Royal Prick (A Stepbrother Romance #2)

“Drink it,” I ordered.

“No. She like’s youuuuuu, Fuckboy.” A bubble of laughter hiccuped out of her mouth.

“I don’t care if she likes me, because she’s going to hate me once I find her ass. Now less talking and more drinking of the water,” I hissed out. I just finished speaking when Noelle’s squeals of laughter met my ears.

I knew for sure it was hers because of the softness and hiccup that resonated from deep in her throat. I shoved away from the counter with one final glance at Jordan saying, “Drink that water, I will be back for you as soon as I find Noelle.” Walking down out onto the deck and into the back yard, I saw her standing right next to the fire pit. That asshole, Dom, with his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulder, snuggling her into his chest.

MINE. This motherfucker was going to pay for touching what’s mine.

You could say right then and there something snapped in me, or you could say I snapped long before that moment.

Who did he think he was, and why the fuck was she letting him touch her? I couldn’t think anymore; all I could do was act. Nothing I would say would prove my point. Bone against bone. Blood pooling beneath a body. Those were all the things that would prove a point.

I ran the rest of the distance that separated us, lifting my fist with precision and the right angle to hit him straight in the back of the head. I didn’t care if it was a cheap shot, or if it made me look like an asshole. All I cared about was getting back what was mine.

The second my fist made contact with his skull, mayhem ensued. Dom fell to the ground with a groan, bringing Noelle down with him. They landed in a heap on the grass. She rolled away from him, fear forcing her to back away from the whole situation. When her eyes met mine, I lost it.

The look of horror on her face told me she knew better. It told me she understood that this was her fault. I was protecting and defending what was mine, even if I didn’t claim it. I didn’t have to claim Noelle for her to be mine. It was ingrained in me. When her heart was beating, mine was too. When she cried, I felt her pain. She was mine because I wanted her to be mine, and now this fucker had to pay for touching what was mine.

I rolled my shoulders, sending her a look of detest. I would deal with her later because right now all I wanted to do was kick the fuck out of this guy for touching something as precious as Noelle. I was the only disgraceful fuck that could touch her because I knew her worth, and I knew that she deserved better than someone like me. This guy didn’t, and he wouldn’t care that he ripped her to pieces. I bent down on my haunches waiting for the fucker to get up. I was ready, so fucking ready. I was defending what was mine, and showing everyone else here what happened when they fucked with Noelle.

“You wanted a fight. Well here I am, asshole, let’s go.” I shot up to my full stature, bouncing from foot to foot as I watched Dom continue to roll around in the grass.

What a pussy.

The crowd around us grew, the circle becoming wider as hushed whispers filled the air. I extended my hand out to Noelle for her to grab so that I could help her back to her feet. My hand hung there for a moment suspended in the air. The fear and shock that reflected back at me was astounding, and for a second I felt bad for being the cause of that single look. That was until I remembered this whole thing was on her. She made the choice to come here, to let him wrap his arm around her. I didn’t care if she was just being friendly, or if she was trying to get with him. Nothing mattered to me but her safety.

The princess herself brought all of this on herself, and I would be the first to remind her of that once this was all over.

“I told you I was dangerous. I warned you, Noelle, and now someone has to pay the consequences. Maybe you’ll listen better next time after you see what I do to this fuck head,” I whispered into her as she gripped my hand, finally allowing me to help her to her feet. There was something inside of me forming, cracking and coming to the surface.

As soon as she got her footing I pushed her behind me, ready to get down to business. My icy glare turned straight to the asshole that was about to have his life ruined by my rage.

Number one way to piss Royal off: touch or take something that doesn’t belong to you. I was territorial, and I didn’t care if it looked like I was pissing a circle around Noelle. This wasn’t about anything but proving to these people that provoking me came with grave consequences.

“You all came here tonight expecting a fight, and while it may have gotten delayed it hasn’t been forgotten,” I shouted, making sure everyone within hearing distance could hear what it was that I was saying.