Torn - Cynthia Eden Page 0,9

benefits.

Her breath came a bit faster. Yes, yes, this was wrong. In so many ways. It was—­ “Stay,” she said.

He turned back toward her. She saw the glint of hard lust burning in his gaze. That hot fire should have made her hesitate. It didn’t.

It just made her hurry toward him. When he was just a few feet away, she stopped. Her heart was racing hard enough to shake her chest, but she tried to school her expression as she gazed up at him. “No promises. No ties.” They could just take the pleasure and walk away, right? They were both adults. Smart, capable. They could do this. He seemed to understand and actually be cool with her rules.

“I’ll give you what you need,” Wade promised her.

Right then, he was what she needed. Even when she was kissing Flynn she’d been on edge. And when Wade called her name in the club, her first thought had been . . .

Yes. Him! She hadn’t been angry that he was in the alley. She’d been glad to see him. Even if he had screwed up her plans.

And, maybe . . . maybe he was the answer that she’d been looking for. There was no risk with him—­she knew Wade was one of the good guys. He wouldn’t hurt her. So they’d take each other. They’d let their desire go, and . . .

No ties.

She offered her hand to him. Wade’s gaze dropped to her fingers. His lips tightened but he took her hand. She felt the press of his calluses against her. “Then I guess we have a deal,” Victoria said. She licked her lips, nervous now and—­

He kissed her again, and the desire she felt flared even more within her. “Damn right,” Wade rasped against her mouth, “we do.”

And Victoria knew there would be no going back.

HER HIGH HEELS wobbled a bit on the broken sidewalk. Melissa Hastings put her hand on the brick wall, steadying herself. She’d definitely had too much to drink.

Time to call it a night.

She sucked in a slow, deep breath and tried to fight the nausea rolling through her stomach. She didn’t usually get sick when she drank, but tonight . . . tonight was different.

Tonight she’d had way too much because she’d been celebrating.

I’m free.

Finally. He wouldn’t be holding her back any longer. She’d be able to do exactly what she wanted, when she wanted.

Freedom was heady. Freedom was hot. Freedom was . . .

Making my head swim.

Her hair slid over her face as she lowered her head. She’d go catch a cab and head back to her apartment. She’d sleep this off and be as good as new tomorrow.

Better than new.

I’m free.

After another bracing breath, she lifted her head. Her hair slid over her shoulders and—­

He was there.

Standing in the shadows, just a few feet away.

“Are you feeling all right?” His voice carried easily to her.

And, no, she wasn’t feeling all right. She was actually even dizzier and her tongue had started to feel thick in her mouth. That wasn’t normal. She’d been drunk before and hadn’t felt this way. What is wrong with me?

“You probably should have been more careful,” he said as he stepped forward, “with what you drank.”

“Y-­You . . .” Her breath choked out as fear snaked through her. He shouldn’t be there.

“Did you think we were done?” he asked her softly as he continued to close in on her. “Just because you said we were through?” His deep voice seemed to wrap around her. A sexy, seductive voice.

A voice that belonged to a very dangerous man.

She glanced over her shoulder. The club wasn’t so far away. There were plenty of people right there. She was perfectly safe, even if she was beginning to feel sick as all hell. She turned her stare back to him.

He’d stopped a few feet away, but with the light behind him, shadows covered his face. He had a tall, powerful form. A great body. She’d thought that the first time she’d seen him. And, sure, she’d been aware of his danger—­he had that sexy, bad boy edge. She’d wanted him.

He’d wanted her.

Now I want to get away from him.

“Stay away from me,” Melissa said as she backed up a step. “I told you—­”

“Are you afraid of me?”

Yes.

Something glinted in the darkness. Her heart thudded even faster. Oh, dear God, did he have a knife? No, no, surely he didn’t. That was crazy.

Wasn’t it?

But then he stepped forward, and that glint vanished. “I’m not here