Sinfully Sexy by Linda Francis Lee Page B

of her interest. She
doled out and withheld attention in a way that he couldn't believe drew
any man. She flirted, she toyed, she even waggled her finger at one
massively muscled man like he was nothing more than a naughty little
boy when he tried to steal a kiss.

Ben thought about exiting the building. He would have turned away and
left Sterling to his own devices, but then one of the slew of Julia's
admirers wouldn't leave her alone. The muscle-bound bodybuilder grabbed
her close. Julia's face went very still, and Ben saw panic flare in her
deep twilight eyes.

With a curse, Ben strode across the distance in a few determined
strides. Blood pounded through him, driving him forward—though it was
something more than habit that pushed him on. Something he couldn't
name.

One minute he was detached and calm, the next he tore the muscleman
away from Julia and pinned
him against a bulletin board loaded with announcements. Roommates
wanted. Maid services. Diet supplements. Thumbtacks popping from the
cork, flyers fluttering to the floor.

"Hey, man, what the fuck are you doing?" the man stammered, puffing up.

But he was no match for Ben's strength and skill in subduing others.

"Keep your hands off the lady."

Muscleman started to protest, but Ben banged him against the corkboard
once again.

"You're fucking crazy, man."

"Maybe," Ben conceded, blood ticking through him like fire. "Do you
want to find out how crazy?"

Ben loosened his grip, and the minute he did, the man hurried away.

It took a second for the insane feeling to pass. Finally he turned to
face Julia, uncomfortable with the realization that this possibly could
change things between them. He had seen before how women grew attached
to the men they thought had saved them.

Julia looked him up and down like a feline on the prowl, her gaze like
fingernails raking down his torso during hot sex.

"Mmm," she cooed, "you big strong man. Did that make you feel manly? Do
you like banging people around?"

Clearly she wasn't on the verge of throwing herself in his arms and
thanking him. It pissed him off that
he cared.

Raking his hair back with his hand, he said, "I was just trying to
help."

She stepped closer, every trace of panic gone so completely that he
wondered if he had imagined it.

"I don't need your help, Mr. Boy Scout. I've been fending off men since
you were a kid trying to play doctor with the silly girl next door."

He studied her closely, not sure what he felt. But finally he felt a
knowing smile pull at his lips. "I didn't have to try hard. I was
pretty good at playing doctor. Do you want to relive a little bit of
childhood and play now?" He planted his hand on the wall above her
head. "Since you're so strong and anything but helpless, I'll even let
you give the exam."

The deep violet of her eyes darkened and she bit her white teeth into
her lower lip. Heat flared, and Ben felt a fiery need to pull her
close. Press her body to his. Leaving him ill-prepared when she smiled
wickedly and said, "Really, I get to be the doctor?" Then she reached
down and grabbed him by the
balls.

His thoughts cemented.

Her gaze was hot, sultry, and amused. "Cough, big boy."

He wasn't sure, but he thought he might have choked instead as she
laughed, the sound rising up into
the exposed metal rafters.

The minute she let go, she purred, "I'll send you the bill in the
mail." Then with a flip of her hair, she turned on her heel and walked
away.
    * 
*  *
Sterling saw Chloe almost immediately on the opposite side of the gym.
As predicted, she was in a glass-walled workout room filled with rows
of mainly women following the lead of a single man on a small platform
in front.

His jaw ticked with impatience.

Chloe stood out from the line of other kickboxers. That dark hair was
pulled up in a short ponytail that bounced with every kick and punch.
She wore warm-up pants, even though every other female in the room had
on tights that made them look naked. But it was Chloe who