Page 31 of Savage Stalkers
“Preston, I think we should go back?—”
“Relax,” he cuts in as his hands settle on my waist, pulling me closer. “I know we just met, but I can tell there’s something special between us. Your mother will agree.”
“What?” The word comes out louder than I intended. “You discussed me with my mother?”
“She’s very eager to see you settle down with the right man. Someone who can take care of you properly.” His hands slide to my hips, holding me in place when I try to step back. “I think I’m exactly what you need.”
“You don’t know anything about me or my needs,” I snap.
Preston’s smile falters. “Don’t be difficult, Skye. I’m offering you what most women dream of—security, status, a good life.”
“Let go of me.”
“Come on.” Instead of releasing me, his grip tightens. One of his hands moves to cup my face, his thumb brushing across my cheek. “You’re just playing hard to get, and I like that about you.”
“I’m not playing. Stop touching me.”
“You don’t mean that. Your mother warned me you might be stubborn at first. She said you’ve been going through a rebellious phase.” His hand slides from my face to the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my carefully styled hair.
“Preston, stop. You’re hurting me.”
“I’m not hurting you. I’m showing you what you could have with a real man instead of the men you’ve been ogling all night.”
“Take your hands off what’s mine.”
I turn at the voice, and my mouth falls open in a gasp. Silas stands there, glaring at Preston’s hand, murderous possession in his eyes.
“Who the hell are you?!” Preston snaps.
“I’m the man who is going to break your fucking hand if you do not remove it.”
Preston scoffs. “You are the help. One scream from me and you will be arrested.”
Still stunned by Silas’s words, I gape as he moves forward and grabs Preston by his throat. “Remove your fucking hand.” He squeezes tighter until Preston releases me, and I back away from them until I bump into a hard body.
“Hey, cashmere.”
Kain.
Zay appears beside me with a smile. “Hey, pumpkin.”
Silas lets go of Preston’s throat, and before he even sees it coming, he rams his fist into the handsy dick’s face. “Touch her again, even with her consent, and I will bury you. First financially, then with the law, and I will keep it going until you have nothing left to live for.”
“Shit,” Zay says. “People are coming—we need to leave.” But before anyone can move, a voice cuts through the garden.
“What exactly is going on here?” My blood turns to ice. Alexander, my stepfather. Mom appears behind him.
“Mr. Hawthorne,” Preston stammers, his hand still pressed to his bleeding nose. “This man attacked me for no reason.”
Alexander’s gaze slides from Preston to Silas, then to Kain and Zay beside me, before finally landing on me. “Skye. Inside. Now.”
“I don’t think so,” Kain says. Alexander’s eyebrow raises. No one normally dares to question him.
“You have three seconds to remove yourself from my property before I have you removed.”
“You can try,” Zay says calmly.
“Alexander, please,” I say, hating how small I feel when he is around.
