Page 7 of Crashing Into You

I put my drink down and push through the crowd, following the guy as he pulls her towards the doors. I’m gaining on them and make it outside just after she does.

“Leave me alone!” Her voice is trembling, and she’s trying to pull her arm free. “And stop texting me!”

She’s still fierce, I’ll give her that. But he’s a lot bigger and stronger than she is.

“No-one loves you like I do,” I hear him say. “Why can’t you understand that? We’re meant to be together.”

“We aren’t!” She tries to pull away again, but he jerks her back to him. I’ve had enough.

“Hello, darling, I’ve been looking for you.” I put my arm around her shoulders, dropping a kiss on her soft hair. Shesmells of flowers, her skin satin-soft. “This guy bothering you?”

“Claire? Who the fuck is this?”

Claire.So that’s her name. The guy is still holding her wrist, and I can see red marks where his fingers dig into her. I push down my rage. Manipulative violent jerks like this push my buttons, for all sorts of reasons. But Claire is tense against me, and I don’t want to make a scene.

“I’m her boyfriend. So why don’t you let her the fuck go, before you and I need to have words.” I keep my voice low, but put enough menace into it. He knows I’m not joking; I can see by the way his eyes widen.

“Claire?” His voice is pleading now.

She glances up at me with those sea-blue eyes fringed with long dark lashes. She licks her lips, then turns to the guy. “That’s right,” she says, sounding defiant, though I can feel her trembling. “This is Bryce.”

Hearing her say my name does something to me, low down. I try and keep hold of myself. This isn’t the time.

The guy’s face crumples as he looks from her to me. He’s tall, but I’ve got a couple of inches on him and a lot more muscle. “What the fuck?” His voice breaks. “Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

“Why should I?” Claire’s trembling subsides as she leans into me, sliding an arm around my waist. “We broke up six months ago. You need to move on, Simon. Let it go.” Her voice softens, kindness in it. My heart clenches. This guy doesn’t deserve that from her, not the way he was manhandling her. He’s let go of her arm, but I can still see marks on it.

“Yes, Simon,” I say, still keeping that ring of menace in my voice. There are a few people looking at us now. Shit. Someone has their phone out. I need to shut this down, and quickly. “It’s time to move on.”

“Prove it.” He folds his arms.

“Proveit?” I am so ready to hit this guy. But I can already hear how pissed my agent is going to be if I do. So I unclench my fist. “Listen, mate, how about you just fuck off and?—”

A soft hand comes to my face, and Claire turns, pressing herself against me. Her eyes are pleading and she starts pulling my head to hers. I realise just in time what she’s trying to do. Is she for fucking real? She doesn’t owe this guy shit.

But at the same time, her body pressed against mine is doing things to me. I’m drawn to her, sinking into those ocean eyes, my arms wrapping around her as I bend my head, unable to stop myself.

And then I’m kissing her.

ChapterFour

Bryce

Ionly mean to give her a peck on the lips but, as Claire presses against me, her mouth opening against mine, I feel that spark between us again. And I’m drowning, lost in her scent, the soft feel of her against me. Our tongues tangle, and I can feel the flutter of her heartbeat.

Finally, I lift my head, because if I don’t, I’m going to take her somewhere we can get a little more naked. And that just doesn’t seem like the right thing to do in the current circumstances, no matter how my body is crying out for it.

She looks up at me, her soft lips still parted, an expression that looks like wonder on her face. I stare down at her, and it just feels so natural to hold her.

“Fuck you.” The words are snarled, somewhere to my left. And I remember what’s going on.

“That enough proof for you?” I drawl, turning to Simon. But he’s already gone, the snivelling weed, shoving his way past patrons as he heads for the car park.

I look down at Claire again. “You all right?”

She nods, but she looks as shaken as I feel. “Thanks,” she says. “I’m really sorry you had?—”

“Didn’t mind at all,” I say, with a grin. “It’s the least I can do to make it up to you, after today.”