Unexpected Angel (5 page)

“Scout's honor,” he
says, raising three fingers in the air. “If it means something to you, I'm not going to laugh about it and I don't scare easily.”

“Were you even a Boy Scout?”

“Yes ma'am, made it all the way to Eagle Scout. Does that surprise you?” He cocks his head to the side, waiting for my answer.

“Well, um...” I
have no clue what to say in response. If I admit that it does shock me, he’ll more than likely want to know why. If I say it doesn’t surprise me, I’ll be lying and I hate liars. “Maybe a bit. You just don't seem like the scouting type.”

“You're
sweet, you know that?” He kisses my hair again, his arm holding me to his chest. “So, what are we celebrating tonight? You should know that I don't deal well with my questions not being answered.” There is no humor in his eyes at this last statement. I wonder just what he means by ‘not dealing well’.

“My divorce, okay?
” I look up at him, expecting him to say goodbye and bolt the opposite direction. After all, what type of woman celebrates her divorce? When he doesn’t move, I continue. “My friends all hated my ex-husband, so now that the divorce is final, they said it was time to celebrate. Personally, I think they just wanted a reason to come here tonight and shocking me out of my comfort zone was as good a reason as any.”

He looks
over to my friends, raising his chin slightly when he sees they are still watching us. “Are those your friends over there?” He asks, tilting his head in their direction.

“Yep,
Holly since we were little and the others since fourth grade.”

“And they brought you here to get you out of your comfort zone?” He
doesn’t look amused by this idea. I nod, feeling like a child about to get in trouble. “Did you know what was going on before you got here? I mean, I know you hadn't been here before, but please tell me they told you what you were going to see.”

I
feel his body tense against mine. I’m not sure why my lack of prior knowledge affects this man I barely know, but it’s apparent that he is upset.

“Nope, all I
knew was it was something called Leather and Lace night. I think they knew I wouldn't come if they told me what it was about.” I look from him to my friends and then to the back room. “And they would have been right.”

“Come on, P
recious. We're going to say goodnight and I'm getting you out of here. This is exactly what I hate about places like this; people who have no clue thinking it's something fun to do.”

“I never said I thought it was fun--”

He cuts me off, cupping my face in his hands. “Not you, them. They're your friends, so I'll refrain from saying anything that would upset you, but let's just say I have serious issues with a lot of people. Pretty much anyone who doesn't understand the fact that this isn't just kinky sex to some of us.”

I
can hear the cold sincerity in Dylan's voice. Whatever is bothering him, it’s
really
bothering him. “And you swear you're not trying to lure me to a deserted road somewhere to kill me and dispose of my body?”

“Nah, I prefer out by the airport for that, but that's too mu
ch work for tonight,” he laughs. “I had a long week at work, so even dumping you out as I drive is more energy than I want to expend.” Even in the best of times, Nick and I hadn't had this easy banter between us and I am curious to see where things might lead.

“Okay. But I'm warning you
now; they're probably going to threaten the safety of your testicles. Don't pay any attention to them. They have this idea that since I married my high school boyfriend and then sat home every night for years, I have no clue how to interact with other human beings.” I really need to shut up. I bury my head in my hands, embarrassed by my word vomit. “I'm sorry, really. I'm not usually this...”

“It's okay, Tasha. Whatever your friends wish to dish out, I'll guarantee I've endured worse. Let's go.” Well, at least he used my name. I
try to maintain a friendly distance from him, but he pulls me close to his side.

(Dylan)

It’s a damn good thing I’ve learned to keep my emotions in check over the years. When Tasha
tells me her friends thought it would be
fun
to bring to her play night without her having any clue what was going on, I just about lose it. If she had come with a group of guys, chances are high that I wouldn’t be so polite.

“Guys, we’re going to take off,” she
says as we approach the quartet of women who claim to be her friends. They are regulars here, some of the bondage babes, and I don’t care for any of them. They like to get good and buzzed before going to the playroom. Holly, the woman who tried to “save” her from me, could be an amazing Domme if she learned how to control herself. As it is, she waits until she is too far gone to remain in control and the guys love her for it.

“You’re leaving with him?”
Holly’s lip curls as she asks the question.

Where in the hell
does she get off acting as if I am some sort of filthy creep?
In reality, I am one of the few men in here any of them should be hanging out with. That’s not me being cocky; it’s simply the truth.

“Yes,
Holly,” I answer for her. “Tasha and I are going to get a bite to eat. I’m certain I can make sure she gets home safely.” God, I really don’t like her. I would never go so far as to tell a woman who she can and can’t spend time with, provided there’s no chance of harm, but if I don’t scare Tasha off by the end of the night, she and I are going to have to have a long talk about who she associates with when I am with her.

Holly
squares her shoulders, glaring at me. “The last I checked, Tasha was fully capable of speaking for herself.” She looks over to Tasha, who is still curled under my arm, not looking at all upset that I spoke for her. It is interesting to see how willingly she turned over control. Only time will tell if that is because her ex-husband was a controlling prick or because she has tendencies she might not yet fully realize.

