heavy. You gotta know what you’ve got ahead of you when it comes to me. Same goes for me, knowing what I’m getting into with you.”
“But . . .”
“No buts about it, Trouble, you’re mine as I’m yours. That shit with Chellie in my office was just bullshit. I’ve never had a woman of my own. Never wanted one, however, when it comes to you, I can’t help wanting you as mine. So, that’s what you’re gonna be. Mine. Means you have nothing to worry about me stepping outside of what we have to get something. That’s another thing Chellie said that’s shit, but you were right, not one of them alone could satisfy me.” He tugs me even closer than I already am to him and grins. “You, however, I have no doubt will do more than simply satisfy any of my needs.”
The breath in my lungs whooshes out of me, leaving them burning with the need for oxygen.
“I am?” I manage to get out. Why? I’ve no clue. Heat made himself crystal clear. I don’t think he could be any clearer.
“Yeah, Trouble, you are.”
Whoa.
“Now, let’s get you in the truck and get back to the clubhouse. We’ve had a great fuckin’ day, but I don’t like you being exposed to whoever the fuck is after you.”
At his reminder of my stalker, I nod. He’d given me today, and he’s right, it was the best.
Heat picks my bear up. I hadn’t even realized he’d dropped it, and he opens the passenger door for me. I hop in, and he closes me in before opening the door behind me and tossing my bear in. When he rounds the hood of the truck, I notice the way he scans the area, as if he’s on alert to someone possibly popping up out of nowhere.
The moment he’s behind the wheel, he reaches for my hand and places it on his thigh before starting his truck.
Words aren’t needed for the ride back to the clubhouse as I find myself in a comfortable silence. The drive isn’t as long as I thought it would be, as he takes back roads all the way there.
Heat takes the turn onto the rocked lane leading to the gated fence that surrounds the clubhouse and comes to a stop halfway behind another car parked in the middle of the lane.
“Take my phone, baby, and call Brimstone. Code’s nine-four-two-six. Tell him to get his ass down here with my brothers,” Heat commands and throws open his door. “Don’t get out of this truck,” he orders before slamming the door shut.
My heart races as I tap in the code and find Brimstone’s number.
Before Brimstone can say a word when he answers, I blurt, “Heat needs you down the lane, halfway to the gate.”
“Right,” Brimstone grunts and disconnects.
Watching the scene through the windshield, I run my palms over my knees, trying to stop the panic from overriding me.
Three men step out of the car and surround Heat. One of them gets in his face while the other two close in. I scream,seeing what they’re about to do. My voice carries loud, breaking all the windows as my vision blurs.
FIFTEEN
HEAT
Fuck.
McKenna’s screams pierce my ears, nearly shattering them. The men who aren’t men, but vampires I’ve been after for months on end, decided it was time to be ballsy and try to collect what they’ve declared was their property.
They wanted Kinley back and were ready to fight to get her back. I had the three of them surrounding me, however, I didn’t miss the shadows of more in the tree line lying in wait.
I also don’t miss the effect McKenna’s screams have on them and how they back up, falling to their knees.
What the hell?
Her screams aren’t affecting me. Without taking my eye off the vampires, I move to the passenger side of my truck, yank the door open, and pull my woman into my arms.
“Easy, baby,” I tell her, getting her to stop screaming. The last thing I need is for my brothers to show and be hit by her screams in the same way, or worse than how the vampires are.
Keeping her tucked into my side, I do my best to ignore her trembling and watch the now incapacitated vampires.
I don’t know what they were planning to accomplish by trying to wave their dicks and thinking they could get Kinley back with threats. They don’t know what they’re up against when it comes to my brothers and me.
