Page 179 of Filthy Lovin Heroes

Jace held me so close air molecules couldn’t fit between our bodies—I wasn’t sure what to do for a second but the fear in Michaels eyes had my senses coming back.

“No, he was just leaving.”

Michael was no small man, but standing between these two he looked like a scared little wafer of a boy.

“Like hell. I paid good money to get in here and I’m not fucking leaving. Just how many guys were you screwing behind my back? I was right, you’re nothing but a w?—”

Cade’s fist to the side of Michael’s face cut off the W word.

I cringed and took a hearty step back. Sure, he earned it, but still I felt bad for the guy. Music screeched to a halt and now the other half of the club trying to mind their own business looked our way.

One second I was lined up for a hearty backhand and in the next I was being kissed, called baby, and now I have a wall of protective muscle in front of me. Two to be exact. What funny trick was the Universe playing on me?

Jace and Cade took Michael by the arms and passed him over to the security team that made their way through the gawkers lining the dance floor.

Both men towered over me by a good head and the expanse of muscle so wide my nipples hardened. What? Don’t judge me for having a thing for muscle.

Jace turned to me first and then Cade, and the intensity leveled on me made my knees tremble. Someone cranked the music back up and now that the show ended, everyone returned to their drinks and make-out sessions.

Except for me. I wanted nothing more than to slink back into the darkness and find the nearest exit. What went through my mind to think I could be like these people? And to have Jace and Cade standing in front of me again?

Fuck me.

“Umm...yeah...sorry about that. I’ll be going now.” On some level I hoped that didn’t make me sound like a coward, but I didn't care at the moment. I just needed out of their space. They smelled so damn good I was afraid I might jump them and take Jace’s kiss further than he intended.

I tried to push out of Jace's arms. He let me, but I didn't get far before he had his hand in mine and we were walking through the crowd.

“How about you join us instead,” Jace insisted. He looked like he would sling me over his shoulder if I disobeyed.

Cade stepped in beside us. Sandwiched between them both, I smelled their crisp, masculine goodness.

“I was dancing with someone,” I tried again, momentarily wondering where my Mr. Bartender had gone off to. But both overprotective men either acted like they didn’t hear or outright ignored me for several minutes until we were a good distance past the loud, thumping music.

Jace peered down at me; studied my face. “No running this time, Elle. You’re coming with us.”

Cade slipped a rough, callused hand down my back, the caress a heated graze of skin on skin.

I shivered. Damn, that felt unbelievably sensational. As we walked both men plowed a path through the crowd of people. Women on both sides of us skipped pretty painted fingertips over muscle as we passed while I got the dirty looks. Silently, I wondered if I had jumped from the pan into the fire.

Four

Elle

Isucked in a breath of astonishment. Jitters. Fear.

All the above, actually when an elevator door swooshed open and they ushered me inside. What felt like a handful of seconds later, we reached a secluded area of the club where the music played low enough you could talk and the people don’t stare as much. Unless you were me. Then all eyes tracked every minute movement and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why. Unless they knew I didn’t belong in a place like this as much as I did. I didn’t fit among all the pretty people. Ordinary and plain. But where Cade and Jace have led me made me feel like the pauper among royalty.

Where I served chicken wings or made coffee runs, everyone here screamed importance. But what really stung had to be the looks my two unexpected heroes received from the females hot enough to make a priest blush.

My gaze flicked over everything in the span of three seconds. We were seated a level above the dance floor in a semi-secluded area with a plush sofa made to fit four comfortably and a small knee-level table filled with fresh drinks the second we took our seats.

Pinned between both men, each held a hand captive. Now what? Only when Jace stood to close the curtain did I get the use of a hand back and all I could think to do was rub the sweaty side over invisible wrinkles.

“Guys, it’s great seeing you both again, but really, I need to get home. I have an early shift tomorrow and I’m working a double. So, you know.” I patted Jace on the knee and stood, but Cade still held my hand in his. Stroking a thumb over my knuckles, he held my gaze.

Cade’s only darkened, like he knew something I didn’t. “I’m sorry I can’t let you do that,” he said softly. A little too softly in fact.

I leaned in. “Excuse me?”

---