Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 67663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“Sexy thing, you’re in the wrong part of town,” a gravelly voice says from behind me.
When I turn around, the dirtiest man I have ever seen stands before me. Staying stock still, I am at a loss for what to do.
“We’re gonna have a good time.” He licks his lips at me as if he is ready to devour his last supper.
“I was just leaving.” With my flight mode fully kicked in, I make a step to my right to move away, but the man steps in front of me and starts to close in on me. His stench assaults my nose, causing me to shut my eyes and step back, the exact opportunity he needs to reach out and grab my arm.
While panic sets in and I scream, a blur of black comes out of nowhere. The dirty man drops my arm as he is quickly brought to his knees. An elbow to the head knocks him out as my brain catches up slowly to who is saving me.
Ice.
His gorgeous brown eyes cut through me. There is a vulnerability I have never seen before in them.
“What the fuck are you doin’?” he questions in his typical asshole tone.
“Looking for my sister,” I croak out.
“Are you trying to get raped or killed?”
“Way to put it nicely. You don’t hold any punches, do you?”
“Never,” he states calmly as he reaches out a hand. “Come on.”
My hand trembles inside his, and he tugs me against him before releasing my hand to hold me against him. Wrapping my arms around him, I draw from his strength, finding comfort in his embrace.
“How did you find me? Why are you here?” I question snuggling into him feeling saved.
“I had a tracker put on your phone after your sister turned up missing. Got a call you were in a bad part of town, a part of town a girl like you should not be in, ever.”
Not knowing what to say to his sincere concern for me, I bring us back to what is going on around us. “Ice, I think the man against the wall is dead.”
“Yeah, sweetheart, I’m sure he is. We need to get you out of here.”
“Shouldn’t we call the cops?”
“Because they’ve been so helpful in looking for Madyson?” My addled brain registers that the sarcasm is not needed, but I don’t bother to point it out. I look up into his face to see him staring at me intently. “Let me handle this.”
“Okay,” I agree and start to pull away, still shaking slightly. Ice stops my retreat and pulls me into his arms, giving me a gentle squeeze. I am surprised by his actions. He might have comforted me when I showed up at his strip club and started bawling like a baby, but I sort of figured he only did it because he felt sorry for me. Now he is hugging me again and I do not know what to make of it.
“Stop shakin’ woman.”
I snort. “Only you would command a person to stop shaking.”
“It’s going to be okay, Morgan. I know it doesn’t seem that way now, but I promise it will be. I’ll handle it.”
I may not know much about Ice, but I believe he will handle the dead body and the now unconscious one I have just encountered.
I feel one of his hands move off of my back and then stroke over my hair once before he loosens his grip and steps away from me.
“Ride with me?”
“What?” My voice breaks.
“I’ll take you home. Ride with me.”
“On your motorcycle? What about my car?” My voice cracks with each sentence. I am drowning in emotion.
“I’ll get a guy to come get your car.”
“I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle.”
“I’ll be your first,” he says with a wink.
He is my first—my first asshole.
“Now is hardly the time to flirt, joke, or be a smartass,” I challenge him, letting my annoyance win over my instinct to be nice to everyone.
“I don’t flirt. I don’t joke. Telling me not to be a smartass is like telling you not to be cute. I am a smartass, jackass, and any other kind of ass there is.” He tips my chin up to force me to meet his gaze. “Ride with me. Let go for just a bit and clear your head.”
His plea is completely genuine. He truly wants to give me some peace in his own way. How do you turn a gesture like that down? The answer is, you don’t. I give him an uncertain nod.
Why does it suddenly feel like I have bitten off way more than I can metaphorically chew?
Chapter
12
Ice
Damn girl, how did you get in them jeans?
That is the only thought rolling around in my head as I watch Morgan’s hip sway with every step towards my bike. I want nothing more than to put my hand in the ass pocket of those jeans and squeeze that luscious ass.