they can fit into the tiny strings of fabric that cover her most private places.
Rage, hot and welcome, fires beneath my skin. I move, grab the first body that stands between my woman and me, and toss it away. One by one, I pick them off like ants, grabbing the backs of their shirts, flinging them aside to get to her, and making a path that will get my arms around her to protect her from these lecherous animals that can’t keep their fucking hands to themselves.
The murmur of chaos explodes around me, but I ignore it. Fists pound at my back and arms, but it’s static compared to the drive to get to Trix.
Her head jerks around, eyes wide, mouth agape. “Mason?”
I can hardly hear her over the commotion, but I’m so transfixed on her face I read her lips. In one long stride, I’m on stage. I scoop her into my arms.
“Put me down!” She kicks her legs, but it only makes me squeeze her tighter to me.
“No.”
“Mason, please.” Her words are rushed and panicked. “I can walk, just . . . trust me. You need to put me down.”
“No fucking way.” I carry her back toward the curtain only to be met by Santos, who’s grinning and cracking his knuckles.
He tilts his head. “Hands off her.”
“Okay, never mind.” Trix’s arms tighten around my neck. “Don’t put me down. Do not put me down.”
She’s safe backstage and away from prying eyes. “It’s okay.” I kiss the top of her head.
“No, Mason. Don’t.” Her hold gets tight, but gravity wins, and her legs drop to the floor. “Oh shit. You shouldn’t have done that.”
Her mumbled words are the last thing I hear before Santos hauls back and knocks me in the jaw.
Pain splinters through my face, and I brace my weight on my knees. “Motherfuck!”
“Santos! You’re such a bully!” Trix drops down to her knees to see my face, concern pinching her pretty forehead. “Oh my God, are you okay?” She grimaces and sucks air through her teeth. “I was trying to warn you.”
“Dammit to fuck, that hurt.” I rub my jaw and stand up to see a very satisfied Santos.
“Don’t look at me.” He shrugs. “House rules, man.”
Trix pops her hands on her hips, glaring. “Great. And now they’re going to ban you!” She throws her arms out to her sides, her breasts bouncing with the force of it, totally unaware that she’s practically bare-ass naked. “What were you thinking?”
I run a hand through my hair and breathe through the letdown of adrenaline. God, I stormed up on that stage like a damn Neanderthal. “I don’t . . . I’m sorry.”
She steps in close and peers up at me, her violet eyes searching mine. She’s so tiny now; barefoot, she only comes up to my chest. “You can’t do that. I could lose my job.”
The corner of my mouth lifts as I try to fight off the joy at the prospect of her no longer stripping. I rub the back of my neck and shrug. “Would that be so bad?”
She thwacks me in the stomach. “Stop it!”
“Put a shirt on. And some pants and . . . maybe I’ll think about it.”
Her eyes widen, but a contagious grin curls her lips.
“Come on, man.” Santos throws a big meaty thumb over his shoulder. “I gotta escort you out.”
“Santos, can you give us a second?” Trix turns her pleading eyes toward him, and his expression softens. “Pleeeaaase?” She turns out her lower lip, and the guy is a goner. What guy wouldn’t be?
“Fine. Five minutes, Trix.” He points a finger at me then two fingers at his own eyes. “I’m watching you.”
“Creepy.”
Trix grabs my hand and pulls me deeper backstage into a dark corner. It’s hard to focus on anything other than her perfect naked body.
“Here.” I reach behind me and pull my T-shirt over my head, leaving me in my undershirt. Shaking it out, I put it over her and smile as her glaring face pops through the neck hole.
“Really?” She slides her arms in but shakes her head.
“Yes.” I cross my arms over my chest, locking my hands beneath my biceps. “Unless you want me to throw you up against this wall and do dirty things to that sweet little body, you need to cover up.”
Her breath hitches, and I smile inwardly at how affected she is by the simplest things I say. My fingers itch to run through her hair, to pull her to me and taste