Page 138 of Ride With Me

Victor heaves a big sigh.

“I’m sorry about what happened to you. It was a case of mistaken identity and Glynn going over the top,” Victor explains. “I’m on a training course in close personal protection. This was supposed to be simulating a kidnapping situation. Not the actual taking part, except Glynn, well, you know...”

I nod, and he continues.

“We weren’t expecting anyone to be hitchhiking, so we thought you were our contact. We soon realised our mistake when we came across the right guy. We aborted the training operation then. I dropped the others off at the training centre and brought you here so you could have time to compose yourself. I didn’t think you’d want to be hauled out, still bound, in front of everyone. But we do have to go back there, to the training centre. They want to formally apologise, and I think they’re scared you might press charges.”

“Press charges?” I echo him, confused at what he means.

“You were kidnapped and knocked out. That’s assault.”

“Oh!” I hadn’t thought about that. I guess perhaps I could, but I wouldn’t get very far if they found out that I was also getting off on the experience.

“What would happen to you?”

Victor shrugs. “I’m pretty sure I’ve failed the training course after this fuck up. It could be bad for the training centre, though. They might have to close.”

“I don’t think I’d like to be the cause of that, and I’m perfectly fine now,” I reply. More than fine, if meeting Victor can be counted in that.

“Thank you. Much as I’d like to see Glynn charged with something—he’s nothing but a thug—I’m pleased that the training centre won’t suffer from our mistake.”

“I’m sorry you’ll fail, though. Will you lose your job? Are you a bodyguard?” I can just imagine Victor being a bodyguard. I’d feel safe with him by my side. I wonder who he works for.

“Not exactly. I head up the security team at a club in London. Lawrence, that’s my boss, thought it would be a good training course for me.”

A few pieces of a puzzle slide into place. He mentioned a club, Lawrence, and he did recognise that I needed help.

“What club?” I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. Surely it can’t be . . .

“The Chain Reaction.”

“That’s the one where I met Aiden!” I exclaim excitedly, delighted that we have something in common. But Victor’s face darkens.

“Is he the one who you were meeting this weekend?”

“Yes,” I reply. I feel even safer with Victor now, as I’m sure Lawrence’s staff are very well vetted. As he’s a part of the kink scene, I tell him a bit more—not everything though, especially not my kink. I’m too cautious, even for that.

“He sounds like a right bastard,” Victor says grimly when I’ve finished. “I’m sorry you met him at our club.” I hadn’t noticed that Victor’s hand had stayed on my lower back, and while I was telling my story he’d started stroking me again. It’s soothing and I lean into it a bit more. I’m sad when it stops.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “We do need to go to the training centre before they phone me. They might think I’ve abducted you.” He gives a grim smile.

“Okay.” I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay here with Victor’s hands on me, but I try not to think like that. It’s a dangerous path to walk, as I know anything along those lines will only get so far before I have to tell them how it works for me. However, I feel like Victor might be different. But anyway, he might have a partner, so I agree, killing any other thoughts I might have. “Can I charge my phone?”

“Yes, of course, you can leave it charging. Let me find a cable.” He gets up and rummages through a bag before handingme a cable. Once I’ve plugged it in, I follow him to the door. When he gets there, he turns around. Wow, he’s huge—at least a foot taller than me.

He crooks a finger under my jaw and lifts it slightly. My heart starts hammering in my chest. Is he going to kiss me? Argh, my stupid romantic heart. Of course he’s not going to kiss me. Why would he? We’ve only just met, and it’s messy.

“Jamie?” My name sounds special, said in his rich voice. Maybe heisgoing to kiss me, after all. I hold my breath.

“Can I buy you dinner?”

Not a kiss, though almost as good as I haven’t eaten since yesterday.

“Yes,” I squeak, which is all I can do with no air in my lungs.

His smile is brief, as if he doesn’t do it often and isn’t sure how it looks. It looks beautiful to me and I wonder if I can make him do it more.

CHAPTER 6

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