Thrasher
Authors: K.S. Smith
Thrasher
by
K.S. Smith
Thrasher
by K.S. Smith
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.
THRASHER
Copyright © 2015 K.S. SMITH
ISBN:
978-0-9910279-4-1
Cover Art Designed by MG Book Covers & Designs
Formatting by Brenda Wright
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book is dedicated to my amazing Street Team! You all are simply the best. I cannot thank you enough!
Kristy Guzman-Torres, words cannot express how thankful I am for you! You have been an incredible PA and I truly lucked out when you agreed to take me on. Thank you for putting up with me, I don’t know how you do it, but I am so glad that you do!
To my Partner in Crime, there are not enough words to express my thanks! You are there every step of the way and there is no one else I’d rather have by my side!
Lastly, to anyone who has bought this book – THANK YOU! I cannot do what I do without each and every one of you and for that I am eternally grateful.
xoxo
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
“Get off me, you asshole!” I screamed angrily in the face of the utterly inebriated frat boy who’d almost knocked me over for the second time while dancing with my girlfriends. He was way past drunk, and the bouncers were clearly not doing their job.
“I swear to all that’s holy, if he touches me one more time, I’m going to shove my knee so far into his balls he’ll never be able to get it up for another sorority girl, ever again.”
Megan laughed uncontrollably at my comment before she began dancing with me again. Our favorite song, Katy Perry’s dance remix of “Roar”
was blaring through the speakers and over the sea of people; our bodies swayed sexily to the beat.
The DJ was fading into the next song right when his body came crashing into mine, ten times harder than it had the previous two times. His giant body collided with my tiny frame, and before I could catch myself from toppling over, I was slammed into the side of the bar, falling to the ground, taking a few other patrons with me.
Startled, I shook my head to assess my whereabouts before jumping back up to my feet, anger surging through my body as I flew after the douchebag that had tipped me over the edge.
Megan saw the fire in my eyes and instantly threw her arms around my waist, stopping me just in time for me to see the frat boy’s pretty face being pummeled by a total stranger, a beautiful stranger.
“Let me go. I swear I’m going to kill him,” I screamed over the thumping music, but she held me tighter.
The beautiful creature smashed the kid’s face as a sea of men tried to yank him off.
Finally, the bouncers were doing their job; bodies were being pulled from one side of the club to the other, and the beautiful stranger was yelling at the top of his lungs as his friends tried to pry him away, “I swear to God, if you fucking hurt her, I’m going to kill you, you arrogant little prick.”
Looking around, I saw the frat brother was bleeding profusely from his face.
Serves him right. What a dick.
“Ma’am, you’re going to need to come with us,” a stern voice roared over the music.
I looked at the script on his shirt that read SECURITY, and I knew this night had just gone from good to horrible in a matter of a few songs. Furious and still a bit out of it, I took Megan’s hand and dragged her behind me, not wanting to follow the bouncers all alone.
We both followed him down a long, dimly lit hallway before he pressed through a door that dumped us into the back alley of the club. There were already four police officers and an ambulance, all with their red and blue lights brightly shining, along with sir douchebag, a few of his frat brothers, and the group of guys that included the gorgeous specimen who’d been pummeling Sir Douchebag.
The first police officer to speak directed his question at the frat brothers; he was talking loudly enough for everyone to hear, but the pounding in my head drowned out his voice. My legs began to shake beneath me, and I saw white specks flashing in my eyes right before my body went sailing to the ground for the second time that night. A set of thick masculine arms caught me just before I face-planted onto the concrete.
The crowd rushed to me, and I heard a deep voice speaking to the paramedic.
“She’s bleeding. She must have hit her head when that
motherfucker
slammed her into the bar.”
I could feel the heat radiating off this stranger's body as he held me snugly in his arms while the paramedic began to check me over. “We need to get you to the hospital. Do you think you can walk to the ambulance?” he asked loudly like he thought I spoke a foreign language.
