Page 16 of Grave Games

“I could say you’re in the mood to get fucked while pressed up against the wall in a public space, but I was trying to think of your delicate sensibilities.”

“How sweet of you.” I said it lightly, but I meant every word, because I knew he was telling the truth. Romeo was rough around the edges, no doubt about it, and very much like a biker from that world. But there was a solicitousness about this man that set him apart from those grunting Neanderthals, and I couldn’t get enough of it. As impossible as it seemed, this man cared about me. He liked me, wanted me, and honestly thought about my wellbeing. After being alone for so long with no one giving a damn about whether I lived or died, his desire to pamper me was beyond precious. My heart soaked it up like a sponge, swelling with all that goodness he showered on me until I thought it might explode.

Whether he knew it or not, Romeo was giving me what I really needed on this shopping trip, and it sure as hell wasn’t gloves.

It waseverything.

Hugging the clothes he’d picked out for me to my chest, I watched him tuck the big shoebox under his arm before he looped a heavy arm around my shoulders and steered me toward the sign that read FITTING ROOMS.

Don’t freak out, don’t freak out…

But I wasn’t freaking out.

If anything, I was getting seriously turned on.

It was all because of Romeo. This amazing, caring man was so crazy irresistible he even conquered my invisible scars without even trying.

And miracle of miracles, he seemed to want me just as much as I wanted him.

Maybe it’s okay to freak out.

My heart rate quickened as my blood heated, and the intimate folds of my slit began to throb with need. The wet slickness that surged there made it worse, and as the muscles in my lower abdomen clenched in almost frantic anticipation of what was to come, I leaned into his body. Could he feel the tremors of pure, unmitigated lust going through me? I didn’t even recognize myself, wanting someone this badly, but maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. It had been years since I’d lowered my defenses to even think of getting the hots for anyone, let alone a stunning male specimen like Romeo. Sure, he had a hint of bad-boy biker about him, but since he wasn’t the real deal I could relax my guard and let him in. This felt right, more right than anything had in a long—

“Well, what have we here? Romeo, looking like a civilian and not wearing his colors. Don’t tell me you’ve been excommunicated from that shitty fraudster club already.”

Romeo froze, which made me freeze right along with him. When I started to turn to see who had spoken and caught just a glimpse of a blonde mullet that reminded me of Dog the Bounty Hunter, Romeo’s hand clamped down hard on my head, so my face was practically smashed into the curve of his neck.

“Radar.” The word rumbled from Romeo, and though I couldn’t see the man he addressed, I wouldn’t have been at all surprised if the guy pissed himself just at the sound alone. I’d never heard that tone from Romeo before, a deadly, chilling voice, and I hoped I’d never hear it again. “You fucking perv. I’m not surprised in the least to see you hanging by the fitting rooms. Peeping’s the only way you’d ever get to see any T and A up close and personal.”

A sound that was barely human came from directly behind me, making my skin along my back crawl. “What’s the matter,Romeo? Don’t want to share your latest toy, or are you just hiding behind whatever roadside pussy you’ve picked up like the coward you are?”

It all happened so fast. One second I was clutched against Romeo’s side so hard it was tough to breathe. The next second I was shoved deep into the fitting rooms and into one of the stalls with a gruff “Stay put” order from Romeo before he slammed the door shut on me. Then a hard body landed on the other side of the flimsy, louvred door of the changing room where I’d been thrown.

“Listen to me very carefully, you unbelievable fucking waste of skin.” I clamped a hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t make a shocked sound at the raw violence in the voice that my brain insisted belonged to my sweet and solicitous Romeo. “You’re crossing a line, coming at me out here in the world. You wanna start something with me, fine. I’d fuckinglovethat. But do it like a man, and not like a squeamish little cunt too afraid to roll up on me without civilians around to shield your candy ass.”

“I didn’troll up on you,” came the teeth-grinding, guttural-sounding reply, the big weight shifting so much against the flimsy door I could easily imagine the louvres breaking under the strain. “You’re not the only one who shops here, dumbass.”

“You’re the dumbass, Radar, because you didn’t think about the consequences of crossing my path when you saw me. I’m thinking that might be the last mistake you ever make.”

The man, Radar, made a strange hissing noise. “Are you threatening me?Brother?”

My skin iced over at the term.

“I’m telling you how life is, chapter and verse. Now, I know you’re a fucking moron that’s taken too many blows to the head, but do yourself a favor and take my advice—don’t make things worse for yourself by pissing me off even more than you already have. Just. Fucking. Go.”

“You goddamn—”

“You guys need to take it outside.” A new voice, one I tagged as the man who’d greeted us when we’d first walked in, suddenly broke in, and it was as loud as a bullhorn. “Security’s on the way to make sure you do.”

“No need for fuckin’ mall cops.” Radar, clearly a charmer, seemed to have growls for everyone. Suddenly the body pressed up against the louvred door was gone, and the atmosphere lightened as if by magic. “I’m out. Be seeing you, Romeo.”

“You’d better hope not.” There was a beat or two before the door separating me from the rest of the world snapped open. Mutely I stared at the store employee and Romeo, whose expression was so tight and filled with such violence I wasn’t sure I recognized him. “Bring that shit up to the cashier, Shy. And I’m grabbing a hoodie for you that you’re going to wear out of here, hood up, because I don’t want you to be seen by anyone who may have eyes on us. We’re done here.”

Chapter Six

No Mercy

Romeo

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