Free The Silver Snare by Unknown Page B

She remembered only too well how he had once led her just
    as silently away from the safety of camp and into a dangerous embrace.
    The fantasy, unfortunately, was reinforced when Lucas drew her into his arms and wrapped her possessively
    close. There was none of the stiff formality in his dancing now. Jessica was molded into his warmth, left no option but
    to accept the sensuous glide of his body.
    „If you go back to his stateroom tonight, I swear I’ll throttle you, Jessie.“
    „Nothing like a bright, charming opening conversational gambit to set a pleasant mood on the dance floor, Lucas.
    Have you been using that line all evening?“ she inquired frostily. „Perhaps that’s the reason you haven’t gotten any
    of your other dance partners to stick around for more than one number.“
    „Jessie, I’m not kidding. Your preppy friend is looking for an amusing bedmate tonight and that’s all!“
    „I tell great jokes in bed, Lucas,“ she dared in sugary, reassuring tones. „I know you didn’t get a full sample of my
    bedroom wit because of the unusual circumstances in which we found ourselves last week, but don’t worry. I do try to
    be amusing.“
    His fingers dug violently into her flesh through the thin material of the silk and Jessica sucked in her breath
    sharply.
    „Honey, I know you’re only trying to provoke me, but please use another technique. I can’t guarantee I’ll handle
    that one very well,“ he groaned.
    Safe in the crowded room, feeling an irritation which seemed to have its roots in the thought of all the women she
    had witnessed Lucas with that evening, Jessica purred mischievously, „I thought you could handle anything, Lucas.“
    He looked down at her, apparently attempting to analyze her mood. The note of caution in him was very welcome,
    Jessica decided. „I’m beginning to think life was simpler back there in the desert where you knew…“ his voice trailed
    off.
    „Where I knew and kept my place?“ she concluded pertly, sea-green eyes gleaming now with poorly suppressed
    laughter. „But Lucas, I do know my place. And this time I’m going to maintain it. Out there on the desert the real
    problem was that I let you usurp my position. I let you put me in another place altogether. One I didn’t care for and one
    I’ll never accept again from any man!“
    „Damn it, Jessie, will you stop harping on the past? I had no option last week but to do what was best for
    everyone. Let’s just forget about it!“ he snapped.
    „Agreed,“ she drawled smoothly. „Consider it forgotten. That suits me just fine.“
    He stared at her warily before drawing a careful, steady breath. „Then we can start from scratch? Go on from here?“
    „Why not?“ She smiled brilliantly.
    „Jessie, don’t tease me,“ he growled warningly.
    „I’m not. I’m willing to forget everything that happened a week ago.“
    He slid his hands up and down her slender back, sighing heavily with relief. Then he gently pushed her neat head
    down onto his shoulder. „Thank you, Jessie. It’s going to be all right. I promise you.“
    „I’m sure it will be and now if you’ll excuse me, the dance seems to be over and I must be getting back to Kirk.“ Her
    head popped up off his shoulder and her eyes burned brightly as she looked up at him.
    Lucas stiffened as they came to a halt in the middle of the floor. „Jessie, I mean it! Don’t tease me!“ It was half a
    plea, half a warning.
    „I wouldn’t think of it. We’re going to start over, remember? Pretend we’ve just met? You’ve danced one dance
    with every single woman in the room tonight, including me; now I must be getting back to my table. Thank you,
    Lucas.“
    She stepped away from him, but he caught her wrist „You can’t go back to him. He’s only going to try to get you
    into his bed tonight.“
    „Why should you care? We’ve only just met. What possible difference could it make to you whom I spend the
    night with?“ she mocked, waiting