i 'm certain you 'll find other men to help you steal innocents from abbeys and slaughter children , and- '' royce 's arm tightened suddenly , jerking her back against his chest , and his warm breath in her ear sent unwanted tingles up and down jenny 's spine as he bent his head and said softly , `` jennifer , you merely try my patience with your mindless chatter , but you test my temper with your jibes , and that is a mistake . ''