Lucas chuckled. “This conversation is taking on a really morbid turn. You love snow and sunshine. I love storms and the rain. I don’t know why, I just do.”

“We’re complete opposites,” she said.

“Or we’re a complete unit.”

He was trying to get to know her.

“Tell me something about yourself,” she said. “Something no one else could ever know.”

“If I answer this, you have to answer one of mine.”

“Sure.” She didn’t see the harm in answering questions. They were all quite easy.

“Let’s see, I have a really weird hatred of frogs,” he said.

She stopped. “Really?”

“Yes, really. They’re weird.”

“They’re frogs.”

“Yeah, and have you seen them? Slimy and making weird noises, and the way they move.” He stuck his tongue out and shuddered. “Freak me out.”

She giggled. “Okay. I know how to freak you out now.”

“Don’t even think about it.”

“I won’t. I promise. As it happens, I’m not a big frog fan either.” In fact, whenever one crossed her path, she’d develop sweats and freak out, screaming. He didn’t need to know that. “What’s your question?”

“Have you ever been with someone?”

“What do you mean?”

“Before the mating and after it? Have you had a boyfriend?”

She hesitated in answering. “No. No boyfriend for me.”

“None at all?”

She shook her head.

His hand tightened around hers. “Does that mean you’re a virgin?”

“That is a second question, and I haven’t asked you another,” she said.

“Ask away.”

“How many women have you been with?”

“Do you really want to ask me that?” he asked.

“If you want to get an answer to your last question, then I get to know the answer to this one.” They had stopped. He hadn’t let go of her hand.

“I know what you’re trying to do.”

“I’m trying to get to know you,” she said.

He snorted. “Since I discovered you were my mate, there hasn’t been anyone.”

“Not one person?”

“Nope.”

This did surprise her.

“And before?”

“That’s another question.”

“No, it’s not. You’re avoiding the answer because you don’t like it.”

“Can we just leave it?” he asked.

“No. I’ll give you an answer as soon as you answer mine.” She saw his jaw clench.

“I didn’t count. There were a lot, probably more than ten girls. I didn’t care, Mabel. I know why you asked that questions. You don’t want to give us a chance, so you’re going to find any ways and means to keep us apart. To put this void up. I’m trying here, but I can’t change what happened before you.”

“Yes.”

“What?”