Page 136 of Drop Three

He taps Jared’s shoulder. “I said…did you fucking touch her?”

I watch Jared think on it for a moment before finally speaking, “Nah, man. I wouldn’t do that.”

All patience evaporates from Bodhi’s body as a cold chill runs through mine. Jared is about to wake up in a hospital bed.

A dry chuckle leaves Bodhi’s mouth. “You see, Jared. I’m a very possessive man and I hate when my favorite things are mistreated. And you, sir, just mistreated my greatest treasure. My prize. So, I’m gonna give you one more chance. Did you or did you not touch Navy?”

All blood leaves Jared’s face as I watch his fate play out. “Nope. We were having a chat. That’s it.”

Liar.

“Ding, ding, ding,” Bodhi makes a bell sound before reacting, “Wrong answer.”

I watch awestruck as Bodhi palms the right side of Jared’s head and slams it into the wall beside us.

Holy shit.

Bodhi towers over Jared’s shaking frame that’s coming in and out of consciousness. “Don’t let there be a next time, reporter boy. I’ll fuck you up till there’s nothin’ left.”

I scan the room for an audience and find a few bystanders who saw what happened but pretend they didn’t. They must have watched the whole thing.

I hold my clutch to my chest, waiting as Bodhi walks to the bouncer at the door and whispers something in his ear before handing him a stack of bills.

He’s paying him off. Smart man.

Bodhi casually saunters to me as Jared runs in the opposite direction and brings his calloused hands to my face. “You okay? Did he hurt you?”

I shake my head solemnly. “No, he didn’t.”

Bodhi nods, and before I can think better of it, I grab his hands and drag him across the room.

I’m not sure what my plan is, but I know I’m tired of living my life based on what others think I should do.

Right now, I want Bodhi.

He stuck up for me in a way no one ever has. It’s as if my feelings for him broke through the barrier I've been keeping locked tightly all this time, not caring about the possible consequences.

I move at the speed of light, fast enough that Bodhi has to run to keep up. I drag him past the black stage curtain and pull him into the hidden corner behind the sound booth.

“Navy, if he hurt you, you can tell me.”

I don’t answer.

Instead, I pull his sleek black tie toward me and kiss him.

I kiss him like he’s my lifeline, and I won’t survive another second without my lips on his. Bodhi catches on and doesn’t hesitate. He brings his hands to my face and cradles me into his touch. My body heats with pleasure as the feel of his tongue sweeping in my mouth sends my core pulsing into a needy spiral.

I’m so fucking horny I could combust.

“You…you stood up for me,” I tell him, panting between kisses.

He’s so much larger than me, touching me like he wants to swallow me whole.

I’d be down.

“Always, terremoto. Always.”

A soft moan leaves my lips as Bodhi’s hands drift lower, running across the curve of my waist. “We shouldn’t be doing this,” I cry, but refuse to stop.

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