Page 63 of Moon Tamed

“But will the wolf serve as a pillow while I read?”

“As I’m a far superior wolf compared to my father, I will. He’d insist you turn the pages for him at his leisure. I am smart enough to have acquired a digireader with buttons I can press with a claw. That way, I can serve as a pillow and read.”

“Your father just wants someone to do the work for him.”

“He requires a great deal of attention.”

That I could believe. “What’s your poison?”

“I think I will be brave and select dare.”

“Take your shirt off?”

He laughed. “It was supposed to be a statement rather than a question.”

“I would need at least another bottle of something before I enter statement versus question territory. This is coming from a person notorious about not kissing on the first date. I’m such a sour grape nowadays a guy is lucky to get anything on the third date.”

“You’re hardly sour, Coraline. You just don’t want to be used as some boy’s toy. That’s perfectly reasonable.” Calden set his Champagne aside and went to work freeing himself from his button up. “Personally, I think it’s smart you’re taking advantage of the opportunity to view the wares. You can then decide if my chest might warrant the potential risks involved with going on a date with me.”

“At the very least, I will have a far better understanding of why women stoop to kidnapping you? I mean, your face is certainly worth looking at, but perhaps it’s your chest that has their attention.”

Calden laughed. “You’ve seen me without my shirt before.”

“But that was at work. I’m not allowed to openly admire the co-workers. And anyway, if your chest is that nice, I’ll just invite you to go swimming.”

“The next time you dare to dare, I will be requesting that you change into a bikini so I can have an equal opportunity.”

I drank more of my Champagne to fortify myself against the truth. “I only own one piece suits. I never really considered myself to be bikini material.”

“You’re bikini material.”

I raised a brow, as he spoke without even a hint of hesitation. Puzzled, I stared down at my chest. “Do you think so?”

“I know so. But if you’re not comfortable with a bikini, a one piece, halter top, or anything form fitting seems fair. I’m patient.”

Patient for what? To see me without a shirt? I laughed at the thought of him seeing my bra. “You’re getting the short end of that stick. I found bras that match my kitten panties, and they have bows, too. Not only are they kitten print with tiny bows, they’re comfortable.”

“You are the first woman I’ve ever met to claim there is such a thing as a comfortable bra.”

“No bra is definitely better than an uncomfortable bra, and a comfortable bra is magical, especially when it gets to come off for the night.”

“When do women typically escape those torture devices? Because however lovely they look on women, they certainly don’t seem all that comfortable. The red marks on the shoulders always look to be painful?”

“Ah. Badly fitted bras can do that. Or if she has large breasts with a bra that has narrow straps. That’s a combination for trouble. I’m fortunate. I am at the large end of sizes they’ll make pretty bras for, although I have to order early or lose out. Or order custom bras. And let me tell you, I’m too cheap to buy a custom bra.”

It occurred to me that I discussed my underwear with the most eligible bachelor in the city-state. As I’d already made a fool of myself, I took my flute, drank it down, and grabbed the bottle. “We are now in split-this-Champagne territory. I’m a giggler after I’ve had enough, so if you think I need to stop drinking, just start cracking jokes. I’ll laugh until I pass out.”

“Why wouldn’t I start telling jokes? That sounds like a good time.”

I grinned at him, wondering where our misadventure with Champagne would go. “The winner gets the last laugh. Literally. And well, will either of us actually lose this way?”

“Beyond sleep and possibly a day at work? Not really.” With a wicked smile, he said, “My father has an unreasonable hatred of most berries. Cherries are a berry, and they can be hidden in brownies. You can also hide many types of berries in chocolate. He’s not allergic. He especially hates it when I trick him and he likes the berries.”

“That is pure evil. That is the sort of pure evil we can exploit when he needs to be put back in his place. Were you looking for an accomplice? Because that is how you acquire an accomplice.”

He refilled our glasses. “As a matter of fact, I was looking for an accomplice. How many ways do you think we can get away with torturing my father with berries?”

“Get a pen, some paper, and more wine so we can find out.”

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