Montana Sky by Nora Roberts Page A

feeling her vibrate under his hand. “It looks like I haven’t been paying close enough attention. Come here.”
    She concentrated on evening her breathing, slowly changed her grip on the beer she held. Oh, he looks so arrogant, she thought. So cocky. So sure I’ll melt if he bothers to push the right button.
    â€œYou want me to come there,” she purred, watching his eyes widen slightly in surprise at the warm tone. “And what’ll happen if I do?”
    He might have called himself a fool—if there’d been any blood left in his head to allow him to think. But all he could do at that moment was feel the gradual simmer of lust set off by that husky voice.
    â€œI’d say it’s long past time we found out.” He curled his fingers into her shirt, tightened his grip, and pulled her against him. If his gaze hadn’t drifted down from hers to lock onto her mouth, he would have seen it coming. Instead he found himself an inch away from that mouth and soaked from the beer she dumped over his head.
    â€œYou’re such a jerk, Ben.” Pleased with herself, she leaned forward to set the empty bottle on the table. “You think I could live on a ranch surrounded by randy men all my life and not see a move like that a mile off?”
    Slowly, he dragged a hand through his wet hair. “Guess not. But then again—”
    He moved fast. When she found herself trapped under him, Willa thought, even a snake rattles before he strikes.Now she could only be disgusted with herself for being pressed into the couch by a wiry male with blood in his eye.
    â€œYou didn’t see that coming.” He handcuffed her wrists, hauled her arms over her head. Her face was flushed, but he didn’t think it was only temper. Temper didn’t make her tremble, didn’t put that sudden female awareness in her eyes. “Are you afraid to let me kiss you, Willa? Afraid you’ll like it?”
    Her heart was beating too fast, felt as though it would shatter through her ribs. Her lips were tingling, as if the nerves centered there were revving up for action. “If I want your mouth on me, I’ll tell you.”
    He only smiled, leaned down closer to her face. “Why don’t you tell me you don’t? Go ahead, tell me.” His voice thickened as he nipped lightly at her jaw. “Tell me you don’t want me to taste you. Just once.”
    She couldn’t. It would have been a lie, but lying didn’t worry her. She simply couldn’t get a word through her dry throat. So she took the other option, and brought her knee up, fast and hard.
    She had the pleasure of seeing him go dead pale before he collapsed on her.
    â€œGet off me. Get off, you goddamn idiot. You’re crushing my lungs.” Desperate for air, she arched, bucked, making him moan. She managed to gasp in a breath before she grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked.
    They rolled off the couch and crashed to the floor. She saw stars as her elbow hit the edge of the table. It was pain and fury that had her tearing into him. Something shattered on the floor as they wrestled over it, grunting and cursing.
    He was trying to defend himself, but she was obviously out for blood. And proved it by biting his arm just under the shoulder. Yelping, certain that she was going to take a chunk out of him, he managed to get a grip on her jaw and squeeze. Under the pressure the tear of her teeth loosened.
    They rolled, boots clattering and digging for purchase, elbows jabbing, hands grappling. Willa didn’t realize she was laughing until he had her pinned. She kept right onlaughing, helpless even to stop for breath as he stared down at her.
    â€œYou think it’s funny?” He had to squint, then huff out a breath to get the hair out of his eyes. But all in all, he was grateful she hadn’t managed to tear it out of his head by the handful. “You bit me.”
    â€œI know.” Her voice