Page 120 of Suck My Puck

“You’re being a creep and I’d like you to leave me alone.”

Instead of backing off, he laughs, like he’s taking my rejection as a challenge.

He reaches out and touches my arm. I pull away. “Don’t touch me.”

He frowns. “What’s your problem? I was just trying to talk to you?—”

Just then, Braden appears next to the guy. He claps a hand on his shoulder, throwing the guy off balance. He frowns at Braden, then looks at Braden’s hand on his shoulder. The guy tries to shrug out of Braden’s grip, but Braden’s bigger and stronger than him.

“You mind taking your hand off me?” the guy says.

Braden stays quiet and shakes his head as he glares at the guy.

“You look hot,” Braden says to the guy. I hold back a laugh.

The guy’s frown deepens. “Um, what?”

Braden steps forward, pinning the guy between his body and the bartop. The guy’s frown fades and his eyes go wide with panic.

“U-Uh…” the guys stammers. Braden cups his free hand around the guy’s face.

“I mean it. You’re a handsome guy,” Braden says.

The guy squirms, but he’s not strong enough to get out of Braden’s hold.

“Dude, I’m not into guys, okay?”

“What’s your problem? I was just trying to talk to you,” Braden says.

The guy stammers some more. Braden doesn’t say anything. He just keeps him pinned between his body and the bar for a few more seconds.

“Feels pretty fucking awful to be cornered by someone bigger than you, right?” Braden says in a low, hard tone.

“Y-Yeah. It does,” the guy stammers.

“So don’t fucking do it to women, you scumbag.” Braden lets go of the guy and steps away. The guy stumbles back.

“Apologize for being a fucking creep to my girlfriend,” Braden orders.

The guy aims his panicked stare to me. “I-I’m sorry.”

“Go away,” I say. He stumbles off.

Braden turns to me and cups my face in his hand. “Are you okay?” His voice is low and soft.

I nod, in awe of how he handled that. “Yeah.”

His soft blue gaze is watchful as he scans my face. “Are you sure? We can go back to the room, if you want.”

I smile softly and shake my head. “No way. The night’s not over yet. I want to drink Prosecco with you, then I want to take you somewhere.”

Chapter 41

Braden

“This is where you wanted to take me?” I say as I follow Bella into a tacky souvenir shop a few blocks from our hotel.

She laughs. “Oh, come on. This place is fun.”

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