deserves whatever you give her,” Abe shouted.
Revis’s eyes were cold, hard, frightening as he advanced on Leah.
She backed around the side of the table, putting a chair between them. “Leave me alone,” she warned. “I don’t want you touching me.”
“You’re much too pretty for me to care what you want.” Revis tossed the chair across the room.
Leah kept backing, her hands going across the shoulders of Bud and Cal who kept on eating. “Help me,” she pleaded, but the young men ignored her.
“The boys obey only me,” Revis said, advancing. “Now why don’t we stop these games and you come to me? I rule this little empire and everyone here gives me what I want. Or they wish they had,” he added.
Verity began whimpering in the corner.
“Is that what you did to Verity? Force her?”
Revis gave a secret little smile. “When my women disobey me, I punish them.”
In spite of herself, Leah shivered. If she ever got out of this she’d take a whip to her brother. Her eyes flickered toward Abe and in those few seconds, Revis was upon her.
He caught her arm and wrenched it behind her back, forcing her close to him. “You have fire in you, my pretty,” he whispered, “a fire that I plan to share.”
“Stop it!” she cried, and there was more pleading in her voice than she intended.
Revis’s lips went to her neck. “You’ll learn to enjoy what I offer,” he said silkily.
Leah could hardly think. It wasn’t that she was responding to his hot mouth on her neck, but somehow she knew that if he got what he wanted from her, her life, and probably Wesley’s, would be over. The only way she could save herself was to stop him.
She wasn’t any match for his strength, but Bud and Cal were. If only she could get them involved.
“I don’t like this public lovemaking,” Revis whispered. “Come outside where we can be totally alone. I’ll show you the man inside this thief you’re so frightened of.”
“I’m not—,” she began.
Revis’s hand tightened on her throat, the thumb pressing into a pulse spot. “Perhaps you should be frightened. I like a woman’s resistance.”
“Because you can’t find a woman willing to have you?” she spat up at him.
Revis raised one dark eyebrow. “Perhaps you should be taught a few manners. A little pain might make you less unwilling.”
“She deserves it,” Abe injected.
“Shut up,” Revis said with a growl, his eyes never leaving Leah’s face. “Did your stupid brother tell you about me? I take what I want and I use it until it’s all gone. You can’t resist me, can’t fight me, because I always win.”
With that his mouth took hers in a rough, fierce kiss.
When he was done, the light in his eyes told Leah he was sure she’d want him now. He was certain his kiss would make her fall down at his feet.
With a snarl, Leah spat in his face then turned her head away as he raised his hand to strike her.
“Bud and Cal,” she said, “if you don’t protect me, I’ll never cook for you again.”
The statement made Revis halt his hand in midair. Abruptly he released her, pushing her back against the cabin wall. His handsome face twisted into an ugly smile. “You think you can turn my brothers against me? Do you think that perhaps you can control what is mine?”
“No, I…I don’t want you touching me, that’s all. I don’t want control.” Something about him frightened her more than ever. Her hands clutched at the wall behind her as if she might be able to claw her way to freedom.
“You need to learn that I am the master here and no damn woman—.” Again, he raised his hand to strike her.
But the blow never landed.