Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Something inside me snapped. A red haze descended over my vision, and the world narrowed to one singular focus. Destroy the motherfucker touching my woman.
I moved silently, covering the distance between us in several long strides. My hand closed around the back of Shank's neck, fingers digging into the pressure points that would cause the most pain.
"Get your fucking hands off my property," I growled, my voice low and deadly.
Shank cried out before he stiffened, then slowly turned his head to look at me over his shoulder. His face was a mess of old scars and fresh bruises from the ongoing fight, but he still managed to form a sneer.
"Your property?" he scoffed, his hand still wrapped around Honey's throat, refusing to let go. "This little piece?"
I tightened my grip, feeling his tendons strain under my fingers. Shank groaned sharply. "I said, let. Her. Go."
The pressure of my grip must have finally become too much because Shank released Honey's throat. She gasped, dragging in a desperate breath as her hands flew to her neck. The sight of the red marks his fingers had left on her skin made my blood boil.
I spun Shank around and slammed him against the opposite wall, my forearm across his throat.
"That's my woman," I said, each word precise and measured. "Touch her again, and I'll gut you. Not quick, either. I'll take my time, make you feel every inch of steel as it opens you up. Only reason you get a pass is because you didn’t know."
Shank's eyes darted between me and Honey, assessing. "No property patch on her."
"She doesn't need colors for you to keep your fucking hands to yourself," I snarled, pressing harder against his windpipe. "But since you need a demonstration..."
I shoved him back as I released him. My gaze never left his as I turned toward Honey. She stood frozen against the wall, her chest heaving with each breath, her beautiful eyes wide and uncertain. Blood spattered my face and shirt. I must have looked like a monster straight from hell, but I didn't give a fuck.
I moved to her in one fluid motion, backing her against the wall. One hand cupped the back of her head, fingers tangling in all that silky hair, while the other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against me.
"Sorry, darlin'," I murmured, low enough that only she could hear, "but this is necessary. Do not fight me."
Then I claimed her mouth with mine.
The kiss wasn't gentle. It couldn't be, not with Shank watching, not with what I needed to prove. I poured every ounce of possession and dominance into it, my lips demanding, tongue invading. I tasted fear on her at first, then something else. A sweetness that made my head spin filled me. This woman was… sweet as fucking honey!
Honey stiffened initially, her hands coming up to push against my chest. Then, something changed. A small whimper escaped her, and though she didn’t kiss me back, her fingers bunched in my shirt. She was passive in my arms except where her fingers gripped the fabric. The deadly combination of her surrender and innocence made me want to take her right there against the wall, audience be damned. I found I wanted to keep her under me until she forgot every other man in existence. Because I had the feeling this kiss had just wiped my memory of every other woman I’d ever had in my life.
When I finally broke away, we were both breathing hard. Her pupils had dilated, turning those golden eyes nearly black, and her lips were swollen from my assault. I kept her tucked against my side, my arm a steel band around her back as I turned to put Shank more fully in my line of sight.
Shank raised his hands in mock surrender, taking a step back. "Message received, Bloody Jack." His eyes lingered on Honey for a second too long. "Didn't realize little innocents were your type."
Ghost and two of the club’s enforcers hurried the short distance down the hall, obviously intent on pounding this fucker into the ground. Shank bared his teeth at them before turning back to me. “Consider this your wake up call, Jack. We’re taking over. You can either accept it or we’ll annihilate you.”
"Let me know how that works out for you, man." I gave him what I hoped was an evil grin. "After I put every last one of you motherfuckers in the fuckin’ ground."
Shank backed away the two steps to the door at the end of the hall. He shoved it open and took off outside and I followed, Honey’s hand firmly in mine. I couldn’t do much with her with me, but I wanted eyes outside. A shrill whistle sounded in the distance and the Copperheads who were able took off in the same direction Shank had headed.