Page 15 of Moth to a Flame

Even if thetheyis ahe. A tall, broad-shouldered, beautiful he who tilts his head as he examines me.

I can’t bring myself to point Jigsaw at him. I should.

Can’t.

The worst part? He doesn’t scare me.

His black eyes and tiny twitch of his lips tear down my defenses.

I’m frozen, staring up at the man with the wool hat who could be a rapist, a burglar, or a murderer.

“Hi there,” he says, his voice deep, sending shivers through my body. “A sweet little lamb like you shouldn’t be wandering the streets this late at night.”

“I…” Can’t speak. Can’t move.

I need to. I have to.

Mojo breathes hard at my side, like he does when he likes someone.

“Unless you’re out here looking for me.”

A threat. He might be handsome as all hell, but the way he talks, there’s no doubt he’s threatening me.

I open my mouth to scream, my hand closing on the gun.

The stranger is faster.

With one hand on my shoulder, he spins me to him and locks that arm around my waist. The other hand slams on my mouth, shutting me up.

Is it crazy that I notice that his nails are painted black? Have I completely lost it, thinking that I like the chipped nail polish when he’s holding me like that?

Totally. This isn’t me.

Mojo doesn’t even yelp. He really does like this man.

What the hell…

To survive this, I have to fight. And I do. I thrash my body.

Scream.

It gets me nowhere. Pressing me tighter to his body, he locks me in.

“You wound me.” His lips brush my ear, and I hate that he smells good. Like a faint hint of spice and the ocean. Hate even more that hefeelsgood. “Kicking and screaming like that. Is that a way to treat your new friend?”

CHAPTER FOUR

Regan

“Friend?” I scream intohis palm. “What friend?”

Nothing I say makes any sense. It’s just a bunch ofmmms andaaas. Mojo sticks his nose between our legs, doing that cute whiney voice when he’s begging for attention.

I get it. I really do. To him, it probably looks like the man is hugging me. Rosemary and I hug each other all the time. He’s used to it.

In fact, it feels like he’s trying to be a part of our forced hug. I’d tell him to attack but my mouth is sealed.

I’m too far from home. My sister won’t hear Mojo and look out the window. She won’t run down here to see what’s wrong.

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