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Ryan pulls his phone from his pocket. Quickly dialing, he phones for a clean-up crew to take care of the bloody fucking mess I just made.

The initial guilt I had for placing a tracker on Sarah’s phone completely disintegrated the second I saw those motherfuckers attacking her.

It was pure luck that the terrified kid ran smack into my chest and took me to Sarah, or I would have walked into one of the stores on the street instead of checking the alley.

“On their way,” Ryan says with a nod.

“Great.” I pat him on the back. “Make sure the kid has a safe place to stay.”

“You got it, boss.”

My eyes move to the SUV where I can only just see Sarah’s silhouette through the black-tinted window.

My jaw ticks, hands fisting so tight, the skin of my knuckles threatens to crack.

I should have kept all four of them alive, but the frenzied violence that raved within me demanded I immediately watch the life drain from their eyes.

I’m appeased enough to take Sarah home, but I kept one alive because I know I’ll feel another wave of anger from this.

When I’m through with him, he’ll be nothing more than tenderized meat hanging from the ceiling.

I quickly text a contact at the NYPD letting them know what happened so they can come up with a cover story to feed the public about the gunshots. Our team will erase any security cameras in the area for evidence.

I round the SUV and slide into the driver’s seat.

Wordlessly, I turn the ignition, shift into the drive, and pull away from the curb. Sarah is silent the entire drive.

I’m vibrating with anger, but also fear.

This woman is untamed, and she doesn’t give a fuck about her safety. I could have lost her today.

* * *

Once I’m parked in the underground parking lot of my building, I shut off the SUV but make no move to exit.

“Rhys –”

“Are you fucking crazy?” I roar, cutting off Sarah’s voice.

“Excuse me?!” She shifts to face me, her blue eyes blazing.

“I said, are you fucking crazy?!”

“I fucking heard you. I was giving you the chance to backtrack.”

“What you did was reckless.”

Sarah scoffs. “Save the scolding, Rhys. I’m not going to apologize for helping an innocent child from being attacked by 4 grown men.”

“What would you have done if I didn’t show up?” I arch my brow.

My mind is in overdrive about the possibility of not making it in time. Of witnessing them forcing themselves on her.

“I would have figured it the fuck out, just like I have with everything else since I was 18.” She pushes the door open and exits the SUV before I can ask what she means.

“Fuck,” I mutter, hurrying to chase after her.

She’s stepping into the elevator by the time I reach her.

“Why were you there in the first place?” I ask when I hold the door open to step inside.

Sarah leans against the back wall with her arms crossed and her lips pursed. I scowl at the cut on her bottom lip that’s scabbing over. Her cheek is still red and showing signs of bruising.

“I was on my way to a dog agility thing.” She waves her hand in dismissal. annoyance still laced in her voice.

“You do that sort of thing?” I step into the elevator. The door closes and begins rising to the penthouse after I swipe my keycard.

“Absolutely not,” she snorts. “I was looking for something to do, and it looked like fun.”

“That doesn’t explain how you ended up in a brawl with some scumbags in an alley.” I settle against the wall, crossing my arms and ankles.

Anger still vibrates every fiber of my being.

“The park by the alley was where they were supposed to be holding the event.” She glances up at me. “But when I got there, it was empty. I saw the guys and moved closer, then got involved when I saw the kid.”

The heat boiling my blood lessens, reducing to an almost nonexistent simmer. The fact she went head-to-head with not one but four grown ass men to protect a child sends a tidal wave of pride through me.

This woman is a natural born protector and I fucking love it.

With a ding the elevator doors slide open, and we step into the penthouse.

I gently cup her elbow and pull her into my arms. She immediately relaxes and rests her head against my chest.

Doesn’t she see how perfect we fit together?

Doesn’t she feel what I do?

Her tropical citrus scent envelops me. I breathe her in deeply. My chest warms, and a small smile tugs at my lip.

“I’m still mad at you,” she mumbles, and I snort.

“That’s okay, I’m still mad at you too. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way, Sarah.”

She tips her head, meeting my eyes. The icy-blue swirls of her irises pull me in, and I struggle to remain angry at her.

Am I truly angry at her? Or just unable to show my fear of possibly losing her without being angry? I press a kiss to the top of her head, pulling away. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.” I slide my fingers in between hers and guide her to the ensuite.

She’s silent when I lift her onto the vanity countertop. I can feel her eyes on me as I undress and reach into the shower to turn on the water.

