wraps around me while he grips my upper arm. He sways us to the beat. I’m not sure how long we dance, but I can’t make myself move. He feels too good. Eric moved from his seat, and I saw a glance of him dancing with some guy in the corner.
The song changes pace, and Taylor turns me around to face him, one arm loosely around my back, the other one wrapped in my hair. “I wish you would have been there tonight. I wanted to take you to dinner.”
It’s the first thing he says to me, since he drug me out here. I smile. “I already ate.”
His lip twitches up. “I’d give you something to eat anyway,” he whispers. I’m about to ask if it’s food he is talking about when something firm grips my ass. I glance at Taylor, wide-eyed, but he is staring behind me.
My arm is jerked back, and I’m standing behind Taylor before I can realize some asshole just grabbed my ass.
“You wanna keep your hands to yourself?” Taylor asks, head nearly touching the other guy. I peak around and see some guy I’ve never seen before. He is as tall as Taylor but not as bulky.
He smiles, his teeth are crocked and his forehead looks cave-manish. “I think I’ll do whatever I want to, buddy. You can’t share ya little play thing? I just wanna fuck her once.”
Play thing. Fuck me once. Hell no he did not. “I don’t share shit, big boy. I suggest you step the fuck away and we’ll forget all about this lapse of intelligence.”
He furrows his brow. “Are you calling me stupid, asshole?”
If the shoe fits. Big guy raises his hand, and I watch as Taylor grips it, turns it to the side and I hear a snap. Holy Fuck.
The big guy starts to scream, holding his hand at an odd angel. “What the hell, Taylor?” I yell, running around him. Cave man is lying on the floor, hand broken. There isn’t any blood, only a bone poking out, where I know there shouldn’t be.
A group of people have gathered around, and when the security guard walks up everyone becomes silent. He is a huge guy, balding head, tattoos and a beer gut. “What happened?” he yells, voice scratchy. “Who did this?”
No one says a word.
I don’t dare.
Taylor’s hand is jerking, like he wants to hit him again. The body guard growls, bends down and tosses Cave Man over his shoulder like a pack of feed. “Stop the bullshit. If anyone gets hurts again, everyone is leaving.” He turns around and leaves, guy swaying over his back.
It’s quiet for a few seconds, but then everyone slowly gets the hell away from us. It’s like a clear protective circle around us. Taylor glances down at me, big gray eyes searching my face. “What the hell, Taylor? You just broke his fucking hand.”
His jaw muscle flexes but he shrugs. “He touched your ass.”
“Lots of guys touch girls’ asses in a pool hall, Taylor. You gonna go break all their hands, too?”
He tilts his head to the side. “Only the ones that touch yours.”
Is he serious? “Look,” I clear my throat, “I can’t handle this shit. You don’t break people’s hands. That might be cute at Fight Night, but it’s not when you’re in the real world. You’ll go to prison, Taylor.”
His eyes are moving over my face, and I see his mind working. All the while, I’m contemplating an escape route. This guy is nuts, breaking people’s hands? Really? “I’m not going to let someone touch your ass, I was dancing with you, it’s all about respect, Layla.” He touches my arm, but I step away.
“I’m going to go get something to drink. Maybe you should go chill for a second.” Lame excuse, I know. But, I’d rather get the hell out of dodge.
Taylor grips my arm before I turn to walk off. “You better not leave, or I’ll come find you.” He narrows his gaze and disappears in the crowd of swaying people. Jesus, what a nutcase. I make my way to the bar. I need to find Eric. I can barely see