Page 25 of A Shot in the Dark
“Yourdestination.”
“Right, that.”
“With a little sleep?” He grows quiet and I know he’s mathing and mapping it out in his head. “Just under a day.”
“Are you sure?”
He tilts his head and peers down at me. “Are youquestioningme?” he asks coolly.
A shiver tracks through me. “No,” I counter. “Two nights,” I suggest. “We’ll take it for two nights.”
“Fuck,” Boots groans. “You’re going to grind me to a fucking nub… And the sad thing is I want you to do just that.”
I press tight to him, nuzzling along his jaw and imploring, “Give me two nights,” until that muscle in his jaw jumps, hisnostrils flare, and he relents, saying, “Two nights. The lady needs two nights…”
We’re nearly to the room, Boots walking me determinedly backwards while I’m chewing on my lip with one hand down his pants and the other at the back of his neck, teasing through the short hair at his nape. He’s mumbling about deadlines and workload and payments on his place not far outside the city.
And I don’t care about any of it.
The punch Boots takes nearly knocks his glasses off and it blindsides us both.
“The fuuuck,” he snarls as he throws me behind him and faces our attacker.
From around Boots’ shoulder I see a man built like a fireplug. He’s shorter than Boots, but at least as broad, and that width? Looks to be all muscle. A shadow shifts nearby.
“There’s another one,” I warn, fear spiking my interest.
“Jesus fucking Christ…” Boots draws himself up to his full height and inhales deeply, showcasing his broad shoulders and chest. It’s easy to forget what a beast he is when he’s driving. “Back off,” he warns. “The lady ismine.”
The way he says it sends a thrill of sensation washing through me and I draw my nails down his back in response.
“Goddamn this heat!” he snaps, pressing me back closer to the wall. He addresses both men, threat lacing through his voice, “She is mine. She’s my fuck,mychew toy.”
“Chew toy? That sounds mildly offensive,” I comment at his back, but it doesn’t keep me from digging my fingers into his delightfully powerful ass.
Boots straightens even more and I get the sense he straightenseverywhere.
“Fuck her all you want,” the fireplug sneers. “Unless she’s marked or bonded, she’s available for anyone else toalsofuck when she’s like this. And I can smell her perfectly,” he says,sucking in a deep breath, “and I don’t smell a bond.” The sneer becomes a grin. “You’vegottaknow the rules….”
The man in the shadows steps into the light puddling on the lumpy parking lot. “Just give her to us,” he demands, his eyes so wild they almost glow. “You’ll have her back in no time. All nice and loosened up.”
My nails sink into Boots’ back and I feel heat pouring off of him. It’s a different heat that unwinds within me at the idea of more men, of more fucking—of the delicious danger of being splayed out for any and all to have a turn with. My toes are already curling in my shoes as I rub my breasts against Boots’ back and whimper.
“Don’t you dare,” he snaps over his shoulder at me. “You’re mine. You’ll be a good grrrl and do as I say.”
My thighs press together at his words, wanting to obey, andnotwanting to obey…
What occurs next happens so fast it’s a blur of motion that knocks me backwards, and leaves me teetering on my heels. Boots surges forward, fists flying as the fireplug goes straight for him and the other man tries to get around him to come for me. Boots throws a fierce punch to Fireplug’s face and Fireplug’s head snaps back, sending him careening in a half circle a moment before he collapses to the ground in a crumpled heap.
Boots’ left hand snaps out, gloved fingers closing tight on the man’s neck and my flesh catches fire remembering the feel of those fingers on my throat. With one hand Boots lifts him so the man’s feet no longer touch the ground. For a moment the man dangles there, strangling.
Boots is a fuckingbeast.
With a snarl Boots hurls him backwards, sending him crashing against a dumpster. The man’s body impactshardand then slides down to the grimy asphalt, limp.
Boots swings back around to face me and I glimpse a strange red glow emanating from behind those sunglasses of his. Then he’s on me—sweeping me backwards and into our room so fast I can’t be sure what I’m seeing, only what I’m feeling.
And what I’m feeling is a fear that ratchets up my burning desire even as Boots sets me down, and secures the door, chain, lock, bolt—he even wedges a chair under the knob.