The bathroom fills with steam as I remove Sarah’s clothes.

“You look tired,” she whispers, bringing her hand to gently caress my face. My eyes close, and I lean into her touch.

“I am. Especially after the fucking heart attack I had when I saw what you got yourself into.”

Her narrowed eyes lack any of the previous heat. Instead, I see the playful Sarah coming out to play.

This woman gives me all sorts of whiplash.

“You can’t handle me if that gave you a heart attack.”

Chuckling, I scoop her up and she instinctively wraps her arms and legs around me. Once inside the shower, she unwraps herself from my body and slides down to her feet.

Her face sobers and her eyes flick between mine. “I don’t want Paige to know any of this.”

We haven’t spoken much about her relationship with Paige. In fact, Sarah hardly shares anything about her life.

But I know Declan is protective as fuck over Paige and if Sarah thinks this is something she shouldn’t know about, then Declan would agree.

“Okay.” I nod. She regards me for a moment before spinning around and tipping her head back under the water’s spray. My eyes leisurely travel down her curves.

“I can feel you staring,” she sings, peaking over her shoulder with a seductive smile.

“Keep looking at me like that, and my stare won’t be the only thing you feel.” I grip my hardening length, giving it two slow strokes.

She turns to face me fully. Her delicious teardrop breasts cause my mouth to water. “You get me for one more night, better take advantage while you can.” Her hands slide up her hips, over her toned stomach, and finally cup her breasts.

She moans when she takes her nipples between her forefingers and thumbs, tugging and twisting.

I’m so hard, I feel my pulse beating in my cock.

“You’re in for a surprise if you think I’ll only take one more night with you.”

She pauses for less than half a second before she continues her erotic display.

Unable to restrain myself a moment longer, I wrap my hands around her hips and tug her toward me. My mouth captures hers in a frenzied kiss as soon as her slick body meets mine.

I swallow the whimper that falls from her lips, pressing my aching erection into her. She raises her hands up to my chest and drags her nails down my skin. I hiss, quickly gripping her wet strands in my fist.

She gasps when I tug her head back. “Make me bleed, Sarah. Mark me as yours”

I watch in awe as her pupils blow wide.

Oh, she likes that.

A feral growl escapes my mouth as she scrapes her nails down my skin. Her chest rapidly rises and falls, her stare never wavering from mine. Lust mars her face as she watches my reaction to her marking me.

I hope I fucking scar.

When I feel her nails lift, I scoop her up. I’m balls deep in her slick pussy as soon as her back presses against the cold shower tiles.

“Oh fuck!” her moan echoes against the walls.

Without giving her a chance to adjust to my size, I slide my cock back to the tip before slamming back into her.

“Yes!”

“Your pussy takes my cock so fucking well, mo réalta .”

I bite down on her neck, making sure to mark her skin as she has done to mine. My balls slap against her ass with each fierce thrust of my hips.

“Is liomsa do chorp. Amháin mianach.” Your body is mine. Only mine. I pant.

Despite not knowing what I’m saying, her cunt clenches my cock like a vise and her moans become high-pitched screams.

“Let go, Sarah,” I groan into her ear. “Be a good girl and come on my fucking cock.”

I watch as her mouth falls open in a silent scream. I grit my teeth at how tight she squeezes my cock before detonating.

“Rhys! Oh, my fuck!”

Hearing the unadulterated ecstasy falling from her lips sends a charge of electricity down my spine. I bury myself deep in her pussy, then still, filling her with my cum.

Once we’ve caught our breaths, I slowly slide out of her with a groan. I watch in satisfaction as my cum drips from her cunt.

“I can’t feel my legs,” Sarah mutters, leaning limply between my body and the shower wall.

“Good.” I give her a quick kiss before turning and setting her down on the bench just off to the side.

Her tired, sated eyes watch me. I reach for the shampoo and begin lathering her hair.

She moans softly as my fingers massage her scalp in a circular motion.

“That feels so good.”

The intimacy of this makes my chest tight. I can see Sarah in my future, and I want to make sure that future happens.

After ensuring Sarah is taken care of, I quickly shower myself and shut off the water.

“I can do that,” Sarah protests when I wrap a towel around her body.

Peering down, I drown in the pools of her blue eyes. “I know,” I respond, resuming my work of drying her body.

Wrapping a towel around my waist, I lift her into my arms. I carry her bridal-style as I walk to my room.