“I’m fully aware of that,
Holly.” I probably should drop it, but this bitch is getting under my skin like no other. “Then again, if she didn’t want to leave with me, would she be stuck to me like white on rice? Perhaps you’re simply upset that your little plan didn’t work quite the way you wanted it to. She’s the one leaving with a real man while you four are going to play with the boys.”

I
feel Tasha tense beside me and fear I’ve gone a step too far. “Dylan,” she hisses. “Please, just stop.” She backs away from me slightly so she can talk to her friends. “Holly, we’ll have to get together another time. I appreciate you bringing me out, but this really isn’t my scene. I’ll text you when I’m heading home and when I get there. Okay?”

“Fine,”
Holly grumbles. The other three girls backed off long ago and are already deep in conversation with three young men sitting across from them. “But if you don’t text me by bar time to let me know you’re okay, I’m going to blow up your phone.”

“Yeah, sure.” Tasha rolls her eyes at her friend. It’s
interesting to see how protective Holly is and it appears Tasha doesn’t like the mama bear attitude from her friend. “See you guys later.”

(Tasha)

Dylan never
takes his hand off the small of my back as we walk down the dark sidewalk. Maybe I should be more nervous, but it feels comfortable walking beside him. Even more, I feel safe. This isn’t exactly the best part of town, and yet I am safe standing next to this beast of a man I barely know.

“Please tell me we’re not
walking to the diner,” I whine after about a block. My feet are killing me and I wish I had thought to change back into my ankle boots.

“No, P
recious. We’ll be driving but my car is parked down there.” He points somewhere in the distance. “Do you need me to carry you?”

While it
is a sweet gesture, I’m not about to say that I
do
want him to carry me. Oh, the places he could take me and I would go willingly. “No, I’ll be fine as long as it’s not too far.”

I barely
have the words out of my mouth when I feel Dylan lift me off the ground as if I am a small child. My mind screams at me to slap him, yell, and do something to make him put me back on the ground. My aching feet, on the other hand, whisper in my ear to kiss him in thanks for the reprieve.

My mind
wins out, but just barely. “Dylan, put me down,” I shriek, playfully slapping him on the butt as he throws me over his shoulder. The view from this side is pretty amazing. Maybe it’s not such a bad idea to let him carry me for a while.

“Precious, there are a few things you need to know about me.” While his tone
is serious, he doesn’t sound upset. It is more matter-of-fact.

“Is one of them why you insist on calling me ‘Precious’ when you know my name?” I
can’t help myself. I’ve never been a fan of nicknames, especially ones that make me think of Gollum wandering around looking for his ring.

Dylan
swats my backside. “No, because I’ve already told you that. The other things you need to know are that I don’t appreciate being lied to and I will always protect and take care of what is mine.”

“Well
that’s good to know,” I snipe. “Two things you need to know about me. I’m not a liar and I do not belong to anyone.” I’m being a bitch, but this guy is getting on my nerves. Yes, he is sex on a stick and seems like he has a good heart somewhere under his tough-guy façade, but I feel like he basically called me a liar and that puts me on guard.

“You said you were fine when I asked if you wan
ted me to carry you,” he points out. His pace slows as he caresses the back of my thighs. “I would be willing to bet my car that that was a lie.”

He’s right. While I never lie
about the things that matter, I am no different from most people when it comes to little things. “I’m sorry, I just didn’t want—“

He
carefully sets me down on the hood of a rich purple 1969 Barracuda. I notice that the way he holds my ankles causes my legs to wrap around his. I wonder if that is so he can be close to me or if it has more to do with not wanting the lethal spikes on my boots to scratch his paint.

His fingers
slide around my neck and he tilts his hands so I am looking up at him. “If you were going to say you didn’t want me to have to, you need to stop. That goes back to my second point. I will
always
take care of what’s mine. And that includes you.”

“But I’m not yours.
” Are there really women out there who would let a guy make claims like that after an hour?

“True,” he agrees
. “But no matter what happens between us sexually, I’d like to think we’ll become friends.”

Wow. Well, no one could accuse this guy of beating around the bush. “What’s to say I’d want anything sexual to happen between us? I think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself there.”

Dylan leans into me so close I can feel the heat radiating through his white button down shirt. “Because when I do this,” he whispers, nibbling on my ear. “I can feel it here,” he continues, placing his hand between my breasts where I have no doubt he can feel my racing heartbeat. “You might not be ready to admit it, but you want me as much as I want you.”

My breathing
becomes quick and erratic. Nick is the only man who has ever touched me in this way, and yet feeling Dylan’s strong fingers grazing along the bare tops of my breasts feels like the first time I have been touched by any man. I don’t want him to stop. I want to feel those fingers curl along the edge of my corset, dipping low so he can pinch my hard nipples.

