Lance jumped into the bed of the pickup and crouched over her. His blue eyes were filled with amber flecks and a day’s growth of stubble made his already hard jaw even manlier.
“Lance, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
She’d meant to admonish him, but the words came out sounding sexily breathless instead of angry. She couldn’t fight the way her body was reacting to his. He’d taken her like a caveman and she’d loved it. All that was left was for him to take her by the hair and drag her into his cave. Or in his case, into his ranch house.
“Babe, I can’t explain. Not right now.”
He licked his lips and she almost spread her legs to tempt him to lick her where it counted. “I don’t understand.”
“I know. But you will. After the night’s over, you will.”
From any other man, aside from Grant or Duncan, those words would’ve sounded like a threat. Coming from Lance, they were like a promise.
Still, she was stunned when he wrapped the rope around one wrist, then the other. “Lance, no. Don’t.”
“I have to, babe. Trust me. It’ll be okay.” Once he had her wrists bound, he looped the end of the rope around the railing running along the side of the truck.
“You don’t have to tie me up.” It was foolish, every part of her rational mind told her it was, but it was the truth. He didn’t have to tie her up. She’d go with him willingly and do anything he wanted.
He tested the cords, then took a rag lying in the back and tore it into two pieces. He wrapped each piece around a wrist, protecting her skin from the coarse material. “I have to do this.”
She didn’t pull at her bindings. Instead, she tilted her head to bring his gaze to hers. His eyes shone with even more amber now. “Lance, I’ll go with you. I won’t run away. Just untie me.”
“I know, but I don’t want to risk not having you. You like it, don’t you?”
She would’ve had to lie do deny it. “Yes.”
“And you know you’re ours. It’s just that plain and simple. You feel it, don’t you?” He went to his knee next to her. “You can’t tell me you don’t feel it.”
He didn’t have to tell her what it was. She knew as sure as she could see the sun starting to dip behind the horizon. “Yes. I feel it.”
Her insides churned as the sensation grew in intensity. Her blood boiled and the heat between her legs whipped outward to take charge of her entire body. She was on fire and the only thing that could extinguish the inferno were the men she lusted after.
Lusted, yes. But loved, too. If the truth were known, the love would outburn the lust. The two emotions together formed an unbreakable bond that would forge them together for the rest of their lives. One of them was more than any person could have handled, but together, she was powerless, a willing subject to its domination. She didn’t know how she knew, but she didn’t doubt it for a moment.
His smile was filled with relief. And desire. “Good.” His gaze dropped to her breasts. “I’m not strong enough to resist it or you. I know it’s taking a risk, but I can’t stop myself.”
“Bullshit!”
Grant towered over the kneeling Lance a moment before he grabbed his friend’s shirt, and in one swift motion, brought him to his feet, then slung him against the back of the cab.
She grabbed the ropes that bound her and pushed her way over to the corner of the truck, then brought her knees to her chest. Lance regrouped, snarled, then threw his body at Grant. The sound of their bodies hitting echoed and she cringed, thinking that one or both of them had to have broken a bone.
“Fuck off, Grant!”
Grant’s hand was around Lance’s throat. “You have to stop. You’re going to ruin everything.”
“No. I won’t believe that. I have to have her.” Bringing his arms up together, Lance broke Grant’s hold. The power of his blow sent them falling over the edge of the pickup.
She scooted over to the other side and leaned over as far as her rope would allow. Grant and Lance wrestled on the ground, each landing solid hits. They cursed and got to their feet, ready to attack again.
“Stop it! Grant, stop. I want to go with you. Both of you!”
Grant glanced at her, amber flashing in his eyes, then froze and stared at her. She wasn’t sure he knew who she was or if he’d understood a word she’d said. He grunted, then roared a curse word, and threw his body at Lance.
“Hold up! Get these two apart.” A dark haired man and two other men who looked like they could be his brothers raced up to Grant and Lance. One of them had Duncan by the arm, leading him along as they strode toward the pickup. The dark haired man took Grant by the arms and hauled him away from Lance who was getting dragged back by the second man.