3. Chapter Three

3

Chapter Three

Kieran

S tanding with my back against the bar of this packed club, my eyes stay firm on the two women who have garnered the attention of most of the men in this bar at least once. Luckily, they haven’t seen me intervene yet, so they’re none the wiser. My eyes roam down Brittany’s tall stunning body for the millionth time tonight. My hands itch to roam every inch of her skin, to touch, taste, and memorize every part of her. I’ll admit I was extremely annoyed when she stepped to me at the house earlier and questioned my intentions with my sister-in-law. Now that I’ve had time to cool down I can respect the drive to protect her best friend. I wouldn’t let anyone be disrespectful to Ryan either, and I’d cut a motherfuckers tongue out for daring to think about stepping to Mac. She didn’t know it was only brotherly teasing so she gets a pass, this time. Not to mention the fire in her eyes turned me on but I tamper that down. She’s Clara’s best friend after all.

I’m sure Clara thinks I’m still pissed because I’m only referring to her in an official capacity, but that’s how I’m expected to address her outside of the house. She’s not my sweet sister-in-law right now. She’s the Captain’s wife, so she’ll be treated as such. We’ve been here for a few hours at this point and Roe has texted me about a hundred times. I also have it on good authority that he’s invaded Mac’s room as well and is watching everything on Z13’s security cameras. It’s way past Bear’s bedtime so he’s bothering us because he doesn’t have anything to distract him from knowing his wife is dancing in a club without him.

I’m pocketing my phone after responding to another text from Roe when I catch Clara’s alarmed eyes scanning for me in the crowd. Before I even know what’s going on, I’m moving to her. Scanning the area while stalking over to her. I spot a man holding on to Britt’s hips while dancing with her. She’s facing him so I’m unsure what they’re talking about.

Clara grabs my arm and pulls me down so my ear is right by her lips, “Kieran, help her. That man has come over here more than once and she’s asked him to leave her alone. This time he grabbed her hips hard enough to make her flinch then spun her around.”

Looking back over to Britt I’m instantly on edge as she tries to jerk away from the clearly drunk douche. He grabs her wrists and pulls her impossibly closer. I can hear her whimper of pain from here. Checking our surroundings looking for Killian, he’s not even three feet behind us. “Killian, take Mrs. Byrne to the car. I’ll grab her friend and we’ll head home.”

Killian murmurs out a, “Yes sir.” before leading Clara out of the club. She looks back at me worried, so I mouth, ‘I’ve got it. Don’t worry.’ as she’s escorted to the Tahoe. With Clara out of the club and potential danger it’s time to make my move. Moving behind Brittany while wrapping my arms around her waist, the man shifts his focus to me, he has to look up to meet my eyes.

“Sorry man, I’ve already got her. She’s feisty, but you know a little fight always makes for the best nights.”

My blood is boiling. My patience which is thin on the best days, is nonexistent right now, “Yeah, well I’d really hate to ruin your plans, man. But this is my girlfriend and if you don’t take your fucking hands off of her in the next ten seconds every single bone in your hands will break before they’re mysteriously amputated from your wrists.”

She must recognize my voice because her body sags into mine. I’m holding up most of her weight, and every piece of me screams to get her out of here. The guy’s hands fly off of her in a flash as he stutters out, “Oh.. I didn’t know.. She..she didn’t mention a boyfriend..”

Finding her voice again Brittany speaks up, “No, I didn’t. But I did mention no and stop multiple times didn’t I?” I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as it gets ready to knock this drunk bastard out.

Bending down my lips brush the side of her neck lightly then against her ear so she can hear me, “You okay? I’m more than willing to take him outside and teach him to keep his hands to himself.”

Locking eyes with the douche she shakes her head then brings my left hand up to kiss my swollen and scarred knuckles from last night, “No, he isn’t worth it. Let’s go home.”

“Saved by my girl being ready for me to take her home to worship her, bro. Let me catch you anywhere near her again and I’ll make your worst nightmares look like the best dreams you’ve ever had, got me?”

He quickly nods, “Yeah, yeah you got it.” He doesn’t even fully finish his rushed sentence when he takes off through the crowd.

