Page 10 of Act of Passion

Duke grabbed Malik. “No killing him. It would make Corbin way too happy, so how about we take a nice deep breath and calm down. That, or we can beat the snot out of these prettyboys.”

Edee clapped. “Oh, I vote for the fight. I really want to see all of your muscles flexing and you guys being all manly. Yummy and a major turn-on. It would really help that creamthing.”

Boomer choke-coughedagain.

Striker flashed a wicked smile. “Redheads are always worth thetrouble.”

Brooke rushed forward and did what felt right—she slipped her arms around Malik’s waist and tugged. There was no way she was moving him unless he wanted tomove.

He released the guy and twisted, wrapping an arm around Brooke’s waistprotectively.

It was then she got a good dose of his smell. The man smelled good enough to eat. She inhaled again, the smell of him making her body respond. Her nipples hardened and her pulsesped.

Malik’s gaze snapped to hers and he took in a deep breath as well, tightening his hold on her waist. “Honey andlotuses.”

“W-what?” sheasked.

“You smell like honey and lotuses,” he returned, still looking hungry forher.

Duke cleared his throat. “Try not to fuck her in the middle of thelobby.”

Brooke yelped and jerked out of Malik’sgrasp.

Mr. Rings snorted before speaking in English. “Take your whore fornow.”

“Oh boy, now you went and did it,” said Duke, shaking hishead.

Malik released Brooke and went at Mr. Rings. One second Mr. Rings was standing and the next he was flat on his back, knocked out cold with one hit from Malik. Mr. Rings’s men converged on him, all looking lost as to what to do. None of them appeared to want to take onMalik.

Brooke stood there, too stunned to comment ormove.

Edee squealed in delight. “That was so hot! Do itagain.”

“Edee!” Brooke glanced at her friend. “This is notokay.”

“Honey, it was hot as hell and you know it. Now, thank him by taking him to our room and having your way with him. Look at him, that is a body you don’t pass upon.”

Boomer coughed again. “Christ, she might actually beworsethanStriker.”

“Och, no one is worse than me,” said Striker before touching his chin. “Wait, I mean…hell…I said what I meant. No one is worse than me unless we’re talking about my cousins. They make me looktame.”

Edee perked. “Oh, cousins? So I could have a reverse harem of hot guys? I might make an exception about the Scottish-non-prince thing if that’s thecase.”

Striker looked hopeful. “Redheads aredynamite.”

He’d know. He wasone.

Hotel security finally arrived and Boomer went to them, speaking with them and pulling out some form of identification. Within seconds, the security team backed up, taking Mr. Rings and his men withthem.

Malik turned slowly. His gaze snapped to Brooke’s arm. The one Mr. Rings had grabbed and squeezed. “Your arm, it has the start of bruising on it. That is it. Hedies.”

Duke and Striker grabbed Malik, lifting him up and off his feet and walking him towards the elevator. The men appeared to be exuding a lot of energy to keep Malik from gettingfree.

Boomer laughed and ran to catch up, stopping briefly in front of Brooke and Edee. “We’re going to wash dead arms dealers off us and then we were planning on grabbing something to eat before hitting the clubs. You two want to meet us for dinner? I think Malik would be very happy if you said yes,miss.”

“Dead arms dealers?” asked Brooke, feelingfaint.

Edee waved a hand dismissively. “He’s kidding.Right?”

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