I let her go but neither of us moved.  Her eyes softened; the hard glare she’d been looking at me with a second ago, gone.  A flush came over her cheeks and a hint of a smile touched her lips.  When her tongue darted out and licked her lips, a sensation shot right through me and wrapped itself around my cock.  It settled in the pit of my stomach a second later.  Fuck, what was that scent she was wearing?  It was screwing with my mind and my body.  I resisted the urge to lean right into her and inhale it.

Harlow made the first move; she stepped back, right into Nash who was now standing behind her.  He reached out to steady her, his hands gripping her hips.  “Watch out, sweet thing, or you’ll excite my ankle spanker even more than you already have.”

Confusion flit across her face.  “Your what?” she asked before turning around to look at him.

Nash’s hands curved around Harlow’s ass as she turned.  I zeroed in on this, as well as her failure to remove them.  I clenched my jaw and fists; ready to strike but not even sure why.  Trying to fight the urge but not succeeding, I reached out and yanked Nash’s hands off her ass.  I then hooked my hand around her waist and pulled her back towards me, away from Nash.  She gasped as she lost her balance but I held on tight to prevent her fall, and she ended up backed right against me.  Nash just looked amused; probably wondering what the fuck I was doing.  I knew I sure as hell was.  Seeing Nash’s hands on a woman was a normal occurrence for me so why was it any different when it was his hands on Harlow?

“Nash has a filthy mouth.  You don’t want to know half the shit he talks about,” I murmured near her ear, her hair brushing across my face.

She made a noise that sounded like a moan before mumbling, “Well, I’d like to know what an ankle spanker is.”

I’d met a lot of women in my life.  Hell, I’d fucked a lot of women in my life.  They came and they went; I hardly remembered faces, never remembered names, and had no desire to know any of those women beyond the feel of their pussy wrapped around my dick.  They would have all known what an ankle spanker was.  Harlow stood there, blazing with naivety and I was damn sure her name and face were burned into my brain.

Letting her go, I waited until she turned slightly so she could see both Nash and I before telling her, “It’s a huge cock, sweetheart.  Nash here likes to consider himself well hung.”

Her face flamed with redness.  “Oh.”

Nash grinned, and I scowled at him.  He wasn’t easily put off though, and indicated for Harlow and her friend to sit with us.  “I’ll get you some water, ladies,” he said as he guided them into their seats.

Harlow’s friend’s eyes trailed up and down my body before she fixed a filthy stare on me.  “This is the guy who lost you your job?”

Before Harlow could answer, Velvet appeared at the table.  “Boss, we’ve got a slight issue at the front door.  Might need your help.”

Reluctantly diverting my attention from Harlow, I nodded at Velvet.  “Be right back,” I said to Harlow before heading to the front of the club.

My blood boiled the instant I hit the footpath outside.  A couple of people were milling around a chick who was sitting on the ground crying.  Her cheek was swollen and painted with blood.  I flicked my glare to our bouncer who had a guy up against the wall.  I stormed over to them and pulled the guy around so he was facing me.

I jerked my chin towards the chick on the ground.  “You do that, asshole?”

His cold eyes challenged me, giving me all the information I needed.  I pulled my arm back and landed a punch on his cheek.  His face swung to the side from the impact and his body slightly crumpled.  I took the opportunity to get another couple of punches in; on his face and then his ribs.  I fed off the grunts of pain he emitted and the cracking sounds my fists caused when they connected with his body.  If it wasn’t for Nash pulling me off him, I would have kept going.

“Easy, brother,” Nash muttered as he shoved me backwards.

I pointed at the asshole.  “If I ever fucking see you here again, your legs won’t get you home.  Women aren’t put on this earth to be your punching bag.  Now, get the fuck out of my sight,” I thundered.

Turning my attention to the chick on the ground, I said, “You want me to organise someone to take you to the hospital?”

She shook her head, and her friend declined my offer, “Thanks, but we’ve got it under control.  A friend’s just gone to get his car.”

“Good,” I said, and then asked, “He your boyfriend?”

She nodded but didn’t say a word.  Her eyes fell to the ground and she looked ashamed.

I knelt down next to her.  “This wasn’t your fault.  I have no idea what’s gone on between you two but nothing you’ve said or done gives that asshole the right to take to you with his fists.  You got that?”

She nodded again but her eyes betrayed her; she didn’t believe what I’d said for one second.

“Let me guess, this shit goes on often and you keep going back for more.  You’re worth more than that scumbag piece of shit.  If you start believing that one day and need help to get back on your feet, you come see me.  Until then, I fucking hope you survive the next round because, let me tell you, it’s just gonna keep coming till you decide to put a stop to it.”