Page 10 of Duke

“CUT THEM OFF.”

“Excuse me?

“You heard me. CUT THEM OFF.”

I stare back at him for a few beats astonished. This man has the nerve to sit at my bar, and eye-fuck me for two weeks without uttering a single word, and now he’s speaking to me for the first time just to tell me what to do—in my own goddamn bar?

I don’t think so.

Ignoring him, I turn my back, intentionally pouring more shots for the rowdy group. The amount they put on their tab so far is enough to put me well into the black this month and then some.

They are annoying, but harmless.

I’ll let them get liquored up and make sure they all get into the hired car waiting at the curb.

I’ve been doing this long enough to know how to handle myself—and my bar.

“Shanna.”

My name falls from his lips like a curse or prayer; maybe a combination of both.

Raising one eyebrow, I turn to look at him over my shoulder, daring him—challenging him to say anything else.

“What? Do you need another shot?” I smile sweetly.

He crooks a finger at me, signaling me to come closer.

But I’m not stupid.

I’m not getting within two feet of him.

It’s not until Meat signals, that I feel like I have no choice.

Meat is loyal and has been nothing but good to me. I can’t snub him just because Duke’s sitting next to him. I slowly walk over and intentionally lean my elbows on the bar, so my shirt dips good and low, planting my cleavage right in front of Duke’s face.

The lacy edges of my bra greet him, and I can’t help but notice how his hungry eyes devour every inch of my exposed flesh.

He has me before I can even blink. He moves so fast for a man of his size that I’m caught off guard. I would never survive in a bar like this—in a life like this if I had slow reflexes and bad instincts, but I never saw this move coming.

He has me.

With one hand, he traps both of mine flat on the bar and leans in. His face brushes mine as he whispers, “I told you to cut them off.You’re a bad girl, Shannaand you will pay for this... ”

He’s still a breath away from when his gaze lowers to my breasts.

Holy Hell.

It takes everything in me to pretend this isn’t affecting me; that he’s not affecting me, as he moves his head and I feel his breath on my skin.

He kisses my collarbone. I feel the tip of his tongue lick the hollow between my breasts; then he blows where he touched me causing goosebumps to break out.

“I’m going to suck these sweet tits someday soon Shanna. Don’t test me.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that. You and every other man in here can think about mysweet titsall night. You can look, but you can’t touch Masters. I’m my own woman. No one tells me what to do in my own goddamn bar. Now get your meaty hands off me before I have Federico haul your ass out.”

He laughs low in his throat while one thumb massages the soft skin under my wrist. As he rubs back and forth, I just know it’s the same stroke he uses when rubbing his woman’s clit.

My lips fall open.

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