She opens her mouth, looking curious but uncertain, but just as she’s about to say something, the train slows, and there’s a moment of shuffling as the few passengers on the train stand to get off.
The first one off is bike sex dude, followed by an older woman and a young guy in a hoodie, his face barely visible.
Suddenly, I’m on high alert. Something feels off. A shift in the air. I stand, watching. Waiting.
Hoodie boy darts back into the train so fast anyone else would have been thrown off guard. He pulls a knife and holds it out toward the dark beauty I had my eye on, yelling for her to give him her purse.
I react on pure instinct and adrenaline.
14
Madison
I can’t stop the scream of terror from ripping from my throat as this kid shoves a knife in my face.
I’m furious at myself for being such an idiot, not paying attention, but I’m too terrified to do anything but scramble as far away as I can.
What was I thinking not being aware of my surroundings?
I know exactly what it was—I was too busy checking out the sexy guy sitting across from me in the shadows. Even in the dim light, I could tell he was one of the hottest guys I’ve ever laid eyes on. Huge, broad shoulders, insane biceps, and piercing eyes that were looking at me in a way that ought to be illegal.
The tension in the air between us was nearly tangible, thanks to the couple on the bike that had me trying to remember just how long it had been since I’d done something wild and reckless like that. Short answer? Never.
And that little distraction was all it took. I’m about to be mugged on the subway.
It’s like everything happens at once.
The guy sitting across from me jumps into action, a blur as he pounces on the kid, one arm locking around his neck while the other grips his wrist, doing something I can barely keep track of that makes the knife clatter to the floor.
Then he’s collapsing to the floor. In fifteen seconds, the whole thing is over.
My hands fly to my mouth, unable to stop the shaking that suddenly takes over my body. Someone must have pulled the alarm because the doors to the train remain open and we don’t move.
“Are you okay?” Shortly clipped light brown hair and hazel eyes float in my line of vision, and I can’t seem to breathe.
“You’re going to be all right,” that low voice continues, rubbing my back in soothing circles as he instructs me to lean forward and take slow, deep breaths.
I don’t know how long I sit there, but all through the commotion of cops coming on board, I hear t
hat same calming voice giving me comforting words as he relays what happened. His hand never stops caressing me.
I feel crazy because I’m totally terrified by what just happened, but his touch is also sending jolts of electricity flying up and down my spine, radiating in slow pulses lower and lower.
And suddenly I’m finding it hard to breathe for entirely different reasons. Yeah, that settles it. I’ve lost it. Gone off the deep end. Because instead of being worked up about almost getting shanked, I’m feeling a rush of attraction for the guy who saved me.
I look up at him, and our eyes lock.
“You okay?” he asks again.
I nod, biting my lip.
Lust flares in his eyes, and I know mine show the same thing. This guy. He’s got a killer body, a deep tan, and a clean shaven, sharply defined jawline. And that smile. He flashes it again now, and there’s a hint of danger in there. Danger I might want to experience a little.
Yep. Definitely nuts. Because danger is typically what I stay far away from. But something about him also screams safety, and I don’t object when he pulls me to my feet and wraps an arm around my waist to lead me from the train.
In my shock, I must have missed everything that went on with the cops because it seems like we’re through here.
We surface from underground, and the bright lights and loud noises of the late-night city take me off guard. I lean into this guy—who I don’t even know!—as if he’s my new protector.