“Well, it certainly feels that way.” I held his gaze as I muttered, “I just want this to be over. I’m sick of being afraid.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you. Not now. Not ever.”
His words caught me by surprise, but it was what he did next that shocked me even more. I was standing there looking back at him when he slowly started to lean over to me. Every single nerve in my body came alive as I watched him slowly lower his mouth to mine. The man who’d done everything in his power to keep me at arm’s length finally gave in and kissed me long and hard. I’d never felt anything so incredible.
I lifted my hand up to his face, inching my body closer to him as his tongue delved deeper into my mouth. The bristles of his beard were rough against my palm, but his lips were soft and warm, luring me in for more. He threaded his fingers through my hair and tugged me closer. Unbelievable. My heart was racing, my entire body itching for more, as I whimpered into his mouth. His hand drifted to the nape of my neck, then snaked down to the small of my back. He felt so good, smelled so good, and it was all I could do to keep myself from completely losing myself in him. I couldn’t believe how my body reacted. In such a short time, this man had taken my world by storm. He’d made me feel things I never dreamed I could, and as much as it scared me, I couldn’t imagine wanting anything more.
I thought he was enjoying the kiss just as much as I was until he quickly jerked back, breaking our embrace. He growled under his breath as he ran his hand over his face and grumbled, “Fuck.”
“What’s wrong?”
“This.” He motioned his hand between us. “This can’t happen.”
“But—”
“No, Remington. This isn’t up for discussion.” He brushed past me like a raging bull as he started out the front door. As he charged outside, I heard him grumble, “Goddamn it. She’s gonna fucking ruin me.”
Damn. That was not the reaction I was hoping for. In fact, it was enough to break a girl’s heart, but I wasn’t giving up—not just yet.
Shotgun
Damn. Things had gotten totally fucked up, and it was all my fault. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I’d meant to keep Remington at a distance. I tried to ignore the insane pull I’d felt towards her, but seeing her with Rafe fucked with my head. I could still remember the way he was looking at her, like he intended to make her his next conquest; I nearly came unglued and Rafe knew it. When we stepped out on the porch, he looked completely confused when he said, “You wanna tell me what that was all about?”
“You didn’t do what you were fucking told.”
“That’s a crock of shit, and you know it.” His eyes narrowed as he asked, “You got something going on with Remington or what?”
“You know better than that.”
“Can’t say that I do, especially after the way you freaked out in there.” Rafe was being overly dramatic, especially when he added, “Hell, the way you were glaring me down, I got the feeling that my life was on the line. I was seriously starting to wonder if I was gonna have to start sleeping with one eye open or some shit like that.”
“Wouldn’t have to worry if you’d just done what you were told.”
“I don’t know. I got the feeling it’s more than that, and if it is, I totally get it. Remington’s a knockout. If I had my eye on her, I wouldn’t want anybody getting in the fucking way.” A smirk crossed his face. “Hell, I’d show my ass just like you did.”
“Didn’t show my ass.”
“Um-hmm. Whatever you say, brother.” He gave me a quick shrug, then changed the subject. “Find out anything on the guy?”
“Yeah. Menace was able to use the picture I sent him and found out the guy’s name—Colby Michaels. After he had a name, he was able to track his phone and check all his records.”
“And?”
I leaned back on the porch’s hand-railing. “Apparently, he was meeting up with his baby momma to return their kids.”
“So, what were they fightin’ about?”
“Motherfucker hadn’t paid his child support in over a year, and the poor girl was struggling to make ends meet while he was partying it up in his new pad downtown.”
“Fucking asshole. Y’all decide to just leave it or what?”
“No, we didn’t leave shit. The Punishers are good as dead. Each and every one of them.” I thought about the look on the motherfucker’s face when he saw the barrel of my gun pointed at his head. “Now we just have one less to contend with, and that momma finally has the money she’s been asking for. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a win for both of us.”