White Hot

I'm Mr.Ripped. I live in the gym. My teeth have biceps and my biceps have teeth. I chew up weights and shit out lead bricks

I can be a good dragon, when the occasion requires it.

I squinted at her. “You’re an adult.” “You’re an adult too.” “But you’re an older adult. You’ve had more practice.” Mom leaned back and laughed.

There are times in life when sugar turns into medicine. This was one of those times.

Is this my replacement?” What? “I didn’t replace you!” “Of course not. I’m irreplaceable.

Enter my lair, said the dragon. I have shiny treasure for you to play with, I’ll keep you warm and safe, and if it suits my purpose, I’ll chain you to the floor and kill your client by throwing quarters at him with my magic. Been there, done that.

Anticipation zinged through me. I knew exactly how much space separated us. I felt every inch of it, charged with electric energy. If he touched me right now, I’d probably jump a foot in the air. I stared straight ahead. We didn’t do well in a small, confined space. This was a terrible idea. Maybe I should roll down the window to let some of the sexual tension out.

Did you see how she got all hot under the collar?" Grandma Frida said in a theatrical whisper behind me. She's not over him. "I can hear you!

Maybe I should roll down the window to let some of the sexual tension out.

It doesn't matter if I'm the first. It only matters that I'll be the last

That's the nature of our relationship". A spark lit his eyes. "We both do what's necessary, and after it's over, I watch you freak out about it." "I don't." "Oh, I don't want you to stop. I find it highly amusing

I’m going to shoot him,” I squeezed through my teeth. “No, that would be murder,” Grandma Frida told me, her voice soothing. “You’ve had a long day. Let’s put your magic away. You know what you need? A nice cup of chamomile tea and a tranquilizer . . .” I

I can’t share, Nevada. I won’t.

I'm in a Disney movie. - Augustine

How do we get out of this circle?" I asked him. "We kill him," he said. "Good. Let's kill him and go home." "I thought you'd never ask.

It’s almost as if the dead have no value unless we know that someone they are related to is still alive and mourning them.

We don’t need the money that badly,” my mother said. “According to my sisters, we do.” I slid the photograph with dollar signs toward her. Mom swung toward Grandma Frida. “Mom!” Grandma Frida’s eyes got really big. “What? Don’t look at me!” “You started this.” Ha! Attack deflected and redirected. “I did no such thing. I’m innocent. You always blame me for everything.” “You started it and you encouraged it. Now look, she’s taking on murders because you’re guilt-tripping her to put food on the table. And what kind of message does this send?” “A true-love kind of message.” Grandma Frida grinned.

I so didn’t need another outbreak of Rogan fever.

I didn’t say I just wanted sex.” “Let me quote: ‘Do you want seduction, dinners, and gifts? Seduction is a game, and if you pay enough in flattery, money, or attention, you get what you want. I thought you were above the game.’ Did you not say that to me a week before you strolled into my garage to invite me on ‘a date’?” “Yes. I wanted to skip the bullshit.” “So what happened? You changed your mind and now you want the bullshit?” Rogan’s phone chimed. “Yes, I want your bullshit.” “Well, you don’t get to have any of my bullshit. I’m keeping it.” Okay, and that didn’t sound childish. Not at all.

and suddenly I was airborne. I hurtled through the air, straight at Mad Rogan. Fate threw us at each other. I could never tell Grandma. I

Grandma pointed her fork at me. “Just watch. Fate will throw you two together. One day you’ll just run right into him and boom! True love.

He surveyed me, his eyes half closed, as if wondering if I were a delicious snack. I had an image of a massive dragon circling me slowly, eyes full of magic fixed on me as he moved, considering if he should bite me in half. “Dragons.” Rogan snapped his fingers. Oh crap. “I wondered why I kept getting dragons around you.” He leaned forward. His eyes lit up, turning back to their clear sky blue. “You think I’m a dragon.” “Don’t be ridiculous.” My face felt hot. I was probably blushing. Damn it. His smile went from amused to sexual, so charged with promise that carnal was the only way to describe it. I almost bolted out of my chair. “Big powerful scary dragon.” “You have delusions of grandeur.” “Do I have a lair? Did I kidnap you to it from your castle?” I stared straight at him, trying to frost my voice. “You have some strange fantasies, Rogan. You may need professional help.” “Would you like to volunteer?” “No. Besides, dragons kidnap virgins, so I’m out.” And why had I just told him I was not a virgin? Why did I even go there? “It doesn’t matter if I’m the first. It only matters that I’ll be the last.” “You won’t be the first, the last, or anything in between. Not in a million years.” He laughed. “Rogan,” I ground out through my teeth. “I’m on the clock. My client is in the next room mourning his wife. Stop flirting with me.” “Stop? I haven’t even started.

You will. You’ll fall asleep fast and sleep soundly until morning, and then you’ll get up and have breakfast with your family because I’ll be prowling in your house tonight. And if anyone tries to interrupt your sleep and end your life, you have my word that they’ll sleep forever.” That

When you keep people from doing things they are destined to do, they go crazy.

You found me," he said. "You didn't hide very well. And I'm a PI.

He smiled at me. It was the kind of smile that blazed a trail from your heart to your mind and popped into your head the next time you wondered why you put up with a man who made you want to punch things.

How is it going with your boyfriend?;););) - text from Grandma Frida

A wise man once said, “A human mind is the place where emotion and reason are locked in perpetual combat. Sadly for our species, emotion always wins.” I really liked that quote. It explained why, even though I was reasonably intelligent, I kept finding myself doing something really stupid. And it sounded much better than “Nevada Baylor, Total Idiot.

I missed you,” he said, his lips stretching into a slow, lazy smile. The ice in his eyes began to melt. “Did you miss me, Nevada?” He said my name. “No.” “Not even a little bit?” “No. Never thought of you.” Just because I usually chose not to lie didn’t mean I couldn’t. Rogan grinned and all of my thoughts went to the wrong places. He was almost unbearably handsome when he smiled.