Page 40 of Ruthless Protector

Good. I started the bike with a roar, walked it back from between the cars parked on either side of me, and told her to hold on.

The tires spat up gravel as we roared out of the lot and hit the street.

Willa pressed into my back, her arms wound around me, fingers digging into my stomach as I took a tight corner. I felt her relax after a short time, moving with me as we weaved through traffic. Her hand dropped a little and her pinky finger hit the top of my pants. My abs clenched and my cock responded instantly, stirring to life. Having her on my lap all night, despite the shit going on around us, had been pure torture. That sexy round ass of hers felt like it belonged there. Add to that the smell of her skin, her hair…

Shit, everything about her made me crazy, including her smart mouth.

I wasn’t some manwhore, but I wasn’t a monk either. I didn’t have any trouble finding company for the night when I wanted it, but I’d never wanted a woman the way I did Willa. I didn’t know what it was about her; why her giving me shit turned me the fuck on. She was independent and I respected her for it, even when I wanted to shake her for the same reason.

I needed to get a damn handle on it. On the way I felt about her. I wanted to help her out with whatever trouble she was in, and I sure as hell wasn’t opposed to spending some quality time with her between the sheets. And I knew she was right there with me. Things were getting complicated, which meant I had to be careful because, beyond that? Well, relationships, commitment, they weren’t for me.

I shut down those thoughts before I could go too deep, and took the last corner.

The house I’d bought, the one I’d intended for my sister and nephew, came into view. The light by the front door had been left on, and I had to shake off the memory of my sister smiling at me when I unlocked that door and told her the house was hers. I sure as hell didn’t need to go there tonight.

I pulled to a stop out front, and shut off my bike.

Willa’s hands slipped away and she climbed off. “Thanks for the ride home,” she said, like that was the end of it. Like she could just walk away and I’d forget that whole shit-show never happened.

I stared at her.

She stared back, then she bit her lip.

My cock twitched.

She blew out a breath and forced a little laugh. “Jack, huh? God, I had no idea you’d be there. That was kinda crazy tonight, right? Are you working some undercover case?”

She was trying to play it cool. I didn’t buy it, not one bit. I dipped my chin and didn’t look away, waiting of her to explain what the fuck she was doing there tonight.

She tucked a strand of pale pink hair behind her ear. “I’m pretty sure no one…um, realized we knew each other. So, your case or whatever, won’t be compromised?”

I kicked down the bike stand, the leather seat creaking as I swung my leg over the back. “Nah, they had no clue. You’re a good actress…”

She smiled.

“But not good enough to fool me.”

The smile wavered and she shifted from foot to foot. “What are you talking about?”

“You gonna stop the bullshit and tell me what you were doing there tonight? Or how about, who that little fucker was who delivered you like a lamb to the slaughter?”

She opened her mouth.

“You feed me anymore lies, and we’ll have a serious problem,” I gritted out.

Her spine straightened, chin lifting. “I wasn’t planning on it, seeing as it’s none of your damn business.”

“Is that right?”

She held her ground. The woman was tough, brave, but she also wasn’t stupid. She had to know she was danger tonight. She just didn’t know how much.

“I was fine,” she said, losing some of the steel in her voice, telling me I was right.

“You have any idea who those men were?” I asked.

Her delicate jaw tightened and she reluctantly shook her head.

“Drug runners, weapons dealers, pimps, murderers,” I said, so much gravel in my voice I barely recognized it. “You want to know what would have happened to you if Van and I hadn’t been there?”