Page 20 of Hothead

It was the only explanation.

Vibration diverted his attention to the table. His phone was alerting him to a message. Slowly lifting from the leather cushions, he reached out and grabbed it, flicking open the message.

Benny:Dude, you need to get your ass down to the Tipsy Cow.

Luke:What? Why?

Benny:That chick Bella is down here, and she’s causing quite a stir.

Luke had never moved so fast in his life. Within a second, he was up and grabbing his keys. A minute later, he was out the door. His brain hadn’t even had the chance to catch up until he was in his car, driving to the Tipsy Cow.

What the fuck are you doing, dumbass?

It was a good question.

What if she’s in trouble and she needs me?

Was this how all addicts justified their decisions, he wondered? Because that’s what he was. An addict. He’d come to that conclusion one hour into watching ESPN. That’s why his body was shaking, and he’d spent all day resisting the urge to go and see Bella. To get his fix. Now here he was, jumping at the first opportunity he was given to lay his eyes on her again.

Deep down he knew she wasn’t in trouble. And if she was, Benny was there. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. But that didn’t matter. Not now. Not while he was pulling up outside the only bar in town.

Car locked, pavement pounded, Luke was swinging open the heavy door just seconds later. Walking into the neon cave that was the Tipsy Cow. Colorful signs lit up the walls, casting pink, blue, and green shadows on the scuffed wooden tabletops.

He spotted Benny immediately propping up the bar. Luke’s feet were on the move toward his friend as his eyes scanned the rest of the room. But he didn’t make it to the bar. Or to his friend. His steps faltered around about the time he got his first look at Bella.

What the fuck?

In the middle of the dancefloor, the fallen angel herself was not only inspiring a whole load of sin in him, but half the damn bar too. She wasn’t doing so in some sort of skimpy outfit either. She was in jeans and a flimsy vest. But the vest was rising up with every stretch of her arms. Exposing her flat stomach, her scar, and a black rose tattoo. The bare skin would have been enough to make him want to bite down on his fist, but the way she was swaying her hips in time to the dirty blues that was blasting out the speakers was enough to make him want to drop to his knees.

Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who thought so too. She was surrounded. Men circled her like she was prey, eyes following every movement that sexy body was making. It was enough to make him see red. We’re talking temporary insanity. That was the only excuse he had for what he did next.

Pushing his way through the crowd, he didn’t stop until he reached her. She didn’t notice him at first. Her eyes were closed, her arms were up, and her silky skin was still putting on a show. Altogether, it was enough to make him justify his rather caveman-like reaction as her eyes shot open.

“Luke—”

She didn’t finish the sentence, because in one lightning quick move, he’d lifted her over his shoulder.

“What the hell?” He heard her shriek.

But he was too busy striding his ass out of there, nodding to a laughing Benny as he passed him. Just as they reached the exit, she began to kick. And then a punch landed on his back.

That’s gonna leave a mark.

As soon as they were outside, he set her down next to the wall.

“What the fuck, Cappelli?” He deserved the push to his chest, so he took it like a man.

“I could ask you the same thing.” Right now, his body was in charge, and it needed to be nearer. That’s why he backed her up again, until she was pressed against the brick.

“What are you talking about?” Those silver eyes flashed in annoyance as he got closer. At least he thought it was annoyance.

“You can’t hook up with me, so you go looking for it somewhere else, is that it? Is that why you’re shaking your ass for the whole damn town?”

A hard slap stung his cheek. But it only made his blood pump faster, fire shooting through his veins and causing the thread he was hanging on by to finally snap. Next thing he knew, his head was down, and his mouth was crashing down onto hers. Fury fuelling every movement as his teeth pulled her apart. Prying her open to allow his tongue its first taste.

He felt her hands circle around his neck, forcing him down further so he could take the kiss even deeper. As he drank down every sexy sound she made, both of them fought for control. But he never had been very good at sharing. Which was why he needed to show her exactly who was in charge.

Both hands went to her ass, lifting her with ease as she folded her legs around him. Bella arched, and he pressed into her, her head pushed against the wall as he greedily took his fill. Satisfaction blooming in his chest when more whimpers vibrated down his throat.

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