Free One Night Forever by Marteeka Karland Page A

a onetime thing. Just get in the car and let me take
    you home.” That was about all Ariel could stand.
    Gritting her teeth, she whirled to face him, crossing
    her hands over her breasts. She was more angry than
    she could ever remember being, but she still felt
    vulnerable beyond words.
    “If you think for one moment I’m getting in that
    car with you, now or ever again, you’re more stupid
    than I thought. Leave me alone, Tom. I don’t want to
    see you again.”
    He revved the engine of the GTO hard, making
    as much noise as he could. It was how he’d bullied her
    8
    Marteeka Karland

    in the past. Knowing she detested scenes, Tom would
    do something that would call attention to her. This
    time, however, it wouldn’t work. If he woke half the
    neighborhood, so be it. It wasn’t her fault. She was just
    walking down the sidewalk. Immediately, dogs barked
    all over the place. He continued to rev the motor, all
    the while looking at her as if to dare her to defy him.
    Ariel merely rolled her eyes and started walking
    again. Inside, her heart pounded and she glanced
    around nervously, but she absolutely would not give
    in. She was going to her sister’s until she could get her
    own apartment. Nothing would stop her.
    Tom continued to keep pace with her, making all
    kinds of racket with the souped-up car. It sounded like
    a truck pull at the county fair. Fumes from the exhaust
    made the back of her throat itch with the urge to
    cough. She was about to just bolt for her sister’s three
    blocks down the road when a light came on in the
    house a half a block away. A huge, shadowy figure
    stepped onto the porch, paused, then skipped down
    the steps and headed their way. Ariel didn’t recognize
    the man, but the figure was decidedly male and hella
    big.
    He strode toward them, confidence in his gait.
    As he neared, Ariel noticed sleek, black hair streaked
    lightly with silver and pulled back from his chiseled
    9
    One Night Forever

    face. He wore jeans and nothing else. Bare chested,
    and bare footed, his feet making little noise on the
    sidewalk. Though his fly was zipped, the top button
    was undone. She swallowed hard. The street lamps
    gave glimpses of a determined line to his mouth and
    slashing, silver eyes. This wasn’t really the kind of man
    she wanted to run into at midnight on a deserted
    street. Even Tom was looking good about now.
    “What seems to be the problem?” His voice was
    a deep, raspy rumble. He looked straight at Tom when
    he spoke, inserting his body between her and Tom’s
    car.
    “It’s none of your business,” Tom snapped. “Me
    and my girlfriend are having a discussion, so butt out!”
    The stranger didn’t even glance at Ariel. “It
    becomes my business when you disturb my sleep. If
    the lady had wanted to talk to you, she’d be in your
    car, so I recommend you move along before you have
    problems.”
    “What? You gonna call the cops?” Tom sneered
    his question and Ariel’s heart sank. He was friends
    with most of the guys on the force. They both were. It
    was a small town and Tom had played sports with
    most of the local guys in high school and college. Tom
    knew no one would give him any grief. The stranger
    didn’t.

    10
    Marteeka Karland

    “No.” He didn’t raise his voice. He leaned down,
    placed his hands on the door of the car, and looked
    Tom dead in the eyes. “I’ll take care of you myself.
    When I’m done, you can call the police.” He
    straightened, a deadly smirk on his face. “If you’re
    able.”
    For once in his life, Tom didn’t argue. He paled
    slightly, but grumbled as he put the car in gear and
    took off down the road leaving Ariel alone with a man
    more than twice her size, who was obviously capable
    of violence when necessary. Tom was definitely a
    bastard.
    “You should really pick your boyfriends with
    more care.” The man turned to her as he spoke, his
    intense expression softening only slightly. “For all he
    knows, I could be an ax murderer,