Chapter 7 #2
“Yeah, what I wouldn’t give to be the bull Fleur rides. There isn’t a man in this bar who wouldn’t like to give her a lesson or two if you know what I mean. My guess is that her tight little pussy tastes extremely sweet.”
As I’d noted before, there was no reason for my sense of jealousy. None whatsoever, but before I knew what I was doing, I had my hand wrapped around the collar of his shirt and had yanked him almost all the way across the top of the bar.
His eyes opened wide, the look of shock and horror followed by him throwing up his arms. Everyone on the barstools close by jerked up, backing away as if not only prepared but eager for a bar fight.
That wasn’t my intention. I refused to lower myself to something so pedestrian.
That didn’t mean I wouldn’t put the fear of God into the man.
With his face only inches from mine, I didn’t need to raise my voice.
“Didn’t you learn somewhere in your Neanderthal days that you shouldn’t talk about a lady that way?
” When he said nothing, my irritation level grew exponentially.
There was no reason to offer him any other explanation, so I decided to give him a physical example of why it was in his best interest to agree with me.
I twisted the material in my fingers, the pressure against his neck instantaneous. He huffed and puffed, splotches of red covering his already ruddy cheeks.
“Now, I’m hopeful that you’ll keep this lesson in the forefront of your mind. If you don’t and I’m around, my second lesson you’ll consider more of a punishment. And you won’t like that very much. Do you understand me?”
He nodded, gasping for air, finally finding the balls to grip my arm and try to pull it away. Not a chance.
While no one else was saying a thing or trying to stop me, a sudden transference of anger to electricity surprised me.
“What in God’s name do you think you’re doing, Montgomery? Let him go. Now.” The feistiness of Fleur’s words was strangely appealing.
Very slowly, I turned my head, allowing my gaze to fall even more slowly than I’d done in her cozy shop.
While she immediately flushed, she wasn’t interested in backing down. Quite the opposite. She took a step closer, darting a quick look at the bartender. I could swear she was silently telling him she’d handle the situation. The flash of venom in her eyes worked because he pulled his fingers free.
She turned her full attention toward me, inching even closer. Close enough her perfume floated into my nostrils, the seductive scent reminding me of something delicious and dirty.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me. Get your hands off Randy.”
I cocked my head, twisting until I was able to look him in the eyes one more time. “In deference to the lady’s request, I’ll let you go. But remember what I said.” I dropped him like a rock and he scuttled away, immediately wrapping his hand around his neck.
Fleur wasn’t finished with me yet, smashing her hands on her hips and glaring me right in the eyes. Even with her heels, she still had to lift her chin to look me in the eye. If she had any idea of the filthy thoughts running through my mind, she’d likely find yet another weapon behind the bar.
This time using it for something other than removing a tag.
“I realize you’re not from this town, but you can’t go around assaulting the people who live here. We have very long memories. Randy is a nice guy.”
“Yeah, so nice that he described to me exactly what he wanted to do with his tongue against your wetness.”
She was completely taken aback, finally throwing him a hateful look. “Randy. You did not.”
“Sorry, Fleur. Just guys being guys.” Randy’s answer wasn’t winning him any points with either Fleur or me.
Still flustered, she threw me an even more intense look, as if I was the most despicable person she’d met and raked her hand through her hair.
Still standing her ground. Still fighting for her principles.
“Then that makes both of you pigs. And you do know what happens to pigs. Right? They’re slaughtered.
Now, while I almost appreciate you fighting for my honor, I can do so myself.
Randy. If I ever hear of you saying anything like that again or even thinking it, I will cut your dick off. Are we good?”
Another huff of her hair. Another throw of her chin in his direction.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m very sorry.” Randy backed into the shadows and the other assholes around us shifted back to their drinks.
She crowded my space even more than before. For a few seconds, I could tell she was confused as to why there was a jolt of current running between us. That was short lived when she looked away, shaking her head. “It’s good to see you out, but I don’t think you’re going to win any friends.”
“Who says I need to?”
“Why are you here? I might not know who you are, but I can tell you’re not a skier or a mountain climber, and since there’s no big business in Stowe, that’s not the reason for your sudden appearance in town.”
“Are you asking me to leave?”
Her step away from me was decided, her expression one of contempt. “That’s exactly what I’m asking you to do. If not, I’m certain I can find a group of people to help run you out of town. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bridal party to enjoy and that doesn’t include you.”
I’d be damned if the woman didn’t turn on her heel and take long strides away from me. Only she didn’t head toward the bull that was already in full swing. She disappeared into the crowd and if my instincts were working tonight, I’d say she was headed to the restrooms to try to clear her head.
Or to try to erase the connection we shared.
What she didn’t know was I didn’t take too kindly to anyone walking away from me. After allowing her to believe I wasn’t interested, I followed her, the crowd easily parting when they saw my approach. No one wanted to get into a brawl with me, not with the mood I was in.
And even a lady as beautiful as Fleur would learn I’d never lost an argument, and I didn’t plan on doing so now.