“You don’t know anything about me,” she retorted, and her voice was slurred. Frowning, I moved around the pool table to snag her wrist. She stared down at my hand for a second. When she finally lifted her eyes to mine, she was crying.
I did a double take. I had expected her to tell me to go to hell, to yell at me. No way was I ready for tears, but then what man ever was?
“Just come and sit down. Think about what Ghost would say if he could see you dressed like that and acting like a common—”
I didn’t get to finish. Twisting her wrist, she freed her arm and ran. The door slammed behind her.
Startled, I turned. “What the hell was that about?”
“Are you just going to let her run off like that?” Sy asked, her hands firmly on her hips.
“I’m not her babysitter if she can’t—”
Sy tossed the cloth she was holding on to the bar angrily. “I swear you guys lose all your common sense the moment you patch in. There’s a killer on the loose and she’s just his type. Fine, I’ll go after her. Duke, watch the bar for me.”
Shit. I had totally forgotten. Of course, it hadn’t registered that there was potential danger out there on the streets. It wasn’t me who the crazy killer was hunting, so I didn’t have to be careful. Girls like Chloe did, though.
“I’ll go.” Taking off at a jog, I headed out into the rain.
She was just turning the corner when I caught up with her. “Chloe, wait.” This time I didn’t catch her by her wrist. I trapped her hips in my hands and stopped her dead in her tracks, holding her against my body.
“Come back inside, love.” My fingers squeezed her hips. I couldn’t help it. Her body felt so good under my hands. “It’s not safe out here alone.”
“I’m just going home,” Chloe muttered and her voice was thick with tears.
“Why are you crying?” Turning her in my arms, I forced her back against the rough brick wall, keeping my hands on her hips to keep her locked in place.
“There’s no need for tears, Chloe. I’m just looking out for you. Getting drunk when you’re dressed like…” I let my hand slide up her body.
“What’s wrong with how I look? I thought I looked nice.”
“You don’t look like you. You look like you’re pretending to be something you're not. Dressed like you're on the pull and letting that man touch you. It’s beneath you, and kind of cheap.” My voice was rising. I couldn’t help it, she just drove me crazy. “And Ghost wouldn’t like it. Especially—”
“What has Ghost got to do with anything? I’m an adult. I can drink if I want to. I could even go home with those two guys if I wanted to.”
Rage flooded me, and I slammed my hand into the wall by her head. Chloe winced back, her eyes saucer round as she stared at me.
“Don’t say that!”
“Stop shouting at me,” she whispered.
“Then stop acting like a slut and—”
She slapped me. Her small hand connected with my cheek with stinging firmness. Catching her wrist, I forced her hand down and stepped into her space so she had to crane her neck up to look at me.
“You’re lucky you belong to Ghost, otherwise I would have—”
“I don’t belong to Ghost. I don’t belong to anyone.”
I froze, and it was like the air left my lungs in a whoosh. She didn’t belong to Ghost. That’s what she had said. And if she didn’t belong to him, then she could belong to me. At least for the night.
My mouth crashed down on hers. I took it like it belonged to me. Like I had kissed her like this before.
That’s what it felt like. Familiar and comforting, but at the same time excitement flooded me.
She sighed and her tequila scented breath flowed into my mouth. It didn’t matter. I would have still lost myself in the feel of her mouth on mine even if her breath smelt like ass.
Finally, she relaxed a little in my arms and her lips parted just enough for me to touch the tip of my tongue against hers.
