Page 14 of Tamed By A Knight

“Nope.” I stare him down, playing with all the ideas of how badly I could hurt him.

“Hush? What a fitting name.” Stubble snickers. “How about you hush up and let the men talk?”

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Tara hisses, her face turning several shades redder. “Better watch what comes out of your smug fucking mouth next or I’ll slap that smile off your fat fucking face.”

Angry as Stubble’s comment toward Tara made me, I’m stunned at the firecracker next to me, giving it a thousand times harder than she got it. An unsettling mix bubbles inside me, between the white-hot rage and the swooning sensation in my chest. And then there’s her rosy cheeks as she bares her teeth, ready to launch across the table and beat the piss out of Stubble.

Holy fuck, is this what love feels like? Never had it before, so I wouldn’t know, but if it is, I never want it to end.

“Woah, woah, calm down.” Stubble’s eyes bulge out of their sockets at Tara’s outburst. He’s more afraid of the little thing at my side than me.

Good. I prefer to stay unassuming.

“Listen, chump, you better go back to your table unless you want trouble. Trust me, you won’t be able to handle it.” She eyes him square.

And here I was, afraid that showing Tara my ruthless side would scare her off. Little did I know, hers is far worse.

9

TARA

“Christ, buddy. Muzzle your bi—” Before the prick hovering opposite us can finish his sentence, Hush has the front of his shirt in a balled-up fist. The word gets cut off in a half-scream as Hush tugs him forward and smashes his face into the table.

Glassware, plates, and cutlery go flying off the table as the guy crumples like a sack of potatoes. Hush is on his feet, fists raised and ready for the second who approaches. He storms around the table, met by a firm right hook from Hush that makes an awful thudding noise. The third remains in the distance, mouth agape as he recoils away from the table.

The entire restaurant goes quiet, heads snapping to the scene. And then there’s laughter, joyous and free from a young boy two tables over.

“Look, Mama.” The kid is in frantic hysterics, pointing at the third guy. “He peed himself.”

“William,” his Mama reprimands him.

“Sorry for spoiling your evening, folks.” For the first time ever, at least with me present, Hush’s voice booms across the room. “It’s over now. You can go back to your meals.”

The two who stepped up to my man start scampering in the direction they came, joining their piss-soaked buddy, before they all run out the door together.

When the dust settles and everyone returns to their night out, I launch out of my chair and swing my arms around Hush’s shoulders. Pulling him into a kiss, one that shows a fraction of how hot I find him, my heart flutters wildly against my ribcage when he doesn’t try to stop me.

“That was amazing,” I say, standing on my tippy toes, hanging off his shoulders. “You’re amazing.”

“Me? Don’t sell yourself short, doc. You’re the one who really gave it to them.” Hush rests his hands on the small of my back. He sees this embrace as the soft, tender sort, but I’ve got a very different idea in mind.

“Come with me.” I slide my hand into his and yank him in my direction as I storm to the exit.

“What about our grub?” Hush laughs and smiles while I pull him through the tables.

“We’re not going far. We’ll grab it after.” Out of breath and overly excited, my words come out strained. This has to be confusing for him, and I’ll do my best to explain it when we get back home.

But right now, I need to feel his strong hands against my body. Hear the rumble in his chest. Come together as one, in the best way possible with him.

We break out of the building and step into the warm, stale air. I give Hush a few more steps away from the building before I slip my hands behind his head and pull him into a kiss. I keep leading him onward while we kiss, trying my best to look up and down the sidewalk to see if anyone’s around.

Apart from the three scattering to their car, and a group of four doing the same, we’re alone.

“You’re so fucking hot. That was so fucking hot.” Words spew out of me with giddy excitement.

Hush accepts my words as his mouth sinks down my face and settles just below my ear.

“You came all the way outside just to tell me that?” Hot breath tickles my ear, and I squirm.

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