Page 99 of Hot & Heavy

He hadn't been giving her words full attention, at first. He was too busy watching the rise and fall of her incredible breasts. Apparently, she was having trouble breathing. He started to grin, then stopped himself.

"No, I didn't mean that Madonna. I meant the other one with the cone-shaped breast things."

"What is a cone?"

"Never mind. So, what's new?"

"Well, I learned to shag today."

"What?"

"You do not have to yell. I am right here. And, by the by, there comes that vein again. Really, you should do something about that. I knew a trader once who—"

"Who did you shag?" he asked icily.

She frowned at him. "Who? I did not shag anyone. I did the shag with someone. Cage. He really is a good dancer. Are you a good dancer?"

"No."

"You should ask Cage to teach you. He even knows how to dip. Do you dip?"

Ian put his face in one hand and counted to ten. Then he looked at her. "Am I supposed to interpret this outfit as an invitation?"

Her body went stiff as a board, or as much as was possible in her hooker outfit. "Why would I invite you to anything? I told you that you are no longer welcome to… you know. Have you changed your mind about helping me to raise an army?"

"Hell, no!"

"Then I have nothing more to say to you. Mayhap you should call Slick to come over so that I may ask him if would be willing to help me raise an army."

"No way!" he bellowed.

"You do not give me orders. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"You are not meeting with any other man in that… that outfit," he sputtered.

"What's wrong with my apparel?"

"That outfit is sex bait, pure and simple."

"So?"

"Why are you wearing it if you're not inviting me?"

"Practice."

Aaarrgh! "Practice for what?"

"For when I leave here. I must needs make my way in the world when I interview candidates for my army."

"And who, pray tell, are these men you are going to interview in that attire?"

"Mercenaries."

Not in this lifetime!

"There are men who fight for money, you know."

"I know, but where is the money coming from?" As soon as she leaves the room, I am going to hunt out those frickin' jewels of hers and hide them till she gives up the ludicrous idea of a personal army.