Page 12 of The Vampire’s Prey

Using my speed, I catch up with her before she can disappear on me again. Her startled gasp as I grab her elbow goes straight to my groin, and I can’t wait to hear what other gasps she’ll make before I’m through with her.

“Miss me?”

Her eyes blink up at me before she tears her arm out of my hand.

“Hardly. Who are you again? I don’t remember caring enough the last time to get your name.”

Zing. She is going to pay for that one. I push up against her until she’s flat against the wall behind her. Slowly, I slide my hand up her arm and pause just a moment over her collarbone. Her heartbeat flutters fast under her skin, the beats as frantic as a butterfly trapped in glass. Is she frightened or aroused?

Just one whiff tells me all I need to know. Growling, I encircle her neck with my fingers and squeeze. Not tight enough to cut off blood flow but tight enough that she knows she can’t escape me. Her lower lip trembles so adorably, drawing my attention to the small, lower bow. I allow myself to explore its softness with my thumb.

Suddenly, her tongue snakes out to lick the tip. My already hard cock aches at that delicate brush. Her eyes widen in shock. Did she not mean to do that? Surely she can’t be so innocent to not know she’s playing with fire. I lean to brush my nose against her neck, and she freezes. Any flair of arousal disappears. Strange. There’s no way she can know what I am. Why the sudden fear?

Pulling back, I stare into her eyes. I can’t read anything in those blue depths.

“It’s Adrian.”

“Very well, Adrian. Can you let me go back to work?”

Frowning, I ease off of her. It’s still not enough for her to escape but enough that she should feel a little more at ease.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Of course, you won’t.”

I search her eyes. Nothing. She’s a complete wall. “Then will you let me take you to dinner? Get to know you when you’re not working.”

She laughs, the hollow sound bouncing against my ears.

“You have your hand around my neck and now you’re asking about dinner? No, thank you. I’m not going to be your fuck toy. I’ve got a job to do.”

Growling, I tighten my grip again.

“Don’t worry about that princess. I don’t fuck where I eat.”

I reach out with my other hand to smooth it down her braid before curling the silken strands about in my fist. Just as soft as I imagined.

“But there’s something about you that I can’t get out of my mind.” With a swift move, I remove my hand from her throat and grab hers to lead it to the front of my pants. “Do you feel what you do to me?”

Her hand flutters about in my grip, trying to get away. I release her.

“You have me under a spell, and I need to break it. Trust me, all I’m asking for is a one- night stand. Untold pleasure for you and me both. After that, you won’t see me again.”

She tugs her braid out of my hand and stands up to her full height.

“Oh, I can assure you. I will see you again. Now, let me go or I’ll scream. Pretty sure that’s not the kind of attention you want. Especially when you go get your rocks off with someone else.”

Startled, I pull back. “Am I not speaking English? Right now, there is no one else. I crave you and only you. I thought the desire was mutual on both accounts. Or am I wrong? Can you truly say you don’t want this as much as I do?” The heat of her body beckons me. Her scent is the most potent aphrodisiac. “Just one night. Just one exquisite night of pleasure. I promise you, you will not regret it.”

A sniffle, barely audible pricks my ears. I look down and see Evangeline rubbing at her eyes. “Come now, love. I don’t know how bad it’s been for you before, but I promise you, no one will compare to me.”

She scowls at me before shoving at me. “I will not be your one-night stand. Not now, not ever. I don’t know how easy it’s been for you before, but I promise you this, you will never have my body. So use your trickery on someone else. I will never, ever let you put your hands on me again. And that’s a promise.”

“Ever? Oh, my dear. Ever is a long time.”

* * *

Evangeline