He murmured something again and straightened, the smile he wore confident. He reached out his hand to her.
Grace looked behind her to her pal, but she’d get no support there. And when she stared back at him, his grin broadened.
She put her hand into his and he helped her stand, guiding her out to the dance floor. The song changed to something more sensual, and I narrowed my eyes and clinched my jaw as I watched him throw his arm around her waist and bring her close to his body.
I’d shatter his hands for touching her.
I snarled low, the vibrations in my throat the only thing that let me know the sound had slipped free. I couldn’t even hear myself think in this damned place.
It wouldn’t have mattered anyhow because all I could think about, focus on, was getting to Grace… getting that fucker away from her.
He was sweaty and he smelled like alcohol. It was nasty and I felt little uncomfortable. He started grinding up on me and I regretted agreeing to dance with him. The sensation of his erection pushing against my abdomen, the sensation and scent of his humid, beer- laden breath on my neck had me all but gagging.
This felt so awful.
But he’d seemed kind as he extended his hand out, looked kind of forlorn imploring me for just one dance. I should’ve gone with my hunch and told him no, kept my resolution. But here I was, regretting every bit of it, thinking of how to get out of the situation.
I wasn’t really even dancing and instead grabbed his hands to force them away from my hips. He leaned in and the feel of his hot, wet breath on the side of my neck had me scrunching up my nose.
“I should probably go,” I shouted loud enough for him to hear, all nearly shouting the words.
He didn’t hear me or wasn’t listening. He put pressure to my hips and dragged me closer until I felt how hard he was.
That’s when survival kicked in.
This guy wasn’t going to stop even if I shouted no in his face. He’d either had too much to drink or he was just a disgusting asshole.
I shoved at his shoulders, and he pulled me in tighter, caging his arms about me. I yelled at him, tried to kick him, dread taking grip. I couldn’t move, couldn’t get out of his clutches. The terror was creeping in, and with the music too loud, the booze flowing too strong, and everyone else concentrating on their dance partners, no one realized I needed aid.
“Stop,” I shouted out and shoved at his chest again.
“Calm down,” he moaned against the side of my neck. “This feels good, doesn’t it?”
I shook my head. “Stop. I don’t want to dance anymore.” I tried pushing at his chest, but he was stronger than me and kept his hold ironclad.
I tried looking to where Alexis was, but we’d moved farther away from the table and I couldn’t make her out through the thick throng of people.
He stroked his fingers over my hips and belly, creeping lower. Fear rose even harder in me, and I struggled again.
“I said no,” I yelled loudly enough I knew he’d heard.
In the next second, he was yanked away from me.
I fell back from the unexpected action and felt my eyes widen as I glanced up at Professor Baldwin. I didn’t know why he was at the club, but it wasn’t my main concern at the moment. It was the fact he was currently holding Mr. Groper by the neck.
The grimace on my professor’s face was simply frightening. He leaned in close to the other man’s ear and murmured something low enough I couldn’t hear. I watched as my would-be assaulter widened his eyes in apparent horror. He stared at Professor Baldwin and shook his head wildly, holding up his palms as if to convey he meant no harm.
And then he turned and hauled ass away from us, pushing people out of his path as if the place were on fire and he was frantic to get out to survive.
I glanced at Professor Baldwin for a second, not knowing what the hell was going on but happy he’d been here at the appropriate time.
I felt increasingly light-headed and stumbled back again, but he stretched out and took hold of my upper arm, steadying me. He brought me close to him, and I put my hands on his chest, tilted my head back and looked up at him.
He looked around the room, and I watched as he narrowed his eyes, felt the growl leave him as the sound vibrated underneath my hands, which were still on his chest.
Before I could foresee what was occurring, he grabbed my hand in his and took me out of the club. I peered back over my shoulder, trying to see Alexis, but the crowd was too thick.
Then we were outside, the cool air sweeping over me and sobering me up for only a second, before light-headedness took its place once more.
