Page 20 of Desert Heat

“I’m fine.”

“Were you? The way I saw it he was minutes away from having you on the ground.”

“I would’ve bit his ear then his dick off.”

“I don’t doubt it. But we’ll still see you home.” She fought but it was useless. My grip on her elbow moved to her waist. “I’m taking you home. Period,” I whispered into her hair.

“Cock tease,” someone coughed as they circled around their boy still down on the ground.

“What was that?” My head whipped around. The stared blankly at me while others attended to the ass wipe on the ground. “Anyone else want a shot?” I threw my left arm wide.

“Easy,” Tank stepped in between me and the rest of the frat boy crew. She was silent as I led our small group to the Bronco. I clicked the remote start button from my key ring. The car’s old and not made for the cold. Something Tank and I didn’t think of until after we experienced cold as fuck mornings as we rode to class.

“Nice ride,” Savannah whistled as I held open the passenger door.

“It’s Tank’s. We’ll come back tomorrow for your four wheeler.”

“Yet you have the keys?”

“I’m the more responsible one.”

Our heads turn together. Tanka and Brandi are kissing as they walk, talking all kinds of cutesy nonsense. After they settle in the back, I round to the driver’s side.

“Just direct me. Tank never installed Nav.”

“Just pull out and turn left. My road is about three miles down.”

“You have roommates?”

“I don’t play well in the sandbox.”

“No shit.”

“Just let me out this is ridiculous,” she huffs.

“I wish I could. But then when those drunk pencil dicks decide to surprise you at three a.m. with payback…”

“They wouldn’t dare.”

“Do you have a badass boyfriend hiding somewhere? There’s nothing out here but moose and rustling leaves. You want to chance it?”

“I know people,” she grumbles.

I cut my eyes from the road to glance at her. Her nails are digging into her palms, the bracelets ay her wrists jingle as she brushes the hair from her face. The turquoise stones at her wrist another reminder of home. My Apache blood heats wanting revenge. I might run in a warring Club, but I have honor.

The only thing I want to damage is her heart… I wouldn’t mark on her skin.

“People?”

“Never mind, my turn is up ahead. It’s the dirt road past that rusty mailbox.”

I pulled down the bumpy road, cutting the engine.

“I’m good. Thanks.”

My arm reached across her body, clamping on the door handle she tried to open.

“Wait here until Tank and I check things out.”

---