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Page 268

| advantage of you. Men are always hungry for women in the outback." |

| "Don't forget that I am dressed like a man," Sasha reminded him, lifting her chin stubbornly. "You were fooled." |

| His lips tugged into a smile. "So, Spike, what am I to do with you? Leave you here to prove that you can defend yourself from all sorts of animals, two and four-legged, or do I take you to my camp and to bed with me?" |

| A hot flush rose up to Sasha's cheeks at the prospect of sharing any sort of bed with him again, be it beneath the roof of their cabin or beneath the stars. She smiled bashfully up at Ashton. "Do I have a choice?" she teased. |

| "Do you need one?" Ashton countered. |

| Sasha smiled up at him a moment longer, then flung herself into his arms. "Oh, Ashton, I am so glad that you aren't really all that angry with me," she said, sighing. "And, yes, I want to go back to your camp with you. It'sit's been horrid being alone. Just horrid!" |

| He placed his hands to her cheeks and lifted her face so that their eyes could meet. "I will bed you tonight, but tomorrow you must return home with one of our men as your escort," he said firmly. "It can't be any other way, Sasha. Do you hear?" |

| Her blood running hot with a sudden anger, Sasha jerked herself away from him. Grabbing up her blanket and rifle, she marched to her horse and, fitting a foot in a stirrup, swung herself up into the saddle. Taking the reins, she gave Ashton an angry stare as he hurried to her horse's side. |

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