Rush (Carolina Bad Boys, #5)(19)

She wasn’t drunk. Shy wasn’t a lush. And she definitely wasn’t into drugs.

But something was off. Something that rankled my brain.

Something rankled me even more as I studied her.

Tail’s hands on her.

Yeah.

Was gonna break them off at the wrists.

He finally returned her to a seat, holding the chair out for her. Like he knew manners.

Fucking A.

Sadie joined Shy, and I kept on stalking/watching her.

Tail had the balls to slide up next to me. “What does LYLAS mean?”

“Don’t know, but I’ll fucking kill you if you touch Shy again.”

Coletrane leaned forward between us. “Love You Like A Sister. As in he loves you like a sister.”

Barking a laugh, Tail said, “Yeah. That’s what Sadie just told Shy about you, dude.”

“I don’t love her at all.” I gritted my teeth.

“Not like a sister, anyway.” Tail pushed his elbows onto the bar. “And me dancing with her? Just trying to prove a point since you’re too stupid for your own good.”

Sadie approached, and I jumped off my stool so fast I almost knocked it over.

“What exactly did you say to Shy?” I probably sounded half unhinged.

Unimpressed, Sadie let one of her eyebrows arch high. Kinkaid watched me interact with his woman, because it was suddenly absolutely clear to everyone I was not acting like my usual easy-come, easy-go self.

“I told her to stop wasting her time because there are a million other men who would give their left nut to dance with her, or buy her a drink, or I don’t know, take her out on a date!”

Tail’s hand shot into the air. “Me for one.”

Coletrane cleared his throat as if to volunteer, too.

I narrowed my eyes. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

Then my words dried up. So did my mouth. Across the room, Shy lifted her arms, slowly winding her fingers through her already perfect hair. Then, to make matters worse, she pulled out a little compact and proceeded to pucker her lips and apply a glistening layer of lipstick, every motion incredibly feminine.

She effortlessly drew the attention of every single man with a pulse in the bar. And when she kind of kissed her plump siren-red lips together, I groaned.

I wasn't the only one.

I suddenly found myself standing right behind her. She spun around, nearly smacking into me. And looked exactly like she wanted to smack me a good one. Not on the kisser but with her hand across my face.

“You can back off now. I’m leaving, Max, just like you wanted.” The stinging tone of her words was almost as effective as a slap.

I didn’t back off.

Instead I frowned at her, basking in the heat pouring off her body, tempted again by her succulent red pout. “What the hell is this all about exactly? You’re mad at me because what?”

I played stupid, knowing as surely as she did the atomic chemistry between us had been building for weeks.

“You’re overbearing. You act like you need to protect me. You won’t give me the time of day except to treat me like I mean nothing but a sister to you.” Her eyes flashed up in anger, dangerously dark like smoldering embers and I had to wonder if she’d be this fierce, this passionate, if I gave in and kissed her into oblivion. “I can’t believe how goddamn blind you are! I want you!”

Of course some smartass fuck turned off the music at that exact moment. And quickly cranked it right back up.

“No way that’s gonna happen, Shy.” I reeled back.

She followed, on her tiptoes, her nose almost pressed to my chin. “I got it, you asshole. Okay? And now I’m out of here.”

She strutted around me, her chin thrust forward, her shoulders pulled back, and her tits leading the way.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going after dropping that bomb?”

“To find someone man enough to fuck me,” she shouted.

I grabbed her arm, halting her. “Like hell you will.”

She struggled before spinning back to me. “It may have escaped your attention, Maxwell, but I’m an adult. And you have no say over what I do or who I do.”

Dozens of dudes’ hands shot into the air.

“I'm not about to let that happen.”

She flipped her hair, challenging, “And why not?”

“Because I'd probably have to murder anyone who touched you like that,” I said through gritted teeth.

Her eyes widened, and I couldn’t believe I’d said that out loud.

Now I am fucked.

Might as well screw everything up all the way, then.

I released my hold on her arm only to slide my palm up to the soft skin of one bared shoulder.

She licked her juicy lips.

I watched the action, letting the attraction I’d been denying all along pull us closer until her breasts cushioned against my chest, and I felt the distinct crests of her nipples.

“Max?”

I grinned a little, lowering my voice. “You can call me Handsome, you know.”

“What if I don’t think you are?” Her tone was teasing and breathy, her tits rising and falling rapidly.

I grazed the side of my cheek against hers and my voice came out rough beside her ear. “I think you do.”

Her hands skimmed up my back to my shoulders, and I grasped the nape of her neck, closing the final distance between us.