over her body. Her naked body. Jessica. His Jessica was naked. Naked. In front of all these men.
When he pulled her off the stage, she gasped in surprise. He cocooned her against his chest, protecting her from lustful gazes.
A wall of bouncers surrounded them immediately. “No touching the dancers,” one of the mountains of flesh said.
Jessica struggled in Sed’s arms, but he wasn’t about to let her go. Wasn’t about to let these men gawk at her body.
“Sed.” Brian grabbed his upper arm. “Let her go.”
Jessica gasped. “Sed?” She rubbed her face against his shoulder to push the silk scarf from her eyes. It fell down around her nose and mouth. Her eyes widened. Those jade-green eyes. The ones that haunted him day and night. How was it possible that she’d become even more beautiful since he’d last seen her?
He lowered his head to kiss her, his heart swelling so full he thought it might suffocate him. It didn’t matter that the scarf separated their mouths. He remembered the taste of her lips all too well.
A thick forearm wrapped around Sed’s throat from behind, jerking his head back. He planted his boots firmly on the floor to prevent himself from tipping backward.
With her shoulder, Jessica nudged the scarf down to her neck. God, her lips. So full and inviting. He needed to kiss her again. Never stop kissing her.
“Put me down, Sed.”
Her soft voice—just as he remembered it. The way she said his name squeezed his insides. So long since he’d heard it. Too long. He bit his lip. He didn’t know if the bouncer’s grip or his heart trying to force its way out of his mouth caused the greater ache in his throat.
“Let go of his throat, you fucking cretin,” Eric bellowed. “He’s a professional singer.”
“I don’t give a shit who—”
Eric punched the bouncer holding Sed and his grip loosened. It tightened further a moment later. Sed winced. Several bouncers grabbed Eric and forcefully escorted him away from the front of the stage.
“Get your fucking hands off me,” Eric protested.
“Go quietly or we’ll call the cops.” Even with the throbbing music playing through the club, Sed heard several fists connect with flesh.
“Motherfuckers!” Was that Jace? More fists connected with flesh. The door slammed shut.
Jessica squirmed in Sed’s arms. He had no doubt that if her hands were free she’d be slapping the shit out of him.
Brian sighed loudly beside him. “Well, I guess I’ve got to kick some ass now. Can’t let my boys down.” He moved out of Sed’s peripheral vision toward the exit.
The door opened again. “What the fuck is going on?” Trey yelled into the club.
“Bellaway,” Jessica shouted to the guy behind Sed. “I know this guy. I’m fine. Seriously, don’t injure his throat.” She looked into Sed’s eyes. “Put me down, Sed. Now.”
Sed tried to shake his head, but couldn’t move his neck.
After a long moment, the arm around Sed’s throat loosened.
The bouncer stepped away.
Sed swallowed. His throat burned, but he refused to release Jessica. Refused.
“What are you doing here?” he asked her angrily, except his usual baritone growl came out raspy.
“Put me down, Sed.” Her nostrils flared in that way that always turned him on. There was nothing on Earth sexier than this woman when she was pissed off. Lucky for him, she had one hell of a temper.
“Answer my question and I’ll put you down.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Her eyebrows arched as she gazed up at him. “I’m dancing.”
“I thought you were going to law school. Wasn’t that your excuse for walking out on me?”
“That isn’t why I left and you know it. Besides, law school isn’t free. I’ve got to make money somehow. Now put me down. I answered your question.”
“If you needed money, you should have asked.” He set her on her feet and reached for his wallet. He pulled out a wad of cash and held it out to her. “Here. There’s a couple thousand bucks here. I