Page 33 of Queen of Whispers and Mist

He pushed past her into the room and sat down on the bed, wasting no time before leaning down to remove his boots. “The way I see it, there’s nothing remotely fair about me being the one to take the floor. You got a problem sharing a bed with me, you’re welcome to sleep somewhere else. But I’m the one that got us passage, meaning I’m the one that acquired these lodgings. As such,” he said, tossing his boots on the other side of the narrow cabin and leveling her with his smoldering gaze, “the bed and everything else in this room is mine.”

When she didn’t immediately respond, he stood and removed his shirt. Holding her stare in a blatant challenge, he grasped the dark fabric from the back of his collar and pulled it slowly up and over his head.

Her stomach clenched as slab after tantalizing slab of defined, rock-hard muscle revealed itself, though her eyes seemed caught on the dusting of dark hair running down the center until disappearing beneath the waistband of his pants. If she’d been in a position to form a coherent thought, she would have been furious at herself for becoming so distracted by a few measly muscles.

The perky bitch was back in her head again, her peals of laughter practically deafening.

Measly? Oh, sweetheart, you’re not even fooling yourself with that load of horseshit you’re shoveling. Everything about this man is perfection. Your mouth is literally watering. Careful now, you might actually be drooling.

Shadow belatedly turned away and wiped at her mouth, face on fire and heart racing.

That stupid voice continued its tirade, though this time it was accompanied by Ronan’s knowing chuckle.He’s luring you in faster than a fisherman with a net. What are you waiting for? Just give in already. You know you want to.

She knew it was a study in madness to argue with herself, but she felt compelled to do it anyway.He’s my kidnapper.

No, he isn’t. If you really believed that, you would have gutted him and fed him to the sharks by now. Stop lying to yourself. Whatever reason he had for bringing you on this journey, harming you was never part of it.

Mouth dry, Shadow licked her lips and willed her breathing to even out. That inner voice might be annoying, but it had a point. Not once since waking and seeing he was onboard with her had she believed she was in any kind of danger. She may not know his motives, but she trusted him. Without knowing anything else, she knew that.

“A gentleman would sleep on the floor,” she grumbled.

“I never claimed to be a gentleman.”

A low throb pulsed between her legs.Stars, but he made that sound like a good thing.

“You’re serious about sharing the bed?”

“Sweetheart, I’m already under the covers.”

She spun around, finding him reclining on the feather mattress with a blanket draped over his lower body. “You better not be naked under there.”

“Or what?” He quirked a brow, sitting up a little and making all those muscles...activate.

Who needs that many abs?

“Shadow?” he pressed, the hint of a laugh in his voice.

She was caught out, and she knew it. “Ugh, fine. We can share, but there are rules.” Stomping over to the bed, she pulled the pillow out from beneath his head along with two others and lined them up in the middle.

“Do you really think a pillow is going to stop me if I had a mind to hold you?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

The throb between her legs became more insistent, and she had to fight hard to keep from returning his playful smile. “It will if you know what’s good for you. Any part of you touches any part of me in the night, I’m breaking it off.” She eyed his crotch meaningfully. “So I’d recommend you keep to your side of the bed.”

His smirk turned to a baleful glower as he protectively cupped his lap. “What happens when you get cold and end up being the one reaching out to cuddle me?”

“Never going to happen, Butcher.”

“You sure about that, kitten?” His voice dropped in a delicious taunt. “I’ve made a liar of you before.”

Her heart gave a little flutter. She may not remember the occasion in question, but she had no trouble believing it was true. Still, this was one battle she refused to lose. Leaning down until their noses all but touched, she matched his soft croon, “There’s only one way that scenario is ever going to play out, Ronan.”

“Mmm... what’s that? I’m all ears.”

His eyes dipped down to her lips as she whispered, “In. Your. Dreams.” She pulled back, not bothering to hide her laugh when he had to blink a few times to refocus on her face. “I’d rather die of frostbite than turn to you for warmth.”

“You say that now. Wait until you’re in danger of your tits falling off. What a tragedy that would be. There’s a shortage of perfect breasts, you know. Would be a shame to lose yours.”

“I’ll take my chances,” she said with a huff of genuine laughter. Grumpy Ronan was fun to poke, and sexy, swoony Ronan made her decidedly hot, but playful Ronan? He was damn near irresistible. She couldn’t let him realize it, or he’d use it to his advantage and wear her down... more than he already had.

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