For a few more seconds, he looked directly at Stun with his blazing eyes, hoping to exert his influence on the smaller guy. The moment he let go, Stun pushed angrily against his thick chest. Nicola didn't budge more than a fingertip, maintaining his composure. His gaze sharpened as he fixed it on Stun, and the guy gave me one more stare before stomping out in a huff.

Nicola's voice startled me, and I immediately looked up. When he threatened Stun, his voice had had an air of dread, but now it was calm.

I became aware of my own trembling. My fingers were trembling and I did my best to control them. While I escaped unscathed, the experience was rather unsettling.

I'm going to drive you back to your place. There was no inquiry implied, yet I found myself nodding in agreement. I didn't want to risk Stun waiting for me outside if I left without an escort.

The whole pub was silent as everyone watched the fight between Stun and Nicola. Needles pricking at my skin from dozens of eyes, I was immediately aching to go back to the privacy of my apartment.

"Come on. I've got you." Nicola extended his hand, signaling to me that I could start the physical contact. Nicola gave me the option of accepting or rejecting Stun's physical contact when he invaded my space.

I had zero fear of him. Because he had just ridden in like a white stallion and rescued me. His promise to take me home was unwavering, but he still needed to get my approval.

Putting my hand in his made me feel more secure and helped calm the anxiety in my tummy. His long fingers wrapped gently around my. After a little moment of relief, I thanked him and followed him out. People scattered to avoid coming into contact with Nicola.

He went ahead of me, his bulk protecting me from harm. I tightened my grip on his hand, and his thumb ran soothingly over my palm.

Just before we left, I caught a glimpse of Ella out of the corner of my eye. She scarcely broke stride to give me the thumbs up as we danced carefreely together.

There was no way she could have witnessed what happened to Stun from where she was in the throng. Had my closest friend been around, she would have helped Nicola come to my aid. If she saw the fight, she'd be even more perplexed by the fact that I left with the stunning bartender so early in the evening.

Ella had no idea that Stun had frightened me; she was just glad to see me and Nicola walking hand in hand. I figured I'd have some quality one-on-one time with the object of my affection because she probably wouldn't be returning to our apartment for a bit.

After weeks of mounting sexual tension, the reality that he was going to take me home felt unbelievable. There had been occasions when I doubted whether or not he was interested in me, but now I knew for sure. The man named Nicola was keen on having me.

Nicola

After this, there was no turning back. And when that spoiled jerk touched her, I couldn't control my aggressive impulses. When she put her hand in mine, believing that I would keep her safe and bring her home, she sealed her own doom.

As we went out into the cool fall air, she said, "Do you want to order an Uber?"

When I finally looked at her, all uncertainty vanished. What obstacles stood between her and me, I couldn't care less.

Until tomorrow, she was mine, only for tonight. Just to be a gentlemen, I'd escort her home, but I'd definitely sneak a goodnight kiss.

After that, I would tell her everything if she welcomed me in. After thinking about her supple body being trapped under mine for weeks, there's no way I could resist.

I hesitated for a split second before responding, "I'll drive."

Her bright red cheeks and blue eyes were a major visual distraction. Before, I'd just seen her in the low light of the pub, but the bright streetlights really brought off her fair complexion. She was so beautiful she seemed to glow, just like the angel I'd always imagined.

She said, "Okay," showing no apprehension about riding shotgun with a virtual stranger. But I didn't want to scare her, so I didn't warn her that her actions may put her in danger with another guy. So I held my tongue and resisted the impulse to set her straight.

Other, more sinister method came to mind. I had fantasized about the feel of her shapely ass bouncing under my palm more times than I like to admit.

She was far too innocent and exquisite to be exposed to such grotesqueries. I was able to rein in my more barbaric tendencies for her sake. I wouldn't give in to my baser animal impulses around her.

But it didn't stop me from touching her in other ways.

After waiting for her to close the gap, I reached out and touched the small of her back. It seems she didn't put up much of a fight. Instead, she felt a little chill go through her.

