Page 9 of Duke

“SHIT’S GONNA GET ugly real quick.”

My eyes slide over to Meat’s. “Damn straight it is. If those drunk fucks even lay one finger on her—”

“I know,” Meat says laying a hand on my shoulder pushing me down on the bar stool, “but they haven’t yet, so calm the fuck down.”

“Christ.”

I’m fucking worked up over the bachelor party that just walked in. My fingers tap the wood bar and my knees start to bounce. “They probably got hammered at the titty-bar on the corner of Dixon and Eighth.”

Meat just shrugs and sips his beer, seeming calm and relaxed. But he doesn’t fool me. His eyes watch hawkishly as they talk all kinds of shit to her.

“You’ve got the sweetest tits I’ve seen all night, sugar.” Some dumb-fuck says leering at her. She bats her eyes at him, eating this shit up.

“WHAT. THE. FUCK? That’s it I’m going over there.”

“No, you ain’t.”

Meat’s heavy hand lands on one shoulder pushing me back down on the stool. “I don’t have enough liquid cash to make bail.”

She leans over, cooing something in one of those pretty boys’ ear.

Un-fucking-believable.

My fists clench and I release the shot glass before it pops in my hand. Christ, they’re saying the same shit to her that I’ve been thinking for days, but never said out loud. A woman like Shanna, you treat with respect before fucking her into oblivion. You wine and dine that shit; treat her like a lady, not some fuckin’ pole dancer.

My body stills, turning into the soldier I’ll always be. My eyes become cold and deadly as I watch them from across the bar. Sitting in the shadows, I wait for one of those pricks to lay one fucking finger on her.

Just one.

A thousand men couldn’t hold me back if that happens. Fuck bail money; that shit would be on. Men like these are a dime a dozen. Rich pricks flashing green billfolds thinking it entitles them to touch a woman.

My Woman.

It’s not their right.

It’s mine.

My hands ball into fists. It’s taking all my willpower not to beat the shit out of them; throw my jacket over Shanna’s sweet ass curves and haul her over my shoulder outta here and straight to the biggest bed I can find.

Fuck.

But I’d scare her off for good if I start using fists instead of words. I just wish I knew what words to say to a girl that has me by the balls and completely tongue-tied.

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