Come here. Show Daddy how much you love him.
I tried again to pull away.
Again, his strength outmatched mine.
“Goddamnit,” I said through clenched teeth. “Let me go!”
He laughed, and this time sank his teeth into my neck.
Visions of my father clouded my brain. No! Not going there. I was a cop, for God’s sake. I was well-trained in self-defense, and now was the time to put that training to use. I thrust my forehead against his neck, effectively pushing him back, and then landed a punch to his solar plexus and a knee to his groin.
He doubled over, and then—
Suddenly he was flung away from me, landing on his ass and knocking other dancers askew.
The music still played.
My heart thumped wildly as Ryan Steel thundered past me, grabbed the man by his collar, and yanked him to his feet. He dragged the man off the dance floor and outside.
I didn’t know what to do other than follow.
When I got outside, Ryan was still holding the guy by the collar.
“I saw the lady try to get away from you.”
“Hey, man. I was having some fun. This is a nude resort, and look at her. That body. She wants it. You know it.”
“You bastard.” Ryan pulled back his arm.
He was going to hit this guy, and I couldn’t allow that. We were on a resort in a foreign country. I had no idea what could happen, what the laws were here. I had been acting in self-defense, but Ryan was just pissed.
I ran forward and grabbed his arm. “Ryan. Please. Don’t.”
He turned to me, his brown eyes blazing. “Did he hurt you?”
I shook my head, my fingers at my neck. “No. I mean… No.”
“What did you do to her?” He eyed the man.
“Nothing, man. Just a little kiss on the neck, grabbed her ass. Look at her, man.”
“You fucking son of a bitch!” He raised his arm again.
“No! Ryan. Don’t.”
“He deserves it.” Still holding the guy, with his other hand he brushed my hand away from my neck. “Damn it.” He turned back to the guy. “You bit her? What kind of animal are you?”
“Look, I’m sorry. She seemed into it.”
“Bullshit. I saw her trying to push you away from across the room. I ought to punch you into tomorrow.”
“You can try it.”
“You fucking bastard.”
This time I ran between them. “Ryan, don’t. I’m okay. It’s not worth it. Trust me.”
Ryan let the guy go, and he crumpled to the ground. “If I see you again, I’ll fucking kill you.”