“Trust me, buddy. You’re no man in comparison.”
“Oh, yeah? Maybe I need to show you.” He dared place his hand on my arm, creeping forward by a few inches. The stench of liquor reminded me he was likely drunk. Not that it offered him an excuse.
“I suggest you take your hand off me,” I told him in as nice a voice as possible.
“I just want to show you what a real man is like.”
A snapping sound echoed as if magnified in the dense hallway. Within a split second, the asshole howled in pain.
From the shadows walked my hero, who currently had the stranger’s hand crushed in his own. The look on Danny’s face was one I’d never forget. Primal. As if he was going to eat the man alive for daring to touch me.
“The lady asked you not to touch her.” Danny’s voice was also almost unrecognizable, deeper than before, a husky sound that reverberated through every cell and muscle. I was suddenly licking my lips as if in anticipation of what my date would do.
The stranger shifted the sound into a distinct, gritty hiss. “Get off me.”
Using his hold as leverage, Danny walked him back against one wall. I could feel the electricity and heat pumping off his body. I’d never seen anyone as tense as he’d become, and I could tell he was eager for the jerk to do something to further irritate him. “I don’t think so. Not until you apologize to the lady.”
Bad news for the jerk. He laughed as if all this was one big joke.
Not to a man like Danny. The heat roared more than before as anger swept through his system. All he had to do was twist his hand and the instant crack meant he was about to break bones or already had.
“Don’t,” I told him, even placing my hand on Danny’s arm. “He’s just drunk and said something stupid. Didn’t you?” When the stranger didn’t answer right away, I threw him a hateful look.
At the same time, Danny lowered his head until his face was maybe two inches from the jerk’s. It shocked me that the gruff dude who’d refused to apologize was suddenly shaking in his boots.
“Don’t hurt him,” I pleaded. Having the police show up wouldn’t be the perfect end to an interesting evening. That wouldn’t be the adventure I’d sought.
Danny kept his face on the jerk, who was now blubbering an apology.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I’m very sorry.”
After I squeezed Danny’s arm again, he finally backed off, taking a single step away while pointing his finger in the man’s face. “I don’t want to talk about this again. Do you hear me?”
I’d never seen such a switch before, but Danny certainly had a commanding presence.
“Yes, sir.” The stranger nodded before running away from us.
Danny watched him walk away before backing me against the wall.
“Did he hurt you?”
“He did not.”
“That’s good. Very good. Because no one hurts my woman and lives.” With his face hovering over mine, an entirely different level of hunger tore through me, one that seemed uncontrollable.
I’d disliked the possessiveness before. Now it was a powerful aphrodisiac. And the desire was even more rampant.
“Do you want to get out of here?” I asked as I gripped his shirt with both hands.
His smile was slow and steady like before. “Hell, yes.”
* * *
Who the hell was this man, this wildly sexy yet arrogant hunk of a guy who refused to take no for an answer? I certainly hadn’t intended on meeting anyone today. I definitely hadn’t planned on allowing anyone else to see me skate.
In my wildest dreams I wouldn’t have wanted to be bothered by some Zamboni dude teasing me relentlessly not only with a piece of heavy equipment but also with his laugh. And his lips. And his touch. And his…
Thick bulge.
