Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
A steely glint enters Ford’s eyes as he straightens to his full height, which is just a few inches taller. The murderous expression on his face is one I recognize. There have been a half a dozen times, especially in high school, that he’s given the same look to other guys who couldn’t take no for an answer. Some of those confrontations ended in beatdowns. He always came out on top, but that didn’t mean he didn’t get scraped up in the process. At the end of the night, we’d go home, and I’d carefully tend to his wounds.
Not wanting the situation to escalate into a physical altercation, my palm settles on his chest in order to keep him at bay.
Ford’s arm snakes around my waist before he hauls me against the solid strength of his body. “That’s where you’re wrong. She already told you that she isn’t interested and for some strange reason, you’re unwilling to accept that answer.”
When Ford closes the distance between them, drunk guy has to lift his chin to maintain eye contact. His fingers burn through the thin fabric of my dress as he holds me close. It wouldn’t surprise me to find his handprint singed into the flesh beneath.
A permanent reminder of him.
As if that’s necessary.
I’ve done my damnedest to evict him from my brain and nothing has ever done the trick.
“Now, if you’d like, I’ll back off and let her finish this. But I can tell you what will happen in case you’re interested— you’ll either get smoked in the face or she’ll go for your nuts.” Ford jerks his chin toward me. “She’s not the type of girl who’ll put up with shit from a drunk asshole.”
The guy’s lips flatten into a tight line as he glares at Ford and then me. “Are you calling me an asshole?”
I didn’t think it was possible for the slurring to get worse.
Apparently, I was wrong.
“If you can’t figure that out for yourself, then it’s time to call it a night.”
Drunk guy staggers a couple of paces before shaking his head. “Fuck this. No pussy is worth this much hassle.”
I blow out a relieved breath as he stumbles off through the gyrating crowd. “What a jerk.”
He snorts as the tension gripping him finally loosens. “Yup.”
Now that it’s just the two of us, Ford repositions me until I’m crushed against his front. I can’t help but inhale the scent of his woodsy cologne.
“You look fucking hot, Carina. I really hope you didn’t come here looking to get laid,” he growls in my ear before nipping the delicate flesh with his teeth. “We had a deal. Do I need to remind you that there are rules in place?”
I pull back just enough to meet his eyes. “I came to dance.”
He presses me so close that I feel the thickness of his erection against my lower belly.
“Anyone could see us,” I murmur, glancing around. There are tons of students from Western who frequent this club.
“I don’t give a damn. I just need to hold you. It drives me insane when other guys lay their hands on you.”
His possessiveness sends a sharp thrill spiraling through me, and I give into the urge, slipping my arms around his neck.
“That dress should be illegal,” he growls in my ear.
The press of his body against mine feels so damn good. It would be all too easy to lose myself in him. None of the guys I danced with made my belly flutter the way Ford does.
Always has.
His fingers splay wide across my backside, sinking into the material. “We should get out of here.”
Deep down inside, I know that leaving the club with Ford is a terrible idea.
One I’ll regret in the morning.
Instead of telling him no, I hear myself say, “Okay.”
When he pulls away, the warmth of his body disappearing, a strange sense of loss crashes over me. His larger fingers lock around mine as he tows me through the sea of gyrating people. As we leave the dance floor behind, I spot my friends at the bar. It’s a relief when none of them notice us slip away.
I’ll shoot Juliette a text and let her know that I took off, so she doesn’t worry.
I’m not ready to answer questions about Ford.
Mostly because I have no idea what to say.
Chapter Twenty
Ford
With Carina’s hand locked securely in mine, I wind my way through the crowd and head to the exit at the back of the building. I’m still pissed off about the guy who was harassing her.
It was so damn tempting to give him a beatdown that he wouldn’t soon forget, but I knew it would upset Carina and I didn’t want to go there. Even though there’ve been times in the past when I stepped in to defend her against clowns who were getting overly aggressive, I know she’s more than capable of taking care of herself. I’ve seen her in action. Back in high school, she kneed a dude before I could punch him in the face.