Another rich bastard that thought he could buy her. Fuck that! She heard many feet thumping against the hard ground. Her heart rate went into overdrive and she whimpered. “Please,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be raped.” She said it more to herself than to him.

“I will protect you. I will ensure that no harm comes to you.” He pulled his head back, staring her deep in the eyes.

“Please don’t force yourself on me.” She was appalled at how her voice trembled. “Please don’t let them…” A sobbing noise was torn from her at the thought of being passed around… torn to pieces.

The large group of shifters was right there now. Seconds away.

The beast of a man cupped her cheek. His touch was soft and careful. What? It shocked her to her core. “Trust me and do as I say, do everything I tell you and you will be safe. Do we have a deal?”

“Yes.” She blurted as one of the shifters roared. It sounded like a battle cry.

“Kiss me now,” he growled.

His lips were a only a few millimeters away. What choice did she have but to kiss him? To trust him?

None.

Zip.

Zero.

She was out of options. Candy reached up and touched her lips to his. They were warm and soft. So soft. Surprisingly soft. Her eyes were open, so she watched as his drifted shut. His lashes fanned his cheeks.

She made a noise of surprise as he pushed his tongue into her mouth. Shit! His hand tightened ever so slightly on her jaw, he tilted her head and plundered her mouth.

Oh god!

This monster could kiss. He could seriously freaking kiss. Not that she was enjoying herself. Forget that. She only prayed that he had told her the truth, that he would protect her from the rest of them. Although she struggled to understand how he would get that right. There was a whole group of them and only one of him.

There was no way he could keep his promise. Candy turned her head, breaking the kiss. He stayed just above her like that for a few seconds, his eyes still closed. His chest rising and falling against hers. Then his eyes opened. Those unnaturally pale orbs locked with hers. His eyes narrowed, like he was trying to tell her something. A warning perhaps.

There was a sound of feet shuffling. Of breathing. She slowly turned her head. It was a group of about twenty of them. Twenty more of these huge giants. The bastards stared down at them. They looked pissed. Each and every one of them looked beyond angry. The one closest to them snarled, his lips curled away from his teeth which looked abnormally sharp.