Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 41918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
I'm already pissed, striding towards them, ready to kick the guy's ass if he tries to give me any shit, but I'm still in control of myself. That all changes when he reaches out to adjust the shoulder strap of Emma's dress, his fingers touching her skin, and I see red.
Emma, too preoccupied to see me approach, tries to pull away. She's uncomfortable but too polite to say anything. Her eyes are pleading, her posture stiff. She doesn't want to be touched, but she doesn't want to start anything.
I won't stand by and let him put his hands on her. I won't let him treat her that way, so I interrupt them. "Hands off." The man, a young guy closer to Emma’s age, looks at me as though I'm the one who has offended him, his expression changing from irritation to amusement when he notices Emma looking at me. He moves to place an arm around her, but I'm quicker and snatch the limb, twisting his wrist. "What did I say?"
"Listen, dude," the man snarls, trying to get his wrist free. "Emma and I know each other from class. So if you don't mind..."
I step between them, pushing Emma slightly behind me, blocking the man from reaching her. I don't miss the way Emma looks at me with awe. The look sends a thrill through me. She looks at me like I'm the best man she's ever known, and that is something I could get used to. But I want to be the only person she turns to when she needs help. A man she'll trust.
"You should learn when to stay away."
"Who do you think you are?" He looks between me and Emma. "Is he your dad?" He laughs. "Come on, Em, you don't need a chaperone." He gives me a hard look, sizing me up. He must not think much of his chances because he tries to reach around me to touch Emma's arm, to pull her back to his side, and that's not going to work. Not in my city. Not with my woman.
The moment his arm snakes past my waist to snatch at Emma's arm I lose it, turning and pushing the asshole so hard that he falls backward. It's satisfying to see his feet trip over themselves. He catches his balance, but just barely, and a moment later he's squaring up to me, but I can see the fear in his eyes.
"Do you have a death wish?" I sneer.
The man snaps, throwing a slow, clumsy punch. I don't even bother moving. I don't need to, because I'm just too fast for the man. It's pathetic to watch his arm flail around as he misses my face by a mile. He stumbles forward from the momentum, and I reach out to grab the lapel of his blazer, righting him. I make sure I get a good, tight grip before I drag him forward, pushing him in the direction of his car. It's the last chance for him to leave before I make him really hurt.
He's an idiot, though, and pivots to come at me again. I have time to sigh before he swings, and this time, I swing back, clocking him across the jaw with my free hand. I don't hit him that hard, just enough to knock him off balance, but his jaw drops open as he reaches up to clutch at it. He tries to back away but he can't, his foot caught on the uneven pavement. It's enough to keep him where I need him to be.
I drag him to his vehicle and pin him against the car with my forearm against his chest. I have the upper hand. "Get the fuck out of here, and don't say another damned word, you understand? You're lucky I'm not making you a fucking smear on the pavement."
I don't think he's going to retaliate, but I don't give him the chance, giving him one last shake before walking away, back towards Emma. She has her hands clasped in front of her, a mix of nerves and adoration written on her face.
"He's just some guy in one of my classes," she blurts out, desperate to explain who he is to me.
"Emma," I breathe her name, hoping to stop her before she explains too much. It's not her fault I got territorial over her, and it's not her fault she doesn't know why I'm so protective, either.
She quiets immediately. "Yeah?"
I motion for her to follow me. "We're done with that fucker. Come with me." I lead her to the motorcycle and grab her helmet, handing it over. I know what's coming next. "I want to take you to a special place."
We climb back onto the Night Train, and then we're rolling through the countryside, the sun sinking lower and lower in the sky and thoughts of her harasser behind us.