Page 34 of The Mastermind

Our attraction goes on forever.

Staring at me, understanding washed over her, but she admitted nothing. Neither did I. It was best to keep the magic to ourselves.

“You’re such a nerd. I’m calling you ‘Dangerous Line Segment’ or ‘Dangerously Loaded Smile,’ either way, it’s DLS for short, from now on,” she said with a laugh.

I smiled again, more aware of my lips now because of her. She placed her phone on the counter and began putting the dishes into the dishwasher. She didn’t seem irritated anymore.

Leaning against the counter, I grabbed her phone. “Have you received any more random texts?”

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

AUDRI

The evening had beenstrange with Remi in my home. I experienced a sexual roller coaster I hadn’t expected. I’d think about that later before heading to bed. Hopefully, my body would stop burning with desire and my heart wouldn’t be so erratic by then.

When I sat on his lap and looked into his eyes, I saw something clearly—his desire for me. As his pupils darkened, passion speared like ice bursting around the aqua irises, and the phenomenon anchored me in place.

I’d never seen him express that emotion—he had hidden it too well—but at that moment, when my body had touched his, when his mouth and tongue had heated my skin, when his eyes held mine, he revealed his vulnerable self to me. He wanted to lick the sauce off my body. I waited for him to do it, but he stopped himself and shoved me away, probably afraid of his desire for me. I saw a part of Remi that no one had seen.

Even when I used to browse images of him online or in magazines, he’d always had a collected composure, not the primal desire he just showed me earlier.

I didn’t need to be a spy to conclude that Remi desired me.

Note to self: never wear a thin nightshirt when you have company.

I set my dishwasher to run and turned to Remi, who was leaning against my kitchen counter, looking as if he belonged there.

“I haven’t received any new texts—”

A ping from my phone proved otherwise.

Love the way you smell. My fingers itch to touch you. See you soon.

A shiver rushed through me.

Remi scowled, and his jaw tensed. He blocked the new number and gave me back my phone. Then he fished out his phone and texted someone.

“Seems like the asshole is at it again, using a different number. Most likely, it’s a burner phone. I have my guy looking into it.”

Another shudder ran through, and this time, I felt my nipples peak, but not from sexual attraction. In the beginning, I hadn’t been afraid because I thought it was just a sick joke. People did stupid things all the time. Now there was something about it that scared me. What if this person had been following me around? What if he attacked me one day while jogging or grocery shopping?

“Are you alright?” Remi placed a gentle hand on my arm. “I’ll find out who it is, and he’ll pay for it.” His tone carried an edge that made me look into his eyes. He appeared like a dangerous tiger on a hunt.

“I shouldn’t be afraid. I get these stupid messages all the time on my social media accounts. Those are probably bots, though. This . . . this is different.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you. No one touches what’s mine.” He brushed a knuckle down my cheek.

His comment means nothing.He considered me his family, his best friend’s sister.

Why was he so confusing? One minute he shoved me away, and the next, he wanted to protect me. What exactly did he want?

What did I want? If I couldn’t answer the same question, I had no right to ask him.

“I thought it was my ex, Kevin, who sent the initial texts.”

“It’s not him,” Remi said firmly.

“How do you know?” Nerves tumbled in my stomach, and I debated if I should get an antacid. It wasn’t that bad yet, so I just tolerated the discomfort. “Do you know Kevin?”

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