Page 14

14

CONNOR

A llie pushed me for days .

She was in her element, playing her little games.

And I let her, because I thought I had control.

But then I snapped.

I pinned her down and kissed her like I owned her.

Made her moan into my mouth until she shoved me away.

And to make matters worse, she called it a mistake.

Even though I know she’s lying, it fucking hurts.

I’ve been infatuated with this woman since the day I swung a hockey stick at her head.

I’ve been obsessed with her since she opened her mouth at Harper’s bachelorette party and out wafted the voice of an angel.

Deep down, I know I’m under her skin.

I rattled her with that kiss.

I know she feels this intense attraction burning between us.

The signs are all there.

And if worse comes to worst… I can always kidnap her like Ford did with Harper.

But I’m kind of hoping I don’t need to resort to that option.

I’m hoping she’ll admit her feelings without me driving her somewhere remote in that cigarette-smelling station wagon and forcing her to marry me.

My phone beeps, but I ignore it.

The team group text has been going nuts for days.

But I’m M.I.A.

All I can focus on is Allie.

And the fact that no matter what she says, she already belongs to me.

* * *

The next morning, I’m checking out of the motel.

Allie is a short distance away, digging in her bag for something, paying no attention to her surroundings.

I see him before she does.

Some tall, smug jackass looking at her like she’s something he can just take.

Every muscle in my body tenses as the clerk takes her sweet time, chattering away like there isn’t some random asshole trying to steal my girl.

Yeah, I thought it.

My girl.

Mine.

He closes the distance between them.

His hand reaches out, and the fucker grabs her waist.

I fucking snap.

I move so fast, I barely register it.

One second, I’m across the lobby, and the next, I’m in front of them, ripping his hand off her, shoving him hard.

He stumbles back, hitting the counter.

His eyes are wide as he stares at me.

I probably resemble a fire-breathing dragon with flaring nostrils and a savage expression.

My pulse pounds in my neck.

My breaths rasp loudly from my lips.

Adrenaline courses through my veins like molten lava.

I step closer, getting in his face.

He needs to understand he just made the worst mistake of his life.

"You think you can touch her?"

He swallows hard, his body shaking beneath mine.

I brace my forearm against his chest.

"You think you can fucking put your hands on her and walk away in one piece?"

His Adam’s apple bobs. "I—I didn’t mean?—"

"Shut up!”

His mouth snaps shut.

"You ever look at her again," I murmur, my voice like a slow-burning fire, “and I’ll break every one of your fingers."

His face drains of color.

"You understand me?"

He nods frantically.

I don’t move.

Not until I see the terror in his eyes.

When I do, satisfaction blooms inside me.

I shove him one last time before stepping back.

He avoids eye contact as he scurries away.

I watch his lanky form until I can’t see him anymore.

Only then do I turn my head, focusing on Allie.

She’s shaken.

She’s seen me cocky. Smug. Annoyed.

But she’s never seen me like this.

She’s never seen what happens when someone threatens what’s mine.

And yeah, she’s mine.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

But she will.

Soon.