Free A Promise of Roses by Heidi Betts Page A

eager enough to cut Evan in on your little plan.” He dropped the leather and Colts to the floor. “I'll bet if I tickled you in just the right spot, you'd tell me where the money is."
    For the first time since she'd come up with the absurd idea of confessing to a crime she hadn't committed, Megan felt a tug of apprehension. She watched as Lucas started slipping the buttons of his shirt through their holes.
    "No. No.” Her voice squeaked. “I wouldn't tell you a thing."
    The shirt fell away from his bronze skin in a puff of white. His fingers moved to the top button of his trousers, and Megan truly began to panic.
    "Don't you dare,” she said. “You're a lawman. You can't become involved with a prisoner."
    "I don't wear a badge. I'm just doing a favor for a friend, remember? He didn't say anything about keeping my hands off."
    "Well, I'm saying it. Keep your hands off."
    He laughed, long and deep. “You don't have a choice in the matter."
    Megan pulled the quilt up to her neck and scooted back against the headboard. Lucas came to the side of the bed, his pants completely unbuttoned now.
    "Come on, honey. It's not like you haven't done this before.” He grabbed a corner of the spread and gave it a little tug.
    She tried to get the quilt away from him, but his grip only tightened. The more she fought, the harder he yanked. Megan had to either let him pull her close or abandon the blanket altogether. And somehow she didn't think running around the room naked would raise her odds any.
    With one strong tug, he brought her flush against his body. The bedspread suddenly seemed terribly thin, for she could feel the heat from his skin burning her own. She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed to disappear.
    His warm breath on her cheek alerted her to the nearness of his mouth. Then she felt his lips brushing hers. At the soft touch, some of her fear fled on a breathy sigh. The tip of his tongue darted between her slightly open lips and began a slow exploration of her mouth. He took his time, kissing her fully, sliding a hand inside the blanket to cup one breast.
    She moaned and instinctively pressed upward to allow his callused hand better access to the sensitive flesh. He kneaded the mound, flicked the pebbled nub with his thumb. When he released her mouth, she gulped for air, struggling to regain her equilibrium. But what sanity she had left disappeared the minute his tongue circled her nipple. She gasped, let go of the bedspread, and ran her hands over his back, twisting her fingers in his hair.
    He moved to her other breast, giving it equal treatment. Then his hands slid over her dampened skin, enticing her every nerve ending to the surface until her body became an exquisite conductor of his lightest touch.
    He broke away and lifted his head to meet her eyes. Megan dug her nails into his shoulders, silently begging him to continue his bewitching ministrations.
    "Where's the money?” His chest heaved; his voice rasped.
    She shook her head, unwilling to let anything tear away the web of pleasure he'd spun around her.
    He kissed her again, hard and demanding, letting his weight push her into the mattress. She could feel his arousal pressing against her thigh.
    "Tell me."
    "I don't know,” she said, only half aware of what he was asking.
    "Tell me where you stashed the money, Megan."
    "I don't know."
    "You do. Tell me."
    "I lied.” She closed her eyes, letting her arms fall to her sides. “I don't know where the money is. I wasn't in on it. I lied."

Chapter Seven

    Lucas stared down at Megan a moment longer, then shoved himself up from the bed. He rebuttoned his trousers and moved back to the chair, picking up the gun belt to rest it on his thigh.
    Damn, but he'd almost lost control. A second longer and he would have forsaken everything to be buried inside her. He swore and reached for his shirt, just about ripping it in his haste to get it on.
    His gaze returned to Megan. He watched her chest rise and fall as she tried to