Page 46 of Their Property
“Thank you guys, but no.” I sighed. “I don’t like it, but it’ll be better when other people are around. He’ll try to show off, but he won’t be inappropriate.”
“I just hate to think what he’d be trying if we weren’t here,” T-Bone growled through his teeth. “Fuck, I hate that slimy piece of shit.”
“I know.” I touched his arm, and the corded muscles jumped beneath my fingers. “But I do have to maintain my image here, and that means tolerating him.”
“He better not touch you again,” T-Bone said, and I knew the threat in his eyes was sincere.
Dyno clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe you and Grudge should do a perimeter sweep first. I’ll go in with Kyrie.”
“Yeah?” T-Bone challenged. “You’re kicking me back?”
“You need to cool off,” the other man told him. “There’s going to be dancing and shit. You can’t be getting all territorial over every guy that talks to her.”
T-Bone groaned out a protest, the sound nothing short of sexual. Combined with the notion that he might actually be jealous of Nathan, I felt an aching heat build up in my body.
“Fine.” He barked out the word like he felt anything but fine, but he and Grudge headed in opposite directions for the side exits. “We’ll be back.”
Now alone with Dyno, the beautiful man faced me with a gently inquisitive expression. “Okay to go in?”
“Yes.” I gave a small smile, one that actually wasn’t forced. “Thank you, all of you, for checking in with me.”
“T was gonna dropkick that dude in the kidneys if we didn’t take a time-out.” He offered me his elbow with a grin, and I looped my arm around it without a second thought.
“Oh no, we wouldn’t want that.” I earned a soft, breathy laugh in reply as we walked toward the entrance together. “Do you ever dance, Dyno?”
He angled his head and raised his eyebrows suggestively. “It’s been known to happen a time or two.”
“Really?” I couldn’t hide my delight at that answer. “I might have to steal you for one then.”
He chuckled lightly. “That’ll be a surefire way to make T want to dropkickmein my kidneys.”
“Why would he do that?”
Dyno hesitated like he wasn’t sure if he should answer. “He’s a bit…possessive of you.”
“Possessive?” Why did that word fire up the ache in my body, especially the one concentrating between my legs?
“Let me put it this way,” Dyno said, turning to face me. “All of us would happily handle Nathan for you. But T-Bone would enjoy hurting him the most.”
I shouldn’t have felt bubbling giddiness at that information. I should have been horrified, should have pulled away from the tall, gorgeous biker immediately and reprimanded him for saying such a thing. I definitely shouldn’t have held my head higher and bit back a smug grin as we headed for the ballroom.
But oh, I did.
FOURTEEN
KYRIE
Dyno handed me off to Nathan at the ballroom entrance, stepping back with a quick bow that could have been respectful, but I interpreted it as mocking. Especially when he caught my eye and winked, smirking as he straightened up.
The sense of flattery was short-lived. Nathan placed his hand on my lower back,on my bare skin, as he led me into the ballroom. I was forced to turn away from Dyno, skin crawling, while making our way through the crowd at Nathan’s side.
“I like this dress on you,” he said, mouth too close to my ear again.
“Thank you, so do I.” Like hell I was going to compliment him in return. My gaze swept around the room, eying the decor instead of him.
Three massive, glittering chandeliers had been mounted to the ceiling. Tables had been moved toward the edges of the room to open up the space for a dance floor. A small cluster of musicians played gentle background music as everyone filed in and got settled. The floor had been polished to a brilliant shine, and everything was draped in swaths of gold. With the chandeliers as the only light source, the room was dimmer than before. If it had been anyone else at my side, it would have felt romantic.
“This way.” Nathan’s fingers dug into my skin as he directed me to a table. I was stiff as a board but allowed him to guide me. Knowing that Dyno was nearby offered some small comfort.
