Page 50 of Billionaire Bad Boy Auction

DEAN

The moment her lips touched mine, something in me snapped. I didn’t even think—I just reacted. My hand slid to the back of her neck, fingers tangling in her hair as I pulled her closer. I swore I could feel every ounce of the fire she’d been holding back since the day she showed up in Larkspur Lake.

She tasted like lemonade and something sweet, something I couldn’t quite place. My other arm went around her waist, bringing her flush against me. She didn’t resist—if anything, she leaned into it, her hands pressing against my chest like she was trying to anchor herself. The fireworks exploded overhead, but they might as well have been a million miles away for all I cared.

She kissed me like she was afraid I might escape. I kissed her back like I was trying to forget everything else. The noise of the festival faded into nothing. All I could focus on was the way her body fit against mine, the way her breath hitched when I deepened the kiss. For the first time in years, I felt like maybe I wasn’t just going through the motions. The memory of the other night rushed to the forefront of my mind. I’d been so close to taking her. It had taken a cold shower and a little one-on-one time with my hand to get my body to relax after what she had done to me.

I had been kicking myself since I walked away. This woman was not like the others. I wanted her. I fucking needed her. She was offering me heaven. I’d be a damn fool not to take it.

The kiss should’ve lasted longer. I had every intention in making this kiss last all damn night—preferably at my place. But then I heard it. A loud pop, followed by a sputtering explosion that wasn’t part of the show.

I ripped myself away from Portia just in time to see Seth and his idiot friends near the docks, laughing, scrambling.

Then fire.

A stray firework had hit one of the boats, flames licking up the side, smoke curling into the air.

“Shit,” I muttered, my heart pounding. “That fucking idiot!”

Portia blinked, dazed, still caught in the moment we’d just lost. “What?”

I didn’t wait to explain. I was already moving, running toward the docks, cursing under my breath.

The chaos was overwhelming. People were screaming, shouting. Someone was grabbing a fire extinguisher, but it wasn’t enough. I shoved through the crowd, my eyes locked on Seth, who was standing there like this was some kind of joke.

I yanked him back just as another spark shot too close for comfort.

Seth laughed, his voice slurred. “Relax, Dean. It’s fine.”

I grabbed him by the collar, my patience snapping. “What the hell did you do?”

Seth shrugged, his grin wide. “Just having fun.”

I shoved him back, my voice low and dangerous. “You could’ve gotten someone hurt.”

Seth scoffed, brushing himself off. “It’s fine. No one’s hurt.”

I didn’t respond. This was not fine. People were still scrambling to get away from the beach, the fire spreading faster than anyone could control. Someone was losing their property, which meant Seth and his dipshit friends were responsible for the loss. I couldn’t get a good look at the boat, but it was probably a good ten grand. That was a felony.

I could hear the sirens in the distance. The firetruck was already on the way.

“You’re a fucking menace, Seth,” I snapped. “What the hell were you thinking?”

He was drunk. And stupid. That was a dangerous combination.

I was about to walk away and get away from the perp when I heard a noise. It was a woman yelling. Something in the woman’s voice put me on alert. She was running toward the dock, directly toward the fire. No one would get that upset about a boat.

Down on the dock, there was a kid in a nearby boat, covering his head for shelter while his mother yelled his name from shore. I didn’t hesitate.

I raced across the dock, fireworks and flames shooting out of the burning boat, blowing right past me. Seth yelled at me to come back, but I had my sights on the kid.

I leaped into the boat, the heat from the fire searing my skin. The flames were catching on the dock, and I knew I didn’t have much time. If the fire department didn’t get here soon, it was going to be the whole damn dock that went down, with the kid.

“Hey, kid,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos. “You’re going to be okay. I’m getting you out of here.”

The boy looked up, his eyes wide with fear, but he nodded. I cursed, unhooking the boat from the dock and shoving off, creating just enough space when the burning boat suddenly exploded. The gas tank had caught fire, and the force of the blast sent debris flying.

I shielded the kid beneath me, my body covering his as the heat and noise roared around us. “It’s going to be okay,” I said close to his ear even as heat seared the backs of my legs and back. “Just hold on.”