Curly caught her around her waist and lifted her off her feet.
She fought against his hold, shouting at Prick and threatening to return to take his dog.
“Shit, woman, retract those claws.”
“He’s an asshole who doesn’t deserve to own an animal.”
“I get it,” he whispered against her ear. “I really do. But you can’t attack him. You’ll be the one behind bars, and who will take care of your pups?”
Even if he hadn’t had a personal beef with Prick, he wanted to strangle the fucker. Men who abused and preyed on helpless creatures made him sick. Even in a maximum-security prison among the worst of the offenders, there’d been a code. Those who’d victimized the weak didn’t receive any mercy.
With a defeated sigh, Brooke sagged against him. Her lush ass brushed his dick, which had no choice but to perk up. It was unavoidable.
Just as he was about to release her before she discovered what was poking her, Prick turned around. “Hey, Curly,” he shouted, now far enough away to need to raise his voice. “You need help getting a leash on your bitch, you know where to find me.”
“What did he just call me?” She thrashed against his hold once again. He got a face full of sweet-smelling hair, which did nothing to dissuade his interested dick.
“Settle down, woman!” he said to avoid a groan as her ass rubbed against him again.
That was the wrong thing to say.
“Don’t you woman me,” she barked as she tried to pry his arm from around her waist.
Thankfully, he had a good eight inches and dozens of pounds of muscle on her. But, fuck, her nails were sharp.
“That guy’s an asshole. An asshole!” she shouted at Prick, waving her arms as though she could propel them forward.
“And we’re done here.” Curly gritted his teeth as he hauled the thrashing woman around the side of the barn. Every jerky movement she made bounced her ass against his cock. Christ, he wanted to press her against the barn and grind himself all over her until she eased the ache in his balls. Then he wanted to bend her over and spank her ass red for such a stupid move as showing up here alone and unprotected.
Instead, he set her on her feet and crowded her against the barn, sure to keep a good few inches between his needy cock and her wriggling body. Then, he boxed her in by slapping his palms on both sides of her head.
Thankfully, the barn remained standing.
Brooke jumped as his palms smacked the barn, then closed her eyes and breathed hard. Her chest rose and fell giving him a tiny peek of cleavage from the V of her T-shirt every time she inhaled. Most of her hair had come loose from the ponytail, and a few strands clung to her lower lip.
She didn’t seem to notice.
While he admired her passion, knowing exactly what Prick could and would have done had he not shown up had Curly seething.
“Do you have any idea how fucking stupid it is to be slinking around this place by yourself?” he growled down at her. “Do you have any fucking clue what he would have done to you if I hadn’t come by?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, slightly breathless as she shook her head. “I know it was stupid, but I’m about ninety percent certain he’s running a dog fighting ring out of this barn.”
Jesus Christ that made it even worse.
“So you decided to play amateur cop and investigate that shit yourself?”
Eyes still closed, she blew out a beath.
“Did you know Prick once did time for beating a man who cut him off on the highway? The guy spent three weeks in a coma. Did you know an ol’ lady he had years ago kicked his ass to the curb after he broke her arm? For the second time.”
Brooke paled.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t drive you home and tie you to your bed?”
Her eyes opened, wide and searching as she fought to steady her breath. As she stared at him, he swore he saw a flicker of interest in her gaze.
Shit. He’d meant so she wouldn’t get into more trouble, but fuck if it didn’t sound sexy as hell. Did she think so too? Was that why her breath hitched, and her nostrils flared. Did she like the idea of being bound and at his mercy? To do with as he pleased. All that sexy skin his for the taking.