Natasha couldn’t help but grin at his cocky reply, though she made a half-hearted effort to hold it back. “Permission granted,” she said, brushing her thumb lightly over his cheekbone. She kept her eyes on his as his hand roamed down her back, and besides the gentle stroking of her thumb she didn’t move.

“That is true, though if you’re going to start removing my clothing then you’re definitely going to have to work harder to keep me warm,” she replied. She was secretly amused by his one track mind. All his talk about eating her alive, she wondered just how long he had been thinking about this, just waiting for her to give him the green light.