His Paradise

“She’s mine.” Liam’s deep rumble catches me off-guard.

I’m surprised by such a caveman statement, but I’m more surprised by how much I like it. I had no idea he was going to be so possessive, but the warm slide between my legs tells me he should keep doing that. Yeah, this guy has heartbreak written all over him.

Derick chuckles. “You and Sammy. Y’all are always getting those tourists to chase after you,” he says, looking up at the ceiling. “You going to get a bra up there tonight?”

I make a face like I’m grossed out, but really I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be one of those couples who couldn’t control themselves. The type that had to have one another so badly that they couldn’t wait to get home. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to not care that you’re in some bar bathroom. But the part afterward is my favorite. Watching the guy come out like a warrior who just claimed a kingdom as he tosses her bra up on a nail is always fun. I’ve seen it happen a few times and everyone always cheers. It’s a little barbaric, but to me it’s like the men are claiming their women as their own and telling everyone else they’re taken. It might seem silly, but I love the tradition.

Though I know I’ve probably romanticized this all in my head. We all know they are mostly likely one-night stands with sloppy sex that leave the woman wanting more. But still, a small part of me hopes that it could be true. That it’s always a happily ever after.

Liam pulls me behind him, taking a step towards Derick. “Don’t disrespect her.”

I poke my head out from behind Liam’s giant body to see Derick smiling. I try and step around Liam, but he isn’t having it. His arm shoots out, blocking me from leaving his side.

“It’s all good, man,” Derick replies, before his eyes come to me. “Where’s your evil half?”

“Right here.” Sammy waves her hand in front of her face. “The testosterone in here is stinking up the bar.” She scrunches her face. “Can’t you boys go outside and beat on your chests? Come on, Nikki, I wanna dance.”

Her small hand goes to my hip. People make the mistake of letting her size fool them. She is the definition of though she be but little, she is fierce!

“I only came to make sure you weren’t driving my friend insane.” Derick levels Sammy with a stare and she rolls her eyes.

“The sheriff’s not here,” she fires back. I can’t tell from her tone if she’s happy about that or not.

“Yeah, right.” Derick looks around the bar. I follow his eyes when his gaze alights on someone. Yep, there he is in his uniform and everything. His eyes are on Sammy.

“Whatever,” Sammy huffs before tugging on me. “Come on. I just loaded up the jukebox.” She looks up at Liam. “You can enjoy the show.”

She winks at him then pulls me from him. Before I can stand straight, Liam tugs me back against him and his mouth comes crashing down on mine. The kiss is so passionate it knocks the air right out of me. I moan when I feel his tongue touch mine and his hand goes to the small of my back. But all too soon he’s breaking our connection and pressing his forehead to mine.

“It might not be your bra, but now everyone in here knows you’re with me,” he says against my lips.

Sammy laughs and tugs my hand as once again I’m being pulled in another direction.

“Damn. That man wants you,” she says.

My heart flutters as I glance back over my shoulder. Liam’s eyes are trained on me, and he’s following us. Not too close, but enough to stay in sight.

“You should have seen his face when Derick plucked you right out of his lap. I thought we were going to have a serious throwdown in here. It’s been a while. Might have been fun to watch,” Sammy jokes.

Bar brawls are not super common, but they do happen every now and then. Mainly when the tourists get too handsy with the local girls. The last one involved the sheriff and some guy who was laying it on extra thick with Sammy. I wasn’t sure if she was into him or not. Either way, Sheriff Cyrus wasn’t having it.

Sammy says the sheriff is worse than her brother when it comes to protective mode. Which is true. Derick is pretty laid-back about her dating and hooking up. Cyrus, not so much. He’s got that good old boy thing running through his blood. Southern charm and all. I think it’s kinda cute, but it pisses Sammy off.

She pulls me onto the dance floor and we weave through the crowd until we find a spot.