Husky, teasing tone this time. At least, she thought he’d tried to make his voice playful. He’d mostly sounded ravenous.

Thunder boomed, shaking the entire mobile home. Her pulse points hammered. “Thanks, I guess?”

“I like your body always,” he continued. He took another step closer, removed and discarded his shirt, revealing a feast of muscle and sinew. “But I dislike that you are wearing so many clothes.” Step. “I dislike that you are standing so far away.” Step. “I dislike that your legs aren’t wrapped around me.” The final step.

Every new word had been gruffer than the last. A sign of his growing arousal?

Finally, he stood directly in front of her, a tower of masculine beauty. As he reached out, her heart nearly burst from her chest. What did he plan to do? What did she want him to do?

Easy—I want him to do everything.

His knuckles brushed her navel, her belly fluttering. When he began toying with her zipper, breath hitched in her lungs.

“Now,” he said. “Tell me what you dislike about me. And hurry. As soon as you’re done, we can end our argument properly—with a kiss.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

How many orgasms should you expect?

AROUSAL CONSUMED NOLA, shocking her once-ignored hormones. Her breathing quickened and shallowed, welcoming a bout of light-headedness. Whatever had wrought this change in Bane...

I like!

While her mind wasn’t sure what was going on, her body said, I do. I know. He wants me madly! Almost as much as I want him. Passion, primitive and wild, doused his gaze. His warmth and scent acted as kindling. Goose bumps spread over her limbs, sensitizing her skin.

One intimate touch, and she might go off like a rocket.

“I dislike... I...” To tell him what she “disliked” about him, she had to think straight. He ruined my brain.

New flashes of lightning lit the vehicle with a soft amber glow. A bandage covered the wound on his shoulder and metal links circled his biceps. Water droplets sluiced down his washboard abs. A golden goodie trail pointed down, where his erection strained the fabric. Like a road map to perfection.

He looked like a painting come to sizzling life.

“You dislike nothing about me?” he asked, one of his pecs jumping. “You think I’m perfect, just the way I am?”

“No, of course not.” Was this how Adwaewethians flirted? “You have numerous flaws. Countless!”

“Wrong. I have one flaw, and it’s a total lack of flaws.”

She sputtered for a moment, only to burst out laughing.

He tensed, peering at her as though he could read every secret lurking behind her eyes. Aggression thrummed from him.

Her amusement died with a strangled breath.

Searching her gaze, he slowly dipped his head until his lips hovered over hers. “Allow me to tell you more of my dislikes.”

“O-okay.”