Breath Mints And Battle Scars Novels & Stories

her tone was bland and her expression bored. Un-fucking-believable. Miles white-knuckled the fabric of my sports bra as he brought it to his nose. With a darkening gaze, a rumbling growl, and a deep inhale, he gritted, "Lemon and pine." Orion echoed his agreement with the fabric of my sweatpants against his face and a larger-than-life grin bottoming out my stomach, "A hint of something cool, mint maybe." Was my heart still beating? Why was the sky not opening so the Goddess Celine could put me out of my misery?

Anthony peeked out from behind her, looking smug. I collapsed onto the floor, finally snapping back to my senses. Looking at my sister's blazing eyes, mine turned red. "Sis, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad." I struggled to my feet, enduring the unbearable itch crawling across my skin, and began putting every rubber figurine back where it belonged. In the end, my throat was so swollen I could barely breathe, and my face turned a sickly blue before I collapsed onto the ground again. Yessenia watched me gasp for air while still trying to clean up. She seemed a little taken aback.

Michele's voice pulled me back to reality. "If she hadn't left all those years ago, the woman at my side would be a gambler. How could it be an angel like you? Tomorrow is our 99th day together, and I'm putting the most profitable strip club in Vallasia under your name." Michele looked at Barbara with complete indulgence and pinched her cheek playfully. Barbara laughed softly and leaned in to kiss him. A sudden, stabbing pain tore through my side, forcing a sharp gasp from me. It was the scar I had carried for five years, left behind when I sold a kidney just to stay alive after I failed to repay my loan.

It was an old wound, shaped like a scorched butterfly. Wade's eyes were glued to that scar. The fury in his eyes suddenly swirled into confusion, shock, and a tremor so faint it might be missed. "Where'd you get this?" he rasped, his breath heavy. I tried to wrench my hand free, but his grip was punishing. "Ten years back, in the old Milanex City, during a nasty clash." I recounted with a detached air, as if it were someone else's story. "I was just passing by when I heard some noises under the debris. I was young and reckless, and thought I could play the hero. Got a nasty burn from a beam that came down."

I close my eyes as I breathe her in, filling my lungs with her heavenly scent. I’m about to pull away when I feel her small hands on my chest, and I freeze with my lips still against her forehead. She hesitantly runs her hands up my chest to connect behind my neck, and my lungs start to burn as I realize that I had been holding my breath.

“You’ll need this. Your breath smells like death.” I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth as if I could somehow trap the offensive scent inside. “You jerk,” I hissed, but there was no real heat behind it. I snatched the mint from his palm, our fingers brushing for the briefest second, sending a spark of warmth up my arm. I popped the mint into my mouth, the sharp, cool burst of peppermint flooding my senses. “You could’ve just said ‘good morning’ like a normal person.”

His breath smelt like mint with a hint of vanilla; I wanted to have a taste. “I know you are awake,” his deep voice said, and my eyes flew open. I hold the bed spread tightly. His eyes were looking directly into mine; his lips were inches away from mine. If I moved a bit, our lips would be touching. I gulped, feeling nervous at having him so close. His scent and breath were intoxicating; they were like drugs. I was addicted, and I wanted to taste and inhale them. He pulled back, and my senses came back. I looked at him, and he shook his head.

The bruise was sharp and dark, impossible to hide with a collar. I grabbed my team bag from the floor. Inside, I found three extra-strength suppressor patches. They were skin-colored adhesive squares designed to stop pheromone leaks for twelve hours. I ripped the plastic backing off two of them. I slapped the one directly over my scent gland, pressing down until the chemical numbing agent started to tingle against my skin. I put the patch right over the bite mark. It was a fix. The patches would stop the vanilla from exploding into the locker room. They couldn't stop the way I smelled to myself. Dominic's coffee aroma felt like a weight inside my lungs.

he whispered, his voice thick with tension. The sheets beneath me were pure white silk, and I felt sick knowing I was ruining them with my blood. My face felt like it was on fire. A throbbing, white-hot pain pulsed from my cheekbone all the way down to my jaw, making my eyes water. But I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my fists. I had to hold the pain in. I couldn't let it show. I was just a maid, and showing weakness in front of the Alpha felt dangerous, even if he was being kind right now.

Or if there was something wrong. “Thank you, Damien,” I whispered close to him, as he was really close. I could feel his minty breath. But that closeness gave me the creeps suddenly. It was like that breath was familiar. What’s going on in your mind, Clarissa? Stop being paranoid! It is not like it is the only minty breath in the world. And if I had to remember the past, his breath was mint mixed with tobacco and booze. But it was probably just a reaction to being near a man and nothing more. No one had come that close to me since. I never allowed it.