Page 114 of Make You Mine

I flatten myself against the lockers, shivering at the sudden coldness of the metal.

“Cat got your tongue, Rebel?”

The blade hangs to that same spot, right below my chin. “N-no.”

“Then tell me what you want. Tell me what you need, and I’ll give it to you.”

I bite my tongue, focusing on keeping the knife where it is, and not accidentally cutting myself with it. Adrenaline spikes along my veins. I can’t break. I can’t give in to him.

“Aww, why are we being shy all of a sudden? I know my wife’s got dirty thoughts.” He breathes heavily. Pressing his forehead against mine and pinning me to the lockers with his body. Those red Xs fill my peripheral vision.

“I’ve got your diary, remember? I know you complain about how vanilla your life is. If you want flavor, I can give you flavor.”

I don’t want to say it.

I’m pursing my lips tight so words don’t escape. But he’s standing too close and I’m almost breathing the same air he is, despite the mask between us. My legs press together, creating a nice friction that makes me say stupid things.

“You’re all talk and no action, hubby.”

He cackles. I mentally slap myself.

The edge of the knife dances along my throat and travels down my chest, stopping in the middle of my blouse, threatening to rip it open.

“Have you ever been ravaged against the lockers by a masked man?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“Not yet,” he says.

I swallow saliva. What happens next is something I never thought would happen.

The blade says goodbye to my neck and hello to my hand.

He hands me the knife.

“I’m gonna trust you here, my wife,” he says. “So you see I’m on your side.” The end of the knife is pressing against his own palm. The handle is pointing at me. “Make a slash through my mask, so I can taste you.”

“Are you asking me to literally carve a smile on your face?”

He laughs. “You’re a fast learner. I’m glad to see that.”

I scoff, nerves releasing from my body. “You’re really fond of that mask, aren’t you?”

“It keeps things exciting.”

“And hidden.”

Why does he insist on hiding? What could be behind this stupid mask?

I won’t lie. The look is attractive. I’m fond of masks myself, and the neon ones are my favorite. A personal kink of mine.

The thing is, this man is using it not to please me, but to hide himself. The face, the voice, it all needs to be disguised.

Why?

Why don’t you want me to see you, Devon?

We can have it without overcomplicating things. Without threatening or killing others. He could have asked me out like a normal person.