Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
That was when I saw her.
Standing near the entrance, Lindsay had her arms crossed tight against her chest, her gaze darting around nervously.
Damn woman.
I was off my bike and stalking toward her before I even thought twice. She startled when she saw me, but to her credit, she didn’t back down. Instead, her chin lifted to a stubborn angle. I refused to think about how cute she was and how her attitude turned me on.
“You got a death wish, baby?” I growled, my hands clenching at my sides. “I fucking told you to stay away.”
Her spine straightened, and she narrowed her eyes on me. “You told me to stay away from the center. You never said anything about the hospital.”
I immediately closed the space between us, every muscle in my body coiled tight with frustration and fear-fueled anger.
“You think this is a joke?” I bit out. “Someone beat that bastard into a coma. Don’t know who’s behind it yet, but I won’t let you get caught in the middle of this shit.”
“I can take care of myself,” she snapped, stepping in closer, like she wasn’t the least bit afraid of how pissed I was. I couldn’t help the spark of admiration that flickered inside me. “I’m not stupid.”
“No, but you’re being fucking reckless,” I growled, backing her toward the concrete wall of the building. Her pine-green eyes flared as her back hit it, and I caged her in with both arms.
Her scent hit me hard—vanilla and citrus, along with something unique to her—and my semi-hard dick turned to fucking steel.
“Told you, you’re under my protection,” I murmured, crowding her tighter. “Means you don’t go poking around anywhere someone might see you as a liability. You let me take care of this.”
She huffed, but her breath caught. “What are you going to do? Lock me in a tower?”
“Not a bad idea, if that’s what it takes to keep you safe.” I dipped my head, letting my breath graze her cheek. “And if you don’t start behaving, I’ll bend you over and spank that pretty ass until it’s cherry red. Then you’ll really learn what protection feels like.”
Her pupils flared, her cheeks heated, and her lips parted on a gasp.
“Ummm,” she whispered, clearly flustered.
“You get mouthy again,” I murmured, lips brushing her ear, “and I’ll make damn sure you feel it every time you sit down.”
I nearly groaned when her tongue peeked out to wet her lower lip. Then she tilted her head, fire returning to her gaze as she planted her hands on my chest and shoved. When I didn’t move so much as a millimeter, she huffed, “You only said not to go near the center.”
It was a weak-ass argument, but it drove me fucking crazy when she got sassy.
She could mouth off all she wanted. Every smart-ass word just made her more mine.
I growled, my tone low and full of warning. “Lindsay.”
Her lips parted again, but I didn’t give her a chance to say another word.
I slammed my mouth onto hers, swallowing her gasp as I kissed her hard, deep, and possessive. Her hands fisted in my shirt, and I pushed her back against the wall so tight there wasn’t a breath of space between us.
It wasn’t soft or gentle.
It was a claim.
A warning.
A promise.
She was fucking mine.
And I would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
5
LINDSAY
One second, Beck glared at me as though I’d said something infuriating. The next, his lips were on mine.
My brain didn’t even register the kiss until it was almost already over. Which sucked because I didn’t get to give my all to my first real kiss.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected from it, but the way his mouth claimed mine hadn’t been sweet. His kiss had been full of a fire that left me breathless when he pulled back, his hazel eyes burning into mine.
My lips tingled, my knees felt shaky, and I couldn’t for the life of me remember what I’d said to provoke that reaction. Which was too bad because I already wanted a repeat of that kiss, so I’d love to know which button to push to make it happen again. And again.
“You done arguing now?” he asked, voice low and rough.
My mouth opened, but no words came out.
“That’s what I thought.” He smirked. “Guess I know how to handle that sassy mouth of yours.”
I made a mental note to amp up my cheekiness if getting kissed by Beck was the result. “Maybe it won’t work the same next time.”
His smile widened as he reached down and laced his fingers through mine. “Let’s go. I’m taking you home.”
“Wait—”
“It’s not up for debate, baby.”
I barely had time to think, let alone argue, before he was steering me across the parking lot. My thoughts were a jumbled mess of heat and confusion, but I managed to pull myself together enough that I was about to point out that my car was in the other direction when a van screeched around the corner, tires shrieking against asphalt. Beck stiffened instantly, dropping my hand and stepping in front of me just as the side door flew open and two men in black masks jumped out.