Page 15 of Under His Protection

“They drove away, didn’t they?” he taunted as he stepped back and ran his hand over his face, frustrated but triumphant, too.

“For now,” I agreed. “Are you trying to get me killed?”

He shook his head.

“You will!” I swatted at his shoulder as I shoved my skirt back down. My panties were ripped from his hand forced under them. They were useless and wet, hanging loose against my thigh. “You’ll get me killed after they report back to their leader that another man was touching his woman.”

Narrowing his eyes, he stepped closer, forcing me to crane my neck to look up at him in order to maintain direct eye contact. “But you’re not his woman.”

“No, but?—”

“But what?”

“I’m not yours, either.”

His smile was slow and sinister. “Let’s say you are. They wouldn’t know that you’re already taken. They wouldn’t have known that before Ricky lost you in a bet.”

Anger filled me with that reminder. That my idiot brother dared to bet on my life. Confusion came next. I couldn’t make sense of what Dante was suggesting. “I wasn’t… I’m not taken.”

Setting one hand on the car’s roof, he slanted closer. It wasn’t close enough for me to feel trapped and safe under his touch, but I was locked in place under his direct attention. “They wouldn’t mess with me, Nina. Those biker dumb fucks know who I am in this city. They won’t mess with me or my woman.”

I set my teeth on my lower lip. “But I’m not…”

He tugged my lip free, staring at his thumb on my flesh. That smoldering gaze taunted me, and I fought the instinct to suck his digit into my mouth. Dante did something to me, making me react without thought and listening to this need thrumming through my body.

Still, the truth remained clear.

I cleared my throat. “I’m not your woman.”

“Pretend that you are.” He dared me with a serious stare. “Play along.”

I blinked quickly, trying to rationalize his offer. “Dante…” I shook my head. “I appreciate your saving me tonight, but they’ll be back and?—”

“Pretend to be my girlfriend, Nina.”

Searching his face, I waited for a tell of his humor. He had to be teasing. Joking. Because a man like him would not need to fake this sort of thing. He could have any woman he wanted. Handsome, rich, fit, and… dammit, he was the kind of sexy beast of a man anyone would lust for.

“I wish I could, but…” I looked down, confused over what could work as a counter here. I had no fight in me. The sound of being Dante’s woman—even just in pretense—was too tempting to reject.

“But what?”

“But it’s dumb.” I frowned, facing him again. “It wouldn’t work.”

“Of course, it would.”

I admired his confidence. He probably had many reasons to own it. He also seemed too rash, almost impatient for me to agree.

“Why would you want to protect me?”

He sighed, standing straight and putting distance between us. “I have my reasons.”

“Because you knew my father?”

He grunted. “I can’t imagine Henry would approve of this.” He flicked his finger between us.

A hit of shame warmed me. No, I doubted Dad would like knowing his former best friend had his mouth and hands on me.

“Why would you want to do this?”

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