Ceremony of Seduction Read Free

breath, and glanced over her shoulder to see the menacing shape of the man who still followed her. Debbie was probably off fucking some pretty-boy and forgot all about her promise to pick her up after work. If I live through tonight, I’m taking that fucking driver’s test . Even if I have to study for the rest of my life to pass it, it will be worth not having to wait on Debbie.
    Quickening her steps, she rummaged in her purse for her switchblade. Luckily, an extremely drunk Hell’s Angel had run short on money and made a tip of the switchblade a few months ago. Now if she could just figure out how to use it.
    A strong hand gripped her shoulder, startling her and causing her to drop the knife, which skittered away over the hot cement. Time slowed and her self-defense training took over. Thank God I didn’t listen to my family and took the class anyway! She stomped down hard on his instep, the heel of her cowboy boot hopefully leaving a permanent imprint. Then she drove her elbow back into the attacker’s midsection. A surprised “oof” of pain sounded behind her and she bolted forward out of his reach.
    Before she’d taken two steps, he grabbed her around the waist, and all her air whooshed out in a painful rush. When she recovered, she realized he hadn’t even broken stride and she hung over his arm like a sack of dog food. If she weren’t so scared, she’d have to admire the man’s muscle and strength. She screamed, but no sound came out. She took a breath and tried again, but it was as if she screamed inside a soundproof room.
    “Calm down, witch,” he said and slapped her on the bottom. “I haven’t searched for you for ten years to have you feed me my own bollocks.” The voice, which held a note of amusement, was so deep she felt the rumbling through his arms wrapped beneath her ass. There was something familiar about it she couldn’t quite place.
    “Put me down, you bastard!” Alyssa was surprised to hear her voice this time, although muted. She kicked and flailed to no avail. She started to bite him, but some deep internal instinct warned her not to push her luck. She could sense the aura of power that surrounded him without ever seeing his face. And she’d learned long ago not to ignore her gut.
    “In good time, witch. You’re almost home.” He punctuated his remarks with another slap on her ass.
    He knows where I live? Oh, God, I’m going to raped and murdered in my own shabby apartment!
    She raised her head and was shocked to see her apartment steps come into view. Metallic panic rose in the back of her throat, and she renewed her struggles. As a single woman, she knew better than to let her attacker get her inside the apartment. Better to take a stand outside where someone could happen along or she had a hope of escape. But just as she took a breath to scream, he set her down in front of her apartment door, sliding her down his firm body until her feet touched the concrete. She startled when something about the sensation tickled her memory.
    The scream died in her throat as she looked into the face of a familiar stranger.
    Stone.
    She’d know him anywhere since she’d dreamt of him so often over the past ten years, she hadn’t ever bothered to find a flesh-and-blood man. To find him here now, standing in front of her, sent an erotic thrill racing through her body.
    She shook her head, convinced she was dreaming again, but none of her dreams of him had ever taken place anywhere but in an ethereal bedroom. She took a moment to study him and compare him to her dream memory. He towered over her five-nine frame so much he would have to duck to walk through her apartment door. Broad shoulders stretched his black T-shirt taut across a well-defined chest, and his face resembled chiseled granite. When he smiled, the small dimple next to his mouth softened him, making him seem approachable. Unruly mahogany hair gave him a rakish air and liquid lavender eyes, the same color as her own, stared back