“What, you want like a number?”
Tossing the old plug on the ground he asked, “Can you count them on one hand?” When she hesitated, he prompted, “Two hands?” She looked at the ceiling, and he could almost see the wheels turning. The corners of his mouth pulled up. “Christ. I’ll give you a minute to add ‘em up, darlin’.”
“Shut up! Six, okay.”
“Six, huh? Maybe seven’s gonna be your lucky number, sweetheart.”
She huffed out a little laugh. “You’ve still got a fight to win, Romeo.”
“You doubting my abilities, babe?”
“Which abilities are you referring to? The ones in the cage or in bed?”
“Both, baby.”
She rolled her eyes.
“After the fight, I’m gonna make you pay for every one of those eye rolls of yours.”
“My turn. Truth or Dare?” she asked him.
“Truth,” he replied without hesitation, leaning under the hood again.
“Why did you agree to do this?”
“Do what?” He began removing another plug. Clickety-clack.
“Take me on.”
“The truth?” He turned his head, his eyes connecting with hers.
She nodded.
“Because you’re hot.”
She rolled her eyes again.
“You didn’t let me finish, baby. Your class, your manners, your softness-”
“My softness?”
“Yeah.” He strained to get another stuck spark plug to break free. “From your soft curls to your silk cami, to your pretty pink toes—head to toe softness, Princess. You’re feminine. You’re not trying to be a hard-ass biker bitch.” He glanced over at her. “That stuff gets old, Shannon.”
“Oh,” her mouth formed the word, her eyes wide.
She acted like no one had ever said anything like that to her before. He knew that couldn’t be true. Guys had to hit on her all the time. Feeding her any lines they’d think would do the job to get in her pants.
“My turn. Truth or Dare?” he asked her, working on getting the next plug loosened.
“Truth.”
“Ever been with more than one man?”
“No!” she bit out in her best outraged voice and then quieter, “Have you?”
He grinned. “Men? Hell no! Women? Fuck yeah.” He watched her blush and couldn’t help asking, “Do you want to?”
“I’ve never thought about it,” she replied, looking away, not able to meet his eyes.