Page 33 of Wanted

“Help me,” were the only words I spoke.

She turned her head so she could look at me. “What’s the matter,Sara? Why are you shaking? Did someone say something to you?” Forgetting herargument with Braden, she summoned him closer to us.

“What’s the matter? Is there anything I can do?” he askedpensively. Reaching out, he touched my shoulder, trying his best to comfort me.

I must’ve looked like a fool, shaking for what appeared to be noreason at all. But therewasa reason,and he was standing across the bar staring at me. He was also looking atBraden, boring holes right through him. Clearly he wasn’t sure if Braden waswith me or Alexa. Although Alek knew of Alexa’s boyfriend, he’d never met himbefore.

Every fiber of my being wished Alek was being bombarded withthoughts of me having sex with the man touching me.Sorry, Lex.I would love nothing more than for him to be rackedwith images of us writhing around together. I hoped he envisioned me screamingout in ecstasy as Braden made me come.

A small smile crooked the corners of my mouth. I must have lookedlike a crazy person, but I didn’t care. I would grab on to anything if it meantsaving me from completely shutting down.

“Sara? Can you hear me?” Lex shouted.

Coming back into my tortured reality, I answered her. “Yeah,sorry. I want to leave. Now!”

I glanced back toward Alek and my best friend followed to see whoI was looking at. She gasped as she leaned in closer, throwing her arm aroundmy shoulder.

Taking a deep breath, I straightened my spine and prepared for aconfrontation. There was something about the way he was staring at me whichtold me there was no way I was going to walk by him without him sayingsomething. Why did he have to be near the front door, of all places?

“I wonder if there’s aback way out of this place,” Alexa muttered. She knew exactly why I was actingweird. She wanted to save me from having to walk past him, as well.

“No, that’s okay. I have to face him sooner or later, I suppose.”My words sounded strong, but I was anything but. I was quaking inside, fearfulI would break down in front of him and scream for him to give me anexplanation.

Braden continued to stand next to me, but he looked confused.I saw Lex mouthex-boyfriendas we advanced toward the door.

Alek shifted from one foot to the other the closer we got. Hiseyes switched from looking at me to the ground, then to the other patronsbefore landing back on my face.He’snervous.The simple fact he didn’t know how to act around me either gave mesome comfort.

As I approached him, my heart hammered away inside my chest. Beadsof sweat broke out along my forehead and my hands were suddenly clammy. I foundit difficult to breathe, and I was praying I didn’t experience a panic attackright in front of him.

Suddenly, I found myself standing inches away from him. Part ofhis body was blocking the exit and while he continued to shift from side toside, he never moved enough for me to walk out the door.

Then he spoke.

“Sara. How are you?” The deep timber of his voice cut straightthrough me.Damn him.

I honestly didn’t know what to say to him, so I remained silent. Itwas safer that way.

He didn’t utter another word, but he didn’t move, either. A lookof pain cascaded over his gorgeous face. His eyes slowly roamed my body, butnot so slow as to be disrespectful. No doubt he’d taken notice of my weightloss.

Blowing out a breath of frustration, I sternly commanded, “Move.”I couldn’t even say his name aloud.

“Sara, please, can I talk to you?” He reached out to touch me,but I moved back. His bottom lip disappeared between his teeth, a nervous habithe’d picked up toward the end of our relationship.

“Move!” I shouted that time, hoping he would have the decency tolet me pass. But still, he did nothing. Until Braden interfered.

“You heard her. Get the fuck out of her way.”

Glancing to the side, I witnessed the tick of Braden’s jaw as hefought the urge to tackle Alek. He loved Alexa, and since I was her bestfriend, he believed he had a duty to protect me, as well.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with you, so back off!” Alekshouted, the look on his face suddenly changing. He was gearing up for battle,sizing up who he probably thought was his competition. The fact Braden wrappedhis arm around my waist and pulled me into him certainly sealed any ideas Alekhad about the man.

Alek didn’t miss a thing, recognizing the sign of possessionright away. He knew it all too well.

I’d have to thank them both later on for letting the charadecontinue, although I was sure Braden thought he was doing nothing more thanprotecting his girlfriend’s best friend.

“If you don’t move out of her way right now, you and I are goingto have a real big problem.” Braden straightened himself to his full six- foot-threeframe. He was pretty much head to head with Alek, in height, weight andpresence.

I had to dispel the situation before anything escalated.

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