"You bit me and tried to climb me like a tree to get to whiskey," Kade pointed out. "I'm getting a pretty clear picture."
Despite everything, Dakota felt a laugh bubble up, real this time, not bitter or mocking. "I did bite you. And I'm not sorry. Well, maybe a little. But mostly not."
"Drink the water," Kade said again, offering it once more.
Dakota considered refusing again on principle, but her mouth was dry and her head was starting to hurt. She took the glass with poor grace. "Fine. But only because I want to, not because you told me to."
"Of course," Kade agreed, the corner of his mouth twitching with what might have been amusement.
Dakota drank the water, then set the glass down with deliberate care. "I'm still not going to be obedient. Just so you know. I'm going to argue with everything. Make your life difficult. Be the absolute worst mate anyone's ever had. Because that's who I really am when I'm not pretending to be someone else."
