Brynn tried to muster a smile for the guy, Mark or Mitch something, who’d asked her to dance, but she knew she was failing miserably. She could think of fifty other places she’d rather be than here at this stupid club, but she’d promised Melody she’d go out with her this weekend to see her new boyfriend’s band. She knew Mel was worried about her and was trying to get her mind off everything, but beyond a lobotomy, she doubted anything was going to accomplish that.

      Luckily, the crowded dance floor and loud music saved her from having to make small talk. She moved along with the throng, sweaty bodies bouncing around her on all sides. Mitch/Mark kept a palm on her hip and a pelvis grinding in her direction, the playful spark of interest firing behind his rimless glasses.

      She closed her eyes, not having the energy to feign interest back, and turned herself over to the hypnotic pulsing of the bass and the small buzz she’d gotten from her two glasses of wine. Thump. Thump. Thump. Her muscles moved in time, but her mind drifted, her thoughts going to the same place they always went these days.

      Warmth oozed over her skin as the hands on her hips suddenly became broader, stronger. The amorphous body heat against her back more defined, solid. Tossing her head back, she leaned into the steely wall, inhaling the scent burned into her olfactory glands. Mmm.

      She didn’t want to open her eyes, wasn’t ready for the fantasy to slip away.

      “Think this jerk-off can make you come apart like I do?” asked the deep, familiar voice.

      She startled at the words, her lids flying open. Her dance partner had been absorbed into the crowd and now large, familiar hands gripped her waist from behind. Her movements stuttered off the beat, and her knees almost went out from under her.

      His lips brushed against the back of her neck. “You know what it fucking does to me to see some other guy touch what’s mine without my consent?”

      What was Reid doing here? She had used her safe word, had walked away. He wasn’t supposed to be doing this. But she couldn’t make herself form a protest. Instead, she tilted her neck to the side, providing him better access, her body acting on its own volition.

      The brush of lips became a scrape of teeth. “That’s right. Give in to it.”

      The hand on her waist drew her closer, bringing her ass against the hard ridge in his pants. She let out a little gasp, molten heat flooding her sex. “Reid.”

      “You feel how much I miss you, sugar,” he said, his voice like warm milk on a cold night. “Have you missed me?

      His palm slid down, cupping her vee and making her arch against him. “God, yes.”

      The words came out before she had time to evaluate their consequences. She bit her lip hard as her clit swelled beneath the pressure of his hand. The music continued to thump and people pressed around them, concealing his blatant touch. He worked his hand against her with a slow, methodical rhythm, the lacy material of her underwear sliding against her sensitive skin.

      His other hand moved to her ribs, his thumb idly caressing the underside of her breast. Her nipples pebbled against her bra, the buds aching for Reid to yank down the neckline of her dress and take one into his mouth. She sagged against him, and his fingers drifted higher, grazing over her left breast. She bucked with the combination of sensations. Fuck. She was going to come right here on the dance floor and he hadn’t even touched her bare skin.

      He chuckled against her hair. “Not yet, sugar. Not here.”

      She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself not to beg for release.

      “The song is about to end. When it does, you tell Melody you’ll be back in a little while. Walk out to the parking lot. My car is in the back corner of the lot. You meet me there.”

      “Reid,” she said, her breath catching, the word more a plea than anything else.

      “No safe words tonight. You’re either by the car when I get there or you’re not. I call the shots after that.”

      She shivered, his hard tone making her belly tighten and her clit ache. Shit. What was he planning to do to her?

      The song came to a cymbal-crashing conclusion, and Reid released her. When she spun around, his blue eyes blazed over her. He caught her wrist and brought it to his mouth for a light nip. “Your call, sugar.”

      He turned on his heel and strode away, his confident swagger and drool-worthy body drawing the attention of every woman he passed on the way back to his table. He didn’t grace any of them with a glance and didn’t look back to see if Brynn was following his instructions.

      On jelly legs, she made her way back to her table. Melody looked up at her, her eyes widening. “Good lord, girl, are you okay? You’re all flushed. Maybe you should sit.”

      Brynn shook her head. “I need some air. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

      Mel moved to stand up. “I’ll come with you.”

      “No,” Brynn said, maybe a bit too abruptly because Mel raised an eyebrow. “You’ll miss Terrence’s next song. I’ll be fine.”

      Her friend sank back into her seat. “You sure?”

      She nodded and before she could think too hard about what she was about to do, headed toward the exit door.

      The air outside had cooled and grown heavy since she’d ­arrived, and the low rumble of thunder promised a rare summer storm. Besides the tap of her strappy heels along the pavement, the lot was quiet, the headlining band enough to draw even the smokers inside. She kept a brisk pace, and her senses tuned to her surroundings. The club was in a good neighborhood, but the parking lot was dark and she was seeing monsters in every shadow these days.

      Reid’s sleek SUV loomed in the farthest corner of the lot next to an ancient looking oak tree, but there was no sign of the man himself. She paused a few steps from the vehicle, her heart hammering against her ribs. Maybe she shouldn’t do this. What if she panicked again and didn’t even have a safe word to escape? What if the nightmares she’d had every night since the day in Davis’s basement claimed her and Reid didn’t stop?

      Reid stepped out from behind the SUV and leaned a hip against the grille. Her crossed his arms over his chest and pinned her with his stare. “You’ve got four steps of free will left, Brynn.”

      She eyed the small expanse of space between them and swallowed hard. His very presence soothed something jagged inside her. “I’m not ready to talk about us.”

      He