Page 12

CHAPTER 12

L aw pictured the most boring things he could the rest of the way to Sabre in hopes the images would calm his cock down. If he walked into Sabre with his dick leading the way, his brothers would ask too many questions he couldn’t have answered. Not and keep his job.

He should never have touched her again. But when she’d called the girl’s club the wrong name, she looked embarrassed and defeated. Those eyes were begging him to comfort her. And her hair, spilling down over her shoulders like thick waves of deep, molten amber.

Fuck. He’d had to touch it. To see for himself if it was still as luscious and soft as it had been before. But it wasn’t. It was so much better. The scent of her shampoo filled the cab, making him want to pull over again and bury his face in her hair.

Then she’d closed her eyes and rubbed her face against his hand and holy shit. He almost came in his jeans at the look of ecstasy on her face. Like she’d be happy to cuddle against him all day. Like it took all she could do not to lick his palm.

It’s a good thing she didn’t, because if she had, they wouldn’t have made it to Sabre. Hell, just her nuzzling his palm had sparked desires inside him that hadn’t been roused in years.

The things he wanted to do to her would terrify her. He’d had to force himself not to pounce on her and take what was his. And therein lay the problem. Because she wasn’t his.

Not even close.

When they pulled into the parking lot at Deep Dive, Lovie leaned forward to take in the building. Since it was the only local adult arcade and bar, housed in a large warehouse, it was a notable establishment.

“Deep Dive?” She turned back to him, looking like a grumpy kitten. It was adorable. Which sucked because it made him want to cuddle her. “What’s Deep Dive? I thought we were going to Sabre to meet with your team so we could finally go get Zane.”

“We are, fairy cat. I promise you’ll see Zane soon. Deep Dive and Sabre Security are both owned by Reid Nolan. The ground floor is Deep Dive. It’s mainly a bar, but there’s a dance floor that doubles as a skating rink when the Musketiaras are around. There are also arcade games, darts, and pool tables. The Sabre Security offices are located on the second floor. Wait here, and I’ll come get the door.”

He made it five steps around the truck before she tried to open the door. It took her longer than he’d thought it would. The child safety locks remained engaged at all times, whether the truck was on or off. She wasn’t going anywhere. He stood still, waiting for her to reach the same conclusion.

She glared at him, yelled at him, and then threw a hissy fit. If she wasn’t about to get the surprise of her life, she’d be walking into Sabre with a red hot ass.

After she had leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest, he opened the door. “You should have figured out by now that tantrums don’t work with me. Not unless you’re aiming to get your ass blistered. I don’t bluff, and I always meet a challenge. I don’t care if you are my Little or someone else’s Little. If you knowingly break a safety rule, I will blister your ass. I thought you’d learned that lesson, but we can go over it again if you need to.”

Her eyes were wide, but there wasn’t any fear in them. Caution, yes. Curiosity, yes. But no fear. Another good sign. As he lifted her out of the truck, she grabbed his shoulders. As if he’d drop her. It was insulting.

When he lifted her from the seat, she cried out, “Don’t hurt yourself.”

He froze, still holding her aloft. “Tell me, Lovelyn. Are you suggesting I’m too weak or that you are too heavy?”

Her eyes darted every way except at him. He held her, dangling in the air, interested in what she would say next. “N-neither. I… I don’t know why I said that. I mean, you are obviously the strongest man I’ve ever known. And you already carried me over a sixteen-foot fence and over your shoulder more times than I can count. It was just an automatic response. I couldn’t help it!”

He gave her his sternest Daddy look. “I’m not going to hear you say anything negative about either one of us again, am I?”

She shook her head so hard her entire body shook. “Nope. Never again. I’m deleting that phrase from my vocabulary.” She mimed taking something from her mouth and tossing it over her shoulder.

It was a good thing his little fairy cat had found the right Daddy. She would run rings around anyone else. She needed someone to keep her safe, loved, and to challenge her. Something that recognized a bored Lovelyn was a dangerous Lovelyn. He lowered her to the ground, ensuring she had her balance before letting her go.

Stepping to the side, she put a hand on his bicep. She grinned. “What did I tell you? That muscle isn’t shaking or anything. If I didn’t know you were a Viking, I’d swear you were Hercules. You’re amazing.”

She winked at him and walked past him toward Deep Dive. Little minx. She loved to toss out a challenge when she thought she was safe from the consequences, now didn’t she? She might be too much for most men, but she was perfect for him.

You can’t have her. She wouldn’t be safe.

He knew that even if she didn’t. He’d tried to warn her, but she didn’t understand. Even after playing hide and seek, and that scene earlier in his truck. None of that made the desire to have her that was growing inside him slow down at all.

He caught up with her in two long strides and took her hand in his. “Little girls don’t walk through parking lots alone. It isn’t safe.”

She didn’t fight his hold. She actually swung their arms as they walked as if they were still in grade school. She squeezed his hand, and visions of that hand wrapped around his cock flooded his mind.

