Free Whiskey Rose (Fallen) by Melissa Jones

Afraid you wo n’ t be able to control yourself ? ”
    “ Ha! I’ m not worried about controlling mysel f … they ar e … squabbling. If yo u’ re not going to go out there and tell them wha t’ s what then I am not going back out there either . ” She shrugged and closed her eyes again.
    “ I do n’ t care if you stay just be quiet . ” She looked at the door. He could see indecision on her face .“ Would you u m … lock the door please ? ”
    “ You think a lock is better protection than me ? ”
    “ I ca n’ t sleep if I know i t’ s not locked . ” He stood up and locked the door. He came back and stretched out beside her propping his head up with his elbow .“ Get your boots off my bed , ” she said without opening her eyes. He bent his knees so his boots were hanging off the side.
    “ Happy . ”
    “ Yes . ”
    “ Yo u’ re not really going back to sleep are you ? ”
    “ Yes I am . ”
    “ I might do things to you while yo u’ re asleep . ”
    “ Not if I put you on theother side of that locked door , ” she mumbled not opening her eyes.
    “ You would n’ t do that . ” He leaned over so his mouth was very close to her ear .“ You want me here . ” His hot breath made goose bumps rise up on her arms.
    “ You ca n’ t afford me . ” She wished she had the willpower to back that up.
    “ You keep saying that but you have n’ t named a price. I do n’ t think you have one. In fact, I bet I could make you meet mine . ” He ran his tongue lightly along the edge of her ear lobe and heard her gasp.
    “ Not a chance , ” she squeaked and then cleared her throat. He kissed her neck lingering with each movement.
    “ You want to bet? I bet I can get you to agree to whatever price I set . ”
    “ Please , ” She scoffed, “ Why would I do that? I have what you want. Not the other way around . ”
    “ Oh you want it. You just do n’ t know it yet . ”
    “ Yo u’ re awfully arrogant . ”
    “ Tha t’ s because I know I am right . ” He pulled her ear lobe fully into his mouth and felt her fist her hand in the sheet .“ Wha t’ s the matter afraid of a little challenge ? ” He taunted.
    “ I am not afraid of anything , ” she said stubbornly. She let go of the sheet and gave him a good shove. He was caught off guard and rolled backwards right off the bed. She looked over the edge and the look on his face was so shocked she had to laugh.
    “ What did you do that for ? ” He laughed.
    “ I told you, I ca n’ t be charmed and you ca n’ t share my bed . ”
    “ I was n’ t trying to charm you . ”
    “ Fine I ca n’ t be seduced . ” She rolled back to her original place on the bed.
    “ Ca n’ t say I was n’ t trying to do that . ” he muttered getting to his feet. He sat back on the bed, he did n’ t lay down this time he stuck a pillow behind his back and sat popped up against the headboard. He pulled his boots off so she could n’ t complain about that and crossed one ankle over the other.
    “ Alright,I underestimated you. I wo n’ t do that again. I am very good at learning from my mistakes so I only make them once. However, I still think I will win . ”
    “ I still think yo u’ re arrogant and conceited and I … achoo ! ”
    “ God bless you. There is nothing I enjoy more than a good challenge. Does that make me arrogant ? ”
    “ No,thinking you ca n’ t lose makes you arrogant . ”
    “ Huh, yeah I suppose it does , ” he said as if it had n’ t occurred to him to look at it that way. It made hersmile .“ S o …” he said brightly,as a subject change .“ Tell me about you. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Where were you born? How long has it just been you and Izzy ? ”
    “ I t’ s none of your business , ” she mumbled.
    “ Was that in answer to all of the questions or one in particular ? ”
    “ All of them and any more that you plan to ask . ”
    “ Well tha t’ s not very friendly . ” He laughed.
    “ I never claimed to be