It was so easy to imagine that he was Lucas. The same sensations Lucas caused were being aroused in her. How was it possible that they could both do this to her? But this was Slade, not Lucas, and he was proving to be as dangerous as she had been warned he was.
She managed to push him away. “No!”
He stepped back. Hard passion smoldered in his glittering green eyes. Her sheet had fallen, and those eyes were ravaging her body through the sheer negligee.
“You shouldn’t wear such flimsy little nothings. I could rip that thing off you in a second.”
“Don’t touch me.”
“I could make you my woman, you know.”
“Don’t,” she repeated in a whisper.
He considered her thoughtfully for a moment, apparently debating with himself. She held her breath.
His hand shot out, his fingers sliding along the curve of her neck, then down the deep V of her gown. His fingers were warm, making her knees ridiculously weak. But it was that look in his eyes that sent sparks through her belly.
“I’ll scream—Mack will hear.”
He smiled, his voice so very husky. “Mack has a hearing problem, or didn’t you know that? But why do you mention the old man? Won’t Luke come to your rescue?”
“Must I be rescued?”
“Depends on how you look at it.”
He obviously thought Lucas was in the other room. “You could just leave,” she suggested hopefully.
“I already told you, honey, I’d rather stay.”
“But Lucas—”
“—doesn’t have to know.”
“I’ll tell him.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “You won’t get away with this.”
“Scream then and get him in here. I’ll fight him for you if that’s what it takes.” When she didn’t answer, he laughed. “You won’t call him? Maybe you don’t want him in here after all.”
She was getting close to hysteria. “He’s not here. He’s off hunting wild horses with Billy Wolf.”
“So we’re alone here? Then why are we wasting time talking?”
He leaned forward, but Sharisse brought both hands up hard against his chest. “I’m warning you, Slade Holt. Iwilltell Lucas, and he’ll hate you!”
“Is that supposed to bother me?”
“You’re despicable!” she gasped. “If you’re so desperate for a woman—”
“—find one somewhere else?” His eyes moved to her breasts. “You don’t really want me to do that.” Those eyes came back up to taunt her. “You’re trembling.”
“Well, you frighten me.”
“That’s not why you’re trembling.”
“Stop it!” she cried.
He gave her a measuring look. “Why are you fighting it?” His brow wrinkled. “Or is Luke the only one you want?”
“Yes,” she said, and then with more emphasis, “yes!”
