Page 65 of Brushed By Moonlight

Chapter Fifteen

MARIUS

I was going to kill Bene — if I could resist the burning urge to drag Mina back into the stairwell and kiss her senseless. It was more like her kissing me senseless, though. And in case I needed any proof of that…I wobbled along, following her on unsteady feet.

We found Bene at the stovetop in the kitchen, frying away. Onion peels and a messy carton of cracked eggshells sat on the counter beside him, and the smell of that with bacon was so good, I reconsidered my plan of killing him.

Breakfast won. Besides, I could always kill him later.

Not noticing us, he turned and reached for the bell. Mina flew into a leap worthy of a World Cup goalie and slapped her hand over it.

“About the bell…”

Bene grinned. “It’s very practical.”

Mina put on a stern, teacher look. “Practicalandoff-limits to anyone except Madame Picard and me.”

“But Roux said to call a meeting,” Bene protested.

Mina shooed him back to the stove, composed herself, and pulled the cord with an authoritative look that said,This is therightway to do it.

Like there’s a difference,Bene’s eye roll said. He gave the food another stir, then gestured. “So, what did he want?”

Mina’s eyes flew to me, then hit the floor.

“That cop, I mean,” Bene clarified.

Every tense muscle in her body relaxed, and I nearly chuckled. She thought Bene meant what I wanted?

My eyes burned, a sure indication that they were glowing with desire.

You, Mina. I want you. And you want me too, don’t you?

I didn’t voice those thoughts, but she must have gotten the gist, because her cheeks turned crimson. A look I loved, except, oops — Henrik did too. His head snapped around, and his pupils dilated.

I stepped between them, sending him a mental warning.

Don’t even think about it, asshole.

Henrik licked his lips.Think about what?

Fire burned my throat, and who knew what might have happened if Roux hadn’t sliced the air between us.

“Don’t even start, you two,” he warned.

Luckily, Mina hadn’t noticed, more focused on Bene.

“Did the cop buy the story about lightning?” he asked.

“I doubt it. He figured out what you are.”

Roux whipped around. “What do you mean?”

“He knows there’s at least one shifter and a vampire among my clients.”

“Do you know whatheis?” Roux asked carefully.

Mina huffed. “Of course. A wolf shifter. I’ve known Clement since I was a kid.”