Page 57 of After the Burn

“I’ve watched over her since she was a child," Adrian sneered. “Where were you? Oh, that’s right. You were hanging out with bikers and drug addicts.”

“You son of a bitch.” Beck started toward him with his fist raised.

Adrian went to meet him halfway.

That was when my brain came back online.

I jumped between them. “Both of you shut the fuck up and start talking. I’m in the dark here, and I don’t like it.”

For a second, I wasn’t sure they’d listen. They stood too close on either side of me, heat rolling off both of them like they were seconds from turning the whole room into a crime scene.

Finally, they stepped back, and each of them went to a separate corner of the room.

“It’s like you’ve both forgotten who I am.” I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t belong to anyone unless I choose to.”

“Sorry, Fox.” Beck turned those beautiful green eyes toward me. “There are some things we need to discuss.” He pierced Adrian with a look. “I thought that’s what shithead was doing.”

“I was about to.” Adrian’s mouth curved as he looked at me. “There was just a misunderstanding I needed to clear up first.”

Then he winked.

I did a double-take.

What in the actual hell was going on?

Had Gideon done something to him? Some crazy end-of-the-world Stephen King shit?

Beck snorted softly, as if he could somehow hear the thought in my head. “I hate it when he shows some personality, too. It’s like a robot suddenly learning to break-dance.”

Adrian leaned back against the wall beside the door, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes never leaving me. “We don’t have time to deal with your shock and awe at my personality. It’s time to listen.”

“But first, I need to do this.” Beck stalked over to me.

Before I could make sense of what was happening, Beck’s hand slid into my hair, and he pulled me toward him.

The kiss wasn’t gentle or careful.

It was a declaration.

A response to Adrian’s challenge.

His mouth claimed mine with a fierce intensity that stole every coherent thought from my head. Heat rolled off him in waves, surrounding me as he backed me against the wall beside Adrian. One large hand settled against my waist while the other remained tangled in my hair, holding me exactly where he wanted me.

A low sound rumbled in his chest when I kissed him back.

Satisfied.

Possessive.

Dangerously pleased with my response.

The kiss deepened for a heartbeat before Beck finally pulled away just enough for our foreheads to touch. His breathing was rough, green eyes bright with something wild.

“Mine too,” he said quietly.

The words weren't directed at me.

They were directed at Adrian.