Chapter 9

My eyes immediately scanned over him, his light jeans tucked into black boots and with a long sleeved white shirt that clung to his muscular torso in just the right way. He was clutching car keys in one hand and had a concerned look on his face as he rushed forwards.

"Roxy are you okay?!" His words tumbled out when he reached me, his hand lifting to gently cup my cheek, keeping our gaze locked on one another. My heart skipped at the contact, causing me to momentarily lose my voice. The now familiar, delicious scent of his cologne wrapped around me, igniting my senses causing my blood to heat.

"Roxy?" He whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

"I'm fine, it was nothing." I managed to get out, my voice hushed, whilst I looked into the brown eyes that were mere inches from me.

Conscious that we were still in the police station, I pulled back a little. Sean didn't seem to register anything about the move, his focus still solely on me as he spoke once again.

"Your sister called me, said you'd been in a bar fight and been arrested."

"Shit, does she have a mute button," I muttered rolling my eyes, "Look I'm sorry she bothered you for this, I wasn't arrested so it's no big deal, I just had to give my statement."

"Do you think I care about the arrest? I was worried that you'd been hurt."

His eyes raked over me as he scanned for any injuries, I tried to slide my hand behind me slightly to cover the scraped and now bruised knuckles, but he was too fast. With lightning speed he took hold of my wrist, lifting it to inspect the marks, his expression was of total rage and for a moment I expected him to explode at me. Instead he squeezed his eyes closed and calmly asked:

"What happened?"

I glanced over my shoulder, noticing the female officer now looking our way, clearly interested in what was going on.

"Not here." I whispered, giving a slight tilt of my head towards the officer nearby.

Sean nodded slightly and together we walked outside.

"Where's your car?" I asked taking a quick glance around at the nearby cars.

"This way, come on."

He lead me around the corner and towards a sleek black BMW, pressing the button on the keys in his hand the car let out a beep, the lights flashing as the doors were unlocked. Climbing into the passenger side, I'd barely closed the door before he asked again.

"What happened tonight Roxy?"

"It was just a bit of trouble with a drunk creep in the pub." I shrugged, feeling a little awkward under the insensity of his burning gaze.

"Did he touch you?" His voice came out as a growl, tilting his head to indicate towards my hand he continued, "Did he hurt you?"

"No, well yes," I saw the rage increasing at my answer and immediately rushed to finish, "He touched me, but didn't hurt me."

"How did you hurt your hand then?"

"I punched him." I shrugged.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise, the edge of his lip arching up in a small smile.

"It was just a big scene over a small thing. Me and Evan were just out drinking and playing a few rounds of pool, some guy was drunk, I'd brushed him off earlier, seems he didn't take the hint that well." Sean listened to my explanation, his expression going between calm and angry faster than a set of traffic lights. "He came over, started making a few comments, then he kind of... slapped my ass." the last three words came out as a whisper as I refused to meet his eyes, however the whispering was in vain as he caught each word clearly and the rage was back.

"He did what? Where was Evan, why didn't he look after you?"

"Whoa, that's not fair, and he did. I punched him before Evan got the chance."

"What happened to this drunk guy?"

I smiled, letting out a small laugh before answering.

"They took him to the hospital, he was unconscious. Evan knocked him out."

"Good, he deserves it, he should never have laid his hands on you."

I felt my cheeks flush as we looked at each other, being so close to him again made my skin tingle, my body alive with desire and need. The very silence inside the car seemed thick with our want for each other.

"Maybe we should..." I muttered, not breaking eye contact with him.

He cleared his throat, shaking his head slightly as if to clear it.

"Yeah, of course."

"Thank you, for coming to get me."

"You're welcome." He looked like he wanted to say something else, but seemed to think better of it.

"I live on Winterview Road, number eight." I said realising he probably had no idea where he was meant to be taking me.

"Okay." He replied with a smile.

He turned the key in the ignition, the heater instantly blasting warm air through the car. I hadn't realised how chilly it was tonight, my skin was still heated from just being in close proximity to Sean. Why did Mel have to send him to get me? As if staying away from him wasn't hard enough, it had been taking every single ounce of control I had to refuse to reply to his texts and calls since the day in the park. I didn't understand the chemistry between us, but I knew it was there. Each time I've been around him my mind dances through thoughts and fantasies of finally giving in, allowing myself to feel every inch of his body pressed against mine, to relish every touch, every kiss for as long as possible. Now thanks to her, I was in a car with him, the very air between us so highly charged I felt like I was a piece of an electrical circuit. Without even realising I was doing it, I soon found myself watching him, the firm grip of his hand on the steering wheel as he drove us through the city. The effortless movements he made seemed to have such a finesse about them that it became a beautiful performance for me to watch. Entranced by him I didn't register at first that we were driving in the wrong direction.

"I think you took a wrong turn somewhere, this is nowhere near where I live." I looked around outside of the window as Sean began to slow down by a large parking garage.

"I know, I'm not taking you home," he chuckled slightly as he took a quick glance over at me, "Took you long enough to notice."

"I was distracted," I muttered, shifting slightly and biting my lip. "What do you mean you aren't taking me home?" I asked as he manouvered the car smoothly around a corner and straight into a residential parking space.

"Distracted?" He smiled, turning off the ignition and smirking at me, "By what?"

His eyes were alight with mischeif, it felt like someone had knocked the air out of my lungs as I surpressed the word that was threatening to break free... you. Sean laughed again, removing the keys from the ignition and unbuckling his seatbelt he opened the door and began to climb out. His movements snapped me back into reality, hastily unbuckling my own belt I opened the door of my side, joining Sean in the dim, cold garage.

"Where are we?" I asked looking around.

"My place."

His reply was simple, as if it was both obvious and not important. Inside my stomach did a backflip. Why was I here? was it because Mel wanted to see me, would she be waiting. All of these thoughts racing through me, and at the same time one that I couldn't help but feel strangely excited about. He brought me back to his. He wants me to see his place. Before I could even think more on this, the voice in the back of my head chimed in.... The place he shares with your sister. I stood there watching him walk towards a door at the end of the lot, when he realised I wasn't with him, he turned and called back.

"What's wrong?"

"I just didn't realise you would be bringing me here," I said taking a few steps towards him, "I wasn't prepared to deal with Mel tonight."

He looked confused before closing his eyes and shaking his head slightly.

"Mel doesn't live with me," He began walking back towards me, stopping a couple of steps away. "She lives in her own place, I live in mine. So will you come up?"

I wasn't sure if the fact that she wasn't here was a good thing or not. It was good that I didn't have to deal with arguing with her tonight. But at the same time, I was about to be alone in an apartment with a man that I can't seem to get out of my head, and long to see naked and on top of me.

"Roxy?"

Taking a small breath I nodded and walked forwards:

"Coming."