Under His Protection

The room exploded in laughter. I curled up tighter behind Jason. The dark scent of his cologne filled my nose, and the room spun. A mixture of fear and lust burned deep inside of me. What the fuck was going on? Better yet, how the hell was I going to get out of there.

“Give me the money, and we’ll get out of your way. You’re not interested in seeing anything. I promise. She’s my little brother’s wife and it’s not happening.”

“That true?” The Don barked loudly.

Jason moved, and I pulled my shoulders back as I was left standing before the monster. Max turned the gun on me, and I froze.

“Hey. Answer him.” Jason glanced over at me. “Now.”

I nodded. “Yes. It’s not sex you smell. Lust maybe, but not sex.”

“She wants me, but it ain’t happening.” Jason shook his head, gave me a psuedo look of disgust and turned back to the Don. “My money. Now. Or find yourself someone else to do your dirty work next time.”

“You talk a big game.” The Don walked toward the door where another large goon of his was holding a dufflebag. “This time you get a pass, but bring a bitch to our meetings next time, and you’ll watch while I fuck her in the ass until she passes out. Got it?”

“Yep.” Jason reached for my hand, gripping it tightly and pulling me toward the door. “Call when you need me again.”

“I will. Soon.” The Don turned and handed the bag to Jason before glancing over at me and smiling. Only half of his face lifted. “You’re a pretty little thing. Better take heed of this one.”

I nodded. “Thank you. I will.”

We walked out, and Jason pulled me closer to his side as his breathing got off kilter. “Goddamnit. That was stupid of me to take you in there. That bastard has no sense of ownership. He thinks if he wants something or someone, they’re his for the taking.”

I jerked my hand from his as we stopped just outside the alley on the street. “Is that what he did to you? He took you? He owns you?”

Jason whipped around and moved to stand in front of me, toe to toe. The anger burning in his eyes almost stole my breath. If I didn’t know better, he was more dangerous than all of the men I’d come in contact with that night.

“You don’t know anything. Don’t act like you do.” His eyes moved down to my lips as anger burned into heat. “You’re coming home with me.”

“No. I’m not.” I pulled back though I wanted to press forward. The fresh air had my mind clearing. I wasn’t the kind of woman to fuck a stranger. I wished I were.

“Fine. Then stay the fuck here.” He reached out and slid his fingers into my hair, gripping it tightly and pulling me close. His lips were warm against mine, his tongue dominating my mouth as he slowly took control of our kiss. Everything melted and warmth engulfed me.

The desire to whisper ‘more’ was on the tip of my tongue.

He jerked back and growled. “Take care, and call someone. It’s dangerous on this side of town. Get your pretty ass out of here.”

“Wait.” I took a step in the street as he jogged away from me toward a motorcycle sitting lonely on the other side of the street. “My cell phone doesn’t work over here.”

He glanced over his shoulder and gave me a long glare. “You got three seconds to get on this bike and I’m out of here. I’m not asking twice.”

I bit my lip and ran through my options. The Don and his goons hadn’t come out of the building yet, and I knew for a fact that the assholes from the club were still laying down the street in the alley Jason had left them in.

Indecision ran through me.

Go with the evil I knew, or try to fend off the evil that I didn’t.

Had I not been running from love, the answer would be easy.

“One. Two. Three.” He got on the bike and started it as my heart almost stopped in my chest.

Owned. Did the man across the street want to own me.

Fuck. Did I want him to?

Yeah. I did. Badly.

6