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Maybe if Sloane had kept dancing with the strangers it would’ve been different. If it hadn’t been Kasper’s hands sliding down her back, gripping her waist as he pushed himself against her, maybe it wouldn’t be affecting him this way. No, it didn’t matter who touched her. He didn’t like it. Not one single bit. She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.
“Max told me you ran into some trouble at work,” Charlie said to Sloane in between Kasper’s ever-witty jokes. His fingertips roved lazily across Sloane’s bare knee. Bastard.
“Yeah, I was in the right place at the wrong time. The guys have been worried about me ever since. And to make matters worse, my apartment was broken into.”
“Oh my God! How horrible. I couldn’t imagine going back to something like that. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.”
“It’s scary and I felt violated after seeing my apartment, that’s for sure. Now I’m on lockdown until he’s caught or the guys think I’m safe.”
“I’ll keep you safe, Darlin’.” If Gutter Mouth didn’t stop winking at Sloane that way, Max was going to lose his shit. He was already hanging on by a thread with the way he was touching her.
“Aww, how romantic. Like a white knight. How long have you two been dating?”
“We aren’t, actually. We just met tonight,” Sloane said, jabbing Kasper with a playful elbow to the side.
“Oh wow, really? I’m sorry. I just assumed.”
“See what happens when you assume?” Max growled.
“Anyway—” Charlie gave him a disapproving look. “—it at least helps to know guys like these are looking out for you, right?”
Sloane sighed. “It does, but I’ll be happy once it’s all over. I just want to get on with my life. I hate living out of a suitcase.”
“Have you been staying at a hotel?” Charlie asked.
“Um, actually I’ve been staying with Max.”
Charlie’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second; only someone studying her reaction would have noticed it. Max knew she’d want an explanation of some sort, but she wasn’t his girlfriend, and he didn’t want her to think she was by giving her one. She’d never been his girlfriend. She did, however, know his number one rule: No women at his home.
“Oh. Well I hope you’ll be okay.”
“I’ll be fine,” Sloane said. She lied almost as well as Bella, he thought.
The night went by slowly for Max. Every time Sloane and Kasper hit the dance floor, Max wanted to hithim. Charlie asked him to dance several times, but he couldn’t be bothered. In fact, he wished she would stop pawing all over him. He wasn’t a touchy feely in public kind of guy. Then again, he wasn’t a touchy feely guy in private either. Sure, he had no problem touching a woman. He could work Charlie with ease, but he wasn’t the kind of guy to cuddle with after or talk about feelings. Why the hell did he bring her here in the first place? Oh yeah, he wanted to get laid. What a joke.
Talk about a touchy feely man. Now Kasper had his hands just above the soft globes of her ass as the song ended. With each song his hands dropped lower. One or two songs more and he would have Sloane’s sweet ass in the palms of his grimy hands, literally. A slow pop song sang about love. It was the first slow song that they had danced to. Sloane put her head on Gutter Mouth’s shoulder, eliminating any space between them. Max saw red. Oh hell no, he wasn’t going to sit and watch this.
Max was on his feet before common sense could stop him. He tapped Kasper on the shoulder, and without a word he stepped in, taking his place. Surprise washed over Sloane’s features before she could school her expression. What did she see when she looked at him? Did his eyes give him away? Did she know what she did to him or how hard he’d fought against her pull? Her arms slipped around his neck, but inches still separated their bodies. He couldn’t have that. He needed to erase Kasper from her body.
Max pulled her close enough that he knew she could feel his semi-erection press into her belly. He didn’t care; in this moment, he wanted her to know. Her breasts practically flattened between their bodies he held her so tightly. Like a lover’s caress, his hands never stopped moving. Sliding down her back, up her side, swirling circles on her hip. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders. One hand played with the hair on the nape of his neck. Their eyes locked together, unwavering. It was breathtaking.
The song continued on as the rest of the room fell away. No one else existed. Sight, sound, smell—all of his senses were filled with only her. His hands threaded into her golden mane, pulling her head forward to meet his. Their bodies touched from their foreheads, chests, and hips. He could taste her breath on his lips as they swayed together. The sweet smell of the margaritas she had been drinking beckoned to him to take a taste.
He was just about to give in and take that taste when suddenly Sloane pulled away, her eyes wide with wonder. Max instantly missed the feel of her. Cold seeped into his skin all the while his blood burned for her. He wanted to grab her again and beg her not to let go this time.
“Song’s over,” she whispered like he cared.
“Just like that, it’s over…” Max didn’t know if he was making a statement or asking a question. Was he talking about the dance or the enchantment they had been under? That he wasstillunder? She opened her mouth, an answer on the tip of her tongue. Max held his breath, waiting for her reply. Whatever she said could make or break this thing he could feel between them. Meanwhile, the DJ was taking his sweet time announcing the next song. Max wished she’d answer before the music drowned her out.
“Hey, Darlin’ get your sweet ass over here.” From the table Kasper’s loud call pulled her attention away from Max.
“Gutter Mouth, shut the fuck up.”
It was out of Max’s mouth before he could stifle it. He groaned internally, slowly closing his eyes in frustration.Way to lose your cool there, Maxwell.Sloane’s jaw dropped slightly. It might have been comical in any other situation. Risking a look behind him, Max took in the expressions on his friends’ faces. Disbelief, humor, self-righteousness, and—yup, right there to round it all out—rage. Charlie was one pissed off woman.
That pissed off woman was heading in his direction, a murderous look in her eye. Her confident stride quickly ate up the space between them. Briefly he wondered if he could hide behind Sloane. Nah, even in her incredibly sexy heels she was still a few inches shorter than him.
“You had to be here toprotecther?” she accused, her hands waving around.
