Morgan quickly lunged forward, and pressed the stake firmly over his heart. "You are despicable." "Necessary. Especially for someone as puny as you." With ease Rafe flipped the piece of sharpened wood out of her fingers, twirled it around a couple of times, and then handed it back with a small flourish. This time reprisal came more quickly as a spell came to her. She hoped that one day it would come automatically. "Let this man feel my slap. Not to harm, just a tap. Let him feel a touch of fear, to know he cannot domineer." For a second the words hung in the air and then Rafe's eyes widened as his head jerked to the side. The faint lines of a palm print reddened his left cheek. "You little devil," he rubbed the side of his face before pushing her on the shoulder with the flat of his hand. He shoved hard enough to force her back a step. "If you're going to slap at me, by god, you better have the balls to come at me personally." "Oh, yeah?" Morgan thrust both hands against his chest and shoved with all her might. It shook her when he didn't budge an inch, but she managed to keep up her air of bravado. "What's the matter? Don't you like the fact I'm not weak and powerless?" Tossing back her head, she challenged, "I don't need magic to take you on, but it would be wise for you to remember it's always there." He thwarted any chance of escape or the ability to get in the last word by twisting his hand into her hair. He pulled hard enough she gasped. "So take me on," he dared.