Page 24 of Cipher's Baby Girl
I push away from the wall with enough force to make the prospect behind the bar flinch. The alcohol in my system has dulled the usual filters that keep my more violent impulses in check. All I can see is another man's hands on what's mine.
Mine. The thought blazes through me with undeniable clarity. No more pretending. No more lying to myself. Mine.
I cross the room in long, purposeful strides, brothers instinctively moving out of my way. The music seems to fade, my focus narrowing to the scene before me. By the time I reach the pool table, Mayhem has Rose bent over it, his chest pressed against her back as he “tutors” her, showing her how to line up a shot. His eyes meet mine over her head, and I see the exact moment he realizes he's made a potentially fatal error.
"Hands. Off." Each word drops like a stone between us, the sound barely human.
Rose startles, looking up at me with those wide, innocent eyes that haunt my dreams. "Cipher?"
"Now," I direct at Razor, ignoring Rose.
The Renegade King steps back immediately, hands raised. "No disrespect, brother. Didn't realize she was yours.”
Rose's cheeks flush pink, confusion and something else—something heated—flashing in her eyes. "What’s going on?" she demands, straightening to her full height, which barely reaches my chest.
I step closer, invading her space until she's forced to tilt her head back to maintain eye contact. Her scent engulfs me, making my mouth water. The memory of her taste—sweet with a hint of salt—floods my senses.
"Making sure every fucking person in this room knows you're off limits."
Her eyes widen, lips parting in surprise. "Off limits? What's that supposed to mean?"
I lean down until my face is inches from hers, close enough to see the gold flecks in her hazel eyes, to smell the sweetness of her breath. "It means, Baby Girl, you're mine."
Before she can respond, I bend and hoist her over my shoulder in one fluid movement, then stride through the suddenly silent room toward the hallway that leads to my quarters. Every eye is on us—some amused, some shocked, all understanding exactly what's happening.
I'm claiming my woman.
Chapter 9
Rose
My heart pounds against Cipher's shoulder as he carries me through the suddenly silent common room. Blood rushes to my head, making me dizzy—or maybe that's the shock of his declaration.You're mine.The words echo in my brain, setting off explosions of confusion and desire.
Upside down, my pelvis against Cipher’s shoulder, I catch glimpses of shocked expressions, knowing grins, and raised eyebrows as we traverse the room. My face burns with mortification, but it’s overshadowed by something else—something that causes a huge grin to break out across my face.
We move through the dim hallways and down a short flight of stairs. My body jostles against his with each step, my breasts rubbing against his back in a way that makes my nipples tighten wantonly.
Finally, we reach the heavy metal door to Cipher’s cave. We enter the surveillance room filled with the blue glow of monitors and then approach another door. Cipher punches in a code on the keypad with his free hand, never loosening his hold on me.
The second door slides open with a pneumatic hiss. Only once we’re inside does he set me on my feet, steadying me withhis hands on my waist as I sway slightly from the blood-rush to my head.
His quarters are spacious but spartanly furnished, and I realize I’m standing in front of a king-sized bed.
Cipher's eyes are burning into mine, his massive frame blocking the exit. Something dark passes over his face. "I was wrong."
The simple admission steals my breath. "Wrong about what?"
"About thinking I could stay away from you." He takes a step toward me, and I instinctively back up until my legs hit the edge of his bed. "I've tried to keep my distance. To be good. I've failed."
His proximity is overwhelming, and the strong scent of whiskey on his breath is making my head spin.
His eyes search mine, looking for fear or revulsion. Finding neither, he lets out a shuddering breath. "You deserve better than me."
"I want you," I confess, the words spilling out before I can stop them.
The confession hangs in the air between us for one breathless moment. Then his mouth crashes down on mine, and the world dissolves around us.
This kiss is different from our first—hungrier, more desperate. His hands slide into my hair, tilting my head to deepen the contact. I respond instinctively, opening to him, my inexperienced lips moving against his with eager intensity.
