Under Locke

by Mariana Zapata

Trey looked back at me and winked. "Maybe another time." I had to be the only one who heard Dex mutter, "Over my dead body," under his breath.

I’d developed this sixth sense of being too aware of him.

my dating life has nothing to do with you, okay?" "Yeah, it does, Ritz," he gritted out. "No, it doesn't, Charlie." I poked him right between his pecs twice. "Yeah. It. Does."

His entire body was tense. "And you can't fuckin' talk to anybody that wants to put their hands down your goddamn pants." "What?" Oh lord. Oh dear, heavenly lord. "Why are you being like this?” “‘Cuz. I. Don’t. Fuckin’. Like. It.”

“Dex, I don’t mean to sound like a complete bitch but...I don’t care if you don’t like it. He was asking me out on a date, you stubborn idiot. That doesn't mean he's planning on—" Nostrils flared. “Don’t finish that sentence, baby. I’m about this fuckin’ close to losin’ it.”

Two big hands cupped my jaw the instant before his mouth with its deep pink, full lips and day old scruff, descended on me in a hard kiss—all ownership and demand.

When someone like Dex makes a noise into your mouth when you slid your tongue against his in a friendly gesture while simultaneously shoving your breasts against his hard chest, you do it again.

"It's fine, kid. I'd do this and worse for you,"

tried all night to think of somebody I trust as much as you and I could only come up with one. One fuckin' person out of everybody in the world, babe,"

“Honey, you and me, we’re more than just friends.”

“Look at you. I never stood a fuckin’ chance.”

“Baby, there’s nothing wrong with my judgment. I know exactly what I’m doin’, and I know damn well that if I ever see you smile at somebody like you did at Trey today, I’ll kill the poor bastard.”

“That shit made my chest burn. I hated it. You know what that’s like for me? Standin’ there thinkin’ to myself that I don’t wanna share you with anybody?” His neck visibly strained. “I can’t ignore this shit between us anymore, and I’m not gonna. Not when it makes so much sense.” Oh. Dear. God.

“Nobody’s ever made me feel the way you do.”

At least a little bit of fear flooded my system because I thought for a moment about walking out of the room to end the conversation. "You go and I'm comin' after you, babe."

His forehead touched the edge of mine. "Baby, I won't let anythin' happen to you, you gotta know that." Warm breath wafted over my cheek. "Don't worry about it."

He stared at me for a long moment, his gaze hard. Then his hands were cupping my face. He tipped my head back to nip at my upper lip, sucking it between his.

"Go fuck yourself, you...you...mean asshole!"

"Babe," Dex cooed, his nose to my temple. "Don't ever do that shit to me again."

"It was bad enough that that asshole shows up and was tryin' to take you away from me.

Life was too unpredictable to stay pissed off.

Dex shifted his hips until my bottom sat right against his groin. "Can't sleep," he whispered for some reason. I couldn't be sure but I thought that he might have pressed his lips to my ear. "I've been a shit, babe."

He smoothed his finger down the curve of my ear. "I don't know what the hell I'm doin' with you, you know that?" Oh boy. I shifted my head to look at him over my shoulder. "Me neither, Dex."

"Baby, you make me wanna kill every fuckin' guy that looks at you. You know what that's like?"

"I looked all over the city for you, Ritz. You think I'd do that for anybody else?"

“You gotta get it straight, babe. This ain’t just friendship to me.”

Dex’s friggin’ hand was underneath my panties, palming my bare butt cheek. Just sleep, he said?

He was like aloe vera, rough and prickly on the outside, but the inside held all the gooey goodness.

His chuckle was smooth and dark. "I know, my sweet baby."

The first thing I noticed again were the small stainless steel hoops through his perfect, dark nipples. Little nipples on a muscular chest and above a flawlessly ridged six-pack. A six-pack that led to the sweet slabs of v-shaped muscles that disappeared beneath black boxers...that did nothing to hide the massive tent his groin was pitching.

“Iris.” Oh dear god. “I'd never hurt you, baby,” Dex murmured.

“Knew the moment I saw you, standin' outside the shop, scared, that you were an innocent little thing. So sweet. So good."

If I was a good man I'd tell you to find somebody better, somebody that won't lose their shit over an asshole eye fuckin' you." His tongue traced the oval shape of my chin. "But I'm not a good man, and I'm gonna take everythin' you want to give me and everythin' you don't."

Dex’s forehead touched mine gently, as if he could sense the emotion bubbling inside of me. “I want it all, baby.”

“You’ve got the prettiest face I’ve ever seen.”

“And that smile you give me when you’re givin’ me shit? A fuckin’ smile’s the last thing I’d ever give a shit about before I met you.“

“But you crack me up like nobody else. I like that the most.”

A soft laugh made its way out of his throat. “I kinda think you’re a treasure.”

I did it again. Kissing his first lip, then his bottom. Easy, chaste kisses that Dex waited patiently through. The kinds of kisses he’d probably outgrown in elementary school. I had just licked my lips with every intention of kissing him again when he pursed his in response, kissing me back with that soft puckered mouth. Soft, soft, soft. His mouth touched my top lip then my bottom. One corner of my mouth, then the other.

Dex’s free hand brushed the hair back from my face right before he kissed my temple and forehead with a hum and a promise of familiarity. “You okay?" Shyness overcame me and I nodded. "Oh yeah."

he gave me a devilish grin. “I bet you’re delicious.” Holy moly.

"Nah. I like you callin' me Charlie." This friggin' guy.

When Sonny was mad it was like having your guardian angel disappointed in you. It hurt.

A small line creased his eyebrows as he wound my ponytail around his fist.

Dex ran his fingers through my ponytail before disappearing down the hallway a minute later.

The fuckin’ idea of you kissin’ somebody else makes me wanna dig a knife into my eye. Let me tell you, babe, never in my life have a given a single fuck about any of that. You get it?”

"You are not a waste of time to me."

Dex happened to be the most controlling and overbearing man I’d ever met.

"I already told you I don't give up what's mine." Dex kissed my bottom lip like I'd done his. "Ever."

It was Dex's turn to blink. "You had cancer," he hissed angrily. "And you're here. There's nothin' ugly about that."