"Depends on whether your goal is to end up compromised romantically."
"Romantically?" He perked up and looked as interested as a puppy called to lick cold bacon grease. Elora was sure that if his hair was pulled back she'd be able to see his ears prick.
It was her turn to smile mischievously. "I was thinking of a way to position myself so that..."
"Stop right there. I know what you're doin' and I think 'tis cruel to expect me to ride to the village with my pleasure-giver strainin' to go on a rampage."
"A rampage?" Now she was the one to look interested.
"Great Paddy, will you stop?"
"Not if you're going to talk about your 'pleasure-giver' and use words like straining and rampage in the same sentence." She laughed. "And, I might add, 'stop' is the one word I never thought I would hear from you."
He walked toward her smiling, put one arm around her back and lovingly stroked her tummy with his other hand. "Right. Let me finish gettin' your f**kin' house ready. Then I'll be seein' to it that you're the one beggin' me to stop."
She slanted her eyes up at him. "Holding you to it."
"I'm yours to hold any way you want, but I'm no' goin' unless you promise to keep that phone with you."
She glanced down at the phone in her hand. "Okay. You really think the house is going to be ready?"
"I believe I have given each subcontractor sufficient reason to prioritize your project."
Elora took his meaning and gaped. "Rammel! You've been threatening the workmen. That's out of bounds even for you."
"Threatenin' is a harsh word."
"Out of bounds."
"Darlin' girl," he leaned in closer for just a sample whiff of wild jasmine, "out of bounds is against my religion."
"What religion?"
"Exactly."
"Great Paddy."
"He does no' count."
"What did you do? Say you would break legs?"
Ram looked offended."Give me a little credit. Do I seem like a cliché to you?"
She just shook her head. Her mate didn't always fit perfectly into a modern world or even a civilized world. That had its downside, but it definitely had advantages as well. There was a bad-boy vibe creating spikes in his aura and that would probably never change. Being totally honest with herself, she didn't want it to.
He grinned at her. "You look good in red."
She looked doubtful. "You say that about every color I wear."
"I'm thinkin' 'tis true then."
"Orrrr, it might be just a bit of charm spoken by a silver tongued elf who's way sexier than a person ought to be."
Smiling suggestively, he licked his bottom lip. "Tongue is sweet and pink. Come taste." Without waiting for an answer he grabbed her and gave her a taste surrounded by a kiss that made her whole body vibrate. Ram growled and pulled back muttering curses in Irish.
Blackie saw him to the door. Ram looked down at the dog. "She's all yours and you better be takin' good care of her. If no' for that woman some creepy bugger would be hosin' you down and tasin' you regular."
Blackie studied Ram's face and whined. One more glance at Elora. Their eyes met and communicated a thousand things words couldn't manage. "Back before dark and I'll brin' somethin' for dinner."