Dream Man by Judy Griffith Gill Read Free Book Online

me! Help me!”
    He crouched there, holding her close, rocking her from side to side, one hand stroking her hair back from her face while she clung to him. “My God! You’re bleeding! I’ll call an ambulance.”
    â€œNo. No ambulance. It’s just a bump. Max, he was so dirty! He touched me. He was going to—”
    â€œHush, hush. It’s all right. He won’t hurt you again.” He put her shoe on, and said, “Come on, come up here. Let me help you.”
    Warm hands lifted her. Warm arms cradled her again. A warm body provided shelter. She shook so, she could barely walk. She burrowed against his broad chest, feeling no surprise at all that Max McKenzie was there, just immense gratitude, safety, and security in his embrace. Just as in every dream she’d had about him, he was a hero.
    â€œHe said we could be … friends. He said he’d take my money. He said he’d take something else, too!”
    â€œI know, but stop it. Stop reliving it. He didn’t do anything. He won’t. Can you move now? I want to get you into the car. I have to call the police and the concrete in this garage blocks the signal.” He put her tenderly on the front seat and let her go only long enough to dash around and get behind the wheel. Then, sliding his arm around her again, he pulled her close, oblivious to the grime on her hands and face and clothes, dirt she was just becoming aware of. He absorbed her shivering with his body as he reached the exit of the garage and placed his call, explained the situation curtly, and hung up. “I should go back up there and make sure he stays put if he comes to,” he told her, rubbing the palm of his hand gently over her icy cheek. “Will you be all right now?”
    â€œDon’t leave me,” she said, her teeth chattering. “Please don’t go. If you have to go, take me with you.”
    â€œAll right. I’m backing up now. Back into the garage.” She closed her eyes tight as he swung the car in a one-eighty on the lower level then drove back to where she’d been attacked.
    â€œHe’s still here. The police are coming, Jeanie. He’ll be found guilty of assault and battery. He’ll be sent to prison. He won’t hurt you again. He won’t hurt anyone.”
    Her fingers grappled with the lapels of his raincoat as she hung on tight and babbled. “I know G-g-grandma Margaret gave you to me as a hero for Sh-sharon, but she won’t mind if I hold onto you for just a few minutes. I was so scared, Max. So— I thought he was going to ra-ape me!”
    He bent to give her a kiss of comfort. The moment his lips touched hers, though, their kiss escalated into something more.
    â€œAh, Jeanie, Jeanie,” he murmured, lifting his mouth from hers for a second before returning for more of the sweetness he had found there. “I knew it was going to be like this,” he told her moments later, his lips skimming over the sensitive skin of her throat. All he could think of was that he had her in his arms at last, and she tasted as wonderful as he had known she would. She responded hotly, pressing herself to him, her mouth hungry, greedy, seeking. Small, passionate sounds emanated from her throat, like purring he could feel as well as hear when he pressed his lips to the racing pulse there.
    â€œI’ve needed to touch you,” he said. “Needed to see you, kiss you. For the last week I’ve been going crazy, wanting to forget I’d ever met you, but still tasting you in my dreams.”
    It was as if his words brought her out of an enchantment. She went stiff against him, her hands on his chest, her eyes wild. “No, stop!” she cried, pushing him away.
    â€œWhat?” He stared down at her, blinking his eyes, her agitation dragging him abruptly out of his sensual daze. He remembered what had happened to her, realized where they were and why. “Lord,