Protecting Fate Read Online Free Page A

up any of the interest she’d felt before she came upstairs. Damn Z for leaving her like this, all cold and hot and twisted up.
    Because, even knowing it was a horrible idea, she wanted him more than she had any right to.
    It didn’t make any sense. Sara might like playing on the wild side from time to time, but she wasn’t stupid. Sleeping with her bodyguard—who happened to be her older brother’s best friend—was a recipe for disaster. It was something she might have tried when she was nineteen and still in the middle of her wild and crazy days. Now? Now, she knew better.
    Or she was supposed to.
    The door opened, and her entire body went tight with anticipation…right up until Nolan walked into the room. Damn it. She’d been excited about Nolan, had been ready to rock his world seven ways to Sunday.
    But one talk with Z had gone and ruined everything. She tried and failed to dredge up a smile. The whole night was one big mark in the loss column. At this point, she might as well go home, pour herself a glass of wine, and try to get some sleep. “Hey, handsome. Can you untie me? I’m going to have to take a rain check on our play date.”
    He was at her side in an instant, brown eyes concerned. “Are you okay? Did someone step out of line?” It was clear from his tone that he had one particular person in mind.
    “No, I’m fine.” Or she would be as soon as she exorcised Z from her realm of possibilities. She didn’t believe in that fairy tale connection, but she was a big fan of lust at first sight. This felt different, though. Sara wasn’t sure what the hell it was, but she didn’t like it. So forget it. That’s the best way to move forward.
    Easier said than done.
    Since she couldn’t promise her full attention to Nolan, she wasn’t about to burn one of the three times with him tonight. So she smiled, climbed off the bed, and pulled on her dress. “Really, I’m fine.”
    “I’d believe it more if you didn’t have that look in your eyes.”
    “What look?” She tried for innocence, but Nolan wasn’t stupid. He had a knack for seeing things she’d rather not share.
    Like now. “Like you got your toes trampled all over.”
    Considering that was exactly how she felt, she didn’t have much she could say in response. But Sara patted his cheek and kept her smile bright. “Not by you. That’s all you need to worry about.”
    “Sara—”
    God save her from overprotective men. “I’m fine. Really. I just need to get some sleep.” She slipped out of the room before Nolan could call her on her lie. Not that he would have, even if she’d stayed. They were casual at best, and while he might be a good man, he had no claim on her. There was only so far he could push, and they both damn well knew it.
    Which was exactly how she liked things. Sara had enough overprotective men in her life without adding another—especially one she just wanted to have hot, wall-banging sex with.
    Or, God forbid, one who worked with her brother.
    She headed out to the street, ignoring the party in full swing down on the club level. On another night, she’d be right there in the midst of it, dancing and drinking and having the time of her life. Tonight, it held no more appeal than the upper floors did. Damn Z to hell and back.
    The cab ride back to her apartment went by entirely too fast. She still hadn’t managed to center herself by the time she stepped out onto the sidewalk. The cold night air did nothing to cool the heat pulsing from her skin. It was all too easy—too tempting—to close her eyes and picture his pale green eyes tracking her every movement. She’d played sub before, when the opportunity arose, but Sara had never felt quite so…hunted. She might have been able to push through on sheer bravado because she’d surprised him, but she didn’t like her chances of being successful a second time.
    Which is why there couldn’t be a second time.
    Z had all the hallmarks of a man who wouldn’t allow