He paid the fine 'under protest'. [=he paid the fine although he objected to it]
The students launched/held/staged a 'protest' against the tuition increase.
She told him to go to bed despite his 'protests' that he wasn't tired.
(..) So what's he like, this, um, Captain Jack? "His fingers tangled in her curls... "while his tongue plundered the soft cavern of her mouth. "She made no protest. "Her furnace was alight. "Jack drew his lips from hers and urged her forward... "so he could take one shirt-veiled nipple... (..)2005 In Her Shoes