Page 14 of Malice and Surrender
I couldn’t stop smiling, and for the first time since I was a teen, I giggled as he danced toward me. My whole body felt like it was on fire with each step closer. He was wearing aqua-colored contacts today that matched the water at my back, but it was the intense look in his eyes that had me squirming.
“Wow, that is a lot harder than it looks.” He looked over his shoulder and waved. “Thank you for the dance,” he called out.
“Any time,” came the reply, and I ground my teeth together as I glared at the girl.
“Did you want one of those slushies?” Avro pointed to a stand selling an assortment of cool treats along the boardwalk. “I could really use something cold.”
“Yeah, sounds great.” I didn’t expect him to take my hand again, but when he did, I nibbled on my bottom lip and tried not to look as giddy as I felt. He was the first person in so long that made me feel a hundred percent safe and comfortable.
Nope, there was no place for Kai on this lovely day, and I dusted those thoughts to the side.
“Why don’t you stay here? No need for both of us to stand in that long line in the sun,” Avro offered as we stepped under the shade of tall palm trees.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. What flavor do you want?”
I smiled wide. “Surprise me.”
“Oh, I plan on it,” he said and jogged away, but the glint in his eye and curl of his lips made me feel like we were no longer talking about the slushies.
More of the crowd from down the beach filtered up this way. Either they had gotten their fill, or the trucks had been shut down. I was staring down at my sandals, thinking I needed a new pair, when a hand grabbed my ass.
Yelping, I jumped forward and spun around to find a guy I’d never met.
“Damn girl, that is a damn fine ass. It would look amazing bouncing on my cock,” he said, his blue eyes glazed with alcohol while his blonde hair waved in the breeze.
My relationship meter might be broken, but my creep-o-meter worked just fine.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Oh, you’re feisty. I like it.” He stepped in my direction, so I mirrored and stepped back. My hand balled into a fist while my other one gripped the handle of my bag tighter. The first thing Carlos taught me was anything could be used as a weapon.
“Don’t be like that. I know you want this.” Of course, the drunk asshole had to grab his cock. Why did guys do that? Did they actually think we liked it? “I mean, I’m Dennis Copland. No one can resist me.”
He took another step, and I backed up once more. I would hit him if I needed to, but I preferred he just went away. An assault charge was not what I had planned for my Saturday.
“I don’t care who you are. Back the fuck up,” I said. I kept my tone even, but if looks could kill, he would’ve been dead.
“Oh, come on. You must know who I am. Everyone around here does.” He cocked his hip and smiled. I was sure that had fooled some poor girl who thought pretty-boy looks and frat-boy swagger was impressive. That was not me.
“Nope, never heard of you, and I don’t want to. Now, are you going to move along, or am I?”
Dennis continued to stand there and stare at me like that would somehow get me to change my mind.
“Fine, I’ll move,” he said, backing up a few steps. Dennis rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.
Figuring that was far enough away, I turned around to find Avro when a hand clamped onto my shoulder.
“No one turns me down, especially not some washed-up bitch like you,” Dennis snarled.
Moving on instinct, I spun and knocked his arm away before stepping in close and driving my knee up into his crotch. The pain registered on his features instantly. Shoving him hard, he landed on his ass in the sand.
“I said, don’t touch me,” I growled at the jerk as Avro stepped up beside me.
I jumped a little when his arm brushed mine, and I immediately hated that I did.
“I was going to come over and kill this guy, but it looks like you have it all taken care of,” Avro said casually. I looked up at him as he held out the slushie.
