Free Crash Into My Heart by Selene Grace Silver Page B

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    “ Al l right .” She acquiesced grudgingly and moved to climb up out of the car. As she stepped out, she stumbled slightly in her heels. Adrian instinctively leaned forward . He caught her, pulling her upright . She jerked in surprise. In her efforts to get away , she ended up doing the reverse, falling into his chest. H is arms encircled her.
    Time froze.
    Her hair s melled like jasmine. Her frame was so s light he thought he could pick her up with one arm. Despite her heels, her head barely reached his chin. H e bent, lifted, tipped her over his shoulder and carried her out of the ditch. Like she was his spoils of war.
    He was already to the road before she realized his hand was cupping her bare thigh under her full skirt . She struggle d against him .
    “Put me down!”
    He sighed, reluctantly releasing her. As she slid down , he let his hand slid e up her b ackside, over the curves of her bottom. Oops! He jerked his hand away. She was wearing G-string panties. He was pretty sure wasn’t going to like his hand on her bare bum. Not yet, anyway.
     
    ***
     
    Janice felt breathless. The guy was strong. He’d carri ed her like she weighed nothing more than a piece of Styrofoam . Her skin burned as his ha n d slid up her thigh . Tingles fl uttered across her whole body when h e ’d briefly cupped her bottom. She stepped back abruptly, pushing him away. His hands left her and in its place a chill settled over her. A sense of emptiness?
    “Were you just co p ping a feel?!” She tried not to shrill .
    He crooked a slanted grin at her. There was the promise of mischief in that look.
    “Not initially.”
    “ Ohh …you’ re not very practiced at being a good citizen .”
    “And y ou’re not very grate ful .”
    Then he smiled wickedly at her and her heart stopped.
    “ Consider that balancing our account s .”
    “Coming onto a woman who has just survived a serious car accident is not being especially conscientious .”
    “ You’ve got a sharp tongue, for someone in the need of help.”
    “You are a ...a…a pig.”
    “What? ”
    “Practically molesting my body. What else would you call your behavior?”
    Adrian’s face darkened slightly . He unlocked his car doors with his key fob and opened the passenger door.
    “Get in .”
    “No.”
    “Get in or I’m leaving you here to fend for yourself.”
    “If you think I’m getting into a car with a jerk …”
    A sound interrupted her .  T wo shaggy -bearded , leather-garbed men on low-slung Harley s crested the hill towards them. The men slowed as they approached, staring at the sleek sports car and the battered sedan in the ditch.
    Adrian scowled at her .
    “Maybe you’d prefer those two men’s assistance.”
    Janice glared defiantly back .
    “ Ooof !” Did he have to be so, so, so…rude?
    She set her jaw and stepped into the car. Adrian , after checking that s he was tucked in, slammed the door shut with more force than necessary.
    “Everything okay , man?” One of the bikers calle d out as they rolled to a stop .
    Janice held her breath. Adrian was a big, strong guy. He could handle the situation. At least she hoped so.
    “We’re fine. My wife ’s car blew a tire .”
    His wife ? That’d be the day. As Adrian spoke, he moved confidently around the car to the driver’s side and opened his door.
    The two bikers nodded agreeably. They obviously looked scarier than they were .
    “ Glad you folks are all right.” They revved their bikes and took off, disappearing around the curve at the bottom of the hill.
    Adrian slid his large body down into the tight-fitting driver’s seat with grace and ease. He pulled his door shut and started up the car.
    “Put on your seatbelt, koulka . This machine flies.”
    Koulka ? Janice struggled to locate the shoulder harness. After seconds of clumsy effort, Adrian reached across and pulle d out the restraint , snapping her in . He straightened the twisted strap, r u n ning his hand lightly across her chest.
    He