And it didn’t stop there. He pictured her lips around his cock as he gripped the sides of her head and fucked her mouth. What would that feel like? Fucking incredible.

When they reached the door, she rose on her toes and pursed her lips. Frowning, she demanded, “Bend down.”

That should be him, commanding her to bend over while he drove his cock into her from behind.

Never going to happen.

Damn right it wasn’t. He bent down, and she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “In case I haven’t told you today, thank you for rescuing me and keeping my brother safe.”

He had one of those stupid, girly moments of “I’ll never wash this cheek again” before clearing his throat and nodding his head.

“My pleasure, Lovelyn.”

He pulled open the door for her, but as she walked by him, he grabbed her hand again. He needed to touch her. To stay connected for a little longer.

Hutch stood behind the bar restacking glasses when they stepped inside. With a nod to Law as greeting, his gaze shifted to Lovelyn, and he smiled. Stepping out from the bar, he extended his hand.

Um, hell no. Even a brother wasn’t getting that close to his Lovelyn. She was his… well, not yet, but she might be one day soon. And no one touched what was his. It was all he could do not to shove Hutch backward.

Instead, Law shifted Lovelyn behind him. Letting go of her hand was harder than it should have been. He needed to stay in physical contact with her. Not that he was possessive or anything. Her safety was his top priority, and when she was touching him, he knew he was safe.

She probably thought he was a lunatic, but she’d better get used to it. It wasn’t something he could control. He was being a fucking gentleman compared to what he would do if Hutch wasn’t a brother he trusted.

Hutch backed up a step. Smart play. With a smile that was still too friendly for Law’s peace of mind, Hutch extended his hand, “Hi, Lovelyn?—”

Law snarled.

Hutch glared back at him. “Holy shit, Law. Now what?”

“Everyone except me calls her Lovie.” He also threw a pointed look at Hutch’s hand. If his brother touched Lovelyn, Law would rip off his fucking arm.

Hutch stared at him, then at Lovelyn, then back to him. A shit eating grin broke out on his brother’s face. Raising his hands in surrender, Hutch took a step backward.

As ridiculous as it might be, the extra step settled Law. Hutch barely kept from laughing. Fucker.

Lovelyn peeked around him to see what was going on. They’d be talking about that. When he put her behind him to keep her safe, she better damn well stay behind him.

She looked back and forth between them a few times. Her eyes warmed, and she put both hands in his. “I didn’t know the Sabre men spoke in sign language. You’ll have to teach me. That little exchange didn’t involve a single word.”

She’d spent enough time looking at Hutch. He pushed Lovelyn behind him again. When he had her in place, he made his expectations clear. “Stay.” When her brows shot up, he added, “Behind me. Stay behind me.”

She studied him. Her face took on a tender look, one he was beginning to crave. When she smiled and nodded, the tightness in Law’s chest relaxed. As if she understood what he couldn’t say, she put her hand on his waist. How did she know to do that?

Hutch quirked a brow at him. Sure, he was acting crazy. Just because he recognized it didn’t mean he could hold back. The thought of Hutch touching Lovelyn made him want to punch something. Or someone.

And when his brother had called her Lovie, Law decided that was a name was for Zane and everyone else. But for him, she would be Lovelyn.

“You really are a Viking, aren’t you?” Lovie asked from behind him. “The least you could do is squat or something so I can see. Your back is ridiculously wide.”

Hutch barked out a laugh. “I like her. The guys are upstairs waiting. I’ll be up in a sec.” Still laughing, he walked back to the bar.

Law took Lovelyn’s hand again and led her toward the stairs. “Are you all right?”

Concern prompted her question. And why not? He was acting like an idiot. He’d always been protective. Even possessive when he had a Little. But nothing had ever gripped him like this. At the thought of Hutch touching her, he’d lost his mind .

He didn’t want anyone else to come near her. She was his.

No, she’s not. And she’s never going to be.

He needed to calm the fuck down and get her upstairs. He could brief Reid and the others on what had happened and then leave. He needed to spend some time at The PlayPen with some nameless, faceless woman who knew what she was getting if she played with him.

It had been too long. That was all that was wrong. Once he relieved a bit of tension, he’d see that Lovelyn wasn’t so different than anyone else. The thought of spending time with some other woman, however, didn’t really appeal to him.

He heard the Musketiaras laughing as they walked up the stairs. Lovelyn must have heard them, too. Her grip on his hand tightened more with each step. Once they’d stepped into the main room, she tucked herself under his arm. Without thinking, he put his arm around her.

Satisfaction washed over him. When she’d needed to feel safe, she’d turned to him. She trusted him. And damn if that didn’t make him feel like that Viking she kept calling him.

The room went quiet as he bent down to whisper in her ear. “No one here will hurt you, fairy cat. They’re good people. You share many similarities with them. But if you start feeling threatened or upset, you come to me. I’ll take care of you.”

She stared up at him in wonder. It thrilled him, but it also pissed him off. Had no one ever taken care of her before? The look in her eyes said no.