Page 30 of Foul Territory
Mr. Grabby Hands doesn’t take his eyes off Sydney and a few seconds later he’s following her step for step. Thishallway leads to the break room and two storage rooms. He has no reason to be over on this side of the building.
I know every face that walks in this place. He’s been here a few times and is well aware the bathrooms are on the other side of the bar. He’s chasing after Sydney, and he’s delusional if he thinks he will have another shot at putting his hands on her. He’s lucky he got away with it the first time.
I quicken my steps, bumping into people as I go. Suddenly being on the other side of the bar doesn’t seem like such a good idea. I’m too far away from her. Sydney unlocks a door in the hall and flips the light switch on. He waits for her to walk inside before entering the storage closet after her.
The vein in my forehead pulses and my fists clench at my sides. I don’t like getting in fights. It’s not a good look especially if I want to be a professional athlete. At the moment, I don’t care about the public eye. I care about Sydney. I promised her years ago I wouldn’t get into any more fights. Not over her.
Promises are meant to be broken. If this guy has his hands on her uninvited…I can’t even finish the thought.
Sydney’s squeal in surprise has me moving my feet faster. “What are you doing here?” she asks.
“I came to apologize,” he says. I call bullshit but wait outside the door just in case it’s true. I don’t want to charge in there making a scene and get Syd angry at me when I didn’t need to. The only reason she hasn’t sent me packing every night is because I keep to myself while I’m here.
“Go ahead,” she quips.
“I’m sorry.I thought I felt a connection between us.”
“Apology accepted. You need to leave now. I have work to do.”
“Awww. Don’t be like that, sugar,” he drawls. Glass clinks from somewhere inside the room.
“I really think you should leave.”
“Nah, I don’t think so,” he sneers, then the door starts to close. I rush to the entry and jam my size fourteen in the gap before I get locked out. I push the door open, startling this asshole who can’t take a hint.
Sydney’s eyes widen at my sudden appearance. He has her backed against a wall to wall shelving unit full of liquor bottles. With every step I take in her direction, her breathing steadies and her body loosens.That’s right. I’m here now. Nothing will happen to you.
“The girls said you were back here,” I say, announcing my arrival. I maneuver around the guy, checking his shoulder as I pass. “Sorry man,” I snarl in his direction. “Hi, baby.” The term endearment slips past my lips with ease. Sydney inhales a sharp breath and her lips part.
“Hi,” she whispers. Her eyes lift and she glances over my shoulder. I don’t like the fear I see in them.
Standing in front of her, I put one hand on her hip and pull her flush against my body. I wrap my other hand around the back of her neck and dig my fingers into her hair. “Don’t look at him. Look at me.”
My thumb skims her bare skin above the waistband of her jeans, causing her to shiver. She’s still so softand warm. Just the way I remember. The guy behind me growls. I don’t like having my back to him but there is no way I’m switching positions with Syd.
“We were having a conversation here,” the guy has the nerve to say.
I glare at him over my shoulder. “And now your conversation is over. Take a walk.” I nod toward the open door.
“Are you with this guy?” He points a finger in my direction but his eyes are focused on my girl. I would love to snap that finger in half for pointing it at her. Or maybe poke out his eyeballs for the way they leer in her direction.
Her gaze drops to the floor. I angle her head to where she is looking back at me and see vulnerability trapped in her dark eyes. It’s an emotion I’m not used to seeing. “Yes,” I answer for her. “I’m hers.” Truer words have never left my mouth.
Her eyes flutter closed for a moment and she exhales a slow breath. “You both need to leave.” She fights my hold but it only makes me tighten my grip on her side.
The guy behind me chuckles. The noise is irritating and makes my jaw tick. Punching the grin off his face flashes through my mind but that would mean letting go of Sydney.
“Looks like you aren’t welcome here,pal.” He crosses his arms over his chest.
I don’t reward him with a response. Instead, I focus on my girl. “Do you want me to leave?” I ask, pulling her closer until there’s barely any space left between us. Her hands instinctively find my chest to push me away if I had to guess.Yet, those slender fingers of hers dig into my pecs welcoming my touch.
Running my nose up her cheek, I whisper once I get to her ear, “Please don’t hate me even more than you already do after this.”
I don’t give her the opportunity to ask the question that has her eyebrows squished together and her eyes narrowed. My mouth hovers for a moment before I lean forward and erase the last centimeter of space between us.
Pressing my lips against hers for a moment, I test the water. It’s been too long since I felt her mouth against mine and I hate that the asshole behind me is ruining the moment. I can feel his eyes on me, drilling screws into my skull. He isn’t happy I’m the one kissing her. If I had to bet, Sydney feels the same.
The guy snarls again. He can’t take a hint. He isn’t going to leave unless I make this believable. Tilting her head back, I apply more pressure to her pillowy lips before pulling gently on her bottom one. A quiet whimper escapes her and that fuels me further.
