“Reed?” I heard Lina ask, as if she just realized I was here.
I kicked him again before bending to land another punch into his bloody face. I grabbed his shirt, pulling him up to look me inthe eyes. “Who the fuck are you?” I shook him, his head rolling loosely on his neck. “Who the fuck are you?” I spat out.
“Reed?” Lina asked again, her hand settling on my arm, stilling me. I looked over my shoulder at her, quickly assessing her up and down to make sure she wasn’t injured. Maybe there were no physical marks on her, but she looked confused … like she wasn’t sure if she was actually seeing me.
“Yeah, it’s me,” I told her, turning back to the asshole who was now a rag doll in my grip. “What the fuck did you do to her?” I seethed in his face. “What did you give her?” I shook him.
His brows pinched, his eyes rolling, attempting to focus. It looked disconcerting with his bloody grin, as if he thought this was fucking funny. “The slut wanted it.”
I saw fuckingred. Enraged, murderous red.
“That was the wrong fucking thing to say.” I reeled my arm back, wanting to finish this guy, but by the looks of him, one more hit, and I was going to put him to sleep. I gripped his shirt harder, drawing him closer until we were nose to nose. “Stay the fuck away from her. If I see your ugly ass face again—or if you so much as approach her—my fist in your face will feel like child’s play compared to what I will do to you.”
And with a final punch and another crunch of his nose, I let his head fall back and dropped him to the dirt.
I didn’t waste any time, stepping over his body and gathering Lina into my arms. I ducked my head into her hair, breathing in her sweet floral scent, assuring myself that she was safe.
She was trembling. Maybe out of fear, a chill, or the drugs coursing through her system. Just the thought of it made me want to turn back around and end the unconscious asshole on the ground for good, but it was time to take care of her. She needed me right now. Using the feeling of her pressed against me to center me, to cool my fury, I released a heavy breath.
“Come on. Let’s get you back to the trailer,” I said, picking her up. She may have been able to walk, but I wanted to get us out of here as quickly as possible. Not just because I didn’t want us to be found beside a dude beaten to a pulp, but because I needed to make sure she was okay and as far away from him as possible.
I carriedher to the bed in the front of the fifth wheel, laying her down on the mattress.
My fingers encircled her leg below her knee to pull off her boots. Her skin was like silk. I couldn’t resist letting my fingers linger on her calf while I removed one boot, then the other, leaving her socks on.
She stretched out like a damn cat with her arms over her head, arching her back, pressing her tits in the air while her dress hiked up her legs until it was bunched at the apex of her thighs, giving me a peek at her panties.
Fuck me.Black. I was right.
Focus! Not the time for this.
“Stay right there,” I told her, heading toward the kitchenette to pour her a glass of water.
“This feels––feels funny.” She started giggling behind me until I was back by her side with the water.
“Here, drink this.” I helped her sit up while she leaned on her elbows, tipping the glass to her lips.
Her eyes fluttered up to mine, taking me in while she sipped. She plopped back on the pillow without warning, making the water slosh over the edge. Her teeth scraped across her full bottom lip, now wet from the glass.
She released a big sigh, as if exasperated. “You shouldn’t come to the bar with me.”
“We’re not going to the bar, baby,” I told her. “We’re back at the camper.”
Her brows pinched in confusion, and her mouth curved into a frown. “I’d never make you come with me if I knew, but I didn’t know. You should have told me.”
“What are you talking about, sweetheart?” She wasn’t making much sense.
“You don’t drink, and I forced you to be aroundallthat alcohol.” She waved her arms around to emphasize the amount of liquor being poured at the bars, and I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling.
“Don’t worry about that.” I shook my head. Her arms plopped back onto the bed. “It’s a boundary I set for myself after my poor judgment hurt you. I’d follow you through hell, even if it meant fighting my demons to get to you.”
Her face softened at my words.
“You came after me,” she whispered, her thoughts seemingly skipping around. The moon cast light through the window, bathing her in the white glow, shining off her warm locks fanned out across the pillow.
“I told you I would.”
The serene look on her face turned into a scowl. “Is that why you followed me home?”
