Since his voice had turned all growly and deep, I once again dipped under his arm until I was free of him and zipped around to the other side of the island. Panting, I stayed there.

His nostrils flared, but I just smiled sweetly now that the granite countertop separated us. Never mind that I was struggling to catch my breath. “That’s not happening, and you seriously need to learn some boundaries.”

“Since when do I need boundaries in my own home?”

“Since you tricked me into joining you here.”

He smirked. “I never tricked you. You made the decision to come here of your own free will.”

I snorted. “Says the cat who’s about to pounce on the mouse.”

“I’m hardly a cat.”

“Really? I think I’ve heard a purr from you a few times. Are you sure you’re not part kitty?”

He laughed, the chuckle rumbling from his chest. “Are you really planning to resist me the entire time we’re here?” He prowled to the end of the counter, his steps steady and silent.

I swiftly sidestepped until we were once again on opposite sides of the island. “Yep.”

He paused his prowling movements. “It’s strange, the feelings you elicit in me.”

“I’m not really sure I want to talk about our feelings. That seems a little too, you know, touchy-feely, and we’re not really the touchy-feely type.”

His eyebrows rose again. “So we’re a type, hmm? But we’re not that kind of couple?”

“That’s not what I meant. I never said we were a couple.”

“Then what did you mean?” He took another step closer, but I moved just as quickly so the hunter couldn’t pounce on me again.

“I meant that I’m not one of those soft, helpless females that always needs to cry and have you listen to how I’m feeling, and you’re not, well, you know—you’re hardly the emotional sharing type.”

“If you would like to cry in my bed, I’ll listen.”

“How touching, but the last time I slept with a man, that wasn’t needed. I’m sure it wouldn’t be needed with you either.”

He stilled, and a glacial scowl descended over his features. “Who did you last sleep with?”

“That wasn’t my point.”

“Well, I’m making it a point. Who?”

“I don’t know.” Gods, it had been months since I’d last slept with a man.

“Was it Carlos?” A hint of fire rolled in his eyes.

I shrugged, and even though I knew better, I couldn’t stop the taunt that slipped from my lips. “Maybe.”

Granted, it’d been years since I’d slept with Carlos, but the hunter didn’t know that.

The demon flames leaped in his eyes as golden light so bright it rivaled the sun flared behind it. “You’re not with Carlos anymore.”

“True, but if you don’t want to know stuff like that you really shouldn’t ask.”

His jaw looked so tight now, I swear his bones were about to crack. “Are you planning to bed him again?”

“Only if I feel like it,” I said, just because I was on a roll now and for once it was nice to see me irritating the hunter versus him getting under my skin.

But at least I was being truthful with my replies, although, the thought of having sex with Carlos when the Fire Wolf was more than happy to scratch that itch . . . I didn’t think I could do it. Even though the sex with my ex had been fantastic, something told me it would be nothing compared to bedding the hunter.

Before I could blink, said hunter was in front of me, his chest pressing into mine as he bent me over the island. He had me angled back so sharply that my shoulder blades brushed the countertop.

Oh mother of all the realms, how could this be turning me on? My breath sucked in, as my insides coiled. Once again, I was reminded of the sheer power the hunter harbored in his veins, and fucking hell, it made me incredibly aroused.

His nostrils flared. “You will not sleep with Carlos. Understood?”

Heat flared in my core at the possessive rage strumming from the hunter. Damn him. Why did I have to react to him like this? It would be so much easier if I didn’t find him so irresistibly attractive.

But did he seriously just tell me what to do?

My gaze narrowed. “You don’t get to decide who I sleep with.”

He snarled with such fury that goosebumps spread across my body, but in my next breath, he disappeared from in front of me. The next thing I knew, he was standing in front of the fire, facing it as his chest heaved. One of his hands was propped on the mantel. His fingers twisted, and I swore the wood began to disintegrate under his fingers as sawdust flitted to the floor.

I watched him for a moment, my own heart racing. My gaze raked over his frame. His shoulders were so incredibly broad, and his back was sculpted with muscle that tapered to a toned waist. Thick quadriceps coated his thighs, and well, I’d seen his junk. The man was hung like a horse.

For a moment, I considered what it would be like if I gave in to this urge we obviously both felt. Truly, what harm could come from some mindless sex? It would certainly be an enjoyable way to pass the time, because I had no doubt it would be a never-ending fuck-fest as the Fire Wolf probably had stamina that rivaled a stallion’s.

But then what? What would happen after our time here was done? I knew sooner or later the Supernatural Forces would catch Jakub-Dipshit and this would all come to an end, and where would that leave me? Either chained to a mated wolf who refused to let me go, even though his human side had never wanted me, or worse, I would be head over heels in love with him while he’d worked me out of his system.

Carlos’s warning came back to haunt me. Can’t be a normal mate instinct. My ex could be right. The Fire Wolf wasn’t a normal werewolf. He was too demony, too quick to walk on that morally gray line. For all I knew, he didn’t even believe in monogamy. What demon did?

Carlos might be onto something.

Because what the hunter felt for me didn’t necessarily equate to what other male werewolves felt for their mates. For all I knew, his wolf just wanted to fuck me for the time being, but if his demon side took over, what then? Demons were not only known for being promiscuous but also for being assholes. And I’d seen firsthand how the hunter had treated some of the women at the Black Underbelly. He’d probably fucked half of the females in that bar, yet he was completely indifferent to all of them.

Who was to say I wouldn’t end up in the same boat?

Forcing my gaze away from the hunter, who was still destroying his mantle, I smoothed my clothes and picked up my plate again. Making sure to keep to the opposite side of the cabin, I padded over to the dining table near the entryway and sat down. The drink I’d nabbed snapped open when I cracked the top, and I took a long pull of the fizzling fruity beverage. From there, I began nibbling on the food, my eyes widening at how good it all tasted.

Doing my best to ignore the pulsing energy emanating from the hunter, I quickly devoured everything on the plate since he made no move to join me. Once my stomach was full, I took my dish to the sink before rinsing it and putting it in the dishwasher.

The entire time, I felt the hunter’s eyes follow me, that energy prickling from him so intensely that at times it felt as if lightning was hitting me.

“Tala.” His voice was deep yet quiet.

My shoulders stiffened and my stomach dipped at the sound of my name on his lips. I closed the dishwasher, not turning around. “Yes?”

“I know I don’t have the right to decide who you sleep with.”

I arched an eyebrow in surprise.

“But I’m going to ask one thing.”

“What?”

“Don’t talk about Carlos again. And if you”—even from the distance, I heard his swallow—“bed him, please make sure I’m long gone.”

This time, his voice came from right behind me. He’d prowled toward me once more on silent footsteps even though I’d asked him to stop doing that.