He peered down at her, only then realizing he’d been combing his fingers through her hair. Now, he fisted the strands, angling her face the way he liked to better tilt her mouth toward his. But he didn’t let himself kiss her. Is there nothing you cannot do, little dove? So far you’ve freed men from ice, outwitted a beast and led multiple warriors around by the balls. Now you are outsmarting a viking. Yes, we will drive.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The #1 essential for every road trip!

NOLA AND BANE loaded up in her rust bucket of a car and drove into the city, where she pawned the jewelry she’d liberated from his cave. Everything but the gauntlets. Mine. I’ll never share! She’d meant what she’d said. She would treasure them, now and always. In fact, they were coming with her on their trip.

Needful of a few other things, she took her golden god to a one-stop shop for hunters. Though a never-ending sense of urgency stabbed her, she decided to act as if this was a normal day, and she and Bane were normal people on their first date. Why not have fun? They were fighting for their lives, yes, but dying without experiencing true joy struck her as wrong.

On the way into the store, she moved ahead of Bane to reach the automatic doors first. In honor of her decision to enjoy their time together, she pretended to open those doors with magic, waving her hand and saying, “Hocus-pocus.”

He gaped at her, amazed. “What strange power is this?”

She erupted into a fit of laughter. Dark lust eclipsed the amazement in his eyes, and she quieted.

“Your laugh,” he said, his voice soft but rough. Fierce. “Drives. Me. Insane.”

Oh la la. He’s hard again.

As she shopped, Bane remained at her side, silent and stoic, tensing when anyone neared. People stared at him, some admiring, most afraid.

Someone snapped a picture of him. To post online, most likely, and she could imagine the caption. Hot buttered buns. #DoMeBaby.

Okay, she had better hurry this shopping trip along. If Erik monitored social media, he’d learn Bane’s location. Quickening her pace, she threw different items into the basket. Backpacks, XL shirts, another first aid kit, camo pants, camping supplies, snacks, knives, even a handgun and a case of bullets.

When she came to an aisle overflowing with Halloween costumes, she paused. The holiday kicked off in just a few days. And talk about the perfect camouflage! For a single night, they could go anywhere and do anything, and no one would suspect their identities. She grabbed three costumes and headed to check out.

Spotting one of her ex-dates—James—she stopped cold. He stood in line, placing his items on the cashier’s conveyor belt. Dang it! What were the odds? Why was he here? Why now?