Page 7 of Beneath the Midnight Sky
Moving in a straight line to her, I could tell when she saw me coming from the way her eyes widened. The deep blue of them would be easy for me to fall into; however, the jackass about to die hadn’t seen me yet. But he would. Coming up behind him, I wrapped my arm around his neck and had him in a headlock before he even noticed my presence.
“Let her go, or I’ll squeeze until your neck snaps.” My words were clear and concise—no room for misinterpretation—even on the noisy dance floor.
He immediately released her and tried to grab my arm, but I squeezed harder. My little angel backed up and stared, in what seemed to be awe or possibly shock. I wasn’t sure which. I also chose to ignore that I just called hermy little angel—even if it was in my own mind, and not aloud for her to hear.
“Who the fuck are you?” he wheezed as he continued to try to break free from my hold, his feet starting to attempt to kick me.
“He’s my boyfriend!” she yelled over top of the music, her eyes wide and her cheeks a stunning shade of pink. I wasn’t sure if it was a blush due to what she just screamed, or if it was from the drinks she’d been having. Either way, I liked it, possibly too much. The guy immediately stopped trying to hit me when he heard her words, though.
“Now listen closely. I’m going to let go of you, and you’re going to get the fuck out of this bar and never return. Then I’ll make sure to keep my temper in check and not go after you with a broken beer bottle. Do you understand?” I didn’t want him getting any ideas that he could apologize to her and try again.
I could feel him trying to nod his head, so I released him as he staggered, trying to regain his balance and air supply before running toward the door with his friend behind him.
I walked toward her and wrapped my arms around her immediately tense body. “Relax. It’s just in case he turns around to check. This is something yourboyfriendwould do, right?” I whispered against her hair. She smelled so damn good. Some type of floral something and something chemical like. I wasn’t sure about the last part, but fuck if it didn’t have me wanting to devour her.
“Thank you…so much. Can I get you a beer or something? Just to say thank you, of course,” she said against my chest. I could tell she was trying to force her body to relax, and I smiled at her ability to follow directions so easily.
“A beer would be lovely.”
She gently pushed herself back just in time for Ivy to run over and stare at us with wide eyes, like she’d just witnessed a miracle.
“Rowan? What’s going on?” Ivy asked quickly.
“Just some jackass. Don’t worry about it, Ivy. Thank you again, Rowan. I appreciate it,” my little angel said quickly as she grabbed Ivy’s hand and started walking away toward the bar. “I’ll get you that beer!” she yelled over her shoulder.
I watched her walk away, my hands clenched and unclenched at my sides a few times, trying to find my center again. Everything about her made me want to push her up against a wall and wrap my hand around her throat. To claim her as mine. Listen to her scream my name all night long. Maybe punish her for downplaying the moment we just shared aloud for everyone else to hear.
A hand came from behind me and squeezed my shoulder. I looked over to see my brothers. “You good, dude?” Theo asked.
I nodded my head. “Fine. I have a beer coming later.” I smirked and headed back toward our table. I should leave. I should focus on my brothers and less on the woman that justwalked away from me, but something told me none of that was going to happen—not even close.
3
INSTIGATOR TO THE EXTREME
Aspen
I was doingmy absolute best not to look, glance, or even sneak a quick peek over at Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome, who had rescued me while also making me fear for my life all in the span of fifteen seconds. The guy who had started dancing with me, Garrett, started getting handsy, and my anxiety spiked. I hadn’t been with anyone, let alone allowed another man to touch me, since Sam. Apparently, my subconscious wasn’t interested after all.
But before I could react even more—punch him in the face, stomp on his foot, knee him in the balls—hewas there, his broad, muscular arm around Garrett’s throat like the speed of light, whispering threats that made Garrett bolt for the door with his friend in tow. My own personal Superman.
No, not Superman.Rowan.
He was even more perfect standing before me in all his glory. He had to be around six feet three, and even with the clothes on? You could tell he was perfectly sculpted under all that denim and cotton. By the time I could form words again, all I could think tooffer him—that wasn’t pornographic—was a beer. There wasn’t a great deal of thought in this plan. Well, there was thought, just maybe not with the logical portion of my brain.
Clearly, my subconscious could react to a male…just not one like Garrett. Rowan, however, was a different breed of man, that was clear.
Looking over at Ivy, she was smiling at me as if she already knew what I was about to ask, and before I could utter the question, she started running through the facts. “So, that’s Rowan Carragan. I mean, if you’re going to pick one to take home to get back on the horse, he’s a great option. He’s even a cowboy! So the horse reference fits. The man isn’t known for commitment, and I know after…well, you know who, you aren’t into the serious aspect just yet, and since he hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night, you know he’s interested.”
After I’d moved here, Ivy and I had a girls’ night at her apartment. After one too many margaritas and homemade tacos, I’d broken down and told Ivy exactly why I left Nevada and who I was running from. I figured if Sam followed me again, someone should know who to go after. I trusted Ivy with that and much more.
“Ivy, this isn’t a laughing matter. I told that other guy he was my boyfriend and then just offered the man a beer for pretty much saving my life. I feel like he needs a monument or some shit. Who just chokes a guy out in the middle of the dance floor like it’s no big thing to save a woman he doesn’t even know?”
I knew it wasn’t that serious. I’d probably never see this man again. I needed to just let it go and have fun with Ivy. Yet…everything in my heart was saying this was the beginning of something way more. Which I knew was insane, but the way he looked down at me as he was walking over? That was not normal. The man hadheatin his eyes. I thought that onlyhappened in the books Ivy always read and gushed about while I painted.
“Oh yes. A beer isn’t enough. Should’ve offered to drop to your knees for him instead like a good little girlfriend would.” I knew she was making a joke because I was being dramatic and she knew I was getting in my head, but I couldn’t stop the way my cheeks heated at the thought. Especially since that was the first place my mind had gone when he was in front of me, and it most definitely didnotsound like the worst offer in the world.
“Is he always that intense?” I asked her after a moment.
