He froze.
It’s about time he did something smart.
I gave his arm a little wiggle as a prompt, and he blurted, “That guy touched you. Then that other guy did. And you were smiling at me. Figured it was fair game.”
It took me a second to piece together his feeble excuse for being a perv.
“Wait. Because myboyfriendtouched me and then myfriendspun me by my shoulders, you thought that gave you permission to violate me?” I scowled down at him, and his throat convulsed as he swallowed.
Good. You should be scared.
Channeling the weariness of every harassed woman, I didn’t hold back. “I bet you throw around crumpled dollar bills at strip clubs and then tell yourself that those women are spending time because they actually like you. That you’re different from all the pathetic sad sacks, and that they love when you proposition them. They don’t. I don’t. We’re doing our jobs. That’s it. Learn to keep your hands to yourself. And while you’re at it, learn to shut your mouth every once in a while.”
I gave one last rough jab, he gave one last howl, and I stepped away.
Only to immediately be pulled into Rhys’s arms. I didn’t even have to look down at the mix of amazing ink to know it was him.
Three bouncers swooped in. Two grabbed the man and hauled him away. One—Stevie—stayed by my side.
If Rhys is about to give me shit for defending myself, I’m going to pop his arm out of its socket. Or at least threaten to do it.
I didn’t get the chance to issue that threat before I was spun.
He clutched my waist as blue eyes scanned me over.
If he was anyone else, he might’ve asked what I’d done or said to give the wrong impression. He might’ve used the situation as evidence of why my increased flirtation at work was a bad idea. If he wasthatkind of person, he might’ve said I needed to stop wearing tight or low-cut shirts.
But he wasn’t.
He was Rhys.
Which was why there was nothing but concern for me—and rage, not for me—on his tense face. “You okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
He let out a frustrated rumble and tightened his grip.
“I’m fine. Promise. Go deal with him.” I went up on my toes but still had to grip his shirt to pull him down so I could reach his mouth. I pressed a quick kiss to it and used that cover to whisper, “I need his name.”
I started to sink back, but he didn’t let me. His hold moved to my face before his mouth crashed down on mine, plunging his tongue in to take and taste and dominate.
It was only a few seconds, but those few seconds were enough to leave me off kilter.
Getting groped and restraining a perv? Cool as a cucumber.
Getting kissed by my fake boyfriend? A melty pile of goo.
“You sure you’re okay?” Rhys asked, his face still close to mine. At my nod, he looked over my head. “Take her back to my office.”
“Got it, boss,” Stevie said.
Rhys released me and stormed toward the back hallway that held the bathrooms and the emergency exit.
An exit that led to a darkened alleyway.
Oh shit.
I tore my focus away to see Stevie staring down at me with a shit-eating grin on his face. “I’m usually bummed when people do my job for me, but that was badass. Where’d you learn to do that?”
