First Impressions

“You idiot!” she raged, puffing a bit. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”
    “I told you what I was doing.” Vance stripped off his jacket and tossed it aside.
    “If you think for one minute you can toss me over your shoulder like a bale of hay and get away with it, you’re sadly mistaken.” Shane watched with mounting fury as he unbuttoned his shirt. “And you stop that right now. You can’t
make
me make love with you.”
    “Watch me.” Vance peeled off his shirt.
    “Oh, no, you don’t.” Though she stuck her hands on her hips, the indignant pose lost something as she knelt on the bed. “Just put that right back on.”
    Watching her coolly, Vance dropped it to the floor, then bent to pull off his boots.
    Shane glared at him. “You think you can just dump me on the bed and that’s all there is to it?”
    “I haven’t even started yet,” he informed her as the second boot dropped with a clatter.
    “You simpleminded clod,” she returned, heaving a pillow at him. “I wouldn’t let you touch me if—” She searched for something original and scathing but settled on the standby. “If you were the last man on earth!”
    Vance sent her a long, glittering look before he unbuckled his belt.
    “I told you to stop that.” Shane pointed a warning finger. “I mean it. Don’t you dare take another thing off. Vance!” she added threateningly as he reached for the snap of his jeans. “I’m serious.” The word ended on a giggle. His hands paused; his eyes narrowed. “Put your clothes back on this minute,” she ordered, but pressed the back of her hand to her mouth. Over it, her eyes were wide and brilliant with amusement.
    “What the hell’s so funny?” he demanded.
    “Nothing, not a thing.” With this, Shane collapsed on her back, helpless with laughter. “Funny? No, no, this is a very grave situation.” Convulsed with giggles, she pounded her fists on the bed. “The man is standing there, pulling off his clothes and looking fit for murder. Nothing could be more serious.”
    Shane glanced over at him, then covered her mouth with both hands. “
That
is the face of a man overcome by lust and desire.” She laughed until tears came to her eyes.
    Damn her, Vance thought as a grin tugged at his mouth. He crossed to the bed; then, sitting beside her, he planted his hands on either side of her head. The harder she tried to control her amusement, the more her eyes laughed at him. “Glad you’re having a good time,” he commented.
    She swallowed a chuckle. “Oh, no, I’m furious, absolutely furious, but it was
so
romantic.”
    “Was it?” His grin widened as he considered her.
    “Oh, yes, why you just swept me off my feet.” Her laughter rang through the room. “I don’t know when I’ve been more
aroused
,” she managed.
    “Is that so?” Vance murmured as Shane gave herself wholly to mirth. Very deliberately, he lowered his lips to brush her chin.
    “Yes, unless it was when Billy Huffman pushed me into the briars in second grade. Obviously I inflame males into violent seizures of passion.”
    “Obviously,” Vance agreed, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’ve had several since I tangled with you.” Her fit of giggles ceased abruptly when he caught her earlobe between his teeth. “I think I’m bound to have several more,” he murmured, moving down to her neck.
    “Vance—”
    “Soon,” he added against her throat. “Any minute.”
    “I have to get back,” she began breathlessly. As she attempted to sit up, he pressed a hand to her shoulder to keep her still.
    “I wonder what else might arouse you.” He nibbled at the cord of her neck. “This?”
    “No, I . . .”
    “No?” He gave a deep, quiet laugh, feeling her pulse hammer against his lips. “Something else then.” Her coat was unzipped, and deftly he loosened the range of buttons on her blouse. “This?” Very gently, he touched the tip of her breast with his tongue.
    On a gasp, Shane arched against him. Vance drew her nipple into his mouth to let her taste seep through him. He savored it a moment as Shane dug her nails into his bare shoulders. But when the heat shot into him, he knew he had to pull back before he took her too quickly. He’d been careful since the night they had dined together to keep some space between them. He hadn’t wanted to rush her. Now that he had her in his bed, he intended to savor every moment.
    Vance lifted his head and looked down at her. Her eyes were wide