Free Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting New York (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Lainey Reese

screening is a good filter, but you still will get creeps. And this guy could be just a guy and not a creep. Maybe he thinks your Dom will loan you out for a scene, or that your Dom likes to share or watch, or sheesh, in this lifestyle he could be thinking anything.” Terryn smiled at her and shrugged a shoulder. “Brice and the others just aren’t willing to take the chance that he is a creep. That’s all.”
    “The lil’ subbie can tell me no herself.” The stranger took a moment to look each of them in the eye. “Or her Dom can. But since he decided to walk away and leave her uncollared and unattended, I’m going to ask you boys to step aside.”
    Instead of meeting his request, the three men closed ranks and stood shoulder-to-shoulder. The cockiness in the other man’s expression only intensified, transforming him from imposing to belligerent in a blink.
    She’d seen firsthand what belligerence looked like up close and personal, maybe that was why Miguel had come into her thoughts. She was looking at a virtual clone of his brothers. And she was no longer embarrassed by the fact that the others were sticking up for her—she was grateful for it. Profoundly.
    “She wasn’t left unattended,” Brice told him.
    “Obviously,” Cade said and gave one of those short, manly head-tilt things that seemed to indicate the three of them guarding her.
    “No,” the stranger said, unmoved by their show of unity. “What’s obvious is that you don’t know the rules in this club. All subbies left alone are up for grabs if they don’t have a collar. If her Dom didn’t want to share her or have her stolen right out from under his nose, then he should have left her kneeling and cuffed to her seat. Since he just walked away doing neither, I’m going to ask you gentlemen one more time to step the fuck aside.”
    “What a jerk,” Terryn said. Loudly.
    “Should I say something? I can tell him no right now and just avoid this.” Now that the tension level had risen, Shy hated the thought of a confrontation on her behalf. The surprisingly pleasant feelings she’d had a moment ago had vanished as soon as she’d realized there might be a real conflict brewing. She was not going to just sit here like some empty-headed damsel in distress and let these men take a hit for her, and that was exactly what she feared was coming as her new champions faced off with Mr. Belligerence.
    Shy shoved herself to her feet. Rules be damned, she was going to put a stop to this before things got out of hand.
    But just at that moment, Faulkner came back and Shy flowed back into her seat with a sigh of relief.
    Not only was her Dom here now, so she was no longer unattended, but even if the D-bag wanted to push, not many men had what it took to stand toe to toe with her SEAL.
    He had wine glasses in one hand for her and Terryn, two beer bottles by the necks for him and Brice in the other, and water bottles for everyone else tucked under his arm. Yet Shy knew if the situation called for it, he could take the other man down without spilling a single drop.
    “Problem?” His voice was like chocolate for the ears and Cheyenne felt that electric tingle flare to life that he always evoked in her. It was like a shower of sparks in her belly.
    Like most bullies, the creep had his head too far up his ass to see he wasn’t getting past Brice, Cade and Trevor, but Faulkner was lethal. He was a soldier who fought to the death for his country each time he went on a mission, and it showed in every line of his body.
    The other man must have seen this, thankfully, because he came to his senses and backed down. “No. No problem. You have a lovely sub. If you’re open to it, I would love to f—” He stopped the F-bomb he’d been about to lob when Faulkner did no more than lift an eyebrow. “—scene with her.”
    “Look,” Dude said and Shy smiled because she was very familiar with that look ; somebody was about to get their ass handed to them. “I get