Naked Read Free

was gone in under a minute.  He set a protein bar on my knee.
    “Now eat it.”  His voice had that don’t-fuck-with-me tone again.  “Please,” he added.
    I sighed and opened the white chocolate Power Bar.  The crinkle of the wrapper filled the silence in the car.  I took a bite and chewed slowly.  It tasted divine.  I had needed what he’d brought me.  Desperately.
    “Thank you,” I whispered, feeling suddenly emotional, the urge to cry bubbling up fiercely.  I held it down as best I could.  I kept my head down too.
    “My pleasure,” he said softly, “everyone needs the basics, Brynne.  Food, water…a bed.”
    A bed.  The sexual tension was back, or maybe it never left.  Ethan seemed blessed with the talent to make the most innocent word sound like hot, sweaty, mind-blowing sex you remembered for a long, long time.  He sat beside me and didn’t back the car out until I’d finished the last of the protein bar.
    “What’s your actual street address?” he asked.
    “41 Franklin Crossing.”
    Ethan took us out of the strip mall lot and headed back onto the street, bringing me closer to my flat with every revolution of the tires.  I leaned into the soft leather and closed my eyes.  My phone vibrated in my purse.  I fished it out and saw there’d been a text from Benny.
    Ben Clarkson:  u home ok?
    
    I shot back a quick ‘yup’ and closed my eyes again.  I could feel my headache begin to slip away.  I felt more relaxed than I’d been in hours.  Exhaustion wore out I suppose, because I would have never allowed myself the indulgence of falling asleep in Ethan Blackstone’s car if I could possibly help it.
     

2
    Someone smelled very good as they touched me.  I could smell the spice and feel the weight of a hand on my shoulder.  But the fear rose up anyway.  The blast of terror that brought me screaming into consciousness arrived right on schedule.  I knew what it was but still the panic ruled me.  I should know.  The feeling had been with me for years now.
    “Brynne, wake up.”
    That voice.  Who was it?  I opened my eyes and faced into the blue intensity of Ethan Blackstone not more than six inches away.  I pushed back into the seat to make more distance between me and that gorgeous face.  I remembered now.  He bought my picture tonight.  And took me home.
    “Shit!  I’m sorry I—I fell asleep?”  I fiddled for the door handle but I didn’t know this car.  I scrambled blindly to get out—to get away.
    Ethan’s hand shot over and covered mine, stilling it with a firm touch.  “Easy.  You’re safe, everything’s fine.  You just drifted off is all.”
    “Okay…sorry.”  I panted some deep breaths, looked out the window, and then back to him still watching my every move.
    “Why do you keep apologizing?”
    “I don’t know,” I whispered.  I did know, but couldn’t think about it at the moment.
    “Are you okay?”  He smiled slowly with a tilt of his head.  I swear he liked the fact that he rattled me.  I wasn’t so sure if I didn’t.  I so needed to get away from this situation right now, before I agreed to all manner of things.  Something along the lines of: Take off your clothes and stretch out in the big back seat of my Range Rover, Brynne .  This man had a way with control that severely unnerved me.
    “Thank you for the ride.  And the water.  And the other stu—”
    “You take care of yourself, Brynne Bennett.”  He pressed a button and the lock clicked.  “You have your key ready?  I’ll wait until you’re inside.  What floor is it?”
    I dug my key out of my purse and replaced it with my phone which was still on my lap.   “I live in the top studio loft, fifth floor.”
    “Roommate?”
    “Well, yes, but she’s probably not in.”  Again, wondering what loosed my tongue in sharing personal information with a virtual stranger.
    “I’ll look for the light to come on then.”  Ethan’s face was