“I was trying to be nice!” I scoffed. “Your jokes weren’t even funny.”
“Well maybe I want something more than nice. I deserve something more than nice. And you should give it up for me, because I’ll be good to you—I can be good for you.”
“Give it up for you?” I gasped, in shock that he’d even say something like that to me. “I hope you’re joking.”
The bar door opened behind us, but I didn’t notice at first. I was so shocked by his words—that a man would think in such a way—that I was momentarily stunned into silence. I felt sick to my stomach, hating that he had been thinking of me that way all night, and knowing deep down that Tex would never think of me like that.
To Tex, I was someone important that he wanted to protect but not smother. He respected me and what I wanted. To Mark, I was just a piece of meat, yet he truly didn’t see it that way. He thought I owed him. That he deserved me. Mark thought he was the real man in this situation, that he was being polite, and that Tex was a piece of shit, and yet it was completely the other way around.
“Maybe, I’m just not rough enough for you,” Mark continued bitterly. “I guess if that’s your type, then maybe I could try to be that for you. Maybe I could get a little rough and you would see what you’re missing with me.”
Before I could respond, Mark was grabbed and pulled backwards, a fist quickly slamming into his face.
The crack echoed across the parking lot and he stumbled backward with a shout of pain, his hands grabbing at his face.
Tex grabbed Mark’s shirt and drove another punch straight into his stomach and Mark doubled over, gasping.
“You ever lay a fucking hand on her again, and I will kill you,” Tex growled out.
“Tex, stop!” I shouted.
But Tex looked furious.Really furious.
He yanked Mark upright and drove his knee straight into his face. Blood splattered the gravel and Mark groaned and collapsed to one knee.
“And just so you know, I’m only not killing you now because she doesn’t want me to,” he added.
The bar door burst open as the other bikers spilled outside. Moose and a few of the others leaned against the wall watching and laughing.
“You’re a goddamned piece of shit, and you’re going to ruin her,” Mark slurred between bloody teeth as he got back up.
“Don’t you dare talk about him like that,” he yelled.
I wasn’t sure how it happened but the next thing I knew, I was rearing back and punching Mark in the face too. I yelped as pain spiraled through my hand and yet I felt satisfied when he stumbled back from the hit.
“That’s a hell of a right hook!” someone called.
“Fucking bitch,” Mark slurred, swaying on his feet.
Tex grabbed the front of Marks shirt and glared down at him. “And don’t you dare fuckin’ talk about her like that.” And then heslammed his fist into Mark’s nose hard enough that even I heard the crunch as it broke.
Moose and some of the other bikers were laughing and cheering behind us and I turned and I spun toward them. “This isn’t funny,” I shouted. “Stop him!”
They shook their heads like it was the best entertainment they’d had all week and continued laughing.
Behind me Mark was swinging wildly at Tex. Tex glared down at him, easily catching the punches Mark threw, before shoving him backwards.
“You should’ve stayed down,” Tex growled.
Mark wiped blood from his mouth and spat onto the gravel at their feet.
“You think she wants a guy like you?” Mark sneered. “She’s a dick tease. Been leading me on all night, fluttering her lashes, thinking she’s hot shit. But if she wants someone rough?—”
Tex’s expression turned deadly and my chest tightened.
He stepped forward and slammed his forehead straight into Mark’s.
The headbutt cracked loudly, and Mark dropped instantly, flat on his back. Completely out cold.
