Free The Mercenary by Cherry Adair

was absolutely crazy to have come looking for her in the first place.
    Even the center part in her hair was pink with embarrassment.
    “We’ll be leaving as soon as it’s dark,” he said briskly, shifting to his feet. Her face went even redder as
    he turned back to look at her.
    “Fine,” she managed, eyeing him warily. He could see the frantic pulse in her throat.
    Christ. He was
    going to have a hell of a time with her. She was such a little mouse. She quivered if he even looked at her.
    “I’ll get you a dry towel.” He glanced at the wet material molded to her breasts as she shifted restlessly.
    “Thank you,” she said stiffly.
    Perversely, Marc stayed. He couldn’t afford to have her fold like a wet tissue when they found her
    brother. He couldn’t afford for her to get all weepy and terrified every time he snapped out an order. An
    order that could very well mean life or death. He needed her tough. He needed her mad.
    He needed her
    to grow a spine. Fast.
    Tory hating him for being a sadistic bully might just be a perk, he thought wryly, watching the heat
    spread across her cheeks. Since he was having a hard time keeping his hands off her, it worked to his
    advantage if she loathed him. Yeah. This might work out just fine.
    “You sound like a prim little schoolgirl,” he said mockingly. “Can’t you say anything other than ‘Thank
    you’?”
    Her head tilted regally. “Yes. I can say go away!”
    “Princess, there’s nothing here that would make me want to stay.” The way she tilted that chin irritated
    the hell out of him. He wanted to see just how far he would have to push her for her to fight back. He
    sighed. It was a useless endeavor. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she was a coward.
    “I hate you,” she said in her quiet little voice, looking at anything but him.
    “Say it louder.”
    Her eyes shot back to his face. “Wh-what?”
    “Say it louder and with feeling. Let me see how much you hate me.”
    “You’re crazy.”
    Marc took the three steps required to reach her side again. He crouched down and took her chin in his
    hand. Her eyes were wide and frightened. “Let me see some grit and backbone, lady. I’m already having
    second thoughts about hauling your ass to Marezzo.”
    “Itold you I didn’t want to come.”
    “Yeah, you did,” he said roughly. He dropped his hand from the damp heat of her face and levered
    himself to his feet. “I’d feel a little more confident if you showed some guts. Hell, I’d settle for spunk.”
    “You want spunk?” Her eyes blazed. “How’s this for spunk?” Whipping the soaking towel off her chest,
    she threw it at him with all her strength.
    The soaking fabric flopped down harmlessly into the sand. Marc kept his gaze on her face with effort.
    Her eyes shot emerald sparks at him, and her jaw was rigid. “I’m here on Marezzo with you. I’m here,
    but I don’t like it.” Her voice rose. “And I certainly don’t like you.” She threw the soap next; it glanced
    off a button on his fly and dropped behind a fern.
    “I’ll give you spunk!” She picked up a small smooth stone, throwing that, too.
    Marc grinned as it missed his head by two feet. “Atta girl.”
    “You’re a loathsome man.”
    “Yeah?” Marc smiled. There was hope for her yet.
    “Yes! Stop taunting me…and go…away!”
    “Or what?”
    Victoria looked at him. He was cocky and arrogant and just too blasted sure of himself.
    She’d read
    about men like this. She might need him to find Alex, but that didn’t mean that she had to like him. She
    stared at his insolent face. She needed to establish right now that she wasn’t just going to take everything
    he dished out. But how?
    He loomed over her, bare feet spread, arms folded over his naked chest. He knew that she was rattled
    and he was having a fine old time at her expense. What could she do that would rattlehis cage?
    Before she could really think the action all the way through, Tory rose from