Page 15 of No Fear
Chapter Four
Remy’s head felt like it was going to explode. The entire world had dimmed the moment he set sights on Rachel in that barn. Everything that had happened since felt like a blur. Leaving her with Ford, trying to focus on his fight and failing miserably, seeing Lincoln touch her and then seeing nothing but red. He’d put his opponent down with one swing the way he wanted to put Lincoln down for daring to touch her. And now, her words confirming that she belonged to him still ringing in his ears, the feel of her hand in his, he could sense his control slipping.
He shoved his way through the packed barn towards the exit. Most people were smart enough to move out of his way. From the way they were looking at him, he figured he must look crazy. He was covered in sweat and blood and he was all but dragging a young girl behind him out of the barn. The whistles and grins that confirmed the spectators thought he was claiming his prize did nothing to cool his blood.
He was jacked. From the fight. From Lincoln’s dare. From the simple feel of Rachel’s small, soft hand in his.
As he pulled her after him out of the barn and then down a row of cars, she never faltered. She hustled to keep up. She squeezed his hand tight, as if she was afraid he would let go. But she never once tried to pull away, tried to ask him where he was taking her or what he was doing. She was so damn trusting and it was that, more than anything, that had him stopping in his tracks to try and get a grip on the situation.
“Oh!” Rachel squeaked as she ran into his back.
She stumbled but he was there before she could fall. He spun to face her and saw the way her eyes widened when their bodies brushed. His traitorous cock throbbed and he pressed his advantage. He told himself that if she’d looked scared he would have stopped, would have calmed down and talked to her rationally, but she didn’t. She licked her lips and let him back her against the side of the nearest car until his big body caged her smaller one. He wasn’t entirely sure if he touched her whether he would kiss her or shake her so he didn’t dare.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” He snapped.
“I-I-I…”
“You don’t belong here, Rachel!”
“I but…”
“Coming here was really, really stupid. Coming here dressed like that? Fuck! What the hell did you think was going to happen?”
“I-I’m n-not s-s-stupid.”
He glared at her but her bottom lip trembled and all of his perfectly reasonable anger fizzled. Shit. He was yelling at her. He knew better than that. He had to get himself under control because if he scared her she would run and even if running was a smart instinct, there was no way he was letting her go. Not a chance. Not now, maybe not ever again.
“Damn it Rachel…”
“I’m n-not stupid.” She repeated stubbornly despite the wobble in her voice and he sighed.
“Rach, baby, coming here dressed like that… damn it, every man in there wanted a piece of you. You have to know that. Why would you come here knowing that?”
“I told you. I c-came for you.”
Just as it had in the barn, those words warmed something in his chest that he couldn’t name. Him. She’d come for him. But he wasn’t distracted now the way he had been in there and as much as he liked hearing the words, he needed more information. Because despite what she said, coming here, dressed the way she was,hadbeen stupid.
“Why?”
“I n-n-need you.” She looked at the ground, bit her lip and then glanced back up at him from beneath her lashes, “I want you.”
It was like being hit with a branding iron. Heat seared him the moment he registered what she was saying. His cock, which had already rivaled a flagpole, twitched. And then she went even further because she reached out and touched him.
She raised her hands and though they were shaking slightly, she pressed them to his chest. And they both stopped breathing. Bare skin against bare skin, that electric current sparked between them. She felt it. He knew she felt it. Because she stared at the spot where she touched him as if she was mesmerized by his chest.
“Remy, I want you.” Her voice was softer, barely a whisper.
He grit his teeth to combat the overwhelming desire to give her exactly what she seemed to be asking for. She’d come here to find him. She’d dressed in this skimpy outfit for him. She was touching him and looking at him and telling him that she wanted him. It all sounded right, felt right, but the way she was trembling gave her away.
She was still scared. He didn’t know if it was of him or if it was whatever had sent her down here looking for him, and until he knew for sure, he wouldn’t touch her. He’d promised himself that he wouldn’t take advantage of her and he wouldn’t break that promise. He thought that promise, and keeping it, might be the true barometer of whether he could ever be a good man.
“No.”
Her gaze jerked up to his and her bottom lip trembled slightly, “Wh-what?”
“You don’t want me, Rach. Not like I want you. I wish you did but...”
“I do.” Her brows knit together, as if she didn’t understand what he was doing. Maybe she didn’t. Hell, he knew his body didn’t understand why he was pushing away the one woman it wanted. “I want you. That’s why I’m here. I-I know how this w-works. You c-claimed me. I’m yours.”
