Protect Me From Myself

Chapter.2

Raine

Drinking on a work night is not the best idea, but I'm in the mood to get drunk. Thinking about my friends moving away and me being here all alone is really getting to me. I can't blame them for wanting to move and give their kids a better life. But New York is fantastic. Why would they want to leave?

Sarah hasn't had the best life. Nor has Jenna, if I'm honest. Sarah's birth mother sold her to her father. His wife raised her until she was five before finding out Sarah was the product of her husband's one-night affair with a stripper and not from an adoption agency as he had led her to believe. It took her mother eighteen years to come around and show Sarah that she did, in fact, love her. They now have a close relationship.

Sarah also had some trouble with an ex who did nothing but hurt her. Benton, her husband, and her father, Howard, made damn sure no one could ever hurt her again.

I don't know exactly what they did, but Sarah's ex is doing fifty years in jail for several offenses, including rape of a minor! He was intentionally given thirty-five years until more girls came forward, and he was re-sentenced. Good. Sarah has never been happier than she is with Benton.

Jenna also had trouble with her mother. But unlike Sarah's mother, Jenna's loved her too much. Although, I could do without that kind of love. The woman gave Jenna an eating disorder and then stole her son from her.

Brandon, her fiancé and Sarah's big brother, soon came into her life as more than a friend. He helped get her son back, he helped deal with her eating disorder, and he helped sort Jenna's relationship with her mother. In all, he fixed her life and made it better for her.

Both my best friends found true love with amazing men. I thought I had an amazing man once. I may not have been in love, but I loved him. I thought he loved me.

Love is overrated. Love is for the weak. In my opinion, at least.

Why is it that when all you want is a drink and to dance, every guy in the place seems to want to hit on you?

I guess the short, skin-tight navy dress and navy satin pumps might have something to do with it. All my natural curves and plump ass on show, what did I expect?

I don't mind dancing with anyone, but I don't accept drinks from strangers, no matter how handsome they are. You never know what they might slip into it when you're not looking.

Tall, dark, and handsome, standing to my left, has asked me at least three times if he can buy me a drink. How many times can a girl say, 'No, thank you'? I don't think he understands the word No.

And another thing, he keeps touching my hair and telling me how raven black is his favorite. Complete i***t! Can't he tell my hair is dyed black? Okay, I'm naturally dark, but I dye it anyway.

“Just one, then we'll get out of here.”

“No. Thank you,”

“Why not?”

Really?

Usually, I'd say no and walk away, but every time I turn to walk away, he grabs my arm and stops me. Don't get me wrong, I am no weak woman. If he tries anything, I'll kick his ass into next week. But I'm here to enjoy myself, not fight with men over whether or not they can buy me a drink before getting into my panties.

“My husband wouldn't like it,” I yell over the loud music.

“Husband? You're not wearing a ring.”

“I am.” I hold my left hand up for him to see.

I always wear a small diamond ring on my right hand. It was given to me by my grandmother on my sixteenth birthday. Whenever I'm out in a club like this one and a guy hits on me, and I would rather he backed the fuc.k off, I switch my ring finger while he's not looking in order for me to say that I'm married. It usually does the trick. Although it seems this guy doesn't care.

“Thank you anyway.”

“Come on. What your husband doesn't know won't hurt him.” He says while grabbing my wrist and pulling me against him.

“Let go of me right now!” I hiss through my teeth. He smirks at me while leaning into me. God, he stinks of beer and stale cigarettes. The smell turns my stomach.

How can any man think that's even attractive?

“I think my wife told you to let go!”

My eyes fall on the tall, dark, handsome, and incredibly ripped man now clasping the shoulder of drunk guy, pulling him away from me. I can't believe he's here.

“Put your hands on her again,” He says while leaning into drunk guy and speaking in his ear, “And I will rip you apart.”

As calm as he is, his voice screams venom and promise. A promise that he would literally tear the guy apart if he touched me again. Which, of course, does nothing but turn me on. A fire seems to alight in my body whenever I see him.

