Lace and Bullets(69)

White hot rage filled him and he ripped his headphones off.

She wasn’t doing it on purpose, was she? Letting some man paw her like a damn animal to get back at him? He shook his head, grinding his teeth as the guy ran his hands back down, sliding down her bare thighs and up her dress.

Tate balled his hands into fists, ready to march out on the floor and punch the guy into last year, when Jessica whipped around and stomped. Hard. The asshole’s face contorted with pain and anger and Tate wasn’t waiting another second.

It didn’t matter why she was there dancing with some stranger in front of his booth. She needed him. He leaped over the table and stormed through the crowd, parting the seas of his fans and reaching Jessica just as the man reached out to grab her.

Tate swung without thinking, slamming his fist into the man’s face before the son of a bitch could even react. The asshole fell to the floor in an instant, knocked out cold.

The crowd parted, forming a circle around Tate, Jessica and the heap on the floor. Bouncers tore through the crowd, moving people aside with one hand as they talked into earpieces.

Shit. Spinning on his heels, he turned to his stepsister. “Are you okay?”

She dove for him, wrapping her arms around his waist as she buried her head into his chest. “I am now.”

Tate pushed her back, searching her face as the music faded. Damn it. He needed to get the party revved back up before he ruined the club’s entire night. He didn’t care about the job—it wasn’t like he couldn’t get another gig in a heartbeat, but he liked the owner. And he didn’t want to cause him unnecessary expense.

“Come on. You’re with me in the booth for the rest of the show.”

He pulled Jessica back around the tables and up into the DJ booth. Slipping his headphones on, he launched into the music, turning the heavy, gritty thump into a sultry purr that calmed the crowd and mellowed the buzz. He’d had enough punches for one night.

A pair of bouncers walked up to the booth and motioned for him to come over. He pulled one ear free and leaned toward them. “Hey guys.”

“What the hell was that, T? You know fighting’ll get you fired.”

“Yeah, I know. But that asshole assaulted her. Slid his hands under dress and grabbed her tits. If I hadn’t stepped in, it could have been a lot worse.”

The bouncers glanced at each other and then back at Tate. “All right, man. If you say so. But next time, leave the fighting to us, okay?”

Tate nodded and the pair walked away. He wasn’t about to tell them he’d do it again without a second thought.

Turning to look at Jessica, Tate shook his head. She leaned back onto the wall, hugging herself and swaying to the music. So beautiful. The lace hugged all the right places—showing off her sexy ass and miles of legs. As she rocked back and forth, her hair fell across her face in dark waves and he groaned.

He hated to admit it, but after seeing her with that asshole…He didn’t want to share. Or think about her pinned beneath some other man, calling out his name instead of Tate’s. He wanted her for himself. And no one else. Fuck it being wrong.

Reaching out, he wrapped his hand around her wrist, pulling her towards him. Nuzzling her neck, he brushed his lips across her ear.

“So did you come here to make me jealous?”

She turned her head and smiled into his cheek. “Did it work?”

Tate held up his hand, the knuckles bloodied and swollen. “What do you think?”

“I’m sorry, Tate. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble. He just wouldn’t leave me alone. The jerk bought me a drink at the bar and when I blew him off, I guess he got pissed. I tried to get away from him. I—”

“It’s okay. But you’re not leaving my side the rest of the night.”

Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her in front of him, nestling her ass in front of his crotch. He could spin with her wedged against his dick. It wasn’t that hard. Yet.

Running his hands up her sides, he pressed himself against her, grinding into her as the bass throbbed through the club.

She turned her head and whisper-shouted in his exposed ear. “I thought you punched guys for groping me?”

“I do. I’m the only one who can grope you in this club.” He dug his fingers into her hips, forcing her body back into his. “I’m the only one who can grind against your tight little ass and make you moan.”



* * *



Jessica could barely breathe. She wanted to turn around, drop to her knees, and give him a blow job right there. His dick hardened against her and she moaned.

“I want more, Tate. I want you to—”

Tate cut her off with a finger in the air and she bit her lip to keep from pouting. The next DJ stood at the edge of the booth, watching them as he waited to take their place.