Her body trembles against me. Refusing to second guess myself, I’m scooping her up into my arms before my brain catches up to my movements. She doesn’t fight me like I anticipated. Actually her face turns into my shoulder, and she cuddles in for the journey to the car. I’m pretty sure she’s borderline drunk, definitely very tipsy at the least. The cool night air hits us as we step outside. As soon as the first chill wracks her body a small whimper escapes her lips. Looking down it doesn’t take long to realize she’s crying. My lips meet the crown of her head while breathing her in and whispering reassuringly to her. She smells like a tropical island, coconut, and a hint of something entirely her.

Stopping half a parking lot away I finally ask, “Did he hurt you?”

She sniffles before answering, “He scared me more than anything. I’m okay, just ready to go back to your house and crash in the guest room.”

“Oh yeah?” Trying to lighten the mood, I give her my most charming smile. “The guest room is across the hall from my room, I’ll gladly show you the way.”

Heat flashes in her eyes and her fingertips trail down my chest. “You look like you could show me a lot, Kieran. Maybe I can show you some things too.”

My dick stirs to life in my jeans and I shoot up a prayer to whoever is listening that she isn’t messing with me. “Well, let’s get home and see if you’re all talk, Brave Girl.”

Her lips come up and nip at the underside of my jaw, “After you, Mystery Man.”

I’m smirking at her and staring into her steel gray eyes when the back passenger door is flung open from inside as Clara’s panicked voice kills the sexual tension in the air, “Oh my gosh, are you okay? Why is he carrying you? Are you hurt?”

Gently placing Brittany on her feet, my eyes roll on their own accord. Brittany plasters on a smile that I can instantly tell is fake, “I’m okay. It was crowded so he carried me out, and my hips are sore, but I’m fine. I just want to go back to your house and crash in your spare room.” She moves into the back seat, while letting her fingertips graze my lower stomach inconspicuously. Doing my best to hide my smirk, I shut the door then slide in the passenger seat as Killian pulls out to get us home.

* * *

Opening the door for the girls, Clara barely sets her foot on the ground before Rowan rushes outside and throws her over his shoulder, “Rowan! Put me down, you big caveman.”

He lets out a playful growl, “I’ll show you caveman when I’m edging you until you cry for making me wait hours to peel this dress off with my teeth.”

She lets out a squeal then a full belly laugh, “Wait! We need to make sure Brittany gets settled in the spare room.”

Rowan turns his wild eyes on me, “Get her to the spare room, we’ll be busy until Rhett wakes up, and I’m praying he wakes you up so I can sleep in with my wife.”

Suppressing my laugh to the best of my ability, my head shakes at him, “Yeah, Boss. I got it.” He takes off into the house with his wife and I’ve never been more thankful to live on a different floor than him.

Turning to Brittany my hand settles on her lower back, my pinky flirting with the curve of her ass, “You ready, Brave Girl?”

She smiles, but looks a little unsure, “Yeah Mystery Man, show me the way.”

I lead her the whole way up to the third story where my room is on the right of the stairs and Mac’s is on the left. With spare rooms directly across each of our rooms. Our rooms are the size of apartments, it’s probably why we all still live here instead of moving out. Well that and there’s more than enough room for all of us plus a few kids, and we have an unhealthy codependency with each other.

It only takes us a few minutes to arrive at her door. “Well, this is you. I’m just across the hall. So just yell if you need something. If you’re lonely, I’m always down to snuggle, but be warned, I sleep naked.”

Confusion clouds her features, “I thought you had some things to show me?”

Shooting her a sad smile while shaking my her, “I would love nothing more than to press your sexy ass body up against this door and worship every inch of it. To take you into your room and fuck you on every surface in it.” My hands cup her face as gently as I can. “I’m a lot of things Brittany, but I’m not going to take advantage of a drunk girl. So if you find yourself awake after sleeping off the alcohol and want to come to my bed, the doors unlocked. You just have to come in but baby, you’re going to be sober when I fuck you until you pass out.”

She sighs and locks her gorgeous gray eyes onto mine, “ Damn you for being a good guy, Kieran Byrne.”

Kissing her forehead I can’t help but laugh, “Oh, I’ll show you just how bad I can be. When you’re sober. Goodnight Brittany.”

“Goodnight Kieran.”

I wait until she’s in her room before I turn and head into mine to try to sleep and pray that she makes her way into my bed tonight.