Drunk guys' eyes widen in shock. He nods his head in understanding to what he has been told.

“Now, why don't you go find someone else to annoy.”

“Yes. Yes, of course.”

I clasped my hand over my mouth to stifle the laughter about to escape me. I watch drunk guy walk away from us as quickly as his long legs can carry him. “Don't think he'll be bothering you again.”

“Nate,” I smile while hugging him tightly. “I can't believe you're here.”

I haven't seen Nate in months. Nate is Jenna's older half-brother. They share the same mother. Like their mother, Nate is British. Jenna is not; she was born and raised here in Manhattan, like her father.

Jenna didn't even know Nate existed until a year ago when her mother was taken seriously ill. Nate came to visit and stayed for a couple of months. He and Jenna hit it off and became extremely close very quickly. He loves his baby sister, and she loves him. After spending over twenty-two years as an only child, suddenly having a big brother to love meant everything to her.

Nate is seven years older than Jenna, and at the age of thirty, he is incredibly gorgeous. He's gorgeous in the Micheal Angelo's David kind of way. Muscles all over his body, ABS to die for. An eight-pack! And that is no exaggeration. Thick thighs and an ass so firm you could crack walnuts on it. His shirts are always so tight across his chest that his muscles bulge.

And those veins in his arms. Oh. My. God. They make all the girls drool. His chiseled features, deep midnight blue eyes, and hair long enough for you to grip while he fuc.ks you hard have severe effects on a girl's ovaries.

Basically, he's an Adonis of a man, an ex-soldier of the British Army of all things!

Is there anything hotter?

And I have been fortunate enough in the past to have that man inside of me. And when I say he has a huge, long, and thick coc.k, it's an understatement. When I say he knows just what to do with that coc.k, believe me, he knows and then some!

Spending the night with him was possibly the best night of my life. We'd spent weeks getting to know each other, becoming friends after meeting in a coffee shop while he was looking for Jenna. We'd even kissed at Sarah and Benton's wedding. We couldn't have done anything more because, by the end of the night, I was so drunk I couldn't see straight.

Being drunk had nothing to do with how much alcohol I drank and everything to do with my medication. My medication means even three drinks will make me seem like I've been drinking for hours on end when, in reality, I haven't.

Nate took care of me that night. He made sure I got home safe and stayed with me while I vomited my guts up. My body ridding itself of the alcohol I'd drunk the night before. He even put me to bed and stayed with me in case I vomited in my sleep. I knew then we'd be great friends.

We ended up sleeping together two days before he left to go home to England. If I'm honest, I was gutted. I didn't want him to leave. He promised he'd be back as soon as he could. He also promised to keep in touch.

Which he has. We talk at least three times a week. Whether it be on the phone, Skype, or even just a message through social media.

Three months later, here he is, and he just so happens to be in the same club as me?

“I can't believe you told him you were my husband.” I laugh.

“Heard you tell him you were married. Figured he would leave if he thought I was your husband.” He winks.

“What are you doing here?” I ask as I pull away from him. Although, I haven't let go of his upper arms yet.

I find something so erotic about his arms, all big and thick with muscle. Muscles don't usually do anything for me. I find men with muscles vain in so many ways. But there's something about Nate that I can't put my finger on. It's not about his body; he's charming, funny, and unafraid of anything.

“I'm here for my sister's wedding.”

“But that's still months away.”

“I know.” He winks. “It's good to see you. Your roommate told me you'd be here. Just in case you thought I was stalking you.”

“It had crossed my mind.” I laugh.

Nate and I stood talking and drinking for a while. He told me about England and how his business there was ready for expansion. Nate owns a company that specializes in the research and technical development of specialist equipment to help fight diseases such as cancer. He's very gifted in the area of science. I never would have pegged him for a scientist. He also restores old motorcycles in his spare time. That alone is a turn-on!

God, I am fuc.ked because all I want is Nate. No one else will do because he ruined me for all other men. Just looking at other men has me comparing them to the man who took me to heaven and back.

Great!