Hearts on Fire 3: Tasha(11)

He stared at her.

“Where are you going? We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t. I have nothing to say to you except that I’m not interested. Please just leave me alone.”

“Well, I have something to ask you.”

He opened his car door and she stepped back as he got out and walked around the back of his car to the passenger side, where she stood. Frozen in place. As he got out, she got a good look at the man. He was in designer everything from tie to shoes.

He crossed his arms in front of his large chest. He was well built in the custom-tailored suit, and his dark hair and dark eyes made him look like a man one shouldn’t mess with. She swallowed hard. If she didn’t know how much of an asshole he was, she surely would have found him attractive. But that wasn’t the case. She wanted nothing to do with him.

He stepped closer but kept his arms crossed in front of his chest. She stepped back and her ass hit the door of her car.

“I don’t want any trouble,” she whispered.

“Then I guess you should have thought about that before you asked that fireman into your apartment last night.”

She gasped. Lance. Oh God, it definitely was Dash who ran Lance off the road. I can’t believe this is happening to me.

“You’re going to learn the hard way, aren’t you, Tasha?”

She just stared at him, her heart racing.

He uncrossed his arms and pressed a hand against the car next to her hip. She gasped and stared up at him.

“Are you fucking him?”

“No.”

He reached up with his other hand and pretended to fix the collar of the black Ann Taylor one-piece dress she wore to work today.

“If you’re lying to me, or if you are involved with him, it won’t be pretty.”

“I’m not. He’s a friend. My best friend’s brother.”

“Why did he bring you home last night? Where were you?”

“Why don’t you tell me since you know so much,” she snapped at him, and he gripped her chin, making her gasp. His other hand squeezed her hip bone and she cringed from the pain.

“Don’t be a smart-ass and test me any further. I’ve been lenient with you, but things are going to change. I have some business I’m working on and it’s kept me busy. Soon I’ll only focus on you.”

“I don’t know why you’re doing this. I’m not interested in dating you.”

He smirked and pressed his body against hers. “Sweet, baby, you don’t know what you want. But I do. You’re going to learn to do as I say. Now, I want you to go home, and stay there.”

“I have plans tonight.”

His expression darkened as he clenched his teeth. “I’ll tell you what plans you have or don’t have. Melanie is going to pick you up and bring you somewhere. James will keep an eye on you and make sure no other men come sniffing around what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours. Why do you keep saying that? Why can’t you leave me alone?” She tried to step from his hold. He pressed against her hard, leaning his right side firmer against her ribs. She felt the revolver. Her eyes widened.

“You have no idea who I am and what I’m capable of.”

Tasha was scared. She was in way over her head, and all she kept thinking about was what Melanie told her in the car about James. He pushed and pushed until Melanie gave in to his demands, and now James owned her. The same thing would happen to Tasha if she wasn’t smart, if she didn’t find a way out of this.

“I’m not Melanie. I have a life, a career, friends, family, and plans for my future. You can’t just come into my life and take those things from me and expect me to not fight you on it. I don’t even know you, Dash. Leave me alone and find someone else.” She felt the tears fill her eyes. She tried to remain courageous, despite the feeling of hard metal against her ribs. She was trying to talk to a madman with a gun. Who the hell was this guy?

He reached up and caressed his knuckles against her skin as he looked down into her eyes.

“Sweet baby, I’m not trying to take those things from you. I’m going to take very good care of you, and give you more than this mediocre job of yours, more than any stupid blue-collar worker could ever provide for such a special woman like yourself. I can even take care of your mom. Your life is about to change. You’re my girl now. There’s no negotiating. Tonight, you stay at your apartment until Melanie comes to get you. If I get out of my meeting early, then I expect you to be where I told Melanie to take you.” He caressed her skin again, running his knuckles back and forth against her cheek and then firmer against her chin where his fingers paused.

“Or else Melanie is going to suffer.”

