NOLA COULD NOT get over how sexy Bane looked in his Game of Thrones costume. He’d let her braid several locks of hair, and smear black streaks on his face and shoulders. He’d donned arm and wrist bands, draped a thick leather belt around his middle, and pulled a loin cloth over his leathers. Finally, he topped off the outfit with tall brown boots. The sword rested against his back, and daggers hung at his sides.

As she’d suspected, no one glanced twice at his weapons. They did, however, give his body multiple once-overs and wipe away drool.

She wished she’d chosen the Mother of Dragons costume for herself. Alas. As an inside joke, she’d gone with a sexy alien, coloring her skin green and shimmying into an ultratiny silver dress. On her head was a band with two bulb antenna rising from the sides.

Zion looked good, too, of course, but he couldn’t compare to Bane.

Now, they walked the streets of New Orleans, on their way to the warehouse. Night had fallen, crowds illuminated by an array of streetlamps as people celebrated the holiday. So far, she’d spotted a handmaid, Black Panther, Deadpool, Thor and several versions of Aquaman. There were also nurses, sexy cats, cavewomen, cops, Playboy Bunnies, unicorns and a seductive skeleton. No one seemed to mind the freezing temperature. Colored lights flashed here and there. Laughter rang out, booze passed around. In the air, different perfumes clashed with the smell of fried foods and car exhaust.

“I know we’re out here to do murder and all,” she said to Bane, “but I’ve set my phaser to fun.”

A drunken man in a wedding dress stumbled past them. Bane pulled her closer to his side. Anyone who’d looked twice at her soon came face-to-face with a hulking golden god ready to spew fire.

“When we retire for the evening,” he said, “my phaser will show you all the fun you desire. I’ve always wanted to bed a green other-worlder.”

She chuckled, the most decadent shivers traipsing down her spine. He’d been saying the sweetest, most romantic things to her. And, after they’d done another mattress mambo in the hotel, he’d cuddled her, as promised.

A sense of contentment kept trying to sweep her away, but she continued to resist, afraid she’d only set herself up for heartbreak. Before she could even think about a forever with Bane, she had to tell him about Dark Nola. How would he react? Would he grow to hate her again, as she feared?

“Always...meaning the past two hours?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

“No laughing, dove.” The grip on her hip became bruising, and she loved it, loved when his intensity came out to play. “You know it annihilates my control.”

Oh, yes. She knew. “Maybe I like what happens when you lack control.”

He paused to lower his head, about to kiss her...