Runaway Bride

“No need to repay me, Bambi, just tell me what the hell is going on before I go find that asshole and rip him a new one for upsetting you.”

She smiles, revealing perfectly straight white teeth behind her red-painted lips.

“It means a lot that you’re helping me. No one helps me.” Her smile slips, a frown taking its place.

Moving of its own accord, my rough palm cups her snow-white skin and I lean into her face.

My cock hardens, and I have to swallow down the arousal. It has been a long time since I’ve been with a woman. I’m done with one-night stands, done with the whole I pay for dinner and a movie in exchange for some fun in the sack. I don’t want sex unless it means something to me, and I’ve had yet to find someone it mattered with.

“I need you to tell me what’s going on,” I nearly growl, but I don’t want to frighten her. She nuzzles into my touch, making my blood pressure spike. Fuck, she’s gorgeous, and clearly on the run from something, yet she’s nuzzling into my touch like she’s never been touched by a man who cares.

“That man was my soon-to-be husband. My parents were forcing me to get married to him, then I heard him…” her bottom lip starts to tremble, and tears fall from her beautiful eyes, “having sex a few minutes before the ceremony.”

I want to squish that fucking bastard for making her cry. He doesn’t deserve her tears, and her parents they are assholes. They can all fuck off. What kind of man cheats on a woman as beautiful as her…on her wedding day?

A fucking idiot.

“What’s your name?” I ask, wanting to pull her into my lap.

“Ivy.” I lick my lips, her name swirling around inside my head.

“Okay, Ivy, do you have anywhere to go? A home? Friends?”

She shakes her head, and a few strands of ash blonde hair escape from behind her ears. I brush the hair from her face, staring deep into her eyes. She has nothing, no one, and her horrible parents are trying to marry her off to some bastard. There’s no way in hell I’m going to leave her here on the side of the road for them to find her. She has nothing, no one, and that speaks to me…it fucking screams.

I have to protect her, save her.

“I suppose you’re coming with me then.” I pull away, grinning. Her brow furrows in confusion.

“What do you mean I’m going with you?”

I start the SUV and put it into drive, pulling away from the curb. “You’re going with me, as in, I’m taking you with me to my place. I can’t let you stay here and risk your parents finding you…” I chance a glance at her as I drive toward my home. Fuck my plans for today. She’s more important. “Unless you want to be found? I can turn around and take you back to him.”

“No. No…please don’t.” She jumps up, twisting around in her seat, her voice rising. My heart swells in my chest. I don’t know her, she doesn’t belong to me, but a part of me wants her to.

“Okay, so you’re coming with me.”

“Why?” she asks a moment later.

“Why what?” I know what she was asking, but I don’t have an answer. I feel compelled to protect her…and that feeling has only grown since finding out her parents intended on marrying her off to some douchebag.

“Why would you help me? You don’t even know me. You just see some woman in a wedding dress and offer to help her? Do you do this often?” A smile pulls at her nervous lips.

“Often isn’t even the word I would use. It’s more like never. And I can’t really explain it. I just feel compelled to help you.” I shrug.

“Am I safe with you?”

Her question has me white-knuckling the steering wheel. “I would never hurt you, or any woman, for that matter.” My response seems to ease her, and she settles back into the seat.

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way if that’s what you’re thinking. I don’t judge people. I just…” She nibbles on her bottom lip, and I find myself wanting to replace her teeth with mine. The need to kiss her is consuming me. I bet she’s still a virgin, her pretty pussy untouched in all ways.

Fuck, don’t even think about it.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to explain yourself. If I were a woman, I would ask the same question. But…a real serial killer probably wouldn’t tell you he is one, so don’t make it a habit to get into cars with random men, okay?” I wink at her.

“Okay. Only get into the car with you. Got it.” She giggles, and it’s adorable as fuck. Hearing it makes me want to make her smile and laugh more—it makes me want to make her happy.