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Then Maverick concentrated his stern look at the man, his eyes colder than I’d seen them before. All he had to do was take two long strides toward him and issue a single, brutal punch to the man’s nose. Even over the music, I could hear bones crunching, blood immediately spewing from the guy’s nose.
And a smile crossed my face.
My brutal hero had come to save the day again.
The jerk was tossed into a table, knocking over a chair. Even with a crushed nose, it didn’t stop him from jerking to his feet, coming at Maverick with murderous intent in his eyes.
Within seconds, a brawl had started, Maverick easily tossing two of the cowboys across their table as patrons chanted for a fight.
“Whoa, boys. This isn’t going to happen in my bar,” Scorpion snarled, the sheriff and deputy getting in the middle.
Maverick snarled so loudly several of the customers jumped back. “Stay the fuck away from her.”
“Okay, buddy. Let the sheriff take it from here,” Scorpion told him, giving me an amused glance before pushing Maverick back by a few feet. He acted as if he wasn’t finished, howling like a wild animal.
Like a wolf.
The crowd loved it.
I suddenly realized there were lights everywhere, a commotion coming from behind me. But that didn’t stop Maverick from uttering a deep growl then turning toward me, yanking me into his arms.
“Did you miss me, sweetheart?” There was a possessive look on his face, the intensity of his eyes as they bore into mine exactly as I’d seen moments before he’d left. He had scratches on his cheek, dried blood on his neck, but he was alive.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, my legs around his thunderous thighs, the entire world around us fading away.
“Yes. You scared me,” I told him.
“Aww. You were worried about me. How sweet.”
As at least twenty or so people started to clap, whistling and shouting, the wonderful haze remained over us. No one could interfere.
Then they did, the lights from before suddenly in our faces.
“Mr. Dane. Can you tell us about your experience in capturing a notorious criminal?”
“Mr. Dane, how does it feel to save two lives?”
“Mr. Dane. Did you know you’re a hero?”
The questions came fast and furious, reporters everywhere and the look in Maverick’s eyes shifted to stark coldness, even anger. He swung his head in their direction and I had a feeling he was prepared to launch into them had I not placed my hand on his chest.
“Ignore them,” I said just loudly enough he faltered, allowing his heated gaze to drift toward me again.
“Out of my face.” His words were little more than a snarl and he kept his arm wrapped around my back, spinning in the other direction then taking long strides through the crowd. Somehow, he managed to shove customers aside, his purposeful steps finally forcing an open path toward the back of the bar.
When he moved down the hallway toward the bathrooms, I sensed the crowd following. Then he smacked his hand on the women’s restroom door, taking us inside.
“Get out,” he told the three women standing by the sink. “And stay out.”
I wanted to laugh, but tears remained in my eyes, the adrenaline rush starting to fade. I couldn’t believe he was here or that my reactions were so strong. Only when everyone had left did he lower me to my feet, wrapping his massive hand around the back of my neck.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to mess around with raunchy cowboys?” he asked, the same deep husky tone I’d grown to love sending a shower of skitters down to my toes.
“Well, my man wasn’t here to keep me in line. You know how naughty I can be.”
He rubbed his knuckles across my cheek, shaking his head ever so slowly. “Yeah, I do.” When he crushed his mouth over mine, I clamped my fingers around his jacket, pulling him close. He kissed me as if it was our last, sweeping his tongue inside, taking everything he wanted.
And what he believed belonged to him.
