In his hand was money, far more than what he needed for his drinks for his buddies.
Fay shook her head, but the man grabbed her wrist, pulling her across the bar so he could whisper in her ear.
Blaze had seen enough.
No man put his hands on her.
He grabbed the man’s thumb and pulled it, which caused him to cry out but also let her go. Then he had the man pressed up against the bar, and Blaze so wanted to snap the man’s arm.
“Blaze!”
“Ouch, shit, man. What is your problem?”
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Blaze asked.
“Let him go,” Fay said.
“I was just asking her for a little something extra. All the guys do it.”
He pushed a little harder, already hearing enough. Fay didn’t give anyone a little extra, and tonight, he had seen enough.
Her boss came out, and the moment he saw him, he paled. “Fay, you’re fired. Take your boyfriend and get the hell out. Now!”
Blaze smiled at the boss.
“Please,” he said.
“You heard the man, Fay.” He let go of the bastard and then held his hand out to Fay.
“Sir—”
“Fay!” He was done with her working here. She didn’t need to, and he was glad the bastard finally fired her. It would save him from having to remove her himself.
She left the safety of the bar, rushing toward the back, where she kept her coat and jacket, and she returned to him within minutes. Fay tried to get away from him, but Blaze caught her hand and led her out of the bar, aware of all the curious gazes.
The moment they were outside and several feet away, heading toward his car, she pulled out of his hold. “What the fucking hell, Blaze?” she asked.
He’d never heard her swear before. He rather liked it. “What did he say to you?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Blaze took a step toward her, and she moved back. They continued this dance until she was pressed up against his car.
He pressed his hands on either side of her, keeping his gaze fixed on hers. “What did he say to you?”
“What does it matter? It’s over now. I’ve lost my last freaking job. I’ve got rent due soon. You know it’s not as easy to find work!” She slammed her palms against his chest. “Damn it, leave me alone.”
He sank his fingers into her hair and tugged her close. “What did he say?”
“Why?”
“Because I need to know if I have to go in and break his fucking face.”
“Blaze, stop.”
“No. When it comes to you, I’m not stopping anymore. I let you work in that shithole, not anymore.”
“I need to find another job.”
“I’ll take care of you.”
“It doesn’t work like that.”
“It works however I damn well see it.”
She glared at him, and he was fine with that. “I’m not going to tell you.”
He liked that she wasn’t afraid of him. It turned him on, and as he stared at her lips, he couldn’t resist touching hers with his.
It was gentle. Sweet.
He slid his tongue across her bottom lip, and he must have taken her by surprise as she slowly opened her mouth, and he plunged inside.
Fay made him crazy. She made him ache in ways he didn’t think were possible.
Running his hands down her body, all he wanted to do was take, but he wasn’t going to do that outside of a seedy bar. He stepped away from the car and opened the door. “Get in.”
She opened her mouth to argue.
“Do not test me right now, Fay. You won’t like the consequences.”
She continued to glare at him, but she gave in, sliding into the car and folding her arms across her chest.
Blaze made sure to flick the child lock on. The last thing he wanted was for her to attempt to make an escape when all he wanted to do was protect her. He slid behind the wheel, turned over the ignition, and left the seedy bar and the last of her jobs behind.
She didn’t speak.
He allowed her to stew in silence. That guy had upset her. He’d seen it in the slight tensing of her body, the sadness in her gaze. No one was allowed to make her feel that way on his watch. It pissed him off that anyone even got close.
“Men like him are fucking scum. They think women are there to be used. I saw the money in his hand. Did he ask to see your tits? A round in your pussy? Maybe he even asked to use your ass?”
“Blaze, stop.”
“You think I haven’t heard it all before? Do you think women haven’t been put in a position like that, and had to take it?” he asked.
He wasn’t a rich man. He earned enough to have a comfortable lifestyle, but that was all. The money he earned from the fights was to help his sister through college and to take care of Fay.