| Excerpt:
Cat was past
tired. She’d gone straight to weary and exhausted, and was flirting with
sick and discouraged. But quitting was one thing she definitely was not
going to do. No, Sam would have to try harder if he wanted her gone.
However, he
was succeeding in driving her crazy. He had gone off with that Lila and
returned looking wrung out. Lila had certainly appeared
well used when she’d shown up later. Cat didn’t even want to speculate
on what activities would make her look that spent or that pleased. It
seemed, though, that her thoughts weren’t all that easy to control.
She opened
the flap to her tent and entered. Crossing in the dark, she drew her flint
box from her pocket and lit the lantern in the corner. Without turning, she
stripped to her underclothes while chewing furiously on her thoughts like an
old piece of leather.
“I’m
enjoying the view, but it concerns me that you didn’t know I was here. Was
that Faery so distracting?”
Cat spun and faced Sam who lounged negligently on her bed. She grabbed her
shirt holding it to her chest, covering very little. Sam’s mocking smile
told her exactly what he thought of her modest gesture.
She raised
her chin and laid the shirt aside. Turning her back on him, she strode to
the stack of crates she was using as a stand and picked up her brush.
Untying her ponytail, she brushed out her hair, watching his reflection in
the mirror sitting in front of her. “If you’re talking about David, I’ll
have you know that he was a perfect gentleman.”
“How
disappointing for you,” he said coldly.
She laid the
brush down and turned to face him. “Lila, on the other hand, looked a little
worse for wear.”
Sam chuckled
and stood. “No one ever accused me of being a gentleman, but I’m afraid that
I can’t take the credit for Lila’s condition.”
Cat turned
hiding the pleasure she found at his words and began braiding her hair. Her
fingers shook as she plaited her locks, but her tone remained even. “And
you’re here because…let me guess…your playmate found another
friend?”
Sam came up
behind her, taking her hair into his hands. He loosened the locks she’d
managed to weave together and laid his hands on her shoulders. Looking down
into the mirror over her shoulder and locking eyes with her, he smiled
sending shivers over her body.
“You aren’t
jealous are you, Cat?” Captivated by his eyes in the looking glass, she
shook her head slowly. “Good. That wouldn’t be what we agreed upon, would
it?”
Cat’s gaze
remained steady for a few moments then gradually softened to a smile.
“Samuel, I think you misunderstand. I like keeping it simple, no strings, no
expectations.” She turned to face him backing up against the crates and out
of his hold. “I do not,
however, like being taken for granted,” she finished, her voice as frosty as
the glare she tossed him.
She started
past him and he grabbed her arm stopping her. “Are you saying no then?”
She looked
down at his hand on her arm and he released her. She glided to her bed and
slipped under the covers nonchalantly rolling to her side and turning her
back to him. “Get the light on your way out, will you?”
Astounded,
Sam tried to recall if anything like this had ever happened to him before.
Nope. Not ever. No how, no way, at no time had anyone ever dismissed him so
cavalierly. He smiled. And no how, no way, at no time had he ever wanted
anyone as much as he wanted her at that moment.
He moved
soundlessly to the bed and stared down at her hungrily before stripping and
sliding under the covers. She stiffened and turned her head to look at him
over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
He grinned
and dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “Don’t worry; I’ll get the light before
I leave. It just won’t be for awhile yet.” Full of erotic meaning and
sensual promise his smile finished his answer before his words could. “I’ll
take whatever you’ll give me, Cat, but I promise I’ll never take you for
granted.”
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