TWO

    Bella walked down the street heading toward the late night bus. She walked all the way home when she missed the bus. Checking her clock, she had two minutes to get to the end of the street. She’d worked faster tonight, and getting the bus seemed to be in her favour. The shops were all closed up, and several teenagers were lurking around. Many of the people on the street were smoking and drinking. She ignored them all as she made her way to the bus stop.

    Hitching her purse high on her shoulder, she kept walking, determined to get the bus. Getting the bus took over thirty minutes off her travelling time. She couldn’t believe Clark had offered to drive her home. Thinking his offer was some kind of joke she’d ignored it, packed up the cleaning equipment, and headed out. Until today she’d never had to worry about using the security code she’d been given. Clark leaving before her finally gave her the opportunity to use the code to secure the building. The company had given her the code because she’d been given plenty of recommendations from other companies. She’d worked for several firms before settling for the firm she was now working for.

    She saw the brake lights on the bus up ahead. Picking up her pace she tried to catch the bus.

    A car pulled alongside her.

    “I offered you a lift,” Clark said. The window to the expensive car rolled down. Clark stared at her, waiting. She stopped when she saw it was really him.

    He’d driven in her direction?

    “I’m going to catch the bus. Thank you for your offer,” she said.

    The car followed her. Stopping, she turned to him. “Get in the car, Bella.”

    “I don’t know you.”

    “You’ve been working in my building for the last six months. You know I’m not a murderer or a rapist. Get in the car, and I’ll drive you home.”

    Nibbling her lip, she looked at the bus.

    “I really appreciate the offer. Yes, I work in your building, but I don't know you. I’m going to catch the bus.”

    She started walking and stopped when she noticed the bus pulling away.

    Tears filled her eyes at missing her ride.

    “Don’t cry. Get in the car. I’ll take care of you.”

    Why? No one else takes care of me. Why would you want to?

    Her pity party was back.

    Turning back to him, she saw his blue eyes up close for the first time ever. She’d watched him at a safe distance, working around him. His eyes were a clear blue like the ocean. They were startling to look at. They were surrounded by

    long lashes that women would kill for.

    “Get in the car.” He repeated his words to her.

    “I don’t think I should. I can walk from here.”

    “Bella, it’s dark, and the walk will take you an hour to get home. I’m offering you a ride. Get in the car and let me help you,” he said.

    When she made no move toward him, Clark climbed out of the car, took her hand inside his, and escorted her around to his side of the car. His touch sent sparks of electricity up her arm.

    She did as instructed as he opened the passenger side door and helped her inside. He leaned in the car grabbing the buckle. His arm brushed across her breasts. Her nipples tightened at the contact. She’d never responded to a man so quickly.

    You’ve been lusting after this man for over six months.

    He buckled the seat. She watched him walk around to his side and climb in. Her heart raced from his closeness. She was acting like a crazy person.

    Clark put the car in gear and pulled away from the kerb. Taking a quick glance at him, Bella chanced a look at his profile. He looked angry.

    “Why didn’t you wait for me?” he asked.

    “I don’t know.”

    Bella fidgeted with the edge of her dress wishing the skirt covered more ofher fleshy thighs.

    “I offered you a lift, and you run away. Have I done something to upset you?” he asked.

    When he glanced at her, she looked away, staring out of the front window. “No.”

    “Have you read some shit glossy mag story and decided I’m not good enough for you?”

    “No.” She shook her head. The only time she read glossy magazines was when she was waiting around at newsstands. Reading glossy magazines were a waste of time and money. She’d rather spend her money in a book store buying books that were worth her time. “I didn’t think you meant it,” she said, admitting the embarrassing truth.

    “Did you think I’d offer to drive you home and then leave you high and dry?”

    She shrugged. What else was she supposed to think?

    “What kind of men have you known?”

    Again, she shrugged while also thinking she’d only known the worst kind of men.

    “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation,” he said.

    Neither could she. His anger seemed to be coming out, and she listened even though she stared out of the window.

    Her stomach chose that moment to growl. She’d not had the time to eat anything at lunch. The last time she’d eaten was breakfast where she’d indulged in a buttered bagel.

    Grocery shopping was something she did on Friday. It was Wednesday,

    and she wouldn’t be going grocery shopping for at least two days. Her pay checkcame through Friday, which she paid her rent out of. Once the rent and other bills were paid, she used the rest on food.

    “Next time, you make your way to the parking lot beneath the building.

    You know where the parking lot is, don’t you?” he asked.

    “Yes. I know where it is. You don’t need to worry about me getting home. I’m safe.” She tried to argue with him. Clark held his hand up stopping her from saying anything.

    “No, I’ll be the judge of whether you need help or not. It’s night, dark, and anyone could hurt you.”

