Taken by the Alien Next Door (Aliens Among Us #1) - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,98
hurt you.”
Zevris gentled his touch, stroked her jaw, and released her to turn toward the men. Menace radiated off him, and though it could’ve just been a trick of the poor lighting, Tabitha swore his shirt looked tighter—or his muscles larger. He stalked toward them.
Tabitha’s eyes widened and she wrapped her hands around his arm, pulling him to a stop. “Zevris, don’t. Let’s just go. They’re not worth it.”
“But you are,” he said gruffly, his eyes catching hers briefly before he shook her off and guided her behind him.
“What’s it like banging that, man?” Cody asked, thrusting his hips as he held his hands out wide in front of him. “I know from experience that a little cushion for the pushin’ can be good once in a while, but isn’t she taking that a little too far?”
Those words hurt more than anything else Cody or his friends had said. It hurt because Tabitha knew he was referring to her, it hurt because he’d not even made any indication of having recognized her, it hurt because, again, his words should never have affected her since she’d moved on from him long ago. But it was like a wound that had never fully healed, and he was tearing it right open.
Zevris turned his head from side to side, as though scanning his surroundings—or surveying a battlefield. His attention settled on the men again; the two who’d been leaning against the wall had stepped forward to join their companions, and they all wore smug grins.
“I will allow you one opportunity to apologize to my female,” Zevris said.
That only roused more laughter from the men.
“Shall I take that as your decision?” Zevris asked.
“You should take your heifer and get the fuck out of here,” the man named Vance said, his humor giving way to aggression.
“Listen to her and walk away,” said Tad. “We will fuck you up.”
Zevris released a heavy breath. Tabitha stepped back, worrying her lower lip. She knew he was stronger and faster than anyone she’d ever met, but her list of acquaintances wasn’t exactly brimming with well-trained athletes and elite warriors. Was he really going to fight four men at once?
Was he really going to fight her ex?
She didn’t want Zevris to get hurt, couldn’t stand the thought of it, but at the same time…a small part of her wanted to see him put these jerks in their places. An admittedly larger part wanted to see Cody put in his place.
“You don’t know who you’re fucking with,” Cody declared. His gaze flicked past Zevris, landing on Tabitha for an instant before moving away again. His eyes immediately rounded and returned to her. “Oh, shit. Tabitha?”
Her cheeks flamed, and she could barely force air through her throat. This was one of those moments. She could’ve told him off in front of his friends, could’ve finally shown him just how little she thought about him, just how pathetic he really was.
“Tabitha? This is the fat chick you used to fuck?” asked Tad.
“Yeah.” Cody’s expression darkened with embarrassment as he looked away from her. “Pussy is pussy, right?”
“I’d let her suck my dick,” said Vance.
“She never dressed up like that for me,” Cody grumbled.
“Just leave us alone, Cody,” Tabitha said, her words strained. She touched Zevris’s back and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Please, Zevris. Let’s just go home.”
Cody frowned, running his gaze over her.
That threatening aura pulsing from Zevris only intensified, belied by his slow, smooth movements as he bent his arms up and unbuttoned his shirt cuffs. “Keep back, Nykasha. This will not take long.”
“This guy for real?” Tad asked.
“Fuck yeah,” the man who’d first spoken growled. “Been holding back in the ring all week. Finally gonna have a chance to let fucking loose!”
The men who’d been smoking took final drags on their cigarettes and tossed them to the ground, stomping them out with their shoes. There was unsettling eagerness in their eyes as they stepped forward to close the distance between themselves and Zevris. A couple of them were rolling their shoulders as though limbering up.
Cody looked at Tabitha again for just an instant, his expression faltering before hardening more than ever.
Zevris didn’t budge from his place. The nearness of his foes didn’t seem to alarm him in the slightest; he rolled up his sleeves one at a time with nonchalance. But Tabitha knew when he spoke that his leisurely demeanor was only surface deep. His voice bore an undercurrent of fury that made his alien accent more pronounced.