2. Helena

CHAPTER 2

Helena

A low rumble fills the air as the huge man in front of me curls his beautifully-shaped mouth.

“Hello?” I ask him as his dark eyes continue to stare at me for what feels like an unearthly amount of time. My heart squeezes in my chest and it feels like my legs are trembling under me. I don’t know what the hell is going on but my whole body feels like it’s on fire, burning up from the inside out.

A dancer bumps into him and he whips around, snapping like a dog. “Watch what the hell you’re doing!”

The other person eyes him and it feels like testosterone builds in the air. The other man’s partner eyes the dark-haired giant and whispers something into her partner’s ear. He snaps his mouth shut and grunts, taking her hand and leading her away.

I let out the breath that I’ve been holding in. The big monster in front of me turns slowly and I swear his eyes glow red in the chandeliers’ glow. I wrinkle my brow and stare harder, my equilibrium knocked for a loop.

What is it about this silent, dark, giant man that’s got me shivering and fighting the urge to run?

“Your name?” He growls, low and rumbly.

My body stiffens and my eyes narrow. “You’re being kinda rude.”

He moves closer and I can feel waves of heat rolling off the behemoth. I feel so tiny next to him. I’m a bigger curl. I’ve got a lot of curves for my height. Thick thighs, round hips, full breasts and a nipped-in waist. I’m five foot six so I’m not a small woman in any way but this guy? He makes me feel honestly tiny. Like he could pick me up in one hand and carry me out of here.

My belly clenches. My pussy leaks into my panties and the dark head in front of me comes up, his dark eyes flashing crimson fire again.

My breath sucks in and that fight or flight urge hits me again. “What are you?” I gasp.

“Yours,” he snarls in a low growl that ripples along my skin, burrowing deep into my soul.

I back away. I don’t know what the hell is going on but I don’t like it. I’ve never even kissed a man and my whole body is on fire for this guy and he’s weird as hell. I’m not even sure he’s really human. I don’t know what the hell he is but I’m not buying what he’s selling.

He’s not mine.

I need to finish this job and get home. The dancers around us fly by in a kaleidoscope of icy and jewel tones. Each one of them in the arms of a man wearing a crisp white shirt and a black tux.

I took this gig at the last minute as a favor to a friend but she didn’t tell me much about it and it feels strange. The atmosphere around here is intense and the music whips the dancers into some kind of strange frenzy that has me uneasy.

“I don’t know who or really what you are but I know one thing. I am not yours and you are not mine.”

“You are,” he grumbles. His big body moves closer until he towers over me. My body trembles and I bite my lower lip. I take one step behind me then two and gasp when I bump into the white-covered table behind me.

“I need to go. I’m busy. I…”. I gulp a swallow when he ignores good manners and leans into me, bending me slightly over the table. My eyes dart left and right but nobody else is watching us. They’re all ignoring the whole show.

His big hand whips out and snags my wrist and as soon as he does, molten lava fires up underneath my skin. His fingers clench and curl around my small bones and I grunt at the sharp pain.

“You’re hurting me,” I whisper.

He stands up straight and drops his hand, running it through the thick black hair on his head, ruffling the perfect way it falls. A hank of it drops into his eyes and my pussy clenches again. His eyes flash red and I look closer, confused.

“What the hell are you?”

He shakes his head and backs away. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is you, mate.”

Irritation ripples along my spine. I feel like this whole thing is some kind of game that’s being played around me and I haven’t got a clue what the hell is going on and I hate that feeling. It makes me feel out of control and I live for order.

“Y-you need to back off.” I hold up my hand and shove at his broad chest, attempting to push him back more. I need air. Need to breathe. I feel hot and the room feels like it’s closing in on me.

“Not going to happen. This place is dangerous and you’re a lamb to the slaughter here.” His lip curls arrogantly and I growl under my breath.

“I’m not an idiot. I don’t trust you anymore than I trust any of these people.”

“Good.” Satisfaction coats the one word.

“Good? That’s all you have to say? I just said I don’t trust you. So why don’t you just move on and I’ll do my job and get the hell out of here!” My voice trembles and I shake wildly.

“I’ll let you go for now. Let you finish your job. But if you think that you’re going to hide from me, little lamb, you’re a fool.”

I stiffen and glare at him. “Arrogant asshole,” I mutter under my breath, finally pushing past him and heading back to the kitchen to pick up more food.

Once I’m a dozen yards away from him I manage to suck in a deep breath. I nod at one of my coworkers and smile. She seems a little strange too. Fluttery and excited.

This whole job and the huge ballroom just feels weird. I feel like Alice slipping through the looking glass.

My head turns and I see the huge, dark man watching me still. He’s no white rabbit that’s for sure.

He’s a predator and I feel more and more like the innocent lamb he called me.

He grins and his sharp white teeth flash. My belly pulls tight and I dart away from him into the kitchen. I lean against a wall and suck in more heavy breaths, my hand on my chest.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt as off-kilter as I do right now. I don’t like it at all.

I need to finish this job and get the hell out of here. I stomp off and grab a platter, heading for the swinging door. I’ll think very hard the next time that any of my friends ask me for a favor.