He closed his eyes, as if praying for strength. When he refocused, he tossed the rag and snuggled up to her, snaking an arm around her middle to tug her against him. His body heat engulfed her, and she almost—almost!—melted. Feels too good.

What if she got used to sleeping with him and he decided to go through with the dumping?

“Five minutes ago,” she said, pushing at his chest to no avail, “you were ready to give me the stinky boot. Now you’re cuddling me. What gives?”

“We took the edge off. We shouldn’t need each other again.” He rested his chin on her crown and trapped her legs between his own, letting her bottom cradle his erection.

“Why are you pushing me away, Bane?”

“For my sanity, I must.”

“Let me go, then. Walk away.”

A terse pause. Gloriously gentle, he brushed the hair from her brow. “I’m strong enough to slay an entire army, but too weak to resist the urge to hold you.”

The guttural admission played havoc with her emotions, sending her on another roller coaster ride. What if he followed through and refused to bed her again?

Want to hold on to him and never let go, want to run away as fast as possible. Have already fallen for him. Will never fall for him, my heart guarded by hellhounds.

“Tell me your plan to defeat Aveline,” she said to mask her upset.

He trailed his hand from her thigh to her throat and gripped her lightly. Not in a threatening manner, but a highly sexual one courtesy of an extremely dominant male. “I plan to spend the next two weeks winning the weapons that will help us fight Aveline.”

“Such as?”

“Zion has a magic wand. Knox carries a healing sword, but someone insists I let the two live,” he grumbled.

“She sounds smart.” She wiggled her bottom against his erection, muttering, “Besides, we already have a magic wand slash healing sword.”

He bent his head to run the lobe of her ear between his teeth. “Did my dove just make a penis joke?”

“Actually, I just uttered a statement of fact,” she replied with a shiver.

His husky chuckle tickled her scalp.

Bane...chuckling... Nola maneuvered to her other side, facing him, but his smile had already dimmed. Dang it!

Picking up the conversation where he’d left off, he said, “After that, we will convince Vale, Zion and Knox to exit the war. Then, at the end of the two weeks, I will attend an Assembly of Combatants and win the All War. The High Council will then send armies of Enforcers to dethrone your world’s leaders. That’s when I’ll perform your Blood Rite. As we wait for Aveline’s arrival, I’ll train you. With your help, she will die. Finally, you’ll rule Terra.” He petted her hair and lapsed into silence.