“Why did I…” He narrows his eyes at me, glinting dangerously. “Because I wanted to kiss you the first time I laid eyes on you, Kyra. Because you’re beautiful and sexy and so. Fucking. Hot.”
I turn my gaze away. “You’re joking.”
“If we weren’t in public, I’d show you I’m not joking. Come on. Be a gentlelady and invite me inside.”
I giggle at the word, looking at him again, constantly stunned by his ability to make me laugh one second and get all steamy and hot the next.
“My place isn’t…” I trail off when I spot Quinn and a couple of his drinking buddies walking across the street toward us. “Oh, God.”
“What is it?” Kayden turns.
“Just the resident jerk. Quinn. He’s probably drunk.”
“Does he bother you a lot?” Kayden is staring hard at Quinn, as though ready to snap him in half at a moment’s notice. “Kyra?”
“Yeah,” I admit. “They hang around outside the apartment building, drinking and making everybody feel uncomfortable. He calls me princess because I once had to step over one of his drunk buddies and apparently I made a face. He’s a real douche.”
“He fucking sounds like it,” Kayden snarls, when Quinn and his two friends stop in front of the car.
Quinn tilts his head, as though appraising the vehicle, pursing his lips and making a soft whistling sound.
I can’t believe he’s going to try and ruin this. Well, actually I can, and I hate him for it. Just as Kayden and I have started to form some sort of bond and my wildest dreams have a little chance of coming true, he’s going to barge over here and completely spoil it.
“The worst is when he makes fun of my weight,” I murmur, trying to push the hurt away.
“What?” Kayden growls.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Kayden doesn’t take his eyes off Quinn or his buddies. “What does he say?”
“Nothing in particular. He just makes comments about my size, implies I’d break chairs, stuff like that.”
“Your build is perfect, Kyra. Curvy in all the right places. You’re goddamn perfect, you hear me?”
“I—”
Before I can say anything else, Kayden has leaped from the car. I let out a gasp and quickly follow after him, the cool evening air pricking my skin. Quinn stands under the streetlamp, grimy hair spilling down his back.
He chuckles as we approach.
“That’s some car you got there, pal. Brave bringing it around my block.”
“Are you Quinn?” Kayden grits out, his muscles throbbing in his steel suit, like armor, like he’s ready to spring into action at the smallest provocation.
“Come on, Kayden. Let’s go. He’s not worth it,” I try to reason with him.
My body is trembling as my mind conjures up scenario after scenario of Quinn and his two buddies hurting Kayden, both of whom are as large as he is. And all because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
And yet, despite the circumstances, a smile tries to lift my lips when I replay Kayden’s words in my mind.
He said my build was perfect, curvy in all the right places. It’s the first time a man has ever complimented my body.
“I asked you a question, motherfucker,” Kayden snarls.
Quinn takes a few steps forward, his friends bristling behind him. I vaguely recognize them from the other nights they’ve spent hanging around outside the apartment block. One has a scar down the left side of his face and the other has a shaved head, a tattoo covering his bald scalp.
“You need to watch your tone, old man. I was just admiring your car.”
“Is it true you’ve been bothering Kyra? Is it true you made fun of her weight?” Kayden asks with a feral edge.
Quinn glances sharply at me and then back at Kayden. It’s like he can’t believe somebody would ever dare to stand up to him. Despite the danger, a pang of satisfaction touches me. I’ve never seen him like this before.
But then his features harden even more. “Yeah, it’s true. What of it? She’s a stuck-up whale and you’re a fucking idiot if you think I’m going to grovel. Fuck you and your fancy suit.”
Kayden walks forward slowly until he’s standing inches from Quinn. Quinn’s friends move forward when Quinn does, so the three of them are ready to spring into action against Kayden.
“Kayden,” I whisper.
“You’re a small pathetic little man,” Kayden states as a matter of fact.
“Careful, old timer—”
“A fucking weasel, that’s what you are,” Kayden snaps. “A fucking…”
I scream as Quinn lets out a roar, bringing his fist up toward Kayden’s head.
But then I realize Kayden was expecting that. He wanted that to happen.
The second Quinn moves to hit Kayden, Kayden slides out of range and grabs Quinn’s hand. He gives a sharp yank, sending Quinn hurtling to the ground.
Kayden launches himself at the other two men, dodging one punch and ducking under another. He spins around and smashes his elbow into the scarred man’s cheek, sending him flying into the streetlamp, and then grabs the tattooed man by the back of the neck and throws him onto the ground.