"Do you feel chilly? "

She stammered, "Y-yes," and I knew she wasn't just a little chilly from the night air. "Um, I haven't gotten acclimated to the weather here yet. It's true; I was born and raised in the Peach State.

"What year are you?"

Try not to refer to them as freshmen. I couldn't fuck her if she was under the age of 18. Not if her age difference from mine was more than five years.

A sophomore, she said. "I'm in my second year at Nevada, and I still can't stand the winter weather."

She invited me to put my arm over her, which I did to keep her warm. She pressed herself up against me, nestled in as if she had always been there.

The delighted grin that curled my lips would not go away.

"You should wear a jacket," I admonished, although I was grateful for the excuse to hold her.

"Five or more layers are typical for me in the classroom, but I prefer to leave the coat at home when I go out for drinks. I really don't want to misplace it. It's not a big deal for me because I usually just hop in and out of an Uber. "

Without actually saying it, I often found myself wishing she wore dresses that fit a little more snugly. That she didn't put on any extra layers was fine with me.

We made it to my car, a black Telas that I had purchased in cash from a less reputable dealer and was now badly damaged. I didn't want my identity to be linked to that purchase. Since I'd moved to Havard, every action on my part had been deliberate and meant to conceal my true identity.

As cautious as I could have been, I had been. No one was likely to come across me. Emily was in no real danger. And if the extremely unlikely event of danger occurring, I could still defend her.

When she snuggled up to me even more, her unwavering confidence in me made my heart swell. It felt damn good to unleash my violent instincts to protect rather than punish when I defended her from that creep in the bar. In particular, when Emily looked at me with her big blue eyes, as if I were some sort of fuckhero.

The longer I was in her presence, the more convinced I became that I was entitled to her. In order for me to claim her as mine.

Despite my threats, the jerk who touched her might not back off now. If I were there to protect her, it would be best.

As I opened the passenger door and helped her slide into the seat, my resolve hardened. To avoid abruptly ending our physical contact, I leaned in to fasten her seatbelt, keeping my hands on hers for a few extra seconds beyond what was strictly necessary.

She insisted, "I can get it," but her chest tightened.

With a smug grin on my face, I said, "You could." She hadn't pushed away my advances, and her objections had been breathy with ardor.

In all likelihood, I would receive a goodnight kiss.

"Are you sure you're all right?" When I first got behind the wheel, I questioned. I cast a quick glance in her direction to gauge her. Her beautiful eyes glistened like gems in the reflected streetlight.

"What? Um, yeah. Yes,. No, I'm good.

Stun. For weeks, I'd been aware of the scumbag's crush on Emily. I had noticed that he leaned in close to her and kept a watchful eye on her. I didn't like it, but she wasn't mine to begin with. Since I had no right to her, I could do nothing to prevent other men from flirting with her.

Things changed, however, the moment his hands touched her. The rage I'd been suppressing, the primal urges I'd fought so hard to overcome, had erupted in a blaze of fury. It had taken every ounce of self-control I could muster to keep from smashing my fist into his pretty-boy face.

She simply said "thanks" in response. When she covered mine with her delicate hand, I felt a sense of security. There was no need to come to my defense like that.

"I did that, yes." There was no way I could have stood by and allowed him to touch her. Their relationship couldn't work because she was too innocent to be tainted by him.

My palm brushed against hers, and I interlaced my fingers. Her hand was much smaller than mine, but it still fit snugly in my protective clasp.

"What's your home adress? "

"Those are the Every Apartments. Thanks."

"You shouldn't feel obligated to thank me every time something goes right. Yes, I'm more than happy to help out. "

"Oh. Sorry."

My mouth twitched slightly at the corner. Really, she just oozed cuteness. " And you shouldn't feel obligated to apologize, either. "

Her grip tightened in mine, and I could tell she was uncomfortable. I had seen her many times from across the bar, and every time a boy approached her, she would stiffen and start playing nervously with her fingernails.

