Page 14 of Possessive Trucker

But Thorn’s got his priorities straight.

“You can use the ladies now, if you need to,” he growls at the guy, drawing a roar of laughter from the crowd gathered in a semi-circle, waiting for some action that I just know Thorn isn’t about to lower himself to but will if he has to.

For my sake.

I open my eyes again. Thorn’s eyes are fixed on the other guy, who’s tense and made a couple of fists but Thorn isn’t flinching. He’s like a rock.

His sheer size, and now the backing of the small but growing crowd, diffuse the situation pretty much before it’s even started.

“You can guard the bathroom for me anytime,” the man’s girlfriend coos, reaching a hand up for him but Thorn only shifts his eyes to mine, ignoring her completely as he turns to me.

She’s everything I thought men wanted. Taller than me, and chesty still. But thin. A waist like a doll and a painted face that I’m not sure how anyone could like looking at.

To me she looks fake, and even though she has good taste when it comes to Thorn, I don’t want her anywhere near him.

Fortunately, he doesn’t have any interest in her either, nor anyone else in the whole building.

When I’m with Thorn I know his attention is a hundred percent on me.

I feel like he really is a king and I could be, if I let myself believe it… his queen.

“I was just watching the door for you, making sure you weren’t disturbed,” he whispers hoarsely into my ear, and I feel myself melt again.

He sure has a strange way of showing it, but when I think about it, I wouldn’t want Thorn to be looking out for me in any other way.

He’s big, brash and bold, and so is his…

Love?

Is it that?

It’s too early to even think that, let alone say it…?

But not to myself.

I know I love Thorn. It’s been less than a day but would love really keep a longer schedule for anything so intense and worthwhile? Don’t think so.

And one steely look from him tells me his protection isn’t just for show. He couldn’t care less what any of these people think of him, he’s just looking out for his girl while she uses the bathroom.

End of story.

“Shall we go, or did you want something to eat?” He asks me, leading me away from the crowd, who’ve lost interest because there’s no fight, but have found their target in the guy who wanted to challenge Thorn, who only directed him to use the ladies room.

“We’re almost home,” he adds. “But…” he trails off.

I’m at his arm in a second, looking up at him. “But what?” I ask earnestly.

I’m tugging him towards the exit. There’s nothing in this place I want except him, and the thought of the words Thorn and Home in the same sentence in my mind is almost too much.

“I’m just still not sure if I’m taking you someplace else… where you should be… or taking you home with me, where I want you,” he finally says.

“Wherever I am with you, Thorn,” I tell him. “I am home, so take me home.”

He stops us both only long enough to kiss me in the doorway of the roadhouse, rousing a few cheers from the company inside I’m actually glad we don’t have to keep.

I don’t feel like being near anyone right now.

I really do just want Thorn and me.

My dad pops up in my mind on the way back to the truck, but I figure at same point in my life I’m gonna have to make a stand.

I’m gonna have to make it on my own somehow, my own life and I just know that no matter what, only Thorn can help me do that. All I have to do is just tell him so.

Chapter Twelve

Thorn

I’ve never fought so hard on two fronts.

To not knock somebody’s teeth out, but also not to claim Sophie there and then.

When she slipped out of the truck before I’d even finished parking, I got concerned but figured she really had to go, so I set to work doing what any man would do, making sure his girl has some privacy.

What I didn’t count on was every female and their man in the place wanting to ruin that privacy, so I held my ground.

I can’t really blame them. It’s a little hypocritical but if Sophie was outside, wanting in? I’d be the first to demand anyone else let her through to use the restrooms as well.

But she wasn’t on the other side. She was in there and I had to stand guard, giving her the privacy she needed until she was done.

Mr. Know it all and his Malibu Barbie girlfriend had to get all up in my shit about it, but I wasn’t budging.