Page 4 of Perfect Strangers

At that instant, he bends down toward me, grabbing hold of my body, and haul me over his shoulders.

I cry out with embarrassment, yelling at him as I punch his back. “Put me down!”

“Well aren’t you just a ray of sunshine? You want to act like a child, you get treated like a child.”

My arms continue to hit his back as I hang over his shoulders, clutching onto my bag with dear life, praying the contents don’t fall out again.

“I am not taking “no” for an answer. So if this what I gotta do to get you out of here? Fine. So be it.”

He walks toward the

exit of the station as I yell at him, hitting his back. We pass a few pedestrians and I ask them for help, but they just stare at us with confusion.

As we pass, he calls out to our audience. “Don’t worry folks, I’m just teaching her a lesson. She’s in good hands.”

I feel his hand spank my ass. The slight sting of pain surges as annoyance builds to anger. Kicking my legs, I aim for his face but he holds them down as he continues to walk.

I growl with frustration and decide to just hang there, swaying against his back as he walks down the halls and toward the exit. Just as we make our way toward the door, he pauses. My head pounds in the back of my mind, as the blood rushes toward my brain. I could feel a nasty headache brewing in the background.

“Are you all done with your little temper tantrum?”

I roll my eyes at his question and resist the urge to hit him. “Yes.”

He pauses. “You sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

He lets out a deep growl as he hoists me over his shoulders, toward his front, and slides me down toward the ground. He steadies my balance, holding me as my feet get acquainted with the floor. His dark eyes look into mine. “You good?”

I’m pissed off and embarrassed. But as he looks at me with those eyes of his, I can’t help but lick my lips. He’s freaking gorgeous. I’m attracted to this man, but let’s face it, who wouldn’t be? He’s got it all, the whole damn package.

A little dazed, I respond, “Yeah, I’m good.”

His lips curve into a wide smile causing a warm feeling to flow through me. He ushers toward the door and holds it open for me as I step outside into the cold winter night. A gust of wind blows through us as we step side by side onto the city streets. I shudder as the chilled air causes me to shiver. Huddling my jacket tighter, I slip my hands into the coat pocket, yelling at myself for not bringing gloves to wear.

He twists his face toward me. “You cold?”

I catch him staring at me as I try to warm myself up. I nod, “Just a little. I didn’t expect to be out here so late when it got really cold.”

He stops walking so I stop with him, turning toward him. He slips a pair of black gloves from his pea coat pocket and hands them to me. “Here, put these on.”

I take them from him asking, “Are you sure?’

“Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t want you getting sick.”

His admission sends a smile across my face as I put on his gloves. They’re a little big, but my hands are already ten times warmer than before. Just when I think he’s ready to keep moving, I see him detangling his scarf. He pulls it off his neck and wraps it around mine, even forming a little knot.

I giggle as he works the scarf. “This is your girlfriend’s scarf, isn’t it?”

His eyes look into mine. “Would it bother you if it was?”

I lie with ease. “No, I just don’t think she’d want her scarf around another girl’s neck.”

He huffs and finishes up, before taking a step back. “First of all, she’s not my girlfriend. Second, this is my scarf.”

“I thought you said you dropped your girl off at the platform?”

He nods. “Yes, a girl; not my girlfriend. Big difference.”

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