It should be my signal to run away.
“You really do have a twisted mind,” he says gently. “I like it, though I wonder if I let the wrong woman clean my apartment.”
“Don’t worry. I let other people do the killing for me.”
“That’s smart of you.”
“But what about you? I’m talking too much.”
“What about me?”
“I have brothers. Do you have family?”
“I also have brothers. Three of them.”
“Are you close?”
“Yes, and sometimes I think we’re too close.”
“I know what you mean.”
“You and your siblings get along?”
I close my eyes briefly. I see Mal’s gleeful smirk. “Not really.”
“Too bad.” He’s closer. Two feet at most. Close enough that I can make out the details of his skin.
There are scars on his arms. Tiny scars all over his shoulders. They disappear onto his back. Long, white lines, strangely and sickeningly familiar.
If I turned around and let him look closely, he’d see some on my own skin.
He’s watching me carefully now.
“Not really,” I say again, heart racing. “They’re assholes.”
“You think so? You’re not close with your family at all?”
“I don’t talk to them unless I have to.”
“That’s good.” One foot away. Practically touching. Twelve pathetic inches of space.
Why does he think that’s good? I swear, my head’s swimming. The heat’s starting to get to me. “I should jump in the pool.”
“Stay.”
He puts his hand on my thigh.
Now I have a choice. Push it away and leave. Or let him touch me and find out where it goes.
I walked in here knowing where it might lead. I’m not naive or stupid.
I slide across the bench until our sides are touching.
“If I don’t get up, what’s going to happen?” My stomach twists with excitement and fear. I’ve never done anything this risky before in my life. Despite my obsession with dark stuff, I’m actually a very safe person. No walking alone at night if I can avoid it. No putting myself in harm’s way.
No strange men touching my naked body.
“I’m going to kiss you.” My heart hammers into my throat. Frick, I like this. I really like it. I’m scared and excited. My hands are shaking. Finn seems utterly at ease. “I’m going to keep touching you. Do you want that, Caroline?”