Page 16 of Russian Roulette
He strides over to the table, angrily pops open another beer, and takes a long swig. “I wouldn’t go that far,” he says, settling close beside me. “After all, I’ve got you alone now.” He leans closer, his tatted arm brushing mine, and studies me silently.
I meet his direct gaze with my own, refusing to break eye contact. We’re squared off against each other, with neither one willing to give an inch. He’s deliberately trying to intimidate me, and I won’t let him. His eyes burn jet black with a dangerous glint.
Something primal passes between us, causing perspiration to slide down my back in tiny rivulets. The atmosphere stills as the oxygen sucks straight out of the air.
“What do you want with me?” I ask, though it’s clear whathewants. His desire for me is clear as day in his dark eyes. I’ve never met a man to look so potently male with clothes on; making me imagine just how much more tantalizing he’d be naked.
Vulcan’s response is just a predatory smile crossing his deeply tanned face, right before he lowers his mouth to my ear, nibbling it wickedly. “I remember you like to bite,” he whispers against my neck, causing chills to run down my spine. “Turn about is fair play.”
Oh my God! What am I in for now?
“Don’t touch me!” I reach a hand up to shove his head away. His unruly hair is soft against my hand, and I fight the temptation to curl my fingers deep into the dark strands.
He lets out a low chuckle and pulls back. “Do I make you nervous?” he asks.
“No.” I abruptly stand and wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans. “I need to go to the little girl’s room. Do you have a bathroom in your RV I can use, or am I expected to go behind the nearest cactus?”
“And take the chance of you getting cactus needles in your luscious ass?” He pointedly glances over to give my backside a long, lingering inspection. “I’d never let that happen because I’d hate to ruin perfection. Come on in. I’ll show you around my place. Your home foronenight.”
“Why the emphasis on ‘one’? Honestly, do you think I’d want to stay longer? What woman would? In case you haven’t noticed, the accommodation here isn’t exactly what anyone would call luxurious. It’s not even up to bare-bones budget standards.”
He swings open the door to his tiny RV and ducks to go inside. The space is cramped and tight. I step up beside him to take a quick glance around. A small kitchen area takes up one side of the RV with a mini refrigerator sitting beside a single burner stove. A small sink, microwave and small table round out the kitchen, along with a silverware drawer and two cabinets. I make a note of the drawer in case I get an opportunity to search for a weapon. I carry a switchblade in my jeans pocket, but another knife or two tucked away in my clothes can’t hurt.
On the opposite side of the tight aisle is a neatly made twin-size bed with one small blanket and pillow. The bed is too small for a man Vulcan’s size, much less two people.
Only one bed?
“Is this where you sleep?” I point to the bed. “It’s no bigger than a child’s bed.”
“Not much,” he replies with a shrug. “Usually, I drag a sleeping bag outside and sleep under the stars. I breathe better out there than cooped up in here.”
“With all those snakes and scorpions you warned me about? Aren’t you scared of them? Or did you make that up to unnerve me?”
“They’re too terrified of me to sting or bite,” he says with a grin. “Unlike you.”
Like a panther on the prowl, he closes the space left between us. Even though he doesn’t touch me, I sense his nearness, like a hot blanket closing in on me. There’s no doubt Vulcan can turn up the temperature in a space without even trying. He must detect something on my face by the way his gaze suddenly narrows. His smile dies off and an element of raw, intense awareness blazes between us.
I don’t think to react, not until his muscular arms encircle my waist. I try to pull back and find the effort futile because his arms are bands of steel as he brings me chest-to-chest with him. By holding me close, I’m achingly aware of every strong, masculine outline of his frame. My head is reeling.
“Are you scared of me now?” His breath is hot against my ear. “Because you should be. You’re all alone out here in the desert where no one would hear you scream.”
He doesn’t give me time to answer. Instead, he moves so fast I don’t have time to blink, shoving me up harder against the bathroom door. Before I can thump at his bare chest, he lifts my wrists high above my head and pins them easily with one hand. His other slides to my throat, lightly squeezing in a dominating, possessive way. He doesn’t need to exert too much pressure to tell me he can. I’m fully aware of what he’s capable of.
He’s deadly.
His thumb softly caresses the thumping vein at the side of my throat. “I feel your heartbeat racing so fast,” he whispers, sending chills throughout my body. He laughs softly at my helplessness. “Jade,” he murmurs slowly into my neck. “You didn’t answer my question. Tell me the truth. Are you afraid of me? I hope you are.”
His grip on my wrists tightens and I’m heady from being this close to him with my breasts crushed up against his chest. His muscled strength, the way he moves precisely like a wild animal stalking his prey, fogs my senses and paralyzes my brain. I can’t help feeling a sense of vulnerability, but also a sense of exhilaration. This man is making me lose self-control in ways I’d never dreamed possible, and we’ve only just met. I’m torn between wanting to run and needing to stay.
Where has he been all my life?
The crazy thought pops into my brain and I fight not to be drawn deeper into his spell. It would be so easy to melt into his arms and let sexual desire take over. All I can focus on is the way he’s making me feel; alive and excited in a way I haven’t experienced ever before.
Will this be a moment I’ll never forget, or will it be a mistake I’ll regret for the rest of my life?
“No, I’m not afraid of you,” I say firmly, using all my strength to break away from his grip. I won’t let him know how much he affects me, how much I’m drawn to him. He’s playing a game with me, trying to get a reaction, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of learning he has power over me.
“Liar,” he says, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Your eyes give everything away. If you were wise, you would be scared. But I can tell you love playing with fire. Be careful, little girl, or you’ll get scorched.”