She slapped his shoulder. “Let me down.” That had been too intense, too possessive, just too damn much. She hadn’t signed on for this quaking through her body when she’d offered to bring him back here. Her life was already enough of a mess without some stranger pulling at her in ways she didn’t know how to cope with.
He didn’t move. “Tell me your name first.”
“No.” She wiggled, but she wasn’t getting anywhere with him wedged between her thighs on one side and the concrete wall on the other. Against all reason—and her better judgment—the thought sent a bolt of heat directly through her. Part of her didn’t want him to let her go.
Which meant she had to get the hell out of here. Now. “Let me go.”
“Your name, lovely. I can stay here all night.” He thrust a little and, to her horror and traitorous desire, she could already feel him hardening in her again. Part of her wanted to keep silent and go another round, but panic reigned supreme. This hadn’t been the escape she was hoping for. No, this man made her feel branded—like she was his.
If he could do that after a single time, she didn’t want to know what he could do after two.
So she answered him. Anything was better than being held in his power a second longer. “Carrigan.” It never even occurred to her to lie, but as soon as the name was out of her mouth, she regretted it. It was yet another mark of the way this man was different from the others, and she didn’t need the reminder.
“Unique name. I feel like I’ve heard it…” His eyes went wide and he backed up so fast, she would have fallen if he hadn’t closed the distance just as quickly and caught her. “No fucking way. You’re Carrigan O’Malley.” He cut in before she could say anything. “Don’t bother denying it. You’ve got the same coloring as Teague. I would have noticed it sooner if it wasn’t for the eyes.”
She pushed against his chest, gaining a few precious inches. “Who the hell are you?”
“Well, lovely, I’m a token of your shitty lucky tonight.” What she could see of his expression in the low light made her heart go cold. “I’m James Halloran. And you’re coming with me.”
“No!”
“You don’t have a choice.” He moved faster than she could have anticipated, throwing her over his shoulder. She shrieked as he opened the closet, sure someone would hear and come investigating, but the music drowned the sound out. Beating at his back didn’t do a damn bit of good, either.
He pushed open the side door, the cold shooting straight up her short dress. She screamed again—out here at least, there wasn’t the music to contend with—and struggled harder. It didn’t matter. His arm was a band around the back of her thighs, sealing her to him. He started jogging, the bouncing driving the air from her lungs and preventing another cry for help.
She heard a man call his name and then he dumped her in a trunk. Carrigan shoved her hair out of her eyes, in time to see something like regret on his face before he slammed the trunk closed, leaving her alone in the darkness.
Chapter Fifteen
Sweat dripped down Callie’s body, and her muscles shook from dancing for so long. She glanced at Sloan and Keira, and found them both flagging as well. How long had they been out here? She touched both their arms and jerked her chin toward the bar. They nodded, looking as wilted as she felt. Wilted and happy. Threats from Carrigan aside, apparently she’d been right—Callie needed this more than she’d needed a spa day. Out in the middle of the dance floor she was just another woman with no past and no future, the music driving every single thought and worry out of her mind.
But now it was time to come back to earth.
They made their slow way to the bar, and Callie looked around, trying to pick Carrigan out of the people standing there, and came up with nothing. She turned back to yell in Keira’s ear, “Where did Carrigan say she was going?”
“She didn’t. Hold on.” Keira trotted over and flagged down the bartender. They spoke over the bar for a few minutes, and then she trotted back. “Carrigan was here, but she left with some big, blond guy. I’ll text her and we’ll just meet her back at our place.”
Callie frowned. The woman had seemed far too protective to just up and leave her sisters to fend for themselves, especially when she so clearly didn’t trust Callie. “Are you sure she left with a man voluntarily?” There were more dangers now than there had ever been. She cursed herself for letting Teague’s sister out of her sight.
“Oh yeah.” Keira grinned. “They were practically making out here at the bar and she was the one leading the way when they left.”