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He’d put his hands on her again, though, pressing her tight against his chest as he ravished her mouth. Jami had been into it, he reminded himself. She hadn’t been upset at all after making out with him. His protective streak was just in overdrive. Mainly wanting to protect her from him.
Malcolm’s instincts kept clamoring at him to claim her. To make her his. Jami belonged to herself, though. Malcolm had never been possessive toward a woman before. It was likely the loss of blood to his brain from his constant erection. He’d been serious when he told her she could have all the time she needed, and he was dedicated to that. He just had to get his head on straight. And hell, maybe rub one out more often in the meantime.
“Mal!” Reggie snapped from the kitchen window in a tone that said it wasn’t the first time.
Malcolm glanced over from where he was filling the water glasses for the customers who had interrupted Jami’s fantastic kiss. His heart thumped at his friend’s dark expression.
Reggie jerked his head toward the back alley. “Little Bit ain’t alone.”
The water was still running as Malcolm rushed through the kitchen, shoving open the back door. A glance was all it took for his ever-shimmering rage to flood him. “Make the call,” he snapped out, already moving.
“Fuck, Mal,” Reggie said behind him, but Malcolm wasn’t listening.
No, all he could focus on was the rapist prick with his lips covering Jami’s as she tried to shove him away. She freed herself enough to demand he let her go.
“I don’t want to,” Raneer whined.
Malcolm’s hand clamped down on Raneer’s arm, not wanting to bother with a warning. “And I don’t give a shit.” His voice had that even tone, as if it came from someone else. “You heard her. Let her go, or I break your arm.” Satisfaction filled him as fear slid into Raneer’s eyes. The man was too panicked to obey him. Malcolm’s other arm came up even as he shoved down. Raneer screamed, and Malcolm let him crumple to the ground, warning himself not to reach for him again.
Jami stumbled back a step now that she’d been released. Her hand moved up under her hair, pressing the spot on her scalp Raneer had gripped.
Malcolm took a deep breath and did his best to suppress the mental image of that asshole hurting her. “Are you okay?” he asked. She was all right, he told himself, plugging the cracking dam inside. He’d gotten to her in time.
Jami nodded, but she didn’t reach for him.
Of course not, Malcolm thought. He wouldn’t want to approach someone as mad as he was either. He hoped breaking the man’s arm had been enough to leash his anger until the cops showed up.
Raneer’s snuffling ended in a sucked-in breath where he lay on the concrete. He stared up at Jami through streaming eyes. “This is the type of man you left me for?”
Jami grabbed Malcolm’s arm before he could turn.
She looked down at the man. “You were hurting me, Andrew.”
Raneer shook his head even as he clutched his broken arm. “I’d never hurt you, my sweet Jami. I love you more than anything.”
The possessiveness sent more cracks splintering out from the center of Malcolm’s self-control. His arm shook, and Jami squeezed tighter.
“You’ve always hurt me.” Jami’s voice cracked, the words barely there.
“I’ve always taken care of you. Cherished you. Ever since you first gave yourself to me.”
The man meant when he’d raped her. Malcolm bit back the words, not willing to risk the last thread of his control snapping if they both denied it. Jami still didn’t think of it like that either.
Raneer sneered at him. “A man like this will grow bored with you, Jami. He won’t understand how precious your pure soul is. He’ll expect the passion that you can’t give.” The fool looked like he truly believed what he was saying. “There’s a reason you trusted me to be your first.”
The falseness of the man’s claim helped Malcolm feel steadier. “You really weren’t.” He was able to meet Jami’s eyes.
Her grip loosened on his arm as her eyes reflected the same memory.
Raneer grimaced. “Of course I was.” He had eyes only for Jami. “Please, my sweet. You never voice what you want, but I know you, better than anyone.”
Jami shook her head. “You don’t. I can’t be with you. I can’t do that to myself anymore.”
The volcano sputtering inside Malcolm settled at her words.
Raneer’s mouth went slack. “No.” He shook his head in denial. “You can’t do this. Not after what I’ve done for you.”
“Come on, Jami,” Malcolm said, gesturing toward the door. “You don’t have to listen to this.”
