Page 69

“Yeah, right, we can totally share.” Carmine nudged his buddy with his elbow.

“No. I’m taking her.” I would have given anything to see the look on Lachlan’s face. No one has ever stood up for me before, not like this, ready to claim me, fight for me.

Blond and Blue shifted and traded glances.

“I’m taking her simply because I can.” Lachlan’s accent was a little thicker now, more Brit than New York. “I’m taking her because you want her.”

“Look, Legate…”

“As a matter of fact, give me your watch.”

“My watch?”

Lachlan extended and expectant hand. Carmine looked to Blue for back up and support that would never come.

“Wha… What do you want with my watch?” Carmine fumbled his words as Blue took a step back.

“I can take anything I want. Anything of yours is mine if I want it.” Lachlan voice was soft, almost seductive.

Carmine’s fingers were jittery as he fumbled with the clasp that made soft metal clicking sounds. He stretched all the way forward to deposit the watch in Lachlan’s waiting hand and scurried back an extra step. I half expected him to bow.

“Your shoes.” Lachlan jutted his chin at Mr. Blue

“My… fuck.” There was no hesitation this time, Blue went to one knee to untie sneakers that were probably cost more than my last paycheck. He stood awkward in white tube socks holding his kicks out to Lachlan who made no move to take them. He finally placed them before Lachlan like an offering.

Lachlan held them there, squirming, with the force of his presence alone.Stay on target, Tiffany, this was no time for Daddy Dom fantasies.After the longest minute of their lives, he jerked his head, dismissing the dynamic duo, and they hot-footed it out of there.

“Carmine,” Lachlan said in that soft tone, stopping him in his tracks, “stay out of Brooklyn.”

Carmine nodded and pulled his own walk of shame, his buddy’s white socks getting filthy on the deserted street.

FORTY-TWO

LACHLAN

I watched them make their sad way down the street, satisfaction rubbing off the sharp edges of the fear I had seeing Tiffany on the ground and injured. I had to watch them leave until they were no longer a threat. I couldn’t see them anymore, but I waited until I could no longer hear the sound of sneakers and damp socks squish with each step.

A gasp of pain pulled me back to Tiffany. She was trying to get into a more comfortable position. I sat and curled around her, with a knee propped up behind her back so she could rest against me, can catch her breath. She sighed and pushed hair out of her face. Then she met my eyes, they sparkled like galaxies, stars in a forever sky.

“Fuckboy gotta fuck?” She asked, a smirk blooming across her face.

“It was too much?” I asked, matching her smile.

“Well, it was one of the more surprising things that has come out of your mouth.”

“I don’t even know what afuckboyis, to be honest.”

“No one knows what it is, but everyone knows when they see one.”

“Am I a fuckboy?”

She thought about it. “Maybe a little.” She squinted one eye closed and showed me a little pinch with her fingers. I was nervous that she might think it was a bad thing.

“And his shoes?”

“I, uh, I got a little carried away, didn’t I?” I rubbed a thumb across my eyebrow, embarrassed.

I took the watch in my hand and slid it over her wrist, the clasp made a sharp click. She shook her wrist, and it rattled down her arm, the size would have to be adjusted for her.