Youre a stranger to me, she countered, feeling suddenly surrounded by his heat and strength, and fighting the urge to either turn tail and run or throw herself against that wall of black T-shirt and pray his offer to help was a legitimate one. How do I know I can trust you?
He was going for his badge again. You see this? This means you do what I say.
I dont have a particular fondness for cops. And though this one with the jeans and the leather and the shoulders was a sight better looking than the good ol boy who ran her hometown, she wasnt inclined to put her faith in any man right now.
I wasnt giving you a choice, Trouble. He grabbed her arm firmly enough make her understand he wasnt letting go. Youre coming with me.
Hey! The crowd parted in front of his long, determined stride as he escorted her back to his truck. Alex tapped along in double-time beside him, struggling against his grip every step of the way. Did you just call me Trouble? This is police harassment. Ive got a good lawyer. A big brother whod be indignant on her behalf, at any rate. Ill sue.
Sue away, sweetheart.
He kept right on walking, ignoring her protests, ignoring curious stares and pointing and laughs that made part of her wilt inside. The one man who stepped forward to help quickly changed his mind and backed off when the cop thrust his badge in the guys face.
Youre a big bully, you know that?
Youre a pain in the ass.
Is that any way to talk to a lady
The sidewalk ended. The cop turned. Alex tugged. His grip slipped. But escape was short-lived. Her heel caught in the seam of the curb, snapped and pitched her forward.
A rock-hard arm shot around her waist to catch her. Easy.
Alex shoved it away. Why the hell should anything go right? She stumbled sideways, plucked off the traitorous shoe and tossed it. Get away from me.
Two big hands closed over her shoulders now, saving her from falling. Let me help.
I dont want any help. I just want to go home. She wanted to crawl under the covers and hide her head and heart in shame.
He pulled her back. Im not the bad guy.
Let Alexs vision had reduced to a blur of black leather and neon lights. But she had the presence of mind to put that surviving shoe to some good use tonight. She stomped down hard on his instep. go!
Cussing up a blue streak, he did just that. Alex lurched forward, nearly splatting on the concrete. Her pulse roared in her ears. Her eyes burned.
Thats it. Before she could right herself, a straight-jacket came down around her shoulders. Its warmth and softness were almost a shock to her system. But there was nothing soft about the wrap-around bands of masculine strength that pinned her arms to her sides and lifted her feet clear off the pavement.
Alex shrieked. Twisted in his grasp.
Stop it!
Tears clouded her vision, burned down her cheeks. No!
Dont fight me.
She writhed and kicked. The second shoe flew into the shadows. Please, she sobbed. If anything, his hold on her tightened. He locked one arm beneath her breasts, the other farther down, around her hips. She was moving through the air. He was carrying her away as easily and ignominiously as a sack of potatoes. And then she was trapped, her whole body cinched up tight, unable to wiggle anything besides her bare feet, which dangled in the air beneath her.
The humiliation of her evening was complete. She was grappling in an alley with a full-grown man who was neither her brother nor her datenor her enemy.
The fight drained out of Alex and she sagged inside the prison of the cops arms. She was breathing hard, her chest pushing against the jackets silky lining. The cocoon of fiery warmth surrounding her finally pierced the blind haze of fight-or-flight emotions that had turned her into a crazy woman for a few minutes. She could finally blink enough tears from her puffy eyes to see that she was facing the bed of a black pickup truck. She was pinned against the side, wrapped up in a leather jacket and sandwiched between cold steel and warm man.
As her breathing returned to a more normal rhythm, Alex became aware of a hushed, deep-pitched sound murmuring against her neck. Shh. Theres nothing to be afraid of. Just quit fightin me. Okay?
Alex nodded slowly, hearing the cadence of that soothing voice more than the actual words. Imsorry.
She exhaled on a surrendering sigh and instinctively leaned her ear closer to the seductive sound. Smooth like whiskey, and just as intoxicating, the deep, soft tones warmed her from the inside out.
Thats it, sweetheart. Relax. Im not going to hurt you. The rough pad of a finger was surprisingly gentle against her skin as the man who held her wiped the tears from her cheeks. Shh. Now, come on. Dont do that. You dont want to be cryin.
The tears of frustration and humiliation quickly dried up beneath his tender ministrations. For a few moments, there was simply fatigueand gratitude that there was a man whose will and strength were stronger than her owna good man whose will and strength hadnt been used to hurt her. But as her sensibilities returned, Alex became aware of other things. Interesting things. Things that were as male and intriguing and unsettling as that voice.
The muscled forearm wedged beneath her breasts. The rasp of beard stubble that tickled her ear and neck. The buttery softness and furnace-like warmth of the jacket hed wrapped around her body. Alex breathed in deeply. The jacket smelled like heaven.
She felt the belt buckle pressing into her rear, and the thigh that had been forced between her legs. In their struggle, her short dress had ridden up to an embarrassing level, leaving only her cotton panties between them. But shielded from curious eyes by the truck and the mans big, muscular body, she didnt feel exposed or embarrassed.
Instead, Alex feltfemale. Vulnerable.
But not afraid.
The roughness of denim rubbed against her most sensitive skin. And a rippling response of pressure seemed to be gathering at the juncture between her thighs, building with each flex of hard muscles against her there.
Lets try this again. He adjusted their positions, shifting her higher onto his hip. Alex closed her eyes, her thighs clenching at the friction of his leg sliding between hers. How could being trappedhelplesslike this feel so good? Im a detective with Nashville PD. Its too chilly for this dress and too late for a woman to be walking the streets on her own. Im here to help you. How old are you?
Twenty-five.
Before I got to you He paused, went still around heras if the next question was hard for him to get out. Have you been assaulted?
Grabbing hands. Buttons popping. Pushing her down in the seat. I heard you did it for all the boys in Dahlia. Lets see those tits.
Shh. Easy.
Something in Alex had gone rigid, defensive. But his mesmerizing voice calmed her into breathing easy again.
Alex answered. I was on a blind date. There was a little miscommunication. I thought hed be interestinghe thought Id put out.
Im sorry. He adjusted his stance, pulling the prop of his leg from between hers, relaxing the intimacy of his hold on her without releasing her entirely. Did he force you?