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The diaet they serve a purpose other than to adorn her throat They seem to mark her Scream at me, yours yours yours

"Looks like I don’t have a ride anymore," she tells me

Da with me," I say

"Mel! We have your car keys!" ain the air He walks them over and I can see he’s the shit-faced blond dude who’s been eye-fucking her since I got here He glares at , assle, I’ht

Melanie’s dark-haired friend taps his elbow "Riley, why don’t you guys take Mel’s car? She and her date can co look as though I should be concerned about this for soreeirl speaks "That’s so happily, Melanie pokes her thuave that necklace to you?" The friend sounds shocked

"Yes! And his na for the prescription glasses I’ll need after the retinal da?" she asks

"Sendto tie her up and pick out safe words or what?"

I smile "No There’s no word on earth that will lad your boyfriend is enjoying hi the word "boyfriend" like one would pronounce the word "excrement" She returns her attention to me "We’re very protective of our Mel She believed in Santa er than the rest of us So tell us about yourself You’re like souy, with lots of led you but couldn’t find irl?"

"Pandora!" Melanie kicks the back of Pandora’s seat "Ignore my friend, Greyson," she tellslad Melanie didn’t catch the bouquet?"

"Why would he be?" Mel counters

"Dude, judging by that bling, the "

"Pandora!"

I laugh; I find it highly entertaining how protective this girl is There’s no doubt inloser er seat so she can fully face me "Do you have a wife?" she persists

"What?"

"Are youwith you?"

Well, let’s see now Currently, she’s what’s wrong here I could stare her down easy, but why stare at this Bitter Betty when I have princess beside !" Melanie kicks the back of her seat again then shifts over to faceBad Wolf, staring hungrily at those kiss-reen eyes "Is she right? Are you playing with me?" she asks me curiously

I don’t knohat it is about her, but the way she looks atIt’s my natural response to her I can probably help it as ht, which is not at all No matter how much in control, you can’t command your instincts Sometimes they command you

I’ve only ever killed for one other person in ht I wouldn’t change what I did for Melanie last night I’d do it all over again, kill the first three just as fast, torture the fourth one just as slow Hell, even slower if I could’ve prolonged it In fact now, the reminder of her soft, helpless cries under the hood twist a knife of fury inher closer towith you"

Christ

I’ inwith you," I repeat