He hissed and pushed out his chest, his breath quickening, teeth clenched.

Wheeler was an impressive male. A firm physique, tight ropes of muscles along his arms, powerful hands, and exquisite eyes. I’d never seen such a pale shade of brown, and it made his pupils stand out when they were dilated. I didn’t mind the short circle beard around his mouth and the light dusting of whiskers on his face… even though some of it had scratched at my skin.

Remembering our kiss in the back of his car filled my veins with heat. But why wouldn’t he touch me?

I pulled away from him and lowered my arms. At the loss of contact, he stepped closer.

“What?” I asked, looking up at him with arched brows.

He scratched his arm, dodging my gaze. “What do I have to say to get you to do that again?”

“How about… something dirty.”

A flush of color touched his face. Wheeler wasn’t going to ask for what he wanted, so I began to undo his belt.

“Tell me about the women you normally sleep with.”

“Thin, blond…”

“No, I don’t care about what they look like. What kind of lovers were they?”

He sucked in a sharp breath when I stretched the latch and freed the metal prong. “Submissive. Predictable.”

“But that’s not what you like, is it?” I reached around and loosened the belt from the loops. “I’m a perceptive woman. I pick up on subtle gestures most people ignore, like when your breath becomes shallow, or how many times you blink when I say certain words. I think I know what presses your buttons, but I’ve never met a man so afraid to be pushed.”

“It’s not normal,” he bit out through clenched teeth.

I folded the belt, looking up at him thoughtfully. “What’s normal? Predictable? Submissive? Is that more attractive to you than a dominant woman who wants to do something naughty?”

His lips parted, and I glanced down at his erection.

“I didn’t like those men touching you.” He reached out and caressed my cheek with the back of his knuckles. “I got turned on when you attacked them. Do you think that’s strange?”

I licked my lips, drawing in his gaze. “I think that’s the sexiest thing a man has ever said to me.”

Wheeler stepped closer until our bodies touched. He cupped my face with his hand, lightly grazing his thumb over my bruised eye. “I can’t seem to shake you out of my mind. Maybe I’m punishing myself.”

“Why? Because I’m a panther or a stripper?”

His proximity clouded my thoughts, and I found myself aroused by the ink on his body and the sensual feel of his rough hand against my skin.

“Neither. It’s because you’re too good for me.”

I laughed unexpectedly. “Why would you say a thing like that about a woman like me?” I’d never once had a man say I was too good for him, and that made my heart clench.