She ducked against the wind. “I’ll meet you later. Right now, I have work to do.” Turning, she tried to open the door. He slapped one hand against it and wrapped the other around her waist from behind. Heat flashed down her back.
“No.” His hold was unbreakable.
She kicked back, nailing his shin. His inward hiss of breath made her smile. “Listen, Vamp. I have a job to do, and I don’t need your help. Go do whatever you do and I’ll catch up to you later.” Why was her breath panting out?
“You don’t need my help,” he muttered, his breath brushing her hair. “All right, Veronica. Your choice. Either you come with me now and explain what the fuck is going on, or I toss your ass over my shoulder and you come with me now and explain what the fuck is going on.”
Her temper stirred. “You make a move and every cop in that place will be out here.”
“Everyhumancop. If I need to kick the snot out of them all, I will. Same result.” The hard muscles behind her vibrated with a tension that sped up her heart.
He could probably do it, too. Damn it. His hands on her were messing with her concentration. “Fine.” She pivoted right into him. “Make this quick.”
“Where’s your coat?” he snapped, fury darkening his high cheekbones.
She shivered, and not from the cold. “I didn’t bring one.” It would just get in the way.
His jaw turned to rock. “You didn’t bring one.” He straightened, more than towering over her. “You’ve been deathly ill and you didn’t bring a jacket.”
She rolled her eyes, trying to appear nonchalant when she kind of wanted to run screaming from his anger. No way would she let him know that, however. “I’m fine. Went from taxi to bar and planned on right back to taxi. The dress is warm.”
“There’s nothing warm about that dress.” He jerked his leather jacket off and slapped it over her shoulders. A vein bulged in his neck, and the cords looked like they were made of raw steel.
“I’m fine.” She pushed against him, the need to flee intensifying.
A second later, his nose was a whisper from hers. “Put on the coat, Veronica. God help me. Do it now.” His voice sounded like he’d swallowed shards of glass with a side of raw gravel.
She slid her arms into the sleeves and tried not to tremble. “You are so bossy.”
“You have no idea. Can you ride in that thing?” He glanced down at her bare legs.
Obviously he wasn’t going to back down, and she sure as heck didn’t want him beating up a bunch of cops. So she’d go with him and then try to get back before the party ended. She pulled the skirt up to the tops of her thighs. “Sure.”
Did he just growl? She frowned into his face but couldn’t read his expression.
“Good.” He led her to the bike and helped her straddle it behind him. “Hold on. I’ll get us there quickly.”
She wrapped her arms around his firm body and leaned in, inhaling his musky scent. With the leather around her, she was surrounded by the smell and feel of raw male. Her nipples hardened beneath the dress. Damn it. She should’ve worn a bra.
He fired up the engine and drove quickly over very icy roads, getting them back to her apartment in record time. Okay. The guy could control a motorcycle, even in a snowstorm.
She jumped off and all but stomped up the stairs and into her apartment before whirling on him. “We need to get one thing stra—”
His mouth was on hers, his huge body driving her back into the far wall. His kiss was carnal, to the edge of being primal, hard and fast, taking more than giving. Her knees weakened, and she grasped his forearms for support.
He gave no quarter, going deeper, sliding his tongue inside her mouth. Her rapidly healing heart beat quick and wild in her chest. His mouth opened wider over hers, devouring her as if he had no intention of ever stopping. As if he had every right to plunder like the pirate he’d once claimed to be.
A shudder went through her entire body, branding her inside out.
He released her as suddenly as he’d kissed her, wrapping one hand around her neck.
Her pulse beat wildly against his fingers, and she could only stare at those midnight dark eyes. Hunger. Raw and untamed, hunger glinted there with a determination that stole any words she might’ve said.
She drew in a shaky breath. Her dress caught against her aching breasts, and she almost groaned at the painful need. Her panties wetted, dampening her thighs.
His nostrils flared, and he lowered his chin in an oddly threatening way.
Another tremble slid up her spine.
