“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he answered with a totally perplexed look. “I just got back into Shore Lake tonight.”
“That’s bull crap!” I hollered, hitting him with my good arm. “I saw you last night. Don’t lie to me!”
“I swear I wasn’t here. In fact, I’ve been with Drake in New York and it wasn’t until tonight that Julian found me and told me what was happening. I rushed back here to make sure you were okay.”
I stared at him, wondering if he was insane. The person staring at me last night was definitely Ethan. Unless he had a twin – a vampire twin – there was no mistaking his handsome face. He had to have been lying.
“You’re not going to tell me what you did to Duncan, are you?” I whispered in horror.
“I haven’t seen that guy since the night I left.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “Obviously something is going on around here and I’m being framed for it.”
I snorted. “Now, why would someone do that? And how would it even be possible?”
He smiled bitterly. “I’ve made a lot of enemies, Nikki,” he said. “And some of those beings have incredible powers, well beyond even my capabilities. You can’t even imagine the things they can do.”
“Are you saying there are more dangerous things out there than you Roamers?” I asked incredulously.
He threw his head back and laughed. “Roamers? That’s a riot. I see you’ve been talking to Celeste.”
I crossed my arms under my chest and frowned. “Well, you’re certainly not human. I mean, you drink blood and can obviously fly like the wind.”
“I may not be human… anymore, but we have the same feelings, Nikki, and urges…” he answered with a seductive tilt of his lips. “Ours are just more intense.”
I felt my face turn red and attempted to change the subject. “So, um… you think you were framed? Well, what are you going to do now?”
With a determined look in his eyes, he moved towards me, and soon I was back in his arms and something inside of me began to stir.
I cursed myself. Why couldn’t I resist him?
“What am I going to do now?” he whispered into my hair. “Well, I’m glad you asked...”
“Please, just bring me home, this isn’t right,” I pleaded, closing my eyes, breathing in his sweet butterscotch scent.
For the love of God, how could anyone resist him?
“Right? It’s totally right.” He inhaled deeply, “God, you smell wonderful.”
Since he was both man and vampire, I wasn’t sure if smelling wonderful to him was a good or bad thing. Before I could consider the consequences of smelling good, he raised my chin and captured my mouth with his. When his tongue pushed through my lips and sought mine, I gave in and pulled him closer, taking in his heat.
I opened my eyes.
Heat?
It was obvious that he’d recently fed.
Fed on Duncan?
“You’ve fed?” I choked, pushing him away.
He shrugged. “It’s been a while, but I’m in complete control. Don’t worry,” he said. “I just need to feel you. That’s all I want.”
He grabbed me again and just like before, I surrendered and forgot about everything else. I melted into his arms, returning his kisses freely. Soon, his mouth moved down to my neck and his hands were under my sweatshirt, exploring my breasts. When he pushed my bra away and lowered his mouth to my nipples, I shuddered in pleasure.
“So beautiful,” he whispered, licking my flesh, sending shivers all the way down to my toes. “My sweet little …Nikki…”
“Yes,” I breathed, wanting to be his forever.
His mouth was magical, making me forget about everything but the moment. I slid my hand into his soft hair and drew him closer to my breasts. “Ethan,” I whimpered as the fire he’d ignited grew hotter between my thighs. Soon I was trembling, my body aching for something that both frightened and excited me.
“Say my name, again…” he growled, his voice husky with desire.
I threw my head back and moaned as his mouth ravaged my flesh, making me delirious with need; a need so strong I was willing to do anything for him at that moment. “Oh…God…Ethan…”
He sucked in a breath. “Nikki, God…I’m inhaling your excitement and it’s driving me insane. I want you so bad but…God… we can’t do this here,” he said, abruptly removing his hands from my skin. “You deserve much better than this.”
“Wait,” I reached out, not wanting him to stop. His touch created a primal need like nothing I’d never known before. I had to have more of him and didn’t want to wait for anything. “I don’t mind. Really, it’s okay,” I whispered.