Chapter 2 THE STRANGE MAN

Aurora POV

"Hey !!"

"Are you trying to get killed? A man yelled as he drove past me. I stood frozen, cold raindrops pattering against my skin.

I was about to scream back when the rumble of an engine cut me off as a convertible slowed down beside me.

Four guys crowded inside it, the stench of alcohol drifting toward me before the car even stopped. The driver leaned over, his eyes crawling on my body before settling on my chest

"Hey babe, want a ride" he grinned

"We got plenty of room on our laps"

His friends beside him snorted. They burst into laughter

"You have some nerve!!"

"Get out" I snapped

"Oh feisty" The driver smirked, killing the engine " I like feisty"

One of the guys vaulted towards the back door and he staggered towards me

"Let's see if there's more where that action came from, shall we?"

I stepped back

"Don't you dare come close to me" I screamed

Before I could react, he lunged forward and grabbed me by the hair, yanking my head back. I screamed more furiously than terrified and clawed at his arm. My fingers slipped on his wet skin.

"You little-", He yelled. I swung my purse connecting with his temple. He leered at me, his eyes fixed on my chest.

The other men from the car were climbing out now, their movements predatory as they circled around me. I brought my knee up hard aiming for his groin but he twisted away at the last second

Before I could plan my next move, a sleek black car pulled up out of nowhere-so suddenly, so silently, that I hadn't even heard it approach.

The rear door opened.

A tall man with blue eyes stepped out immediately. Broad-shouldered and imposing in what looked like an expensive black suit. His face was sharp, dangerously handsome, with his jaw clenched so tightly.

"Is there a problem here?" the man said, his voice betraying nothing but respect.

This man looked like someone important, like someone people answered to. The guy who'd grabbed me froze. His fingers loosened from my hair immediately

"No-it's him," he hissed under his breath. To his friends: "Let's move. Now!!."

"But Boss?" one of his men said

"I said let's go" He yelled back

He loosened his grip on my wrist and shoved me forward. And just like that, all their drama died. They piled into their convertible, tires screeching as they sped away.

"What were you thinking?" The man in front of me snarled.

My heart stuttered.

His hands were gripping my arms.

."Let-let me go," I choked, trying to pull back.

He didn't.

"Are you trying to die?" he growled, shaking rain out of his hair. "You had some nerve confronting those men."

"It's none of your business!" My voice broke as I shoved at his chest.

He didn't move an inch.

"You're lucky " he snapped, ignoring my struggle.

"I said let me go!" I shoved him again, harder. This time he caught my wrists.

Both of them. Heat flooded my cheeks

"I don't need your help," I hissed. "I didn't ask you to save me."

"You men, you're all the same" I replied

His eyes narrowed, sharp and icy. "Yeah? "Well, too damn bad. I wasn't going to watch you get treated like a-"

"Like what?" I spat. "Say it."

He exhaled sharply through his nose.

His grip loosened around my wrist but not enough for me to pull away.

"You're welcome," he said flatly.

I wanted to scream.

"You're unbelievable," I hissed. "You don't know me, you don't even know what happened."

He exhaled through his nose, clearly losing patience.

"It doesn't matter."

"You should value your life a little more and just run when you find yourself in such a situation," he said, voice dropping to a growl.

My throat tightened painfully.

"You think I wanted to run into those goons?" I choked. "You think I-"

I stopped. He saw the pain and hurt in my eyes.

And I hated that he saw anything at all. His gaze flicked over my face then his jaw tightened.

"Come with me" he muttered.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I snapped.

He raised a brow.

"It wasn't a request."

Before I could react, he slid one arm under my shoulders and the other beneath my knees and lifted me.

"Put me down!" I kicked at him, fists pounding his chest. "Put me down right now!"

He didn't even flinch.

"Stop fighting," he said flatly.

"Stop grabbing me!".

He carried me toward the sleek black car. The driver rushed to open the back door.

The man lowered me into the backseat with a gentleness that contradicted everything about him. The interior smelled like leather and rain with an expensive cologne meant to mask the scent

"No! I'm not getting in that car!" I twisted, furious, "Let me go!"

I gasped, this time I was outraged. He placed me inside the car anyway.

I scrambled immediately toward the other door. He blocked it with his palm. We stared at each other, both breathing hard. He leaned in, rain dripping from his hair onto his collar.

His body was so close that I felt the heat pouring off him. His arm braced beside me so much that it stole the air straight out of my lungs

We stared at each other, both breathing hard, with a few inches between us.

"You want to go again?" he murmured, voice low and rough.

My pulse stuttered. His eyes dropped to my mouth; this time slowly, sending a sharp, aching shiver through me. His gaze lingered there, as if memorizing the shape of my lips, imagining what they'd feel like under his

My mind reeled at the thought of who this Greek God sitting in front of me was. He leaned closer. His breath grazed my skin and his nose brushed mine.

I could have pushed him away.

I could've said something-anything. But I didn't.

My hand curled into his shirt instead, pulling him much closer.

His lips hovered over mine, his mouth almost touching my lower lip,

The heat between us tightened.

I felt myself leaning in-helplessly,

I want him now...