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said—to an old Bob Marley and the Wailers song. It seemed he hadn’t heard her approach, and she was able to admire the tight lines of his arse, and the way he moved as he worked.
    The knife in his hand looked sharp and dangerous. Shane thought it might not be a good idea to get too close without letting him know she was there. She rapped on the door.
    Ross spun around with the knife still held at a dangerous angle between his fingers. When he took in her attire, he looked at her with a puzzled expression. “You’ve not showered.” It wasn’t a question.
    Was it hurt she saw in his eyes? “I’m about to, but well…” Shane hesitated, unsure how to voice her fears. Bite the bullet, woman. Just go for it. “Ah hell, I need to know. Are you involved with anyone at all?” The words tumbled out and she cursed the way she spoke. “Look, I know that sounds presumptuous and stuff, and I can’t imagine you are but… Well I’ve been burned once, oh, not physically, though I’m sure there’s burns and burns and oh, shit, I’m babbling. No, hell and, oh fuck, you hate swearing and I’ve bloody done it again. No not burns, heat and stuff and fuck it, Shane, shut your mouth.” She took a deep breath and folded her arms across her middle. “Anyway, I had to ask.”
    Ross put the knife down and leaned back on the edge of the work surface, his hands braced on the marble top. “Why? You said you’re not interested, so why should it bother you?” His voice was level and almost uninterested. He sounded as if he was asking her the time or something equally as mundane.
    It was deserved, but the urge to know hadn’t diminished. Maybe now she needed to open up a little more?
    “Look, Ross, once I’ve spoken to Jess, I’ll explain. But until then, I can’t. But, I need to know.”
    “Why? It’s an insult.” He turned his back on her and thumped the knife down into a poor, unsuspecting vegetable. Bits of carrot skittered over the work surface and onto the floor. “Go take a shower, Shane.” The name sounded like an insult as well. “I’ll have some food ready when you get back. You don’t owe me any explanations, nor I you.”
    “Dammit, don’t you turn your back on me, Ross Mackie. I can’t tell you ‘til I’ve spoken to Jess, okay. It’s not all my story to tell.” She poked him in the back. “Stop acting as if you’ve spat your dummy out, man up, pull up your big boy boxers and listen to me. You say you’re a Dom, so bloody act like one.”
    His back stiffened.
    “And damn well look at me when I shout at you.”
    His shoulders moved. Shane poked him again. “Or fuck you, I’m out of here.”
    That made him turn. The knife clattered into the sink as he threw it away from them.
    “Shane, you questioned my integrity, both as a man and a Dom. It not only hurts, it’s offensive. Do you really think I’d be so crass as to indicate I want to play with you, when I already have a sub or a partner?”
    “Some people do.” Try as she might, she couldn’t keep her voice level.
    “Some do, I don’t. If I did, I would have told you that right back at the beginning of our conversations.” He kissed her nose. It tickled and Shane wrinkled it. Ross laughed. “I can see you’re a bratty sub, kitten. I like that. Okay, before you call me out again, let’s try this. Hypothetically if you are a sub, you would be a bratty one. How’s that?”
    Shane smiled. He said it so patiently, but with a glint in his eye that showed her exactly what he thought she was. He was correct, but she had no intention of telling him. Not until… She dragged her mind away from dark thoughts. “Better. And I agree. Hypothetically if I was a sub, I so would be.”
    “It could make life interesting then. If you’re a sub. Go have your shower, Shane.” This time her name sounded normal, not an epithet. “Get warm, and then we can move on.”
    She nodded and grinned. Everything seemed brighter, and Shane realized she hadn’t