I didn't want to make her uncomfortable because I wasn't a boy.

At least not in that sense.

I could barely keep my fingers gentle on hers as the old fantasy of Emily shivering under my touch flashed through my mind.

"To calm down, " I said. "I promise to keep you safe. "

I could tell tension was leaving her body because I heard her take a deep breath. Although it was only a short drive to her apartment, I held onto her hand the entire way there. The car was silent, but not awkwardly so; the air was thick with sensual tension, and I didn't dare break it with a stupid question.

Not to mention, I was hoping she wouldn't pry too deeply into my personal affairs. My new life required that I keep my troubled past a secret, even from her.

The long weeks of denial only served to heighten the intensity of the physical attraction I felt for her. Possibly I could have gotten over her if we had shared a quick fuck the night I first saw her. In any case, I looked up to her as a role model. I had elevated her to more than just a pretty face in my head. She represented everything that I wanted out of life but knew I lacked the ability to achieve or the merit to deserve.

What I've been craving for so long would be mine to enjoy tonight.

I pulled up in front of her building and got out to help her with the car door. By the time I reached her, she had already gotten one foot in front of the other, but I still took her hand as if she were still unable to stand on her own.

When I closed the car door behind her, she did not remove her hand from mine.

"I'll show you to your door." I planned to kiss her good-bye after I saw her into her apartment safely.

Her eyes widened and she licked her full, pink lips as she looked up at me. In response to the obvious signal of lust, my cock throbbed.

"Okay," she said., "This way."

She set off down the street toward the front porches of the upscale townhouses, which were paved in brick. I stayed at her side, walking on, still clutching her hand.

When we got to the building, she got her keys out of her purse and we entered one of the ten identical apartments. Before she could unlock the door, I gently squeezed her fingers to get her undivided attention again. Her blue eyes locked with mine, and she sighed a little through her parted lips.

"I appreciate you bringing me back. It was unnecessary for you to-"

I cut her off to say, "Yes, I did." That was the only option available to me at the time. Stun never touched her once. I certainly couldn't have finished out my shift behind the bar. All I would have been able to focus on is branding her with my touch, washing away the stain from where he'd grabbed her.

I couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke her cheek, enjoying the feel of her smooth skin. She didn't recoil from the physical proximity; rather, she turned her face toward my palm, inviting more. I hooked my thumb under her chin and slid my fingers into her dark silky hair to ensnare her. The sound of her gentle breath hit my cock squarely, and I drew nearer with a growl of hunger.

Taking her lips wasn't something I did with the gentleness she deserved. By pressing my lips against hers, I elicited a startled gasp that allowed me to gain access to her mouth.

She was unfazed by my unexpected hostility. Her arms coiled around the nape of my neck, and she pressed her supple body against mine to draw me in.

The fire of lust swept through me with a ferocity I'd never felt before. So that I could get a better look inside her mouth, I tightened my grip on her hair and tipped her head back.

My tongue swept inside to glide against hers. She tasted like the fruity cocktail she'd sipped at the bar and something darker, more delicious. Her body melted into mine, softening and heating as she molded herself against me.

I wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. She shivered in my hold, but it wasn't the chilly night air that elicited the response. The heat between us was too intense for the cold to touch either of us.

When we were both desperate for air, I finally released her mouth. She stared up at me, breathing hard. Her pupils were dilated, the sapphire ring of her irises narrowing as her eyes darkened with lust.

"Do you want to come inside?" she asked breathlessly.

I nodded.

She turned from me and fumbled at the doorknob, her hand trembling from the keen desire that tormented us both. I reached around her and closed my fingers over hers, firmly turning the knob and pushing the door open. Now that I'd held her in my arms, I couldn't wait to feel her lush body pressed up against mine again.

When I closed the door behind us, she took my hand in hers and led me toward her bedroom. I hadn't expected such boldness from her, but the raw need that drove both of us to a frenzy was stronger than the anxiety I'd sensed in her earlier.