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I want to find this fucker and kill him with my bare hands, slowly and painfully. I walk behind her, put my hands on her shoulders, pulling her back, and gently say, “No one gets near you. I swear. I would have to be dead for anyone to get within five feet of you.” I am so close I can smell her. Vanilla and strawberries. Fuck! I want this woman and I can’t do this the way I know how. Gentle does not describe me. I’m not even sure I can do gentle.
She turns around to face me and puts her hand on my forearm. “Thank you. I do feel better knowing that you’re here. I know it must be no fun playing babysitter.” Her head is on my heart and I swear she can hear it pounding. I wrap my arms around her shoulders and relish the moment.
“Am I interrupting?” Guard is standing at the entrance of the tent. I can see he’s stunned by the sight of Maddie wrapped up in me. “I just wanted to check that you have everything you need.”
Maddie jolts back, but I hang on to her and keep her loosely at my side. “We’re fine.”
The entire entourage of The Smoking Guns enter the tent, all staring at me and my arm around Maddie. They look confused and the girls have their mouths hanging open. Again, Maddie shifts to move away from me. I know it’s because people are staring, not because she wanted to move. I hang on tight. I don’t want to lose contact and I love the way her body fits into mine.
“We should start getting ready.” She looks at Paul and he nods but doesn’t actually say anything. Maddie clears her throat, trying to get back control of the situation. “Is the stage set?”
“Yeah. I think we should get dressed first and then try the sound.” And with that, Maddie chameleons into an assured persona.
“Okay, Brianna and Michelle, let’s unpack the makeup and get moving,” Maddie commanded. Wow! All fucking business. Who is this woman? The mere mention of music and she turns into the confidence queen.
“Sure,” one girl said while the other nods. No idea who is who at this point. Although they’re both lookers, they don’t hold a candle to the attraction I feel to Maddie.
“Guys, get out. We need to get changed. Paul, can you guys have a dozen water bottles just off-stage? I want to make sure we stay hydrated.”
And the direct, all-business attitude continues to roll.
“Sure, sis.” Paul turns to Darren, Troy, and Alex. “Let’s give them some space.”
“We’ll be ready in half an hour and then meet you on stage.” Maddie moves to where a mirror and table are setup on one side of the tent.
Everyone but the girls file out. “Maddie, I’m standing just outside the door. You yell if you need me,” I assure her.
Maddie lifts her eyes to me and quietly says, “Thank you.”
Guard is waiting for me just outside the tent flap. The attack starts as the moment I walk out. “What the hell is going on between you two?” he growls.
“Nothing yet,” I reply calmly.
“I promised her she was going to be safe. Watch yourself, War. She’s off limits,” he commands.
“She is safe,” I counter loudly. And then add in a much lower, more deliberate tone, “She is mine. I want her.” And with that statement said out loud, I know my life was changing fast. I have never given any woman the title of being mine.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?!” Guard retorts. I’ve clearly pissed off our president.
“Before you go all ballistic on me, did anything stop you from getting with Ava?” I counter. I dig into the fact that he was so far gone over his wife that nothing she said, nor any barrier she put up deterred him from being with her.
“Jesus! That was completely different.” Guard rubs a hand over the back of his neck.
“I’m not going to do anything until tonight is over. My job is to stay close and keep her safe. No one gets near Maddie tonight,” I say. “Tomorrow I work out a plan to keep her with me.”
He looks shocked. “You’re out of your mind,” shaking his head.
“Maybe. But I’ve been loyal and have never asked for anything. You ask, or the crew asks, and I give. Now I’m asking; I want Maddie. You with me?” I ask. I’m blunt, but I want this woman. I have shown loyalty over and over. “I plan on talking with her about this damn soon, so I want this settled now.”
“Fuck! If you can get her, then yeah, I’m with you. But you do not cause any problems with the band or the club, and don’t freak her out.”
“Well, I might unintentionally freak her out. Some shit happened and she’s completely on guard.” I smiled then added, “But I like a challenge. And I always get what I want.”
Guard slaps me on the back. “Wait until the guys hear about this.” He lets up and gives me smile that says, you’re completely screwed.
Guard was right; the guys are going to have a field day with this. I swore never to take a woman permanently and here I am plotting to make Maddie mine forever.
After the stage is lit and the equipment is all setup, Maddie, Brianna, and Michelle exit the tent and walk onto the stage. Maddie is wearing black leather shorts and a red Harley t-shirt with rebel rocker written on the back. She has black leather bands around her forearms with chrome detailing. Holy hell! This is going to be a long night. I stand in front of the stage, watching them work.
