Page 75 of Mayhem and Minnie

She scoffs.

“You and your conditions. What is it to you if I do any of that? Just like I shouldn’t care about your past, you shouldn’t care about what I do.”

“Don’t test me, Minnie,” I say in a low voice.

“Or what?” She lifts a brow just as she rises from her chair. She brings her face close to mine, so close, I can feel that sweet scent of hers drift toward my nostrils again.

“Or you will not like the consequences. You live here now.”

“Your house, your rules, no?” She laughs.

“Precisely. And I will not let you bring any disease in here,” I find myself saying. The most ludicrous thing. But it’s better than acknowledging the real reason why I don’t want her anywhere near another man.

“You’re one to talk? How can I be sure you don’t have any disease from all those one hundred and fifty-seven bodies?”

I smirk.

“I always wear protective gear.”

After all, I never interact with bodily fluids.

I like to stare at blood. I don’t like to feel it staining my skin.

Too sticky. Too…personal.

“I can wear that too,” she counters.

Over my dead body.

“You will not.”

“You can’t stop me.”

“Oh, trust me. I can.”

“I’d like to see you try. What are you going to do? Lock me in here? Chain me in your basement somewhere?”

She’s not too far off from the truth. A dry laugh slips past my lips.

“Don’t tempt me, pet.”

“What if that’s what I want to do, Marlowe?” she asks sweetly.

“What? Tempt me?”

“Uh-huh,” she murmurs, getting closer. So close, her lips skim the surface of my cheek.

A shudder goes down my back. Her lips are soft. Hot. So fucking hot.

And once more, I find myself freezing and in need of warmth.

“What do you think you’re doing, Minnie?” I rasp.

“What does it look like I’m doing, Marlowe? Tempting you,” she whispers, blowing hot air on my cheek.

My body tenses. My brain malfunctions.

“It won’t work,” I reply. My voice is rough and I feel my control slipping.

---