Claimed(7)

Those gray eyes flashed. “I have.”



“Says the woman who hid under a table when the bandits showed up.”



He was goading her, but he couldn’t stop himself. Something about her rubbed him the wrong way. The conflicting air of vulnerability and danger. The beautiful face and out-of-this-world body. He didn’t trust her.



“I could have defended myself. They just caught me off guard,” she muttered.



“I’m sure you think —”



She moved so fast, he didn’t even have time to blink. Next thing he knew her knee was jammed between his thighs, and she had one hand on the nape of his neck while the other held a knife to his throat.



Connor stiffened, resisted the urge to curse. Man, she was fast. And lethal, judging by the skillful way she pressed the blade to his skin. He knew he’d get nicked – or worse – if he tried to wrench away. The feel of her firm thigh between his legs got him hard, instantly, and his cock grew harder still when he peered down and glimpsed the deadly glint in her big gray eyes.



“What now?” he couldn’t help but taunt. “You’re gonna slit my throat to prove your point?”



Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. Didn’t take a genius to figure out she felt the hard ridge digging into her thigh.



“That’s right, babe. I’m hard as a rock,” he murmured. Then, with a smirk, he eased closer so his erection rubbed against her pelvis.



When she made a soft noise, he chuckled. “Ah, you like it, don’t ya?”



She didn’t answer. The warmth of her body seared his, making his cock jerk. His gaze moved to her mouth, watched her tongue dart out to moisten her bottom lip. He could kiss her right now. Fuck her too, he realized, as she moved her groin ever so slightly over his denim-clad leg.



“Why don’t you undo my pants?” He tipped his head suggestively. “You could blow me right here, right now. Hell, you could blow Ry and Kade too. I’m sure they’d enjoy it.”



Heat flickered in her eyes, and he saw her pulse hammering in the hollow of her throat.



Rotating his hips, he ground harder against her. “Maybe we’ll bring Pike out. He likes to watch, and I’m sure you’ll give us a damn good show – won’t you, sweetheart?”



The blade dug deeper into his flesh. “You know, you’re kind of an asshole.”



“And you’re completely out of your element.” His voice lowered to a menacing pitch. “So let’s stop playing games, huh? Either slit my throat or suck my dick, because we don’t have all night.”



Damned if his dick didn’t jump at the prospect of getting some attention. Fuck. His body was primed and raring to go.



“Um, Con? I’m kinda bleeding here.”



Sucking in a breath, he snapped out of his lust-filled stupor. Rylan’s voice was the reminder he needed, the kick in the ass to regain control of the situation.



In a lightning-fast motion, he curled his fingers around her forearm and yanked hard enough to make her cry out. He twisted her wrist, and the knife clattered to the pavement, its silver blade gleaming in the moonlight.



“What’s your name?” he said roughly.



She blinked a couple of times, as if shocked that he’d managed to disarm her. “Hudson.”



“Hudson. Well, it’s been fun, but like I said before, we don’t pick up strays.” He bent down to collect her knife, then held it toward her, handle side out. “My advice? Find someone else to protect you.”



Her lower lip trembled.



Shit. Was she going to cry?



To his relief, she tightened her lips and grabbed the knife instead, reaching underneath the back of her jacket to tuck it away.



“Fine,” she muttered. “I guess I was wrong. Chivalry is dead. Have a good life, boys.”



A sigh lodged in his throat as Hudson marched off in the direction of the deserted road. Refusing to be affected by the waves of disappointment she was radiating, he hopped into the driver’s seat and glanced back at Rylan. “How’s the neck?”



“Hurting. Just a graze, though.”



“Good.” Connor started the engine, but he didn’t put the gear in drive. His gaze flitted over to where Hudson was walking, head held high, the strap of her duffel hanging off her shoulder. The balmy night breeze tickled her long hair, making it ripple down her back in golden waves. To his dismay, both Kade and Rylan were also looking in her direction, their expressions somber.



“I like her,” Rylan remarked.



Kade voiced his agreement. “Me too. But maybe it was the home-cooking line she gave us. I can’t remember the last time I actually had a good meal. Xan’s bean soup makes me want to kill myself.”