Burned (Purgatory Club BDSM Erotic) Read Online Free Page B

“Why? What’s wrong with her?”
    “ I don’t know, you tell me. She went to watch your show and then fifteen minutes later I get a call from her assistant saying she’s sick and unable to talk.”
    Zane rushed to take her from Gabe. Ignoring his friends’ protests, he lifted her in his arms and walked to the door, nodding at Gabe to follow. He’d take care of this his way, damn it. Not in some damned cold playroom.
    She stirred restlessly in his arms. “Shhh. Just relax and give me this. Please, Ruby, I’ll take care of you. I promise.” She felt so small in his arms and he didn’t miss the slight trembling of her arms and legs. “You shouldn’t have run. I could have helped you if you’d given me the chance.”
    “ Run? What the hell happened, Zane?” Gabe interrupted.
    “ Not here and not yet. We can talk in the car. For now let me take care of Ruby.”
    He admired the soft lines of her face while he examined her for signs of trauma. The color in her cheeks looked good and the fluttering of her lashes had slowed. Even some of the tension he’d first felt in her rigid posture had given way to his touch. Achingly beautiful. It was the only way he could think to describe her. Long, sable hair that grazed her ass when she stood, small breasts with nipples that stayed hard all the damn time, and full hips that cradled him perfectly.
    He took the backstairs so he wouldn’t have to walk her through the crowd. It was nobody’s fucking business what he was up to and he didn’t need to deal with any other protectors. Besides, his car was right outside the door. He dug into the pocket of his leathers, pulled the keys to his car, and tossed them to his friend.
    “ You drive.”
    “ Zane, I can’t leave, I’ve got to close up soon.” He stopped and blocked Zane at the door.
    “ Jesus, Gabe, I don’t live five minutes away. You can’t spare that much time for her? I’d drive but I’m not letting her go at the moment. It’s that important.”
    Gabe glared at him skeptically, but he must have seen the desperation Zane couldn’t hide. The woman in his arms drove him crazy. A combination of strength and tenderness grabbed him by the throat and didn’t let go. There had to be a compromise that would work for them both, but not until she recovered and he taught her a lesson or two about taking care of herself.
    Gabe unlocked the vehicle with the remote and Zane opened the rear door to his SUV, slid onto the seat, and closed the door behind him.
    He held her tight. The night air had chilled and neither of them had a lot of clothing on. She sighed contentedly and he relaxed into the cool leather seat. “You remember the way, don’t you?” Sarcasm clung to every word, but Gabe had tried to thwart him one time too many so his annoyance ran high.
    “ Yeah, I remember…”
    With Gabe glaring at him in the rear view mirror, he returned his attentions solely on the woman in his arms. He sank into the soft, warm skin of her arms and legs. Needing to maintain close contact and wanting so much more.
    He’d yet to fuck her, but they’d come damn close the last time they were together. Had it not been for Gabe interrupting, she would have been naked with him buried so deep she’d never get away from him. Something his friend had eventually regretted. A rough sigh escaped his lips and she in turn squirmed in his lap. She’d settled enough she had to know what she rubbed against. Sweet fucking agony.
    “ Be still, Ruby. You’re not ready for that and I’m only human.”
    He had to bite back a smile when she instantly froze. He moved his hand from her ass and lightly massaged her leg until once again she relaxed against him and her breathing returned to a soft and steady cadence. This fear of hers had to go.
    He stared at Gabe, who sat stiff as he drove the car, and caught his gaze when he glanced quickly in the mirror. “Our girl here sure likes the fire, doesn’t she? It took her over in an instant.”
    Gabe