Page 5 of Combust
I knew that SOB was gonna try something!He honed in on the pair of figures standing a few yards away.
In the bright silver moonlight, Cade saw that Stuffed Shirt had hold of the brunette’s arm. She was trying and failing to twist out of his grip.
A cold gust of wind brought him their scents. With a pop of surprise, he realized that they were both bear shifters, like him.Well, I’ll be damned.
Shifters were rare. He’d met maybe a handful since he’d been thrust out into the world to survive on his own. Tonight, he’d sensed more shifters in the space of an hour than he’d met in the past twenty years.
“Andrew!” The woman’s tone held no trace of the fear that infused her sweet scent. “I’m not going to ask you again.”
Stuffed Shirt’s—no,Andrew’sgrin flashed, white and menacing. “Or what?” he asked mockingly.
That asshole is getting off on scaring her!
At that realization, Cade’s bear rose and took control.
Using his full speed, Cade sprinted across the distance separating him from the struggling couple.
“Or you’re gonna find yourself chewin’ on your own teeth,” he snarled. He grabbed Andrew’s wrist with both hands, and twisted. “When a lady tells you to let her go, you fuckinglet go!”
Andrew grunted. His grip on the woman loosened under the pressure of Cade’s fingers.
“Who the fuck are you?” he demanded, rounding on Cade, his arm cocked to land a punch.
Before the other shifter could land a swing, Cade stepped forward and brought his outside elbow over the top of his opponent’s arm, trapping it. He instantly dropped into a squat. The move raised Andrew’s arm, applying pressure to the elbow. It forced Andrew to bend his knees and sink to Cade’s level.
Andrew snarled. He tried to struggle, but Cade had the upper hand now.
Good ol’ Stuffed Shirt was probably used to throwing his weight around, but Cade was willing to bet that he hadn’t done much actual brawling.
Cade, on the other hand, had a fair amount of experience in that area. Though he was always careful to hold back when he was fighting Ordinaries.
No need to restrain himself now, though. “You owe the lady an apology,” he growled.
“What?” Andrew sounded incredulous. “What thefuck?”
“Stop it! Both of you!” said the woman. She glanced around nervously. “You’re making a scene.”
Cade wondered why the hell she cared aboutthat, when a moment ago, she’d been facing something much worse.
“You okay, miss?” he asked her.
His bear was absurdly satisfied to note that she didn’t smell like she was mated to anyone.
“I’m fine,” she snapped. “And I don’t need your help. Just let him go. Please,” she added.
“You sure about that?” Cade asked.
He tilted his head far enough to meet her eyes.
Hell, if she wasn’t twice as beautiful close up!
She was wearing a tight, long-sleeved top with a deep V-neck and wide lace trim framing her impressive cleavage. More lace insets gave a peek-a-boo effect on her sleeves and midriff.
And she smelled so damned good—sweet, healthy female bear shifter overlaid with the enticing fragrances of vanilla, yeast, cinnamon, and coffee.
She nodded. “Look, I’m sure he didn’t mean to—” she began.
“Asshole,” Andrew growled. Muscle and bone began to shift beneath Cade’s grip. “Messed with the wrong guy.”
