Page 107 of Damaged Protector

“You can have your picture taken with the cover model, Xander,” she told me. I noticed a tall man with long, artfully messy hair and two full sleeves of tattoos standing in front of a backdrop, so I got in line. People really seemed to be into the cover models at this convention.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Xander said after I’d handed my phone to the assistant and taken my place in front of the backdrop. “What’s your name?” He had a voice full of soul and gravel, and I wondered if he was a singer in real life.

“Mallori.”

“Well, Mallori, aren’t you gorgeous? Let’s get some pics.” He wrapped a long arm around my shoulders, and we both gave the rock and roll hand sign as the assistant snapped photos on my phone.

“Thanks, Xander,” I told him, and he winked. This guy was a huge flirt.

“Hey, if you’re not busy next weekend, you should come hear my band play down in the West End. I’m the lead singer.” He smoothly pulled a card from his pocket, but before I could take it, it disappeared.

“Mallori is busy next weekend,” a voice snapped, and I turned to see Hawk crumpling the card in his fist. With his huge frame and glittering black eyes, he looked like the epitome of tall, dark, and dangerous.

Xander laughed nervously and held up both hands. “Hey, dude. No offense. I just wanted to see if she wanted to hang out.”

“She doesn’t,” Hawk said flatly, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

And because my roommate was acting like a huge douche, I hugged Xander and thanked him. He looked like it made him nervous, but I guessed he had a right to be. Though the two men were around the same height, Hawk had at least thirty pounds on the singer.

“Did you have to act like such a brute?” I demanded as we walked away.

“Yes, it’s kind of my job, Bee,” he replied, looking somewhat pleased with himself and not at all remorseful.

“It’s your job to be nosy and interrupt conversations?”

“It’s my job to make sure people I… know are safe.” He hesitated in the middle of the sentence like he was searching for the correct word. “He could be dangerous, and you were just going to go meet him.”

I sighed. “I wasn’t actually going to go. I was taking the card to be polite.”

“Oh.”

“And I know how to take care of myself. I once took down a guy twice my size with pepper spray.”

Hawk barked out a laugh. “Touché.”

“Are you done being overbearing now? I’m supposed to meet some dude in the alley.” I jerked a thumb over my shoulder. “He said he has something important to show me. I hope it’s either candy or another kitten.”

Hawk’s eyes rounded in horror. “Mallori, you—” He cut himself off when he noticed my wide grin. “You’re a huge pain in my ass.”

“Right back atcha,” I replied, patting him on the arm. “Oh, there’s Megan.”

My friend wheeled her overflowing cart down the aisle toward me. “Hey, Mal. Can I get your car keys so I can empty my cart? Oh, and look at this crocheted dick I bought.”

She pulled out a giant brown dong and waved it at me before noticing the man beside me. Making a little squeaking noise in her throat, she thrust the penis behind her. The damn thing was almost two feet long.

“Sorry, hi. I’m Megan.”

“Hawk,” he said, a smile crooking one side of his lips up. “I’m Mallori’s roommate.”

“Nice to meet you.” Meg held out a hand to shake, but unfortunately, it was the hand still holding the crocheted peen. “Dammit, sorry. I can’t seem to control this thing,” she said, sticking it behind her back again.

“Yeah, welcome to my world. Dicks can be impossible to control sometimes.”

Megan’s mouth gaped open, and I snorted out a laugh as Hawk winked at me. “See you later, Mal. You ladies try to stay out of trouble.”

He strolled away, and we both watched him go. Damn, the man looked good in a suit. As soon as he was out of earshot, Meg swatted me with the big dick.

“Oh. My. God. Why didn’t you tell me you were living with a guy that looks like he could star in a mafia novel?” She whacked me once more. “Please tell me you’re hitting that.”

---