Page 1 of Lovers' Dance

ONE

“GET OFF,” I yelled, hands flailing wildly as I fought my attackers off. I could smell them. Their sweat, the stink of their cheap body spray, the pungent odour of burgers and beer on their breath. I kicked out, glad my heel connected with flesh, glad I had hurt some part of the man trying to grab me around the waist. The blow across the back of my head from the other one dazed me for a moment. Long enough for him to capture one of my wrists. This was not happening. I would not let this happen. With a desperation borne of pure terror and rage, I screamed at the top of my voice. Someone had to hear me. Oh God, please.

“Shut up,” the bigger one said gruffly, punching me hard in the stomach. The force of it pushed the air out of me in one loud ‘oomph’. I began to fight back. Kicking, punching, biting like an animal backed into a corner. Their grunts of pain almost as loud as mine. The bigger one slapped me across the face, making my cheek burn and eyes water. And again, and again. Forefront in my mind was the thought I would rather die than be assaulted in a dark alleyway. With renewed efforts I tried to escape, but they were bigger and stronger. It wasn’t fair.Why was this happening to me?

Matt was tired from his workout. It had been a long day at the office and he’d wanted nothing more than to go home and relax with a glass of whiskey and go over reports. But he was a creature of routine and Wednesdays were spent in the gym that he and his closest friend paid a pricey monthly fee to attend. He had a gym at his place, used it often, but Wednesdays were a different sort of workout. He’d parked a few blocks away from the gym. It had been the only parking space he could find in the area. Matt adjusted his gym bag over his shoulder and quickened his pace. It was late and the surrounding area was not the best. He wasn’t afraid, his towering six feet plus frame would put anyone off, but he was cautious. Bullets didn’t care how big you were.

“Help!”

The scream came from nowhere, startling Matt to a stop as he glanced around. He could hear loud scuffling, another scream cut off sharply. Matt headed in the direction of where he thought the sounds were coming from. It was a woman he’d heard. Matt broke into a run, the alleyway looming ahead and the noises getting louder the closer he came. His bag slipped from his shoulder to the ground when he rounded the corner, as the sight of two men trying their best to subdue a small form registered.

“Hey,” he yelled, racing towards them. “What the hell are you sods doing?”

They turned in surprise, attention diverted from the struggling woman to Matt, whose long, athletic strides had him almost upon them.

“Fuck off,” one snarled at him menacingly.

Charming, Matt thought, right before he smashed his fist into the man’s face. The man fell back clutching his jaw and spewing curses. Matt swiped his legs out from under him and watched him go down before turning to the other assailant, ready to launch an attack on him. His mouth fell open as he watched the woman land a mean right hook on her attacker’s face before kneeing him in the groin. Matt grabbed him around the scruff and flung him away from her. She was yelling, frantically punching and kicking the air. Matt spun around, deflecting a blow from the first man and sucker-punched him in the stomach. They both descended on him. Matt had a moment of worry, wondering if they were armed, but his training took over and before long they were both fleeing down the alleyway.

“Are you hurt?” Matt asked tersely as he turned towards the woman, and got a small fist in his left eye. “Ow!” He grimaced and caught her wrists before she could land another lucky blow. She was shaking, violently, her dark skin almost ashen in the dim lights from the building behind the alley. His gaze wandered over her upturned tear-stained face. Her cheeks seemed swollen and there was a minor cut bleeding on her forehead. Her mouth trembled uncontrollably as she gulped air like a drowning person. Then she yanked her hands away from his gentle hold and backed up until she leaned against the wall. She was terrified and he held his hands up slowly, a gesture that he meant no harm. God, she was tiny, barely passing his shoulder in those heels. Her black dress, although showing the effects of being roughed up, complimented her figure. Her hair was a mass of wild, springy curls framing an almost oval face. Matt felt his gaze drawn again to her trembling lips. Poor thing was terrified.

I pressed myself against the wall, out of breath and shaking like a leaf, as I stared at my rescuer. The light from overhead was too dim to make out his features clearly, but I knew he was white and tall with dark hair. And kicked those guys’ asses.

“Thank you,” I managed to force out past my dry throat. “I mean it—thank you so much.”

“Think nothing of it,” he said. His words were proper, almost clipped at the end. My rescuer glanced around, spotted my purse and retrieved it, while I stayed pressed against the dirty wall thanking the Divine that I’d been saved.

“Would you like me to call an ambulance?” he asked in that proper English voice of his. “Or the police?”

I shook my head, my heart was racing in my chest. Had that just happened?

“Is this real?” I asked in a shaky voice, arms wrapping tightly around my waist. “Am I dreaming?”

He peered at me, then closed the distance between us. I stiffened and he froze, once again holding his hands up. I giggled, my clutch looked weird in his large hand. He narrowed his eyes at me in concern as my giggles grew into hysterical laughs. I pointed at his hand and his gaze followed mine before returning to my face with increasing worry on his.

“I’m calling an ambulance,” he said, before reaching out to take my arm gently and leading me back out that horrible alley. My legs were shaking, so much so he had to physically help me walk. I clung to him tightly, chuckling away like a madwoman at the sight of my purse in his hand.

“Delayed shock,” he muttered as we got to the top of the alley and he bent down to grab a gym bag. The movement made my head tilt, then the buildings were spinning and I was puking all over myself, and my rescuer.

“Sorry,” I gasped once the heaving stopped. The man looked down at his clothes in disgust and swore softly.

“It’s okay,” he replied as he unzipped his bag and pulled out a sleek phone. He didn’t look okay. He looked pissed.

“Please don’t call an ambulance,” I said after seeing him press nine twice on the touch screen. “I’ll be fine. Really. I need to go home. The station’s not far from here.”

The man looked at me as if I was unhinged. I peered at his face. His features were set in a stern mask, a handsome mask with either pale blue or grey eyes staring down at me.

“You were attacked back there,” he said softly, though his face looked stern. “I think it’s best to call an ambulance and get you to a hospital.”

I shook my head, then stopped as my vision swam again. “Honestly. I’m fine. Thank you for saving me. Sorry about, umm, the whole puking thing. Can I have my purse back please?”

The man stared at me for a moment. Clinical eyes travelled over my dishevelled state and he shook his head slowly. “If you won’t let me call an ambulance, then I’ll take you to the hospital myself. Come, my car’s not parked far from here.”

It must’ve been delayed shock like he said, because I let him lead me down a few blocks to his car. I didn’t know this stranger, but he’d saved me from those psychos.He wouldn’t then turn around and kill me, would he?

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