The bellows from the stands throbbed off my skin, my heartbeat pulsing in my throat. Every seat was filled: prisoners, guards, even the medical and kitchen staff were all in attendance. Not one person wanted to miss the show tonight.
“War-wick! War-wick! War-wick!” His name clanged in the air, scraping my eardrums.
I stepped closer, but instead of meeting my dare, Warwick sidestepped, his gaze darting up into the stands. Usually, he didn’t put on a show; he killed and got out. Why was he stalling? Playing with me?
“We going to dance all night?” I jeered, my gaze sweeping over the scene, trying to find anything I could use as a weapon.
Nothing. They had cleared out everything, leaving it bare of anything I could turn into a weapon.
“The only thing I do all night is fuck.” His throaty voice looped around me, flushing heat into my veins as if he was actually touching me.
“Stop it.” I brushed my arms, the demand bouncing from my mouth.
“Stop what?” His head slanted to the side, his gaze plunging down my form, and more tingles rushed through me. A violent shiver jerked my bones as warmth spread between my thighs. The intensity made me roll my shoulders and shake my legs to dislodge the sensation.
“That,” I growled. “How are you able to do it? No one is supposed to have powers in here.” I shook my head with a scoff. “Guess the great Warwick Farkas is even above that. No rules could possibly apply to such a legend, right?”
A smirk twisted his full lips. “Calling me a legend without my even touching you? Just think what you will call me when I do.”
I glowered at him.
He lazily reached for me, and I pirouetted away, his fingers grazing my skin, sending excitement through the crowd.
Through me.
“But I have no idea what you are talking about,” he replied. As we circled each other again, his gaze drifted up to the stands before snapping back on me. “I’m not doing anything.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Yet.”
“What I would give to wipe that smug grin off your face,” I snarled, my ankles crossing as I sidestepped him.
“You think you have the ability to do it?” He slid in closer. “Please…be my guest. No one has before, but give it a go, tiny human.”
“Fuck you.”
“I’m open to that as well.” He darted in so quickly, I didn’t have time to move. “Show me what you got.” His mouth grazed over my ear as he brushed by me, overloading my system with fire, down my neck to my breasts, sizzling me down to nothing.
Chuckling, as if he knew what he did to me, he strutted past, leaving me vulnerable. Exposed.
Angry.
In a blink, I whirled around. His back was to me, his focus on the crowd again. Snarling, I kicked, smashing my foot into the back of his legs. The giant man stumbled forward, his hands shoving off the ground, but he quickly scrambled back to his feet.
The horde roared with excitement, dispensing energy into me.
Warwick turned, his eyes bright, a snarl on his face.
“Stop wasting my time.” I lifted my chin. “So far, all talk, Farkas, and very little action.”
A sneer glinted his features, his broad shoulders twisting around to face me.
“Fine.” He grabbed the hem of his shirt and ripped it over his head, tossing the fabric to the side.
Fuck.
Like when we were back in the showers, the effect his body had on me was almost debilitating. And by the smug look on his face, he knew it.
He lowered himself, clapping, his gaze set on me. “Let’s do this.”
Hunter. Prey.
I grinned fiercely back at him. With a swish, I pulled my top over my head. He stilled as I tossed the shirt next to his on the ground. The throng of viewers screamed and pounded their feet in approval.
I winked at him, owning the moment. “Only fair, right?”
“Take off your bra, then we can call it fair,” he rumbled, stepping closer to me, his gaze burning.
“Come and take it,” I dared. He wanted to fight with fire? Fine. Bring it.
A sound came up his throat, and then he was moving for me. This time I was ready. As he charged for me, I stood in place until the last possible second. Diving out of the way, keeping my legs out, his boots hooked on my leg, thrusting him toward the ground. He barely hit the dirt before he was back up, his huge physique defying the law