bordering on red, and even through the creases of his pinstriped suit, she could tell that he had muscles to spare.
And at this moment, he was using them to save her from a monster.
“This one’s mine,” Walter said.
Ignoring him, the stranger stepped forward. As he stood before Abigail, he did not touch her, but his eyes were so full of worry that she felt as if she was already wrapped in his protective embrace.
“Is that right?” the stranger asked.
Abigail started to blurt out no when she suddenly held her tongue. He was giving her the chance, the choice, to dictate what she wanted or didn’t want. It seemed strange that a man with that attitude would be in this place where everything was focused on male orders and female submission. But even as she didn’t know his name, knew nothing but the hum in her chest when she looked at him, she found the strength to speak the truth.
“I… I don’t,” Abigail said.
Walter scoffed as he got back on his feet.
“You sought me out, you little bitch!” Walter bellowed.
She flinched at the sound of his voice and started to conceal her face in his hands. Before her eyes were hidden, the stranger whirled around. Catching Walter by his throat, he pressed him back to the ground, pushing his head to the floor with each word.
“Show some respect!” he ordered. “The lady said no.”
The stranger tightened his grip, but Walter flailed and kicked. When he landed a sharp blow to his side, the stranger lost hold and fell back. Crying out, thinking of nothing but his safety, Abigail dropped to her knees and took hold of his shoulders.
“Are you alright?” she whispered.
Not hearing her, the stranger was on his feet in an instant as Walter charged forward. He ducked as Walter made a move to punch him, and Abigail winced as the stranger’s fist smashed into Walter’s ribs. Doubling over in pain, Walter spat and let loose a string of obscenities.
“I’ll kill you for that you---”
“Hey! This is a professional establishment!”
The return of Mistress Serena quelled the fight, and when Walter tried to lunge again, she stopped him with a quick smack and a harsh glare.
“Do I have to tell you again, Mr. Ross?” she demanded. “No more rough stuff.”
Quivering, Abigail felt as if she would faint, but the stranger caught her in her arms, and she rested her head to his shoulder as the man kept her close.
“Then what’s the point?” Walter challenged. “Why the fuck are any of us here?”
Why was she here? This wasn’t her scene. She wanted to grab her coat and run, but the stranger kept her at his side, and when their eyes locked, Abigail relaxed around his smile.
“I’ve got you,” he promised. “You’re okay.”
Mistress Serena snapped her fingers, and two burly bouncers picked Walter Ross up by his arms.
“Take out the trash,” she ordered. “And his privileges are revoked until he gets with the program.”
Walter protested as he was dragged away, and at the last second, his glare returned in full force.
“I saw her first, Dorson!” he screamed. “You had no---”
Walter was gone, and Abigail finally relaxed. Before she had a chance to swoon, the stranger, Dorson, lifted her into her arms and settled her in a quiet booth as the party slowly resumed.
“Don’t worry about him. He won’t bother you anymore.”
Abigail tried to nod, and Dorson touched her face as he smiled.
“Just glad I got to you in time,” he said.
She was more than glad for his intervention. She had no idea how it had happened or why he was here. So he had to have his own plans for her, and maybe this was just the calm before an even greater storm. But he could have followed Walter into one of the back room and gotten in on the fun. He hadn’t made that move; he had rescued her from Walter’s clutches.
So maybe he was as green as she was.
“Pat, what the fuck?”
Mistress Serena was back, and when Abigail realized that the pair was on a first name basis,