Page 62 of Prisoner of Steel and Shadow

Shadow had to fight the urge to squirm as his appreciative gaze raked down her body. “And I quite enjoy the time I spend alone.”

“Mmm,” he hummed, his eyes darkening as they lifted back to hers, his smile turning wicked. “So do I. Butalone timedoesn’t hold a candle to the fun that can be had with a friend, does it?”

She stopped breathing, her mind emptying of everything except the way he was currently staring at her like she was a bunny and he was a wolf ready to pounce. She blinked, clearing her throat before she could ask, “Why’d you say it like that?”

“Like what?” He’d adopted his most innocent tone, but she knew he was intentionally baiting her.

“All”—she waved a hand at him—“you know.”

“I’m afraid I don’t. Please, enlighten me, kitten.”

She barely had a chance to register the endearment before she blurted, “Smolder and sex.”

His eyes widened, and he snickered. “Smolder and sex?”

She gave him a jerky nod.

He loosely clasped his hands together and regarded her with a slight shake of his head. “Now that’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“That while I was simply suggesting a friendly chat while we wait for our host, your mind automatically turned to sex.”

“I... but you... I didnot.”

“You did, kitten.”

She scowled, hating the way his sinful smirk had birds taking flight in her belly. “Don’t call me that.”

“Killer, then. Does that suit you better?”

“It’s at least accurate and less offensive.”

“Kitten is offensive?”

“I don’t particularly enjoy being compared to a weak and pathetic creature.”

“Oh, kitten. There’s nothing weak or pathetic about you.”

“Exactly.”

Those fucking lips of his twitched again, and she had to fight hard not to lean forward and nip the bottom one with her teeth. Shadow drew in a shaky breath, feeling a bit like she’d been hypnotized. Surely these urges weren’t coming from her? Someone needed to sew that perfect mouth shut. Its seductive curl and the innuendo-filled words that came out of it were a menace to society.

“What was that?” she asked, realizing she’d missed whatever he’d been saying.

“I said you seem to be forgetting how fierce kittens can be. How even the smallest among them can shred a man to ribbons, leaving him bleeding and absolutely shocked by the fact...”

That did sound like something she would do.

“...and even bleeding out, the little one will still have the man at her mercy the next time she comes around wanting to play.”

“There you go making it sexual again.”

“Are you sure that’s not your doing,kitten?”

She gritted her teeth. “I am not your kitten. For one thing, I don’t have claws.” She lifted her hands, giving him a tight smile as she showed off her neatly trimmed nails.

“Don’t you? Those blades of yours have certainly shredded a man or two.”

---