Warmth floods me immediately. It’s potent and intoxicating. That spicy, woodsy scent of his goes straight to my head. I feel my lashes flutter against the feverish onslaught. If Byron wasn’t holding me, I’d melt into a puddle at his feet.
He groans while swiping his tongue out to tangle with mine. I fist the front of his shirt, yanking us impossibly closer. We fight for control and I get lost in the motions. My hips buck against him, grinding into his belt buckle. Byron clenches his fingers until his grip is almost painful. I nip at him, hoping we both leave a mark.
“Let’s have sex,” I murmur against his lips.
He grunts when I smash my breasts into him. “Just want to distract me.”
“No,” I mewl. “Need you, honey.”
My hand glides down, wedging into the snug space between us. I stretch my fingers in an attempt to undo his jeans. There’s too much blocking me. My nails claw at him, unable to get a grip.
“If I could just—” But my statement stalls when Byron comes to an abrupt halt.
The dingy walls of the warehouse blink into view. I realize too late that he’s carried me to the scene of the non-existent crime. Panic clutches my throat until I notice Jax is slumped on the ground. My former friend is looking just as knocked out as the other two.
“Dammit,” I cry. “You outmaneuvered me.”
Byron is vibrating with desire or rage. Most likely the latter. “What the fuck, Frankie?”
“It’s not what it looks like,” I rush to say.
“Did you do this?”
“Uh-huh, yep. All by myself. Okay, we can go now.” I rock against him, trying to move us along.
“Menace,” he rasps. “Why don’t I believe you?”
“Not sure, but that’s a you problem to sort out later.”
Byron’s shrewd awareness rips into my defenses. “I thought you didn’t hurt anyone.”
My nose rubs along his. “I didn’t, thank you very much. They’re just taking a little nap until the cops arrive.”
He considers my honesty while his focus slides over the men. “You took all three of them out?”
“Hey!” I pin him with a nasty glare. “Your lack of faith in me is really sexy. I’m super turned on right now. Be a good boy and fuck me on this dirty concrete.”
“Frankie,” he deadpans. “I’m trying to get a handle on this situation so you don’t get arrested.”
“Mhmm,” I breathe. “You’re the one who got me tossed in the back of a squad car.”
Byron jostles me as if trying to convince my logic to wake up. “This isn’t the time for jokes.”
“How do you figure? They’re alive. The police will arrive any minute. It’s fine.” I clasp his cheeks in my palms. “But we won’t be if we don’t leave right now.”
His hard gaze is about to argue. “I want you to tell me how you got involved in this.”
“The details aren’t important, but our future is. Please take me home.”
“Promise me that this won’t touch Ronnie.”
“I would never let any harm come her way.” Conviction clangs in my icy tone.
Byron’s stare burrows deeper into mine, still searching for more. “Did you do this to protect her?”
My eyes slide to Jax who appears to be fighting a grin. Such a shit. I should throw him under the bus. But something stops me. Maybe it’s a sign of forgiveness. I might be truly healing. Or the fact that he’s actually on the right side of the law. I’m still pissed about that.
“They came to her school,” I tell him. “That was their last mistake. I wasn’t about to let them get away again.”