Just as I
am about to succumb to his advances, he pulls away. Giving me a peck on the tip of my nose, he lifts me off the hood of the car after opening my door. He gently settles me on the seat before reaching in to buckle my belt. If I lean forward, I could bury my face in the warmth of his neck. If he turns toward me, I have no doubt he’s close enough for our mouths to lock together in a passionate kiss.

Do
I want him? Yes, I am definitely feeling something, but is it sexual attraction to a stranger or the thrill of being out there meeting someone for the first time in my life? I watch him walk around the front of the car as I focus on steadying my breathing. I can’t let him see that he affects me in such a way.

“
So, where are we going?” I ask as his car roars to life.

Dylan lifts
my hand to his mouth, gently kissing the back of each finger before placing it on his knee. While I admittedly have very limited experience with the game of seduction, this guy is good. He could tell me just about anything and I would go along with it.

“There’s a diner where a group of my friends hang out,” he
says, keeping his eyes on the road. “They were at the club earlier, but some of them have a low tolerance for the crap that goes on there so they left.”

This
isn’t the first time he has made a negative comment about the club. It makes no sense that he would be there if he knows he doesn’t like it, but I don’t feel like it is my place to ask. I like that he isn’t into that kinky scene. If he was, I’m not sure I would be willing to go anywhere with him.

“So, you met me just over an hour ago and now you’re taking me to meet your friends? Moving a bit fast, aren’t you?”

Dylan lets out a throaty chuckle. “I consider myself a good judge of character. I won’t lie, Tasha, I’m attracted to you, but tonight is nothing more than a group of friends hanging out together.” He reaches up to cup my cheek and I feel myself leaning into his hand. “I would like to think that you and I are friends, too.”

“But yo
u don’t even know me,” I scoff. “What if I’m the crazy serial killer? I now have you right where I want you.”

“I think I could hold
my own against you,” he laughs. He pulls into the parking lot and parks in the spot furthest from the door.

“Do you
always park so far away?” I ask, not looking forward to walking even further in these ridiculous boots.

“Yes.” He
doesn’t explain himself before getting out of the car. Before I realize that he isn’t going to say anything else on the subject, he is at my door. And holy hell, he is unbuttoning his shirt.

“Don’t get out yet,” he warns
. A lump forms in my throat and my heart begins to race, but not in a good way this time.

What
is he doing? Better yet, what am I doing? The first time I go out as a single woman and I wind up in the back of a dark parking lot with a man I barely know. He’s telling me to stay in the car while he takes off his clothes. This is very, very bad.

I scan
the parking lot, trying to see signs of anyone else around. There is no one. I am completely alone and about to have one of those life-changing moments that will forever shatter my trust in people.

Shit, what was I thinking?

“Precious,” he says softly, leaning into the car. “You need to relax.”

My
stomach curls at the feeling of his skin against mine now that I know what is happening. I hate Holly for making me wear this impractical outfit. I hate all of my friends for making me set foot in that depraved club. I hate myself for marrying the first man I dated and for being so trusting.

(Dylan)

Things
had been going well. I have never picked up a woman in a bar before tonight because they are usually too drunk and horny for me to want anything to do with them. Some men see an inebriated woman as an easy score; I see it as a risk I’m not willing to take. But there is something different about Tasha.

Seeing her cower
away from me in the car twists something inside of me. I don’t want her to fear me. “Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, crouching down beside the car. I know damn well I am an intimidating guy and hope that making myself appear smaller will help ease whatever is causing her to panic.

“
Wh—what are we doing here?” She asks, unable to look at me.

What in the hell
is she thinking?
It’s obvious she thinks I am going to hurt her in some way and that pisses me off. I crack my neck to both sides, resting my hands on my knees. I want to touch her, to comfort her, but I know that isn’t what she wants or needs right now. Looking closer, it looks like she’s shaking and about to cry. The sight tears me up inside.

“I already told you,” I
say, working hard to keep my voice calm and quiet. “We’re going in to have something to eat and hang out with my friends for a while.”

She glances
at me out of the corner of her eye but still won’t look at me. “And that requires you to take off your shirt?”

Things start
to click for me. If I was a female, I probably would be scared too if a man parked in a deserted parking lot behind a building and started undressing. Holy shit, she is so far off base it would be laughable if I didn’t see where she is coming from.

“Tasha, look at me,” I command
, still keeping my voice low. She hesitates, but finally turns her head in my direction. “I took my shirt off so you would have something to wear. I figured you would rather wear my shirt than walk in there in lingerie.”

She
buries her head in her hands. Her body is still shaking, but now I don’t know if it is because she is laughing or crying. “Oh, my god. You must think I’m a complete freak,” she sighs. “Thank you, Dylan.”

I
help her out of the car and hand her the shirt. She subtly tries to sniff my shirt as she pulls it over her head. I hold in the laugh that wants to come out, not wanting her to know I caught her. “Sorry I didn’t have any clean shirts. I took my bag inside earlier.”