Stryker

“One and the same.”

She smiled and her whole face lit up. “I saw you fight, and the other day when I noticed a large man sitting in the bar… I wondered if you were one and the same. I’m so glad that you are.”

“You are?”

Her fingers caressed along my flushed cheekbones not only with shyness, but arousal.

“Yes, I am…very glad.” She smiled, moving her hands away, leaving me craving them back on my body.

She moved forward to slide off the desk, but, with me not moving, all she did was come up against my thighs, hers spreading wider. She tilted her head to look at me. I breathed in as I tried to fight the urge to sweep her up in my embrace. A few seconds later, I reluctantly moved to the door. Without looking at her, I told her, “I’ll walk you home.”

Her touch on the small of my back had me turning and I finally met her gaze again.

“I usually get a cab, but I’d love to walk with you.”

Evie

AT MY WORDS, A look so sad crossed his face before it was replaced with longing, his eyes sparkled, and then he hid them from me.

He guided me outside, a hand low on my back. However, once outside, a shudder rippled down my spine at the thought of what would have happened if Stryker hadn’t appeared.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, and the large man walked silently beside me. We moved in sync, thanks to him matching his pace to mine. As we walked, our hands brushed together until he hooked my thumb with his.

Butterflies took flight in my belly at the light touch and when our fingers intertwined, desire pooled low. Every slight movement caused the bodice of my dress to brush lightly against my pebbled nipples.

I wasn’t sure he knew how much he affected me, but I’d certainly seen his reaction to me back in Julio’s office. He’d been heavily aroused with just my tender touch, which had surprised me. Me being forward, making the first move was a change. Usually I’d be too shy, but with Stryker, I wasn’t, and I realized that I wanted to touch him. I sensed affection was missing from his life. I didn’t know why, considering I didn’t know anything about him.

“Please talk to me,” he asked gruffly, surprising me in the dark. Obviously I’d been too lost in my own thoughts.

I looked up and he turned his head to meet my gaze. He didn’t smile but the longing in his eyes made me open my mouth.

“I’m not sure what to say.”

He flexed his fingers around mine. “Tell me anything. No one talks to me unless they want something from me.” He glanced away before meeting my gaze again, and this time my step faltered when he smiled.

A real smile that lit up his face.

My heart pounded knowing that this gorgeous man was interested in me, and even though I shouldn’t encourage his attraction, I wasn’t going to do anything to stop it.

He raised a brow and I realized that, not only had I been stari

ng, but that he’d been waiting for me to start talking. On impulse, I raised our joined hands and kissed his knuckles. I’d surprised him with the kiss because he stumbled forward, which made me smile all the more as I admitted, “My mom is a homemaker and my father is a state senator.” He hesitated slightly, which was really subtle and I would have probably missed it if I hadn’t expected it. “My mother wants me married; popping out grandbabies…my apartment is the fourth building up.”

He growled, looked around, and pulled me into the alcove of my favorite Italian restaurant, which had now closed for the night.

“Not with him,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “Please tell me it won’t be with him.” His forehead dropped to mine, his hands gripped my hips, and my hands reached up and stroked along his shoulders.

“It won’t be with him, Stryker. The wedding is supposed to be soon, but at the end of the week, I’m going to call it off. If I do it now then I won’t have access to the gym. I need access.”

“Why?” he breathed the question.

Because of you…

“I haven’t finished researching my book.” I smiled, shyly. “I write even though I haven’t published anything. I’m hoping my next book will be the one for me to give others to read.”

“I’ll read it,” he whispered, brushing the hair back from my face. “Tell me more about your family, please. Something that he doesn’t know.”

“Okay, but only if you promise to tell me your name when I’m finished.”