“Damn it,” he rasped. “Don’t look at me that way.” He threw a leg over the seat to climb closer. “I’m not attacking. I’m trying to protect you. I want my body between you and a bullet. You need to stop screaming, okay? I’m afraid the sniper can hear it and he’s not going to stop firing until you’re dead. Can you be quiet?”

She fought the panic and nodded. The hand eased away from her mouth. She stared at him with fear as his big body crowded her. He got on the seat with her and a heavy thigh wedged between her leg and the seat. He wiggled an arm under her too and braced his body to hold his weight to avoid crushing her down.

“I’m just using my body to cover yours,” he assured her. “That’s all. I’m not sure what kind of rounds the sniper has but it’s better to be safe than sorry. All he’s managed to do so far is blow out the side mirrors and the tires. By now he has to realize he’s not breaching the SUV and could be reloading with armor-piercing ones. I’d rather a bullet strike me than you.”

Surprise made her study his eyes. She didn’t see cruelty inside them—they were really kind. Her fear eased somewhat, allowing her to breathe normally, and his scent filled her nose with each breath. He smelled clean and nice, even pleasant. The warmth of his big body seeped through his clothing and some of the coldness that gripped her faded.

“They’ll find the sniper and take him out. It’s going to be fine.” He looked away from her to peer over her head through the glass. “Tim? Is Jessie breathing? Is she alive?”

She realized he spoke to someone else and had to have one of those ear listening devices that Jessie had shown her. He closed his eyes and hung his head, until his lips almost brushed hers. It made Beauty tense. He softly cursed.

“Understood. Thank God she’s breathing but that’s bad. Fuck. How did this happen? The victim is secure. Traumatized as hell though. I’m on top of her to keep her down but she’s not hit.”

His eyes opened and he stared intently into her eyes. He adjusted his upper weight to rest on his elbows and one big hand touched the side of her face. She allowed him to turn it a little as his thumb brushed her cheek gently.

“It’s okay, honey. Easy. You look so terrified but you’re safe with me. Does your face hurt? You’ve got a little cut. I think Jessie nailed you with her fingernail when she landed on top of you.”

She wasn’t aware of the injury but it didn’t surprise her. Everything had happened so fast and she knew she was too stunned to register it all. His thumb paused and she turned her head enough to meet his gaze again. He looked at her with an expression she’d never seen before and it was kind of nice.

“I’d never hurt you. I’m nothing like the assholes who kept you in captivity. Do you know what my job is? I find ones like you and take them home. You are going to be happy from now on. No more chains, cages or pain.” His voice deepened. “I would die for you.”

Warmth spread further than just her skin. It seemed to radiate inside her chest at his words. He meant them and for some incredible reason she believed him. All her fear faded and she curled her hands to grip his strange-textured shirt.

“Easy, Beauty,” he rasped. “Don’t scratch me up. I’m your friend.”

“I—” She closed her mouth, worried he’d get angry if she spoke without permission.

“You what? Talk to me.”

No rage darkened his features or flashed in his compelling stare. It encouraged her to speak again. “You want me to be nice to you?”

“Yes.” He smiled. “We’re friends.” He grew serious. “I’ll kill anyone who comes after you. I’m here and you’re totally safe with me. The team has secured the immediate area. They will find that sniper and take him out. No one is going to get close to us.”

He wants to protect me. He’ll kill others if they try to hurt me. The astonishment that flooded her made thinking difficult. His clean, wonderful scent was really nice, his body scary big and bulky, but she didn’t fear him. He was careful not to crush her under him, had touched her with gentle brushes of his skin against hers. He’d be a kind master.

He lifted his head, peered around again and shifted some of his weight before he glanced down. “I’m going to take off my vest and put it between your head and the door. The sniper could change locations to avoid detection longer.”

She said nothing as he tore at the covering on his chest. It made loud noises as one of his hands ripped at the thing and he shrugged out of it. He placed it against the door above her head. Her gaze fixed on his shirt and she saw buttons running down the front of it. His chest was wide and his arms looked really thick. She’d thought they might only appear so because of the thing he’d just removed.

He touched his ear. “How is Jessie doing?” He paused. “Good. How far out is the other team?” He paused again. “We’re fine in here. Just find that son of a bitch.” He tapped his ear again and his arm dropped along the edge of the seat to brace his upper body on both forearms. He met her gaze.

“They haven’t found the sniper yet but teams are moving in and a helicopter is nearby for air support. It shouldn’t be too much longer. How are you doing, Beauty? We’re friends, right? You know I’m not going to hurt you, don’t you? Just stay calm for me.”

She swallowed her fear and asked again, “You want me to be nice to you?”

“That would be great.” He smiled at her.

He had an attractive face and no “mean” lines marred his tan skin. She never wanted to go back to Master. He was coldhearted and punished her for any offense. Shane promised not to hurt her and she believed him. She took a deep breath, knowing anything had to be better than going back to her old life. At least Shane gave her hope of a future without misery. He didn’t even mind when she spoke without permission. He didn’t slap her and that was enough to convince her he was a much better man.

“I’ll be nice to you.”

“Good. We’re friends, Beauty. Just relax, okay? You’re totally safe with me.”

Her hands shook as she touched his chest. This material was softer and she could feel the warmth of his body. Beneath the thin shirt, firm muscle met her fingertips. She wanted to stay with him. It couldn’t be worse than what she’d survived in the past. Nothing ever could be.

She waited to see how he’d react but he didn’t do anything. It confused her. She said she’d be nice to him but he only watched her silently with his mesmerizing eyes. They really were pretty and she liked the way he stared at her. It was almost as if he were waiting for her to do something.

I can do this. He must want me to start. She swallowed, wished she were clean, and hoped she didn’t look as bad as she feared. Her hands moved, slid on his shirt, and one gripped the thick curve of his shoulder while her other one ran down his stomach. He gasped in air and jerked his upper body away from hers enough to give her room. She used the space to rub the front of his pants.

“Fuck!” His eyes widened as he gaped at her. “What are you doing?”

She froze.

“You’ve got my dick.” His voice shook. “I thought we were playing nice. That’s going to hurt but I’m not going to fight you, damn it. You’re a woman. Please don’t do what I think you are. I’m your friend.”

Confusion gripped her until she realized he thought she was going to attack him. He thought her touching him was a threat to cause him pain. She gently massaged her hand over him to show him she was being nice. She’d said she would be.

He stared at her, his gaze still wide, and he gasped again. She knew she did it right when his man-part grew hard against her hand.

“Stop,” he rasped.

Her hand froze. “Do you want my mouth there instead? I said I’d be nice to you.”

He twisted his hips away from her palm. “No! Shit! I didn’t mean ‘nice’ that way. Oh hell.” He shifted his hips lower down her body until the front of his pants were out of her reach. “I…son of a bitch. I didn’t mean I wanted sex from you. I just meant…shit!”