But I had worked myself into such a frenzy, I wouldn’t be able to calm myself until I had seen Aiden with my own two eyes.
After a minute or two of panicking and trying to figure out what my next move was going to be, I was surprised to find himonthe floor, dancing.
He wasn’t much of a dancer, but the guy at his back that he was grinding against didn’t seem to have any complaints. He seemed so different at the club than he did anywhere else in his life—more free, more himself.
I scowled. It wasn’t jealousy. Really, it wasn’t. More like I just didn’t like other people touching my things, and Aiden wasmine.
The guy’s hand slid from Aiden’s hip and my eyes narrowed more and more the closer his hand got Aiden’s crotch. He tried to wiggle away from the man, but the arm he had banded across Aiden’s chest held him in place, not allowing him to get free.
I saw red as Aiden continued to struggle against the man and I wondered why he didn’t take him down. Sure, he might be smaller than the guy, but I knew how tough he was. He was a decorated police detective. His size be damned.
Honestly, it was one of the things that drew me to him. There was a quiet strength in that compact packaging.
But at the end of the day, it didn’t matter why he wasn’t defending himself. I would free my little bird. I was his Daddy, whether he knew it or not, whether he wanted it or not. And it was my job to protect him and take care of him.
And that was what I was going to do.
Starting with the asshole getting handsy with my little bird on the dance floor.
I pushed through the densely crowded floor of writhing bodies and made my way to where Aiden and the asshole weredancing. When I got next to them, Aiden didn’t seem to notice me at first. He was too intent on trying to peacefully extract himself from the situation that the lumberjack of a man next to him seemed to keep him in.
I, on the other hand, didn’t have such qualms.
Before I even finished formulating a plan, I moved behind them and grabbed the guy by the throat. I yanked him back against me, and he seemed surprised as he shouted and squirmed for a moment. Then he went stock still, feeling the edge of my blade at his side.
Goal accomplished. His hands were no longer on Aiden.
He spun around to see what was happening. The line between his brows and the frown on his face were easy to read as confusion. It was the tilt of his head as he stared at the scene before him, that I wasn’t able to read quite as well.
Over the loud noise of the club, I heard Aiden’s confused voice say my name.
“Nate? What are you doing here?” He didn’t sound mad, but he also didn’t sound exactly happy either. I was sure he would have rather dealt with the towering hulk on his own, but he would learn I was a possessive asshole and that he was mine.
No one was going to get away with touching what was mine, especially if he was unwilling. Hell, even if he was willing.
A growl started deep in my chest. While the asshole pressed against me felt the vibrations, and the pulse in his neck picked up speed, Aiden was none the wiser to all my baser instincts wanting to come out and play.
“Move along, asshole. He isn’t interested.” I didn’t press enough to cut through his clothes or skin, but I did give the blade a slight nudge to remind the guy to behave. “Now, apologize.” I shoved him forward, sliding my blade back into my pocket so Aiden wouldn’t notice it.
“Sorry, man,” the guy stuttered before he darted away, giving me one last wary look.
“What the fuck was that?”
I tore my gaze from the retreating man and looked over at Aiden. My head cocked to the side as I watched him march toward me, his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. He was angry, but I didn’t know why.
“Aiden?” I wasn’t used to people reacting to me the way he did. Most people bent over backward to accommodate me and to try to make me happy.
I’d say it felt wrong to have him act that way, but everything about him feltright.
“You’re mad?” I asked, wanting to understand what was wrong. What I’d done wrong.
I thought I was protecting him.
My little bird let out an exasperated huff and tried to walk away, but I grabbed ahold of his arm. Looking back, I was lucky he didn’t turn around and swing. There was a vibration coursing through his body, a tension I didn’t like.
“Of course I’m fucking mad.” The way he looked at me told me I was missing something that should have been obvious. It was a look I used to get a lot while I was growing up and it hit me like a punch to the gut.
“Oh. I just…” My voice was low, so quiet I wasn’t even sure if he heard me as I looked at the ground. Anywhere but at him and what achingly looked like disappointment on his face.