He gave a slick smile. Her stomach felt as if it fell to her feet. Now Melanie was going to get hurt next. He even knew about her mother.

“Now, close your eyes, and do as I say.”

Her eyes widened, and the expression on his face hardened. She could see his cheeks cave in as if he were biting the inside of them.

“Close them now.” He pressed his hip harder against her causing the gun to stick into her rib cage. She gasped and closed her eyes just as his hand came up and against her shoulder.

“Please don’t hurt me,” she whispered, heart racing, voice shaking in fear.

He ran his thumb up and down her throat and she swallowed hard.

“Hurt you? Only if you don’t listen and obey. I can feel your defiance, Tasha. You have a fire in you that needs containing.” His thumb ran up and down her throat as his lips whispered close to her own lips. She knew he was going to kiss her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

“You’re so very lovely. I don’t like this dress on you. You deserve the best.” She gasped as his right hand moved up her ribs and cupped her breasts.

“Please don’t,” she said, and he squeezed harder, his lips against her neck now.

“These are mine. You’re mine.” He moved his other hand up to her throat, then over her neck and shoulder to the base of her head. His lips came down onto hers softly. He took his time tasting her, and she felt the tears roll down her cheeks. Her body shook with intense fear and she knew in that moment that she lost any possible control of this situation.

Dash released her lips and then pulled her against him.

“You’re so very special. Wrap your arms around me. Hug me, Tasha, don’t make me ask twice.” His hold was firm. He was so freaking big, so strong and crazy, she did as he told her and hugged him. His hand roamed down her waist to her lower back as he pulled her away from the car. When he squeezed her ass and gripped her to him, thrusting his hips, his erection against her belly, she muzzled her cry against his tailored suit. The stench of his pungent cologne, mixed with cigar smoke assaulted her senses.

“That’s my girl. Now, I need to get going.”

He pulled slightly back and cupped her face between his hands. She knew that her cheeks were tear streaked. She knew she looked scared and defeated. She just wanted him away from her, and for him to stop touching her.

“Do as I say. I’ll see you later if all goes well with my meeting.”

He stepped back.

She stared up at him thinking how this good-looking man was so evil and manipulative. How the hell did things get so wrong so fast?

“Get in the car, Tasha. I want to be sure that you get home safely.”

She pulled open the door. Her legs felt like rubber, and her hands were shaking as she started the ignition. She jerked when she heard him tap on the window with his knuckle. She hit the button and the window rolled down.

He reached inside, moved her seatbelt into position. “Safety first,” he said, and kissed her lips as he buckled her in. He placed his large, hard hand against her cheek and she cringed just thinking that this man could seriously hurt her if she defied him.

“I’ll call you later. Be sure to answer your cell.”

He signaled for her to reverse out of the spot. She slowly pulled from the parking lot, watching him get into his car and pull out next. As she headed onto the highway, she turned right, but saw in her rearview mirror that he turned left. She gripped the steering wheel and released a hard gasp she hadn’t known she had been holding. Tears streamed from her eyes. His cologne lingered on her and in her car.

Oh God help me. What am I going to do?





Chapter 5




The Station was jam packed and Serefina sat on Bull’s lap despite her insistence that she didn’t want to bump his arm and chance hurting him. His injured arm lay across her lap and thigh. His fingers caressed the skin slightly under the material of her skirt in a possessive manner as he talked to his friends about the fire. Her chest tightened. She had trouble sleeping the last few nights for numerous reasons. She was worried about him, as thoughts of her men dying in a fire or being badly injured or burned ruled her mind. Then of course she worried about Tasha. Tasha never called her back today, and she wasn’t certain if she would show up tonight. She wished she did. She really wanted to know if that guy contacted her again, and what she planned on doing about him. Serefina knew that if her men or her brothers found out about this, they would be upset. But she made a promise she had to keep.

The moment the hand touched her shoulder she jerked to the right. All conversation stopped as Bull, Ace, Ice, and her brothers looked at her.