The world froze for a moment.
My attacker’s fingers loosened slightly, and I sucked in a breath as the pressure on my head eased. Kian stepped between us, broad shoulders blocking my view from the attacker, his sudden presence sending relief through me.
“You dare touch what’s mine?” Kian growled.
Wait. What?I blinked, confused, while it seemed every patron in the vicinity had stopped to watch the drama unfold. My pulse roared in my ears. Then, with a sharp curse, the grip on my hair vanished.
I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance, but firm hands caught my arm, steadying me. The unmistakable musk of a man hit me and oddly made my mouth water.
I turned to look at my savior and found myself staring into Kian’s dark eyes.
I swallowed, soaking up the heat that radiated from him, curling around me like a living thing. Or maybe that was just my embarrassment.
I drew in a sharp breath, and his scent—spice and warmth—seemed to sink deeper into me. The room tilted. I swayed and caught his arm to steady myself.
His muscles were tense under my touch, and I couldn’t help but notice again how hot he was.
“Are you hurt?” Kian asked, not taking his eyes off the other man, while my thoughts scattered in every unhelpful direction.
I shook my head. My scalp throbbed and my throat felt raw, but I was upright and mostly unharmed.
Then, because I clearly had no sense of self-preservation, I leaned into his muscular body, the light fabric of his suit brushing against my skin.
“I’ve been waiting for you all night,” I cried out suddenly, my voice pitching higher and louder than intended—loud enough to carry across the bar. “Um, husband.”
Kian arched an eyebrow in surprise. His body went rigid, the planes of his muscles turning to granite while steady warmth poured off him.
A flicker of doubt sparked in me. Had I just made a terrible mistake announcing to the bar that Kian was my husband?
But then his arm came around me and he tucked me into his side. Against my better judgment, my body melted into him.
Much to my horror, I realized I was getting aroused and my heart was humming with anticipation. Either that or I was developing a serious heart condition.
Tabling that for now, I shifted my attention to my attacker and tipped my chin up.
“See? I told you my husband was nearby. If you value your life, I suggest you get lost.”
“You heard her,” Kian drawled coolly. “Best be off, or I’ll have to rearrange your features.”
His arm tightened around me as if to underline the threat, but the idiot still didn’t seem to grasp it.
“Liar,” he spat.
But then to my shock, Kian’s bodyguards surrounded him, guns in hand, with Kian pulling his own from his holster.
A low murmur rippled through the crowd. No one made a move to call the police. Instead, they backed away, leaving my attacker alone to face his fate.
“Whoa, whoa…” I hissed under my breath. “What’s going on?”
I was all for him saving me, but an army of armed guards really wasn’t necessary.
Without looking at me, he said in a voice edged with something harsh and dangerous, “I’m about to teach this bastard a lesson.”
I grabbed his bicep, my fingers barely managing to wrap halfway around it, and he looked at me.
I gasped.
There was a darkness in his eyes—intense enough to steal my breath. It felt like staring straight into a storm, and for a split second, I wanted to step back.
