Free A Marine’s Proposal by Lisa Carlisle Page B

lured Slade onto the dance floor. Perhaps she was used to the roving eyes by now.
    Although he tried to loosen up and enjoy dancing with her, Slade clenched his jaw as he caught the eyes and stared down the men leering at her. He counted to ten to calm the raging urge to pummel their eyes from their heads.
    “Just ignore it,” Caitlyn said.
    “How do you stand it?” he asked.
    “I don't like it,” she responded. “And if it gets too uncomfortable, I'll tell them to knock it off. If I spent my time chastising every guy on this island who looks at me too long, it would be a part-time job.”
    She took both his hands in hers to pull Slade in closer. “Forget about them,” she whispered.
    The softness in her silky voice made him take notice. Slade wrestled with the beast within him that threatened to let loose and focused on the beautiful woman whispering in his ear, making him focus on other primal urges.
    He was thankful they had a few drinks at the restaurant because he did not dance. “You're right. Let's celebrate,” he said.
    He tried to ignore the way Caitlyn's body moved as she danced. He didn't recognize the song playing, some sort of electronic Euro mix, but she moved with the music without reservation. He stood there stiffly, watching her dark-blond hair swayed around her shoulders, so much more feminine than the slicked-back French twists she often sported while in uniform. Her round hips moved seductively, whether she intended to or not, while her dress flowed around her legs with her movements. Slade's new preoccupation was not to get an erection as he danced with her.
    Her body was distracting enough, but when Slade glanced up at her face and saw her dusky pink lips parted, he looked away.
    “It's a beautiful night,” Caitlyn said, peeking up.
    Slade's eyesight followed hers as he focused on the clear sky overhead. With the abundance of lights in the city, not too many stars were visible, but the ones that were shined bright.
    “If this was a real wedding, I would say we ended up with the perfect night,” Caitlyn remarked.
    “Agreed,” Slade said, but when he peered down at Caitlyn and caught her eyes searching his, a lump formed in his throat. The way her eyes pierced his almost unglued him. He fought the urge to tell her how much he wanted her, how he always had. Wanting a diversion, he said, “I'm getting a drink. You don't want one, right?”
    “I'm good.”
    “I’ll be right back.” He grinned. “Try to stay out of trouble, Mrs. Masters.”
    ****
    Moments after Slade left, a man asked her to dance. She guessed he was American military by his close-cut haircut and Southern accent.
    “No, thanks.”
    He leaned in to whisper in her ear in what she guessed was an attempt to be seductive, but his slurry speech and odor of strong alcohol repelled her.
    “Come on, babe. I’ve been watching you dance. It’s my turn.”
    “No,” she said more forcefully. “I’m here with someone.” She searched for Slade, but couldn’t see him through the crowd.
    “I’d give you a much better time than that clown,” he said and then grabbed her hand, forcing it on his erection while he tried to kiss her. She pulled her hand away, pushed him off, and kneed him where he had just forced her hand. When he keeled forward onto her, she pushed him away and he fell onto the sticky dance floor. The crowd moved, but barely reacted, and people continued their conversations. Caitlyn heard some male chortling above the pumping dance music and noticed a group of military men laughing.
    She marched over to them, the blood pounding in her veins. “I don’t find sexual assault funny in any situation. Do you?”
    “No, no,” they protested, waving their arms. One said, “He was such a big mouth saying how you looked like you wanted it and he was going to give it to you and now look at him.” He pointed to his friend struggling to his feet.
    Caitlyn sauntered by him and bent down, “You’re lucky I don’t press