I nodded my head and tried to stand, but the lights were flashing in my eyes again, and before I knew it, the strong arms hoisted me up — his masculine scent filling my nose — and proceeded to carry me over to the ambulance before he climbed inside the small space and sat down with me on his lap.
My eyes frantically searched for Megan. “Meg... Megan, where are you?”
Relief washed over me as I heard her voice, and she quickly jumped into the ambulance with me, looking up at the stranger and then back down at me. “I’m right here. Apparently, we’re going to the hospital. Do you want me to call your parents?” Her face looked concerned.
I swiftly shook my head no before reaching up to the hairline of my temple to feel if I was really bleeding. I felt hot liquid on my skin, and when I examined my fingertips, the sight of dark red blood caused me to pass out… in the arms of the giant stranger.
When I woke up, I glanced around the white, sterile-looking hospital room.
Where am I? Where’s Megan?
I thought to myself before I spoke, semi-panicked. “Megan.” My eyes darted around the room, but it was empty. I called for my best friend again, this time louder. “Megan!”
The door swung open, and standing there was the beautiful stranger I remembered from the club. I stared at him, fully able to see him for the first time, and wondered.
Who is this man?
His body was tall and muscular. I could tell, even through his clothing, he was cut in all the right places. He reminded me of someone in the military. His dark brown hair was incredibly short, and the only hair on his face was obviously what had grown back since he’d shaved last, which was probably first thing this morning.
I noticed he’d lost his blue button-up shirt and had been left wearing a white undershirt that clung to his chiseled upper body. Dressy blue jeans hung perfectly on the
V
of his hip bones, and a detailed tattoo ended just above his right elbow. I couldn’t help but stare at him, unable to speak, and hoped he’d tell me where I was.
“Megan had to run. Apparently your other girlfriends didn’t have a ride home, and none of them had cash for a cab. She promised she would hurry. I offered to have some of my buddies pick up your other friends, but they weren’t too keen on that idea, being that we’re total strangers and all.”
A smiled tugged at the corner of my mouth, and a whisper rolled off my lips, “Good, they know better than to get into a car with strangers, obviously unlike myself.”
He laughed, and the sound sent a bolt straight down my spine.
“Actually, you got into an ambulance with me, Megan, and the paramedic, so I’d say you were pretty safe.”
I did my best to jog my memory as I replayed the earlier events of the evening. “What happened to that frat bastard?” I asked curiously.
His eyes filled with anger, and fists clenched at his sides, veins bulging from his arms. “The cops took him to jail, but I’m sure daddy will have him bailed out in no time, which is fine with me. It’ll give me a better chance of killing that prick.”
Confused by what he was saying, I darted my eyes to his. “Kill him? Isn’t that a little much? He must have really roughed up your girlfriend or something before he sent me to the ground.”
I watched on as his giant body paced in front of the hospital bed and he ran a hand through his too-short hair. “Girlfriend? No, kill him for hurting you. I’d been sitting at the bar with my buddies the first couple times he bumped into you. You were handling him pretty well on your own, but when he knocked you down, that was it. My only reaction was to beat the fuck out of him.”
I giggled softly, and he looked over at me, his eyes angrier. “What’s so funny?” he snapped, obviously ticked off by my laughter.
“I’m sorry. I don’t even know you. Why in the world would you want to kill someone on my behalf? I can’t imagine jail time over a perfect stranger is high up on anyone’s to-do list.”
His eyes narrowed in on me while he walked over to the side of my bed, crossing those huge arms over his chest. “Sorry, I should have introduced myself. I’m Duke Thrasher, and I don’t take lightly to a man who knocks women around. That fucker is just lucky my buddies got ahold of me before I killed him.”
I couldn’t help but laugh again as I pushed up on my arms, adjusting myself so I was sitting up in bed. “I highly doubt he’s a wife beater. He was just drunk. Granted, I didn’t appreciate him knocking me down, but I really don’t think that warrants you killing him. Besides, I can take care of myself, but I appreciate the chivalry.”
I could tell he was looking for the right words to retort back when Megan burst through the door. “Is she awake?”
I smiled and waved to her. I could tell she was worried; it was written all over her face.