Maintaining Me

She is a madness.
He follows the rules.
Maali is a girl with a past, who enjoys her isolation; but she is being screwed with. Thing is, if you mess with fire you are bound to get burned. She is intent on seeking her revenge, and she drags her only friend and her new man to investigate; but she leaves a deadly trail.
When Keegan discovers her world, he pushes his way in. She isn't going to turn down a smart man, and she willingly exploits his ignorance and obedience. In fact, she takes him under her wing as she investigates a mystery. A mystery that leads her to her true self.
Keegan is a kind man thrown into a bad world, and he is right under Maali's thumb.
Keegan is anything but ordinary.
Maali is anything but kind.
And the mystery...well, that might be closer to home.--
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"I saw the way you looked at me," I clench my jaw. Tingles
were running up and down my torso by his mere touch.

"No, Maali," he barks. I scoff at his lies.

"You are not disgusting, May," he demands my full attention.
"You are beautiful, and vicious," his hands slide up to cup my face, "and you
are passionate."

My breath catches as another shot of fire battles in my
abdominal. I grimace at the strange feeling.

"I admire that about you; you are an amazing, strong woman,"
his stare speaks volumes, and my heart flutters.

It freaking flutters. That weak ass.