Page 20 of Never Going to Care

My feet are moving before I even realize what is going on. I’m not the only one either. Landon’s steps are in time with mine along with Barrett, Owen and Colt. I’m surprised as fuck when Blaze falls into step beside me. He catches my glance and I arch an eyebrow.

“I saw her tense. She’s not mine, but I’ll be damned if I let some woman be touched if she’s not interested and it’s clear that she’s not,” his voice is decisive and low, making me strain to hear him.

I give a nod, relieved I can focus on Celeste. It takes way too fucking long to get to the women in the middle of the dance floor. How can so few steps feel like it takes hours?

Right before I get to her, Celeste spins and shoves the guy in front of her, detaching his hands from her hips as he stumbles back a step. She sneers at him and my cock fucking throbs in response to the fierce look on her face.

Yeah, she’s fucking perfect.

My heart drops because I made a horrible first impression. Can I come back from it? Can I prove to her that while I might be a grumpy asshole a lot of the time, I won’t be like that with her? Well, not when I don’t want to fire her up because I love the way she burns.

I don’t know what’s happening with the other women and I don’t care. I know my brothers will take care of the threats as they see them. Hopefully it doesn’t come to violence, but I wouldn’t put it past any of them. Especially when it comes to Ella’s guys. She’s pregnant as fuck so I don’t know why anyone would think she’s on the market. Then there’s the sparkling ring on her finger.

Men can be so fucking stupid.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” Celeste snarls and leans a little bit toward the man, probably hoping it helps him hear her words and heed them.

I step right up behind her, but don’t let my front press against her back like I want to. Not yet. I level my gaze on the man who dared to touch what is mine.

What is mine?

Celeste is mine?

Fucking hell.

The rightness of the thought settles inside of me, and I know it’s true. She is mine. Why didn’t it click earlier?

I guess it doesn’t matter because I know now and I sure as fuck am not going to run from it. I’ve never backed down from a challenge in my life and I’m not going to start now. Now when it involves this spitfire of a woman and everything she can bring into my life.

The fire.

The love.

The passion.

I need it, crave it. The need in me to protect her, to cherish her, to hold her close, rattles inside of me and I don’t push it down this time. I won’t be able to ever again, not now that I know what she means to me.

How could I deny it before?

Fear is a damn bitch. No more.

I can tell this dickwad in front of me isn’t going to back down. He starts to step back into Celeste’s space, but then his eyes rise above her head and clash with mine. I clench my jaw and his eyes widen slightly.

“Fine, fucking tease,” he snarls pitifully at my woman and my muscles tense.

Celeste reaches back and grabs my arm as if to stop me from lunging at him. I freeze for so many reasons. She’s fucking touching me which is enough of a shock. How did she know I was here?

I take a step forward, my body grazing hers, before I reach around her and pull her tighter against me by gripping her hip. This fierce piece of flames and determination melts against me and I don’t think I’ve ever felt something better.

Celeste makes a shooing motion with her hand and hisses, “Go on then or I won’t hold him back.”

The sleaze’s eyes flash up to mine and I stare at him. He swallows hard before he melts into the swirling bodies on the dance floor. Good.

The music filters through the haze of my mind, the anger rolling away like fog, and I use my grip on Celeste to start leading her. Our movements are fluid grace which only makes me want her more. As I pull her even tighter against me, I feel the way her breath hitches.

I lean in and nip at her earlobe, my voice a rasp against the shell of her ear, “How did you know I was behind you, Starlight?”

She shrugs and I make a humming sound, but I don’t push her. Not right now. Instead, I let the feeling of being this close to her sink into me.

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