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"That, too, you mouthy wench Now focus Pay very special attention to everything I say There’s going to be a test"

Great She’d failed plenty of those in her life She wasn’t keen to fail this one now Somehow, she was pretty sure he’d ain upset her even more

"I’ll do my best"

"Glad to hear it," he sounded almost amused, but she didn’t believe for a second that he wasn’t taking this seriously Yesterday, she ht have believed that he’d dance to her whim Nownot so much

"What’s your favorite color?"

Liaed her out of Shadows and up a reen more than blue

"Red," she said tentatively, hoping like hell there wasn’t a wrong answer

"A nice color Open your mouth"

The demand made her pause, wonder what the hell he was up to But maybe there would be chocolate She parted her lips Between them, he stuck more bread and followed that with a sip of the sweet, rich wine

She s as the questions didn’t get too difficult

Yeah, she didn’t hold out a lot of hope for that

"And what’s your favorite pizza topping?"

Was this a getting-to-know-you exercise or a quiz for dinner? She didn’t know exactly where they were, but she gathered he’d brought her to basically the middle of nowhere Doubtful anyone delivered out here "Mushrooms and extra cheese, but I’m not that picky Avoid bell peppers and anchovies, and I’ll probably eat it"

"Good to know Open up again"

This ti for a bit ue Instead, she got a bite of a really rich cheese A little tart, a tad smoky… He followed it with etting hard Wow, this gaht She licked her lips, then plumped them a bit "What’s next?"

Absolute silence She could hear hi His body heat poured toward her in a ave His displeasure wasn’t far behind

"Sir," she corrected quickly "What’s next, Sir?"

"When h, why do you always run, lass?"

His question sla the land speed record She had to force her answer out "I-I don’t run; I just leave a situation when I’ it worse"

"I see Open"

Raine couldn’t get a read on his tone, but she dutifully parted her lips

"Stick out your tongue"

She frowned, hoping he was in the

Instead, so slimy slithered across her taste buds That awful smell hit her next She curled inward as her stomach bucked Damn, she didn’t have her hands free to clutch it, but she did so even better; she spit the pickle out

"Stop That’s not acceptable! Open again By god, you will chew and s"

"B-but I answered you"

"As ansent, it was a weak one, and well you know it"

"No, that’s the serious, honest truth Why would I stay where I’ up?"

That wave of his displeasure ca tsunae, Raine Do you hear me?"

Seriously? She was supposed to amend her vocabulary, too? But that strict voice…even without seeing hi really unpleasant--like a whole jar of pickles--if she didn’t cooperate

"Yes, Sir I’ you the honest truth, Sir"

Liaht, then If that’s the truth as you see it, we’ll let that go for now Open"

"Aed

"Open now!"

Raine did, knowing she probably looked like a toddler spitting out its vegetables Sure enough, he plopped the pickle on her tongue again

"Chew and s"

Crap, she felt like she ed to hold her breath and choke it down

"Wine?" she croaked

He placated her, putting the glass to her lips and letting her take a few long ss

"Thank you" The flavor of the fer?"

What was his sudden preoccupation with formality and protocol? "You, Sir Thank you, Sir"

"Better Who taught you to cook?"

How did they get froht "

"Fair enough"

For her effort, he rewarded her with a juicy bite of the roast beef that did a blessed shitload to re