Devil's Ride by Clementine Roux Page B

her blood run cold, but her lower extremities were begging to fail her. Every ounce of her wanted to lash out and make Devon leave her alone, but something stronger, much more powerful, was telling her to throw everything away and leave with him, without thinking about what the consequences would be.
                   
                  She wanted him. She needed him. Seeing him again brought back the animal attraction she felt for him in Florida. Just being anywhere near him made her senses come alive with a flurry of emotions. Wanton desire clouded her judgment when he was anywhere near her. He knew her in ways she didn't yet know herself and it was all so confusing for Alessandra because they'd not yet been intimate.
                   
                  "I can't breathe." Alessandra flung herself up against the side of the building to catch her breath.
                   
                  "Slow down. Calm down. What is going on with you? Why is this guy trying so hard?" Sammi asked, fanning Alessandra's face.
                   
                  Alessandra couldn't slow her breathing. Her knees were weak. Her heart was beating out of her chest. The whole world had spun out of control.
                   
                  "Talk to me. What do you want to do here? Robert is sitting at the same table, alone with this guy." Sammi could feel her heart beating out of control.
                   
                  "I don't know. Where's Joe? Why isn't he here?" Alessandra was so confused by the emotions she was feeling.
                   
                  "Joe? I don't know, honey. We have to get you out of here. You look like you're going to pass out." Sammi grabbed Alessandra around the waist and guided her back inside. Once they were inside, she pulled away, distracted by something.
                   
                  "Wait. That's Joe." She pushed her way in between people at the sound of Joe's voice.
                   
                  Sammi followed her, relieved that she'd found him.
                   
                  "What the hell?" Sammi asked in surprise. Joe had his arms wrapped around a petite blond and his hand on her breast. They sat nestled in a corner, empty bottles of beer strewn all over the table in front of them.
                   
                  Joe looked up, sensing he was being watched. With his eyes on Alessandra's face, he grabbed the girl's face and kissed her, making a show of thrashing his tongue inside her mouth and fondling her now exposed breast.
                   
                  Robert rushed to where the girls stood and looked over their heads at Joe.
                   
                  "Damn." He sighed.
                   
                  Alessandra couldn't move. She was frozen with anger and embarrassment.
     
    Devon moved through the crowd, grabbing her by her hand and pulled her to him.
                   
                  "You don't need this. Let's go," he said. He led her out of the bar and down the street before stopping. Her body was numb. She watched him struggle to find the right words to say. "You know you don't deserve that, don't you? What a piece of work that guy is."
                   
                  Feeling defensive, Alessandra lashed out at him. "You have a lot of nerve, talking about someone you don't even know. That man has been nothing but kind and gentle and loving with me since the day I met him."
                   
                  He fired back, "Yeah, it looks like it. Good job, sweetheart. You sure know how to pick 'em."
                   
                  Tears