Free Mary and the Bear by Zena Wynn

brought her elbows down in an attempt to force some space between their bodies. She'd barely finished when the male body plastered to her back vanished.
    She heard a low, menacing snarl behind her that raised the hairs on the back of her neck. At the sound, Erik turned sickly pale and jerked his eyes from her chest and his hands from her body. He held his hands up in the universal symbol of surrender to show he was harmless while backing slowly away. Once he had enough room, he turned and disappeared quickly into the dancers crowded on the floor.
    Not really wanting to know who or what could cause that kind of reaction in a grown man, Mary Elizabeth took a step forward only to be pulled up short by the big, heavy hand that landed on her shoulder. Really not wanting to know who was behind her, but recognizing that she didn't have a choice in the matter, she slowly turned.
    Hugh was standing behind her, but it was Hugh she'd never seen before. He was larger, more aggressive, almost scary looking in his anger. And what was with the growls rumbling from his chest? The hand on her shoulder slid to her upper arm and spun her the rest of the way around. His other hand dropped to her hip and jerked her forward into his body. “What the hell are you thinking?"
    Any gratitude she might have been feeling toward him for getting her out of an awkward situation disappeared when he yelled at her. “Excuse you?” The ice in her tone should have given him frostbite. No one spoke to her this way, except maybe her mother.
    "And what the hell are you wearing? Where are the rest of your clothes? What, you advertising now? How much for an hour? Maybe we can deal."
    She sucked in her breath sharply, his words shocking her. “Are you implying that I look like a hooker ?” She put both hands against his chest and shoved hard, while at the same time twisting her body out of his grasp. The combination of actions caused his hold to loosen enough for her to get away. “Screw you!” She turned and stalked off, not noticing the attention they were drawing.
    Cursing violently, Hugh came after her. Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and pulled, using her momentum to swing her body around and into his arms. He locked an arm around her waist and slid his hand into her hair, using it to pull her head back. Then he kissed her. Well, some might call a kiss. She called it a macho, he-man stamp of ownership. She hung there limply in his arms while he pressed his mouth against hers.
    When he tried to force his tongue into her mouth, she got violent. She pulled back foot, and kicked him in the shin—hard. She was really glad she'd let the sales lady talk her into these boots. These bad boys were capable of doing some serious damage.
    Hugh jerked his mouth from hers. “Ow! What was that for?"
    "For manhandling me. I'm surprised you didn't just whip out your penis and pee on me. Put me down. Now!” What was it with men? First she had to deal with Charles, and now this.
    He loosened his hold and she slid down the front of his body before her feet touch the floor. He allowed her to take a step away from him but his arm around her waist kept her from getting too far away, and he still had his hand in her hair. “Manhandle? All I did was kiss you. I was trying to apologize."
    "No, that wasn't a kiss. A kiss is what happened between us last week. This was you pissing on me like a dog marking its territory. You men are driving me crazy! First Charles went off the deep end, and now you!"
    "Charles! Who the hell is Charles?” He was shocked into releasing her.
    "None of your business.” She turned on her heel to stalk off, but that was as far as she got before Hugh grabbed her again.
    "Who is Charles?” He all but roared the words at her, his grip on her arms tight enough to prevent her from walking away before he had an answer to his question.
    "What business is it of yours? It's not like we're involved or anything. Now let me go. You're causing a scene.” This