She searched his face for the reason that he was suddenly so detached, but he remained impassive. "Why does that make you angry?"
He smiled as he took hold of her hand and began to walk again. "It doesn't make me angry. I just don't like it when people assume things."
"Assume things?"
"She assumed that she would always get what she wanted, and so did you."
"I'm not assuming anything," she retorted. "That's the way it's always been."
"Well, it isn't now."
"Besides, she won't give up. She never does."
"So?"
Sera looked down at the sidewalk. "You never know what the future holds."
"Wouldn't I have a say in it?" he asked, his voice tinged with ire.
"Yes," she said. "I didn't mean to upset you."
He squeezed her hand. "I know you didn't, but I don't want Michelle, and I think that's why she was so mad at you."
"Why?"
He smiled down at her as he led her across the street. It was then that Sera realized they had left the campus and were heading into town. The streets were packed with cars. People, mostly college students, were milling around outside the bars smoking cigarettes. Music filled the air as they passed by the crammed bars and groups of people on the street. She couldn't help but smile as she noticed the envious glances of the women they passed.
They turned a corner and left the noise of the bars and restaurants behind for the closed shops. "She knew that I had my eye on someone else."
"And who would that be?" she asked.
"Some blond who wouldn't talk to me." Sera was pleased by the teasing glint in his eyes.
She laughed as she cast him a smile. "Who could with the swarm that you had around you?"
He stopped walking, tugging on her hand to halt her. She stopped before him, tilting her chin up to gaze into his amazing green eyes. "I found a way to talk to you," he said huskily.
His voice sent shivers down her spine. His intense stare caused her to bite nervously on her bottom lip as his hand came up to caress her cheek. "There wasn't a swarm of people around me," she said as she relished in the feel of his touch against her skin.
"No," he whispered. "Just a bunch of leering guys who were too scared to talk to you."
Sera burst into laughter. "Oh, I don't think so."
His hand froze on her face as he stared at her doubtfully. "Didn't you notice them?"
Sera looked at him in confusion and took a step back. His hand fell from her face. A sense of loss enveloped her as the contact was broken. "Notice who?" she asked.
He stared at her with the relentless intensity that she was beginning to grow accustomed to. Her eyebrows rose inquiringly as she tried to discern what he was searching for, but she had no idea why he was looking at her like that. He gently placed his hand on her face and drew her closer. Her heart began to pound eagerly as she rested her hands against his chest. The air seemed to crackle with electricity as his thumb brushed over her cheek.
She stared into his green eyes as they burned into hers. She was completely useless against the magnetic pull that was drawing her in. She closed her eyes as his lips brushed against hers; they sent a shower of sparks and heat throughout her body.
Her mouth opened and his tongue delved heatedly into it. His hands thrust into her hair as he kissed her hungrily. Her whole body was on fire as she clutched at his back to pull him closer. He eased her against the cool cement of a store wall as his firm body pressed against hers. Her knees turned to Jell-O as his hands slid leisurely caressed the exposed skin of her stomach.
Suddenly, the loud burst of a horn ripped into her daze. She jumped as her mind cleared of its passion-induced haze. With frightening clarity she realized that she was alone, in an alley, with a man that she didn't know. A man that was strong enough to do whatever he wanted to her.
Apprehension surged through her and she pushed frantically at his solid chest. Needing him to get away from her; needing to breathe. He pulled away from her, his eyes a darker, passion clouded green. She took a shuddery breath as she tried to stop the shaking in her legs, and the pounding of her heart that no longer had anything to do with desire. Her eyes pleaded with him not to harm her as her hands slid away from his chest to clutch at the cool cement of the wall behind her.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
