waiting for her heart to slow down. The street was busy-lunch hour, people in expensive suits walking wit

this neighborhood, this man, this nightmare that

subway. She'd figure out the fare. Jump the turnstile if she had to. She c

r. Engine. Low, p

around. She walked faster, almost runni

l it in her chest, in her bones, the vibratio

Saw the subway entrance

scre

s front bumper inches from her knees. She stumbled back, hit the brick

e, the hood ornament that was a woman in flowing robe

er's doo

nothing to soften the line of his jaw, the set of his mouth. He looked like what he was. A man who

the car,

, as if she could melt through it. "Leave me alone.

tep toward her. "Or I will pu

ably recording. A man in a suit quickened his pace, not wanting to get i

he subway entrance

id. "I'll tell them y

nt that had been on her skin this morning, in her hair. "Tell them whatever you want. By the time anyone decides to intervene,

l. Just firm, inexorable, pulling her away from

er heels, but her shoes slipped o

ed the passenger d

to the leather seat. He took it all without flinching, his body absorbing her blo

other side, but he was there, blocking her, his hip again

o her ear, his chest pressing against her

nna's voice broke. "Wh

to look at her. His sunglasses were gone. His eyes

he said. "I wa

andle, but the lock engaged with a soft c

nto the driver's seat, closed his door, and pressed a button. The window

t the door, as far from him a

N

l the police.

That you came to my clinic seeking treatment? That I drove you home?" He turned to look at her, one han

ing is i

rb, merging into traffic with the ease of someone who had never been denied right of way. "I'm being considerate,

kened window, watching the city slide past,

re you t

to come back to my place. The Plaza has excellent ro

urned. "My apar

ke he was tasting it. "I like tha

ide giving way to Midtown, then the Village, then the bridge. She should have been planning her escape,

elt the weight of his atten

id you

. Almost curious. Joa

stopped. Swallowed. "Because I didn't want to wake up next to

voice was sharp. "I said

don't know me. You don't know anything about me except what my body feels like. And t

nto her street, and Joanna felt a fresh wave of p

any questions." He pulled up to her building, put the car in park, turned to face her. "I know you were a virgin. I know you responded to me like you'd been waiting your whole life for som

d found the door handle, bu

me

d, but he didn't move it, just rested it there, heav

want yo

cond, you will see me again. Third-" He paused, his thumb tracing small circles on her thigh through her

't belong

ean we're married. In others-" He leaned closer, his mouth near her ear. "It would mean I have the right to hunt you do

her. They did terrify her. But beneath the terror was that same heat,

azy," she

he loss of contact felt like abandonment. "But I'm also

utton. The loc

st. I'll call

it. She pushed the door open, stumbled out onto the sidewalk, and stood there for a m

ann

n't tur

er her. "Remember them. Or

pping until she was inside her apartment with the

slid down the door, wrapped her arms around her kne

, waited for the screen to flicker to life.

son. Her manager at the gallery. The man who found reasons to touch her shoulder, to lean to

ered over the

She couldn't let his behavior slide, not now, not when another, more dangero

resse

fore he answered. "Joan

hat. "I was wondering-are you free for dinner toni