Free To Know Her (Erotic Romance) by Renee Burke

Chapter
One
     
    Bright lights from the oncoming
car blinded her.  She watched it speed by, wondering, idly, whether it was
better to stop it or let it pass.  Hitching a ride had to be
dangerous.  On the other hand, the temperature was chilling her bare
arms. 
    Brake lights lit the dark
blacktop and cast shadows over the roadside and into the woods.  She
crossed her arms in front of her chest, holding tight in an effort to warm
herself, as she watched the car back slowly toward her.  A Porsche. 
Well at least the ride would be luxurious. 
    The driver’s door popped open,
and a man emerged.  He towered over the low slung car, dark and
dangerous.  When he circled the back to come closer, she stepped away,
slipping off the blacktop and into the low brush.  His hand shot out to
catch her around the waist, pulling her closer, uncaring of her
trepidation. 
    “Trouble?”  He pulled her
forward where the road was flat until her feet were once again steady. 
    She nodded, unable to find her
voice.  He studied her for a moment, gazing into her eyes before lifting
to her hair.  He brushed a finger over the smooth skin of her forehead,
and she watched his throat work as he swallowed.  The closeness was
unnerving. 
    “I seem to be lost.”  Her
voice was small, mirroring her emotions. 
    “You seem to be hurt.”  He
pulled the finger back from her forehead, and she could see the trace of blood
there. 
    “Oh!” Her eyes widened in
surprise and her head tilted.  “I’m not sure how that happened.  I
can’t seem to remember... much.”  She pulled herself upright a bit and
stepped away, out of his embrace. 
    His eyes narrowed as he watched
her arms lift again, wrapping around in a self-protective hug. 
    “I don’t suppose you could give
me a lift?”
    Without a word, he turned to
open the passenger door and gestured for her to sit. 
    She held her breath as he
crossed in front of the car, looking like a giant against the darkness as he
crossed in front of each headlight.  He turned to look at her as he
settled in the seat. 
    “So, what now?” 
    She gave him a shy
glance.  “I’m not entirely sure.  I guess to a store.  Maybe a
gas station?”  She could call someone from there.  Except she was
completely blank on who. 
    The muscles in his jaw
tensed.  “What exactly are you out to buy on a dark highway at night?”
    His words seemed angry, but she
wasn’t sure why.  The thought upset her.
    “I don’t know.”  She bit
her lip and looked out into the dark just beyond the glare of the headlights.
“I don’t remember why I’m here or who to call.”
    His angry expression was wiped
away, and the tension around his eyes softened.  “What do you remember?”
    She swallowed again and looked
into her lap.  She was holding a set of keys.  Had those been there
the whole time?  She shook her head, every thought more fuzzy and daunting
than the last.  “Nothing.  I don’t remember anything.”
    He nodded before reaching over
to cover her hands with his own big warm one.  His gentle squeeze brought
her gaze back to his. 
    “It will be okay.  I’ll
take you somewhere safe.”  He pulled the safety belt across her lap
brushing her breast with the back of his hand as it passed. 
Accidental?  She wasn’t sure.  She chose to say nothing.
    The engine fired, and he
shifted into gear before making a U-turn and accelerating into the
darkness.  Her sigh seemed loud in the quiet car, as she considered her
situation.  Her head ached, and the blank slate of her mind was a
frightening place.
    “You don’t remember your name?”
    His words jolted her out of her
revelry. 
    She crinkled her brow for a
moment, trying to dredge up the answer.  Her response, when it came, was
almost inaudible.  “No.”
    His grip tightened momentarily
on the steering wheel before relaxing.  “We’ll need something to call you
then.  How about Sara?”  He watched her closely. 
    She shrugged.  It