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“Well... We could compromise and dump his body someplace and not kill him? Because couples compromise. And men don’t get pushy. We’re the helpers. The protectors.” I saunter over to Victoria, then crouch down, squatting on my heels so that my head is over her victim’s and I can look into his panicked eyes. “People like you are the worst representations of men. And you bring out the worst in me.” I gnash my teeth closed as I rise, my face close to his as I rock forward before I propel myself back into a standing position.

“You two are freaks. Sick. None of your business... Just talking out an issue...” Gavin protests, his sentences weak and running together.

“If you ever talk to a girl that way again, you’re going to lose your tongue,” Victoria says coolly. She studies her hands for a moment, then lunges down, earning a terrified yelp from him. When she grabs him up by the collar of his hoodie, she slams him back into the wall. “And if you ever touch a woman like that again, you’re going to lose an arm. Am I very clear?”

He nods.

I don’t like how slowly he nodded.

“These teeth have to be useful for something,” I sigh. “I hate to think where his hands have been, but if you’d like me to bite off a few fingers to make sure he gets the message, I could do that,” I offer.

“What! No, I... I agreed. I’m leaving. I’m leaving, and I’m not going to bother Allie! Or anyone!” he rasps, throat swollen from Victoria’s first attack.

“I wasn’t asking you. I was asking the lady,” I snarl.

“It is cold and flu season. I don’t want you to touch germy hands,” Victoria says with a shudder. “Just help me throw this guy out?”

“Sure, sweetheart. Let me take out the trash for you.”

“My hero,” Victoria croons, and that “I am the king of the universe” feeling surges back again.

As I pick up Gavin and feel Victoria close at my back, her hand on my waist as I hustle him up the stairs and toss him out into the parking lot, other things are surging, too.

Adrenaline. Lust.

Love.

God, she’s so perfect for me.

All the feelings that I try not to have—the violent urges and the anger... have an outlet when I protect the weaker ones. A place for them to go. That would still scare some women, but it doesn’t scare her.

She shares those urges.

And yet, I know... I know we both still want that gentler life, a chance for more and better.

“That was amazing.” I whirl to grab Victoria when I’m done with the loser. He’s scrambling and limping to his car, taking off before the door is even fully shut.

Victoria doesn’t melt into my arms the way I’d pictured our first time.

Yes. First time.

Because I know by the way we both seize each other, practically mauling each other, that we can’t wait.

It’s cold and flurrying, but the temperature feels positively tropical when she’s in my arms.

“That was amazing,” she echoes when we part for air. “Laz... Lazarus, you don’t believe me, I know, but I... I’m gonna be stupid and tell you anyway. You’re what I want. Who I want. I know it’s fast and bumpy, but so are all the best rides in the world,” she half laughs, and I see that her eyes are bright, too bright. Victoria blinks, and a tear sneaks down her cheek. “I really meant it when I said you’re my hero. I think you’re wonderful. Perfect for me. I’m... I love you.”

I spin her away from me, arms around her waist, mouth pressed to her ear, her cheek, her neck. My hands are probably squeezing too tight as we slam into the exterior wall of Jax Alley, hidden in the shadows around the side, blessed with a little heat from the outdoor vent above us.

She said it. She said it first.

“I love you. You’re mine. Made for me. My good girl. My bad girl.”

“All of it, everything I am and was or will be,” she moans as my hand rakes her dress higher.

“I wanted this to be special, but I don’t want to wait.”

“This is special, because we don’t have to wait. I don’t have to pretend. I like this kind of night. Hunting the bad guys. Fucking the good monster,” she whispers, “who happens to be the best man I know. Loving him.”