    His hands tightened on the steering wheel. Bella never thought her first conversation with Clark would be about her safety.

    ****

    The woman was driving him crazy. He’d hoped on some light flirting and sweet seduction, and instead he was telling her off like a child.

    Get your shit together.

    Tightening his hands on the steering wheel Clark counted to ten and then twenty until he’d calmed down enough. Didn’t she have any idea how unsafe the world was at night time? There he went again, getting mad at something he couldn’t control.

    “I didn’t mean to make you mad,” she said, whispering from where she sat.

    “You didn’t make me mad.”

    “Seriously, because from where I’m sitting you look kind of angry.”

    He looked over at her to find her smiling. Releasing his death grip on the steering wheel Clark shot her his best smile.

    She turned away. He spotted the blush filling her cheeks. Cute, his woman still blushed. “I’m sorry for getting angry with you. This is not a great place to be walking home alone,” he said.

    “I think you watch too many movies. This place is fine to walk around.

    Nothing is going to happen to me.”

    He saw her rub her hands down her legs. Was he making her nervous?

    “Having that kind of attitude is not going to help you,” he said.

    “What do you mean?”

    Clark stopped at a red light. He took the free moment to turn to her. She had the nicest brown eyes he’d ever seen. They were so dark, and every time he looked at her, he got the sense she was always thinking something thoughtful.

    Her skin looked silky soft. He kept his grip on the steering wheel so he didn’t

    reach out and touch her.

    “I sense you have the attitude that nothing will ever happen to you.

    Nothing bad and nothing good. Be careful, Bella. You always have to be prepared in life.”

    Her gaze captured him as he stared at her. Her lips were nice and plump. A vision of those lips wrapped around his cock filled his mind. The image alone tempted him to turn the car around and take her back to his apartment. He could have her screaming in a matter of moments. Clark prided himself in keeping his woman happy.

    “Green,” she said.

    Was she giving him the go ahead to take her home? Did his woman read minds?

    “What?”

    “The light is green. You need to go.” She smiled at him before pointing to the light change.

    Feeling like a dick, he put the car in gear and raced toward the next light.

    This wasn’t his night. All the lights he arrived at were red.

    “I see what you mean. Nothing important or bad happens to me, but I'll take your advice. I’ll be careful,” she said.

    “Why don’t you have a car? It would be a lot easier if you had your own car.” Her stomach growled interrupting her answer. “You’re hungry?” He thought he’d heard her stomach growling earlier. When she didn’t mention food or anything he’d figured he imagined it.

    “Don’t worry about it. I’ll eat when I get home.”

    He spotted a diner up the street about twenty minutes from her home. It wasn’t the one she worked in. He’d visited the diner she worked in to get a sense of the place and for the woman filling his mind on a daily basis.

    “What are you doing?” she asked.

    “You’re hungry. I’m going to feed you.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out. Bella climbed out her side.

    “You don’t have to do this. I understand what you’re saying about safety.

    I’ll be extra careful,” she said.

    “Good. We’ll finish this conversation in the diner.” Clark didn’t want their time to end. He liked being in her company. She was fun, fresh, and he enjoyed being around her.

    Together they walked in and found a booth next to the window. Their reflections stared back at them.

    Sitting closer to her, Clark saw her impressive cleavage as the uniform settled around her. Her tits were large. He wondered what they’d feel like in his hands.

    She picked up the menu, and another growl came from her stomach. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment.

    “When was the last time you ate?” he asked, picking up his menu.

    “I ate at breakfast. I didn’t have time to get anything else,” she said.

    A woman walked over to their table.

    “What can I get you?” she asked.

    “I’ll have a coffee, black with one sugar.” Clark took a quick glance through the menu. “I’ll have a cheeseburger with chilli cheese fries and lots of sauce. For dessert I’ll have the brownie with the extra whipped cream,” Clark said. He’d not eaten since lunch, and he’d not eaten a cheeseburger since he wasa kid.

    “A man who likes to eat and works out,” the woman said with approval.

    “I’ll have the milkshake instead of the coffee and the same as him with thefood.” Bella folded the menu.

    “Coming right up.” The woman left them alone.

    He watched as Bella tucked strands of her hair into her bun.

    “Take your hair down,” he said.

    “What?” Her gaze jerked to him.

    “Take your hair down. It’s clearly irritating you. You’re not on office hours or anything like that. Take your hair down.” He wanted to see the long strands free from the tight restraint.

    She didn’t put up any argument as she reached behind her. The ponytail fell down. Her hair was much longer than he had thought. The glossy length fell around her shoulders in waves.

    His dick tightened at the sight. He wanted her hair across his pillow and to wrap it around his fist as he slammed inside her pussy.

    The woman came back handing him a black coffee and Bella a milkshake.