Page 8 of Claimed By Lock

I grab fistfuls of his cut and pull him closer. A low rumble comes from deep in his chest, and the sound vibrates through me.

This is insane. You just met him.

But my body doesn't care about logic. My body is pressed against his, feeling the hard planes of his chest through the leather, the strength in the arms that wrap around me. His hand splays across my lower back, pulling me tighter, and I feel exactly how much this is affecting him. Hard and undeniable against my stomach.

He wants me. This quiet, dangerous man wantsme.

And I want him back. More than I should. More than makes any kind of sense.

But none of this makes sense. I've known him for twenty minutes and I'm kissing him like my life depends on it, in the middle of a rally where anyone could see, where Colt could see?—

Reality crashes back in.

I pull away, breathless, my hands still fisted in his cut.

"I can't," I manage. "I'm not— I just got out of something, and I don't?—"

"I know."

"This is too fast. I don't even know you."

His thumb traces along my jaw, unbearably gentle after the ferocity of that kiss.

"You will," he says quietly. "If you want to."

The certainty in his voice should scare me. It does scare me. But underneath the fear, there's warmth spreading through my chest.

I step back. Put space between us. Try to remember how to breathe like a normal person.

"I should go."

"Okay." He doesn't try to stop me. Just stands there, watching me with those dark eyes.

"This doesn't mean—" I stop, not sure how to finish.

"I know what it doesn't mean." He pulls out his phone, taps something, and holds it out to me. "My number. Because Colt's going to try again. And when he does, I want you to have someone to call. That's all. Just... someone in your corner."

He's giving me an out. Making it about safety instead of whatever this actually is. We both know it's more than that. But he's letting me pretend, if I need to.

I take the phone. Save the number to mine. Hand it back.

Our fingers brush, and I feel that contact like a spark. His eyes hold mine as he pockets the phone.

"Goodnight, Josie."

"Goodnight, Lock."

I turn and walk away. Make myself not look back, even though every instinct screams at me to turn around. My lips are tingling. My whole body is still humming from that kiss.

I find Maria near the beer tent, laughing with a group of old ladies from other clubs. She spots me and her eyebrows shoot up.

"Where the hell have you been?" She pulls me aside. "You look like— wait. Why do you look like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like someone just rearranged your whole damn world."

I open my mouth. Close it.