I should say something. Apologize to the others for not putting my foot down better. This could’ve been avoided if I’d just signaled at Reuben to grab security from the beginning.
"I'm sorry about that, everyone." My voice comes out steadier than I feel. "Please enjoy your game.”
My smile is back on my face, and the frozen atmosphere slowly thaws. Things return to normal, almost, anyway.
Smoke's hand reaches for mine before I can thank him for saving me. He's already turning, already walking, and I have no choice but to follow.
I let him pull me through the casino, past the slot machines, past the bar, past the wide-eyed stares of the cocktail waitresses who just watched the biker drag me away as if I truly belonged to him.
My heels click against the floor. My heart is still pounding. I catch his profile as he glances to the side and notice the set of his jaw. There’s a furrow between his brows.
He's frowning. No, scowling, really.
He lookspissed.
I’ve seen this man startled and protective, but this is new.
We reach the back of the casino at record-breaking speed. I don’t realize he’s leading us out through the back until the cool summer air is hitting my flushed skin.
Once we’re surrounded by the sound of traffic, he releases his hold on me and shoves a hand through his hair. He looks outright frustrated as I watch him pace a few steps to one side before a few to the other.
“Smoke…” I start gently. My stomach knots when he points those stormy eyes in my direction.
“If I didn’t grab you, I would’ve followed him, Bunny.” Getting that off of his chest, he doesn’t deflate. “I would’ve broken every bone that touched you.”
He’s being serious. Far too much for his own good. I’ve noticed the few times when his hands have been wrapped in bandages, hiding fresh wounds. Without a doubt, I’m sure they’d be wrapped by the end of today if he had gone after the guy.
My watchful eyes leave his brows pushing back together.
A curse leaves him again before he’s back to pacing. “Why is doing something as simple as keeping an eye on you such a challenge?”
“You’re more upset than I am,” I say, hoping to reassure him. “I’m used to this, Smoke. One way or another, I would’vehandled it. Sure, I might’ve had to put up with it for a little longer this time around, but—”
A sound leaves him that’s a mixture of anger and something else.
“Why do you let them touch you?” His question comes out in a low growl before he turns to face me. Before I can blink, he’s moving toward me, causing my heels to bump the brick wall of the building. “Calling them cute names and forcing yourself to smile…”
Heat blossoms in my stomach at the possessive tone behind his voice. There’s jealousy dripping from his tongue, and I’m not even sure if he’s aware of it. Even more, there’s no one out here to watch him perform. It’s only us.
“Smoke—” I try to answer his question, but he makes it impossible when he swoops in and kisses me. Shocked by it, I gasp and moan as his tongue slips past my lips.
Who is this man, and what do I have to do to get him worked up again? I’ve only ever watched him when he was gambling. When he’s calm and collected, playing smart.
This isn’t him using his head. This is something else entirely. Something I never want to stop.
“It was easier when I didn’t have to watch it happen.” Radiating with a jealousy that runs far deeper than I can see, he squeezes me through my corset. “Now, I have to focus more on not stealing you away.”
He must not realize that he’s done exactly that.
Squirming against him, I bite my lip as he presses closer. It’s difficult to concentrate when he’s this way, rubbing himself against me to the point that my outfit will likely smell like him. Everyone will know what we've done.
We shouldn't be out here, not when I'm meant to be on the floor working. Yet, I can't find the strength to be the voice ofreason. Not when I've dreamed of this man getting his hands on me like this.
I don't think twice about grabbing his hand and pulling it toward my cleavage. The corset is in the way, but it's not thick enough to hide the heat of his touch. Feeling it seep through the fabric, I'm not sure which one of us groans first.
"Now is a terrible time to be horny." Muttering the words, I pinch my eyes shut and debate if it's worth breaking a lot of rules, and most definitely laws.
Would I hike my dress up to let this man have his way with me? Absolutely, yes. There's no question about that. I want this man to ravish me.
