Free Claimed by the Marine by Dez Burke Page A

look proprietary as he looked down at her and then with a smirk at the stone-faced Hawk.
    “I don’t think so,” Hawk said lightly before Ashanti could reply, his hand wrapping around Ashanti’s wrist. His fingers then slid upwards over her arm in a vice-like grip.
    Ashanti drew in an angry breath, trying to snatch her arm away but his hold was too strong.
    “How about a dance, babe?” he asked, barely taking his eyes away from the frowning Steve.
    “ I don’t think so ,” Ashanti snapped, throwing his words back at him. How dare he just show up out of nowhere and demand she dance with him? And why did he have to act like he flipping owned the place? Owned her ?
    “Steve and I were just about to leave,” she said with a prim, satisfied smile, which she turned on her companion. He smirked.
    “That’s right – Hawk,” Steve said smugly, his hand on her waist pulling Ashanti away.
    Ashanti gasped as Hawk pulled her hand the other way, giving her the sudden feeling of being in the middle of a tug-of-war. For heaven’s sake! They were both acting like first-graders.
    “If you really think I’m going to stand back and let you simply leave here with him …” Hawk’s teeth were gritted, blazing eyes meeting Ashanti’s equally stormy gaze.
    Why the hell can’t I stop wanting him, even now, she fumed, noting every little detail about him right then. How even beneath his jacket, his broad shoulders were plain to observe, as well as his expansive chest and formidable arms. He looked daunting but while she refused to cower, she wondered where Steve had the nerve to do what he did next.
    “Hey, I don’t know who you think you are, mister; but maybe you need to back off,” Steve said coldly, his hand reaching to shove Hawk roughly away.
    But then everything that happened next happened so fast. Before Steve’s hand could connect with Hawk’s chest, Hawk moved swiftly. In seconds he’d deflected Steve’s hand and with just a couple of maneuvers that boggled belief, he all but forced Steve to his knees with a swift wristlock.
    Ashanti gasped in shock.
    Steve’s face had crumpled in a grimace of pain as his mouth widened in a kind of comical soundless howl. It had all taken place in less than three seconds and yet they were already drawing attention from the other people close by.
    “Hawk, what the hell are you doing? Let him go!” Ashanti cried.
    “Not yet babe; I feel the need to teach pretty boy some manners,” Hawk said calmly, twisting harder on Steve’s wrist and making the guy swear loudly.
    “Hawk! Hey, chill out, dude.” Ashanti turned as Marcus appeared by their side. He’d obviously been observing from afar and had now come closer to talk Hawk into letting the guy go.
    “Ashanti,” Steve gritted with difficulty as he tried to stay on his feet even though he was bent beneath the punishing wristlock. “Will you tell your thuggish friend to let go of my fucking wrist before I slam him with a law suit –“
    Steve didn’t finish because Hawk suddenly released his wrist and instead seized him by the throat.
    “How about I just choke you until you turn so purple you’ll be forced to keep that rude mouth shut?” Hawk mused.
    Ashanti wanted to scream as she saw Steve struggle ineffectually with the heavy arm attached to the hand that had his throat in a grab hold.
    “Seriously man, cut it out,” Marcus said firmly, tugging on Hawk’s arm, “Fighting civilians brings a shitload of trouble that we don’t need, you know that.”
    “Who said anything about fighting?” Hawk said conversationally. He was staring into Steve’s darkening face as the guy seemed to struggle for air. “I didn’t appreciate the way you had your hands all over Ashanti. I feel the need to teach you to keep your little paws to yourself. What do you think?”
    “Oh my goodness what on earth is going on here?” Bertha cried, pushing in through the gathering crowd to find Hawk still holding tight to Steve’s throat