“Go on,” he said in a low tone that was a dare. “Keep on poking the hungry wolf, see how naked it gets you.”

“His hands clenched. "Sugar, I'm this close to tearing off your clothes and teaching you exactly how badly I take you keeping secrets from me. Your choice. Talk or get naked.”

“I can smell arousal, Talin. You get hot every time you see me half-naked."The erotic need that flared through her body was mortifying. Perhaps that explained the stupidity of her next words. "Maybe I get that way for every half-naked man.”

“I shouldn’t ask you to,” he said, devotion in every word, “but I’m going to. Wait for me, Jess. I’ll come back to you.” Naked emotion turned the sea green into hidden emeralds. Pressing her fingers to his lips, she shook her head. “You never have to ask, Galen. Forever, that’s how long I’d wait for you.”

“A single raised eyebrow. "You've defected, sweetheart. No use worrying about the big, bad wolf now."She was aware of Judd speaking, but her attention never shifted off the man who was a predator, for all that he wore human skin. When he peeled open and held out a bar of some kind, she took it, aware low energy levels could be dangerous when it came to her ability to keep a handle on the cold fire."Thank you."A faint smile, a strange amusement in those icy eyes. "You're welcome."It was the most polite interaction they'd ever had.”

“No self-respecting wolf would eat a rodent - though we might've been able to use your teeth as decorations," Andrew said with a straight face.Teijan hissed out a very unratlike snarl. "Why the hell do I bother to talk to you?""Hawke thinks I give you cheese." He pulled a small, foil-wrapped wedge out of his pocket. "Here you go""*** you" But the Rat alpha was laughing.”

“A faint smile that made every tiny hair on her body rise in quivering attention. "How fast can you run?" A wolf's question.”