Page 25 of Ruthless Protector

She didn’t turn around, and I was happier than I should be about that. I didn’t want these losers seeing her tits. I fucking hated the idea. But again, I had no claim over her, I didn’t want one, did I? Of course I fucking didn’t. Still nothing could have stopped me from moving down the hall, ignoring the nods from bouncers, dancers that knew me, knew that I was tight with Raul, and headed backstage.

I came around the corner in time to watch Willa reach for the wall, she was breathing hard. Her face was flushed, her bare chest, that she was still covering with one arm, rising and falling with her rapid breaths.

I didn’t know why she was here, what had brought her to this point. I knew she needed money, but I didn’t know why she was willing to go this far to get it. Not that there was anything wrong with stripping, I just didn’t see it as something Willa would do. But then, what did I really know about her? From what I’d seen, this hadn’t been easy for her, not at all, but she’d done it anyway. And for that, I was impressed. Willa was strong, determined. Brave.

She slid on a robe that was handed to her and turned to move to the dressing rooms, stumbling to a stop when she saw me. Her eyes flared, then she blinked up at me like she wasn’t sure if I was actually standing in front of her. Her face flushed darker and I sucked in a rough breath. Excitement, fear—fuck, heat—all rolled into one, slid across her fine features.

Willa was beautiful, delicate, and I suddenly wanted to pull her into my arms and tell her how amazing she’d been out there. How brave I thought she was.

Our eyes stayed locked; that heat was still blazing from her eyes. It had nothing to do with the random guys who had watched her dance tonight. I’d seen it, the change while she moved. She’d been deep inside herself, thinking of something, someone, to get through her first dance.

And I felt…fuck, jealous, of whoever that was.

It made no sense, and neither did me striding toward her, like I was now, moving in so close her back ended up against the wall. She stared up at me, but she wasn’t scared, and she sure as hell wasn’t angry. Her breathing grew heavier, looking at me with a dazed, fucking sexy-as-hell expression that had my cock straining against the zipper of my jeans.

All I could think of was tasting her lips. I didn’t care about the asshole she’d been dancing for. And for once, that mouth wasn’t set in a stubborn line, or firing smart-assed comments at me. So, I leaned in, unable to stop myself, breath huffing out of my nose. I nudged it against hers, our lips barely an inch apart, waiting for her to shove me back, waiting for her to tell me to fuck off. She didn’t.

Her hand lifted, curled into my shirt at my abs, and instead of shoving me back, she pulled me closer.

There was no stopping what came next, no chance in hell.

I claimed her sweet mouth.

Christ.

Her lips were soft, full, and tasted like cherries. One of my hands went to her tiny waist, the other to the wall above her head, so I didn’t haul her off her feet like I was desperate to. I moved my lips over hers, somehow holding back, not devouring her, ignoring the roar in my head and the fire shooting down my spine. I knew that would be the wrong play with her, that pushing too hard, too fast, would bring this…whatever the fuck we were doing, to an end. I didn’t want it to end, not yet.

Her lips felt cool against mine and when her tongue darted out and slid over my bottom lip, it’s scalding heat was an intense contrast. I groaned, my gut fucking curling in a knot so tight, it knocked the wind from me. My fingers flexed at her hip and my control slipped when I opened for her and that sweet little tongue slid against mine. I jerked her closer, growling low when her hand slid up over my abs to my chest.

I was about to drag her off her feet and press her into the wall, take that mouth and fucking own it, take that ample ass in my hands and kneed it, when she suddenly shoved, hard.

I lifted my head, goddamn dazed, and our eyes locked. Hers were wide, confused, still sexily stunned. I’d never seen anything sweeter in my life. I’d messed up, though; kissing her was a huge fucking mistake. She’d just looked so damn lost, so freaked, so beautiful and alone after her dance, and I’d just… Shit, I’d wanted to what? Make her feel better? Let her know how strong and amazing and maddening I thought she was?

There were a hell of a lot of other ways of letting her know that shit, and kissing someone was definitely not the most obvious. I took a step back and shoved my fingers through my hair, watching as reality came chasing back, her expression changing, the sexy flustered look vanishing, like it had never been there.

“What are you doing here?” she rasped.

Her lips were puffy, fuller from having mine all over them, and I forced myself to look away. I planted my hands on my hips so I didn’t reach for her again. “I’m here with some of the guys from my agency.”

All color drained from her face—then I watched her spine straighten and the last traces of softness leave her eyes. “Social club outing, huh?”

“The guys who own the agency think of Raul as a father. He’s a good friend to the rest of us. He also helps us out from time to time with cases, which is why we’re here.”

She crossed her arms, hardening her features. “So…I guess you saw the whole show then?” That fuck-you expression never left her face as she said it, even as her skin flushed darker.

My dick throbbed from the memory. “Yeah, I saw.”

She looked wounded for a split second. “Were you entertained? Did you have a good laugh?” Her lips narrowed into a thin line and she looked away.

“No, why the fuck would I laugh?” I gently cupped her delicate jaw and applied the smallest amount of pressure, wanting her to look at me again. Her eyes were closed off, void of fucking everything when I had them on me again. “Christ, Willa, I think you’re amazing, so fucking brave.” I needed her to know, didn’t want her to be embarrassed or ashamed for doing what she needed to. For doing whatever it took to make sure her niece had everything she needed.

She blinked. “What?”

“It takes guts to get up there.”

Her eyes narrowed. “And you just had to come back here and tell me?”

“Well, yeah.”