Colton Johansson is a big guy like his father. Anyone else would find his ripped build intimidating. He’s easily around six-four, but that still makes him short in my world. I know “smaller” men like Colton can pack a strong punch, and he gets a few solid hits to my ribs and jaw. I’m impressed to see he isn’t all bravado.

That doesn’t mean I won’t kick his ass, though.

First I let him look like a tough fucker for his crowd of supporters. Demolishing an opponent on his turf is a recipe for retaliation. Besides, he’s my girl’s big brother. Making him look like a punk will hurt her too. Audrey might talk shit about her family, but she loves them fiercely. Even the dancing fool in front of me.

Once Colton gets in his licks and shows off his casual brutality, I check on Audrey to see if she’s still stressed about her father’s big-dog display. Yep, she stares at me with big fearful eyes. I’d love to ditch the fight and kiss away her worries, but I have an asshole to fuck up.

I slap Colton on the side of the head in the way Audrey and Rando did to each other in the kitchen. He turns around and glowers like a stone-cold sociopath. I’m impressed by his ability to frown with such conviction.

So I punch him with around forty percent of my strength and knock him on his pampered ass. The crowd roars with approval. They also immediately cheer for Colton to get up and kick my ass. These people enjoy a good brawl.

When I peek back at Audrey to ensure she isn’t upset over her brother’s bruised ego, I find her pout gone. Now smiling, she claps when our gazes meet.

I turn back to find Colton throwing a punch. Stepping to my right, I barely dodge his fist. He throws another one followed by another. Clearly realizing I no longer plan to stand still for him to beat on, Colton sends a barrage of punches toward my head and chest. He’s a machine.

Too bad, I’m faster and smoother than him. I dodge to the right and then to the left. My balance never wavers. I am a mirage he can’t quite reach.

I punch him square in the stomach, trying to avoid breaking his precious fucking head. When he stumbles, I throw a punch to the side of his face. Colton lands hard on the ground while I stand over him and smirk like the cockiest fucker alive.

“Asshole,” he says, returning to his feet and rushing at me.

Sliding to my right, I let him nearly pass me before I bring down my elbow on his shoulder. Colton has another violent meeting with the hardwood floor. I stretch my arms in the air, revealing my exposed gut for him to hit.

On his feet, he takes the bait, and I merely step to my left and slam my forearm into his throat. His ass collides with the floor and remains there while he coughs and gasps for air.

I glance back at Audrey and find her standing on the bar top. She slips her fingers in her mouth to whistle loud enough to be heard over the crowd. Man, what I would like to do with those luscious lips of hers.

Returning my gaze to her brother, I find him nursing more than a bruised ego. He frowns up at me, and I throw an olive branch rather than a punch. My hand reaches out for him. I wait to see if he can play nice or do I need to pound on him more.

Colton takes my hand, and I yank him to his feet.

“Good fight, man,” I say, fighting the natural urge to brag after vanquishing my opponent.

Dying to fight more but realizing he can’t win, Colton gives me a dissatisfied fucking frown. “Yeah. Just don’t mess with my sister and we won’t have to do this again for real.”

“No promises,” I say and walk away before he throws out more threats his body can’t cash.

Audrey still stands on the bar. Blind to the people around us, she only sees me as I locate my jacket and approach her.  Even in the poorly lit bar, I spot more than pure relief in her eyes. Growing up in this world, she loves a bloody fight as much as the rest of the people in Whiskey Kirk’s. The difference is Audrey gets to make out with the winner afterward.

I walk to where she smiles brilliantly at me. Turning around, I pat myself on the back. Sliding into her coat quickly, Audrey does her best monkey impression by climbing off the bar and onto me. She nuzzles my ear, and I feel a quick bite of her teeth on my flesh.

Her flirting nibble sends heat through my already pumped body. I’m surprised my dick doesn’t tear free from my jeans and kill a bystander. A groan escapes my lips, and I start moving toward the door before she makes my erection worse and someone loses an eye.