“I cocked my eyebrow at her. "Are you kidding me, Clare?" I indicated to the dead man on the broken pine table. "There is a dead Rogue in your kitchen." "Why is there a dead Rogue in my kitchen?" "Because I killed him in there.”

“I don't know what they are. They aren't completely human, so I don't know what to call them." I pulled one of the bags over the man's head, then rolled it down to his waist. My fingers brushed Clare's; the feel of her skin sent a warm tingle firing up my arms. I met her gaze, and without thinking too much about it, I slid my right hand over hers. God, I had missed her."Owen, there is a dead body between us," she said, her gaze never straying from mine."Best be thankful for that, flower." I pushed down everything I wanted to say. There wasn't time, and her bloody kitchen definitely wasn't the place.”

“Why did you choose to save me?”“I could not let you die.” He placed the plate and glass on the kitchen counter.“But you have let goodness knows how many people die. Why me?”“You made me...” He leaned against the counter and looked at her. “You made me…feel.”

“I took a deep breath and kept my focus fixed on her. "Making me chase you wouldn't be a good idea right now, flower," I stated, fully aware of my Wolf."No, it wouldn't, but you need to stay over there," she said firmly.My brow furrowed. "Why?""Because, if you come near me, I will want to kiss you," she said, nibbling her lower lip the way I wanted to."Well good, because I want to kiss you too." I moved back the way I had come, and so did she. "Clare—""No, not good." She shook her head. "Kissing leads to touching, or grinding, or"—she shuddered as her energy suggestively brushed against mine— "or petting, and almost stripping.”

“Ah, the ancient language of sarcasm. How it suits you.""Why thank you, petal. It is one of my many talents, and I happen to be fluent in the language." I dazzled him with my smile."You need to give me a manly nickname.""You haven't given me any reason to give you one yet.""That's harsh.”

“No, I’m not shy." I folded my arms across my shell-covered chest. The press of the hard material against my sensitive nipples caused my core to tighten. “But I usually have to buy a girl a couple of drinks in order to be treated to a show like that.”She turned to look at me, the fringe on her dress swaying with her movement. A thin eyebrow arched, her cherry lips pulled into a dazzling smile. “Well.” The intensity locked in her bright eyes as her green gaze moved from my head to my toes and back again made my entire body tingle. “I guess you owe me a drink, Meghan.”

“Can you stop calling me kid?" I snapped. "It may have escaped your attention, but I am not actually a child."The left corner of his mouth crept upward. "It hasn't escaped my attention.”