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Such fire in her eyes… such spark. Leaf’s blood heated inexplicably, and he couldn’t tell if it was from anger or arousal. They were clearly from different worlds, but the more time he spent with her, the more she challenged him and the more he felt drawn to her. He leaned into her space, enjoying her flinch at his proximity. It wasn’t from fear. Well, perhaps a little when she was reminded of his size and strength. But the flinch was quickly followed by a dilation of pupils, a caught breath, and a pleasant flush to her grubby cheeks.
Her attraction to him was wholly refreshing. Most females wilted under his domineering energy. But not her. Perhaps that’s why his mouth continued to say stupid things. “Publicly, I expect you to act like you are in love with me—as mates are known to do. I expect you to lie with your wicked human tongue when I cannot. And I expect you to be a good little mate and do as you are told.”
“Do as I am told?”
“Obviously, in return, I will continue to protect you. I’ll even feed and clothe you.” He plucked her dirty, torn dress. “If that includes a Well-damned bikini, I will find it for you. You’ll have to look the part if we’re to convince the Prime you’re my mate.”
“Do you even know what a bikini is?”
“You’ve mentioned it before. It must be your outfit of choice.”
Her eye twitched. She stepped forward until her soft breasts clashed with his torso, and it was his turn to catch his breath. From the way his skin tingled, his linen shirt may as well be missing.
Looking up fearlessly, she asked coyly, “And exactly whatactsdo you expect of me,Papi?”
His nostrils flared. She kept using her secret language on him, which infuriated him, especially when she annunciated thePsarcastically, as though that last word was an insult. Papi, as in a pup? Like an infant vampire or wolf? He despised not knowing and refused to lower himself and ask for a translation. Their relationship would end once he delivered her to the Prime and got what he needed. The less he knew about her personally, the better.
“Touch me,” he explained dryly. “Smile, kiss, gaze lovingly into my eyes. What the fuck did couples do in your time publicly? Do you require a written list of acceptable behaviors?”
Outrage flushed her complexion. It made her eyes sparkle, her skin luminous, and her lips—his gaze flicked down to them. They were rosy, plump, and extremely biteable. He wondered what she would do if he did that very thing. Indignation became her, and it aroused him.
“Yes,” he murmured, imagining how nicely she would clean up. He wiped dirt from her cheek with his thumb. There was a striking face beneath all that mess. “Once you bathe, wipe that sullen look from your face, and dress into something more fitting, I imagine it won’t be hard for me to pretend. I might even enjoy kissing you.”
In fact… he lowered his lips to hers.
His face jerked to the side. His cheek stung. It took him a moment to understand that she’d slapped him.
“¿Sabes qué, Papi?” She shoved him hard, causing him to stumble. The whites of her eyes made her appear a little unhinged, but again, he desired her even more. She tossed her hands in the air and shouted, “Quédate ahí con tu ‘pretend mating’ y déjame en paz.”
“You seem… disturbed.”
“No shit. I’m still coming to terms with the fact my world is gone. My brother is an evil tyrant. I almost died. And you look like my friend, but you’re ahijo de puta—gah!”
She stormed down the riverbank. She had no horse, no food, no weapon, no shoes.
His lips twitched. “Where are you going?”
“¡Vete al diablo!”
“I can’t understand you.” He rolled his eyes.
“Understand this!” She faced him, flipped up her middle finger, and continued walking.
Laughter burst from his lips. He laughed so hard he spooked the horse. Even when she stomped back as though she was about to chop him into little pieces with that razor-blade glare, he couldn’t stop.
He laughed through her absurd attempts at hitting him with her dainty fists, more of her indecipherable Spanish, and the power of a thousand fiery arrows shot from her eyes. All he felt was humor and the underlying desire to throw her over the horse, lift her skirt, and…It must be the exhaustion.
“You laugh at my misfortune?Hijo.De. Puta.” Nova slapped him on the biceps. “Son. Of. A. Bitch.”
She pointed at his face and said… nothing. Her lips flattened. Her complexion went red. Then she pulled her hair and screamed in frustration. Her cape flung from her shoulders when she pivoted away. She tried to straighten it, gave up, and continued walking off in a huff.
A jolt of panic hit Leaf’s chest.
“Nova.” He jogged after her and spun her to meet his eyes.
Anger often masked vulnerability. She was so alive and confident, yet sad and lonely. He felt it in his bones. He was wrong to laugh at a time like this.
“Kiss me without permission,” she warned, “and I will bite off your tongue. Understood?”
