Page 33 of Paper Thin Love

“Who is the sheriff in town? I need to know the top predators.” In that fleeting moment between our blinks, his gaze asks a question I’m too afraid to answer—will I become a predator one day? It’s the kind of look that fills me with a false sense of confidence, a lie I almost believe.

Is he encouraging me to fake it until I make it?

My warm breath fans out as I run my tongue over my lips. I have a liking for it, for him. I’m being pulled into this mysterious gray territory he’s leading me into, little by little.

My silence has him edging closer.“Do you want me to pry the answer from your lips, Mila? Is that it?” He purrs in a low, dangerous suggestion. I can’t help but imagine his lips pressing against mine again. Touching other parts of my body.

My face must be a new shade of cranberry red.“Yes. I…I mean, no!” I cough.Kill me now!

An amused smirk graces his stunning face.“You need to learn how to hide it better.”

“Hide what?” I hiss, agitated.

His intense gaze makes me feel as if his eyes are nails attempting to secure me to my self-imposed cross.“Everything.”

I feel a burning sensation in my throat after swallowing.“I usually can,” I whisper another secret to him, as if his mere presence has the power to sever all the strings I’ve held myself together with. Suddenly, I turn away from him while loading vegetables onto my plate.

His warm breath grazes my ear, causing me to whimper. I regret not having my hair down for an extra layer of protection from him.“Perhaps the more appropriate question is,” He is so near that I can sense the soft brush of his lips against the curve of my ear.“Why are you revealing so much about yourself to me? If you want me, just say so.”

I grip the tray so hard it shakes.“The only thing I want from you is my ticket to freedom.”

A condescending chuckle grates on my ears.“Freedom can be interpreted in various ways, little fox.”

His shadow stalks toward me as I move to the next food selection.“Okay, I’ve succeeded in giving you a fright. Let’s go back to our other game. Which table do I need to fear?”

“You didn’t scare me.”

“Stop lying, or I’ll punish you.”

Lips pressed, I glare at him.“You’re…you are…”

His grin widens.“Cracking your shell?” His blond eyebrow lifts proudly.

“Be careful what comes out, Dash King.” I sneer.

His gaze loses its humor and is replaced by satisfaction.“Who should I keep an eye on?”

Forcing my eyes off the handsome devil I scan the cafeteria. There are the loud guys who want to be known, but they aren’t the most feared. Sure, they’d kill you for a sport, but if I have to consider who wouldn’t just kill me but do it slowly, well, only two men come to mind.

I’m smart enough not to tell Dash about them. I need to steer him clear of that table.

“The middle table is taken by all the guys who enjoy participating in The Cleansing. You have Ashford, Pembroke, Montague, Alvarado, Bianchi, and Laurent. I’m sure you have heard of their families. They each have their own table with their followers. The guys are friendly during the week; they train together, but they also try to kill each other on the weekends. The other tables are either fans, wannabes, or their hookups. I’d just focus on the middle.”

Slowly, Dash glances over his shoulder towards the empty table.“Who sits at the table on the dais?”

Not that one, you fool!“Your competition is in the middle,” I state as I begin to fill my salad with protein in the form of beans and not meat.

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Do you want a salad?”

“Mila,” Dash stresses.

“I was just offering. What do you want to eat?” I glance up, wishing I didn’t. His pissed-off expression has me thinking he wants to devour me.

“Something savory.” He growls, stepping closer so his hip brushes against my body.

“Not a calorie counter I see,”

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