The Billionaire's Marriage Proposal (Billionaire Bachelors #4)(17)

“Hey lady, are you looking for a date?” some creepy guy asked, sending chills down her spine. How stupid of her to walk the Seattle downtown area in the middle of the night. She blamed her stupidity on one too many margaritas. She shook her head and walked a bit faster.

The guy started trailing her, making crude suggestions, really starting to scare her. She looked around for somewhere safe to go, thinking it may be wiser to turn around and try and make it back to the club. She could go inside and ask them to call her a cab.

Suddenly, her arm was grabbed and she was about to scream, when she turned and saw Trenton. She’d never been so happy to see the man.

“What the hell are you doing out here, wandering the streets?” he demanded. “I turn around for one minute and you’re gone. Don’t you know what could happen to you out here at this time of night?”

His tone of voice instantly put her on edge. She wasn’t some adolescent child who needed scolding. Sure, she’d made a stupid choice, but she was an adult and if she wanted to make stupid decisions on her own time, it was none of his business.

“I’m looking for a cab, not that it’s any of your business,” she slurred at him, surprised by her own voice.

“You’re going to give me a heart attack. I don’t know why I’m bothering to worry about you,” he seethed and took her arm, leading her in the opposite direction. She tried to yank her arm free but he had a firm grip.

“I can walk on my own,” she snarled. He looked at her as if she was indeed not capable of doing anything on her own and he continued to walk, dragging her along, beside him.

He stopped and clicked a button and then she was being tossed inside his car again. She was so stunned by his behavior that she sat motionless, giving him time to reach the driver’s door. When he started the car and pulled onto the street she came out of her shock.

“You arrogant jerk, I didn’t ask you for a ride, nor did I ask for your help. You can let me out of this car and I’ll call a cab,” she yelled, glaring at the side of his head.

“You may not have asked for my help, but you obviously need it. You can’t handle liquor worth a damn, and are a prime candidate for tomorrow’s news if I don’t get you home safe. I can’t imagine how you managed to stay alive this long,” he answered in an eerily calm voice. She was more irritated by his tone of voice than anything else. He was talking to her like she was a child and she didn’t appreciate it.

“What are you doing down here, anyway?” she demanded, giving up on the idea of him letting her out of the vehicle.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m human, and do like to go out once in a while,” he said in the same tone.

“I didn’t think you knew how to take off your suit and mingle with the commoners,” she said, knowing how immature she sounded, and not caring. She knew she let her tongue run rampant when she drank.

“I know exactly what to do when I take off my suit,” he said and the look in his eye let her know his exact meaning. She decided to keep her mouth shut for the remainder of the ride. She suddenly found they’d pulled up to her apartment and so she worked on getting her seat belt undone so she could get away from him before she said or did anything else.

Trenton exited the car and came around to open her door before she was finished. She got out on wobbly legs and holding her head high, started walking toward her door. He gripped her arm and led her there.

“I don’t need your help. I’ll be just fine getting in on my own,” she snapped.

“Obviously, you do need my help, and I don’t leave a lady alone this late at night without making sure she’s locked inside, safe and sound,” he said, still with too much patience. She was irritated he seemed so capable of keeping his cool when her own emotions were all over the place.

She dropped her keys in her haste to get the door unlocked and he just sighed, reached down, grabbed them, and then had her door open in a few moments. She held her hand out for the keys but he just placed his hand on her back and led her inside.

“I don’t need you to walk me in,” she snapped before plopping on the couch, too tired to argue with him anymore. He ignored her and walked over to the kitchen and soon she could smell coffee brewing. It smelled heavenly but she wouldn’t have a cup until after he left.

“Drink this,” he said and she realized she’d drifted off while leaning against the back of her couch. She was surprised she could relax with him in her house enough to fall asleep.

“Maybe, I don’t want to,” she said, even though she really did want the soothing liquid. He raised his brow and with a sigh, she conceded and took the cup, taking a long sip. It was just how she liked it, which irked her. He was more observant than she’d given him credit for.

He stood there and sipped his coffee while she finished her cup. Then, he walked over and removed it from her fingers. She sucked in her breath, knowing she wasn’t up to fighting him off. Her traitorous body was already reacting to his nearness and she wanted him.

He bent down and without saying a word, pulled her off the couch and into his arms, where he devoured her lips. He kissed her long enough that her knees turned to jelly and her insides melted. She was ready for him to take her. She was tired of fighting both herself and him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and he caressed her back, sending goose bumps all along her skin and making her blood boil. Then, as suddenly as he began the kiss, he pulled away and the shutters were put back into place. He pulled her over to the door.