Page 9 of No Fear
He crooked his finger and watched as Rachel’s eyes widened in response. She looked to her left and right as if he might be motioning to someone else. When she looked back at him confusion clouded her face and in another situation he might have laughed.
Did she really have no idea? No idea that she was the only woman he ever saw, even in a room full of them. No idea the things he dreamed of doing to her every time he shut his eyes. No idea how much he wanted to drag her into his arms, right here and right now, in front of half his family and a hundred strangers and claim her not just as his prize but as his woman.
Slowly, her steps unsure, Rachel moved through the crowd towards him. Lincoln was still talking but from the cadence of his voice Remy could tell he was wrapping up. He didn’t have long.
“She looks scared of you. Maybe you should pick another one.”
Remy scowled when Ford spoke but bit his tongue. If he said anything right now, he’d tell Ford to fuck off and he couldn’t do that. He needed his cousin’s help. He looked back at Rachel and hated that Ford was at least half right. She did look scared but he didn’t think it was of him. At least he hoped it wasn’t.
As soon as she got close enough, he reached for her. His fingers latched around her wrist and he tugged her into his personal space. Her eyes widened again and her mouth fell open with a surprised little, “oh.” He didn’t know if that was because he’d shocked her or if she felt that same flare of heat that sizzled through him at the contact. And right now, unfortunately, he didn’t have time to find out.
“Rachel, look at me.”
Her eyes had dropped to the floor as if she expected him to chastise her or yell at her. And God, he definitely wanted to but he didn’t have the time for that either. When she didn’t immediately raise her gaze, he used his other hand to tip her chin up. When she finally looked at him with those big, stormy eyes, he had to fight the urge to kiss the wariness right out of her.
Not the time or the place, he reminded himself. She was scared. She was trembling and even if he wasn’t a good man, he would never even think of taking advantage of her. He wasn’t going to touch so much as one hair on her head so long as she was scared of him. Not one.
Behind him he heard the crowd roar at something Lincoln said and as the music started up again he knew what he was supposed to do. Lincoln had pumped everyone up. It was time. Remy was supposed to make his way out of the shadows and through the crowd to the cage. His opponent would do the same. They’d meet in the middle, shake and then the door would shut behind them, locking them in. Then he was supposed to fight.
At the moment he was having a tough time remembering who his opponent even was. It wasn’t important. The only important thing was making sure Rachel was safe.
“I don’t know what you’re doing here.” He told her softly, “I don’t know what the hell you were thinking dressing like this and coming down here but the second I step out of that cage, I’m getting you out of here. If you don’t want that, if you want me to leave you alone and let you do whatever it is that you came here to do, you need to say it right now, Rachel.”
“I-I-I…” She trembled harder and dropped her gaze to his chest, “I c-came for you.”
Something inside of him warmed at that. Him. She was here because of him. The logical, rational side of him wanted to know why. Why him? Why here? Why now? But the other side, the testosterone fueled caveman side, just wanted to beat his chest.
“I’m glad.” He caressed her chin softly as he tilted it back up, “I’m glad you came to me but this isn’t…”
“Okay loverboy. Time’s up.” Ford interrupted with a huff, “Move your ass or I’ll move it for you.”
Remy fought the urge to turn and deck his cousin. He didn’t even look at him. He couldn’t manage to tear his gaze off Rachel. He took a deep, calming breath and then did the only thing that he could.
“Rachel, this is Ford.” He said evenly, “He’s my cousin and I trust him with my life. I’m trusting him with you. Stay close to him and he’ll make sure nobody messes with you until I come back.”
“What?” Rachel and Ford both balked and he groaned.
“He’s going to keep you safe.”
“Damn it Remy. I’m not a goddamned babysitter. I’m supposed to be…”
“I don’t care what you’re supposed to be doing.” He snapped, turning to face his cousin finally, “This is more important. You are going to protect her and keep her safe until I come back for her or so help me God I will walk out of that cage and bring the fight to you. Understand?”
Ford bristled, “You’d really break your word to the family for a piece of ass?”
“I told you not to call her that.” Remy snarled, “Her name is Rachel and you will be polite and respectful. If you so much as raise your voice to her, I will tear your arms off and beat you to death with them. Got me?”
Ford looked like he wanted to say something else but his jaw only clenched. His shoulders heaved as he took a deep breath. He looked between them for a long second, no doubt sizing up Remy’s threat versus leaving the girl to her own devices. In the end he didn’t soften but he did give in.
“Yeah, sure thing Romeo. Just get your ass in the cage. They’re waitin’ on ya.”
Remy glanced around and groaned. Sure enough, everyone was staring at them, waiting for him to take his place in the cage. They had a captive audience and he felt Rachel cringe next to him as she realized the same thing.
Damn it, he’d wanted her hidden from these bastards not put on display. There was only one thing to do now that every man in the barn was looking at her. And damn if the beast inside him didn’t relish the very thought.
“She’s mine!” He saw Rachel’s eyes widen again as the possessive words reverberated through the big space but he wasn’t done yet, he had to make his point to keep the bastards away while he was in that cage, “Nobody touches her. Nobody messes with her. Try it and you deal with me.”
He turned back to Ford and lowered his voice, “Stay close. Please.”
