The fucker has the balls to stare at me for a few seconds longer before he turns around and starts to walk away. I’m disappointed that he doesn’t put up a fight.
“They’re not worth it,” he sneers as his friends join him.
“The party sucks anyway,” another fucker mumbles.
The one holding Willow tries to pull her along with him, but I reach out and grab hold of her arm, right under her elbow.
“She’s not part of the deal. You get to leave in one piece, but that’s where my generosity ends.” I take a threatening step forward which places me right behind Willow while staring the fucker down. “This is the part where you let go of her and fuck the hell off.”
I’m surprised as hell when Willow yanks herself free from his hold while he’s still trying to figure out whether she’s worth the fight.
She gives him a hard shove before she turns her back on him, which puts the front of her body flush with mine.
I keep looking at the fucker from over the top of her head until he finally grows a brain and runs to catch up with his friends.
We seriously need to do something about the trash that always comes to our parties.
“Thanks, Marcus,” Evie says as she lets out the breath of air she’s been holding. “Some assholes just don’t understand the word no.”
I glance down at Willow and the second our eyes meet, her lips part and her breath hitches.
We don’t even hear Evie leave.
A soft smile starts to warm her face and when the corner of my mouth twitches, she hits me with a full-blown smile.
Fuck. I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as Willow. It feels as if her smile is reaching into the coldest parts of me and warming me for the first time since Summer died.
“Willow,” I say. It comes out harsher than I meant it to be. Fuck, I don’t like the effect she’s having on me.
I’ve been lucky so far. I’ve never fallen for a girl before. I don’t even remember the faces of the ones I’ve fucked. Willow? She’s dangerous. She has a beauty you don’t forget.
I’ve never had a type before. If the girl were willing, it worked for me. But Willow… she’s the kind of girl men will go to war for. She’s the kind you fall in love with. She’s the kind who deserves the best this life has to offer.
“Marcus,” she whispers back, sounding like silky sheets and wild sex.
Yeah, she’s definitely the kind of woman I avoid.
888
WILLOW
Holy hell. I’m about to orgasm just from the way he’s looking at me.
I should thank him for stepping in and saving me from a very awkward night of fighting off the octopus who couldn’t take no for an answer. Then I should leave, but instead, I stand frozen while staring shamelessly at him.
I’ve seen some good-looking guys in my life, but Marcus is in a whole league of his own. His eyes are piercing dark blue. He’s taller than me by quite a few inches. Hell, I barely reach his shoulder. From the way his t-shirt clings to his frame, I’m pretty sure there’s a six pack hiding beneath the material.
When his mouth twitches at the side, as if he wants to smile, I can’t help but smile back at him. For some reason I want him to like me.
Usually, I’d be angry because a guy assumed I couldn’t fight my own battles, but there was no way in hell we could’ve taken on six guys by ourselves.
I should be worried that Marcus was able to scare them off with only a few words. Evie mentioned earlier that no one fucks with her group of friends. I’ve met Carter and Rhett already, and now that I’ve met Marcus, I’m starting to understand why.
They’re all intimidating, but weirdly I didn’t feel scared meeting them. I have no doubt that whoever goes up against any of the Screw Crew will wish they hadn’t. Yet, I get a feeling that once you’re included in their circle, you’re safe.
The moment between Marcus and me starts to fizzle away, and his expression becomes hard and guarded. He takes a step away from me, letting go of my arm at the same time, and I hate that I miss the feel of his strong fingers on my arm. I’ve
never reacted so strongly to a stranger before. Every ounce of me is curious about the man in front of me.