Free Bound Temptations: Stories of Temptation and Submission by Shiloh Walker

hands around my neck, started
screaming at me."
    She could
still hear him. No fucking bitch leaves
me.
    "I tried to fight him, but
then, I just didn't know how. I kicked, I screamed as loud as I
could. But I passed out. Somebody from the theater heard me,
though. Called the cops. There was a beat cop close by, and thank
God for that...because if they'd been a minute or two
later..."
    Rocki shuddered.
    A hand touched her shoulder.
Tensing, she looked up and realized Cole had left his seat at the
booth and was now crouched by hers. She scooted over on the bench,
disturbed by how desperately she needed that contact. As he settled
down next to her, she rested her head against him. A strong arm
came around her. Rocki groaned, sinking into the warmth of his
embrace. She'd missed this...just having somebody there to hold
her.
    Somebody she could trust.
Somebody she liked and had a connection with.
    And God help her...she had
it with Cole.
    "The cops showed up while he
was still trying to get my clothes off," she said, needing to get
the words out. "He took off running when he heard the sirens, and I
woke up with my shirt ripped open, my jeans unzipped. I hadn't been
awake, but I swear, I could feel his hands all over me."
    She swallowed and then
looked up at him. Cole lifted a hand, brushed her hair back from
her face, then stroked his thumb over her lip.
    "Then what? You knew who it
was, right?"
    "Yeah." She looked away.
"But I wouldn't press charges. Not then. The notes started coming
next. Then the flowers. Then he started calling and I knew I had to
do something, or he might try to kill me next time. I warned him
that I'd press charges if he kept it up. He just laughed, said I
hadn't done it before, I wouldn't this time."
    "So did you?"
    "I went to the police
station. Filled out the report, did everything I was supposed
to...and the officer in charge was an ass. Told me they couldn't
promise they'd get results. I'd need to be careful of my
whereabouts. And maybe I should dress differently." She made a
face. "I had on a fucking T-shirt and jeans. Damn, I was furious. I
stormed out of there, so mad I could barely see...and crashed right
into Brant."
    "Brant. Your
husband."
    "Yeah. Although, not then."
Absently, she plucked at a loose thread on his sweater, then let
her hand fall to his thigh. When the muscles under her hand
bunched, she felt a blush settle low on her breasts. But she didn't
move her hand. "Brant...ah, well, he was a gentleman, through and
through. Saw that I was upset. Asked around. Had another officer
take the report again. Then he walked me to my car."
    "But that wasn't
it."
    "No." She smiled. "A few
days later he showed up at the theater and asked me how I felt
about dating cops, mentioned he'd almost taken my case himself but
that wouldn't have been right...because he had every intention of
asking me out. We were married within six months."
    "One of those
love-at-first-sight stories."
    "Pretty close." She lowered
her gaze, staring at her hand. The muscles under it were still
tense. She really should move. But she couldn't.
    Just couldn't.
    "What happened with the
ex?"
    "I chickened out. Couldn't
press charges. A few more cards came. Two more calls. Then they
stopped." She closed her eyes. "I won't ever know, but I suspect
Brant paid him a visit...scared the shit out of him. Dwayne never
was good at standing up to anybody who proved they could dish it
back."
    "Possible ethical issue
there." His hand rested low on her spine.
    She shivered as his fingers
grazed the scant bit of flesh left bare on her back by the
corset.
    "Abuse of power...hell, I
might have bought him a drink." Cole rubbed his cheek against her
hair. "You should have pressed charges, though. Bastards like that
never stop until you make them."
    "I know. Now, I could. Then,
it was a different story." She sighed. "It may or may not be him
now. I just don't know. The cards started a few weeks ago. I've
gotten four—they aren't the same. It's just