Page 7 of Tempting the Dhampir

She squeezes back once.

My heart is thumping wildly, my lungs refusing to cooperate.

As one, we slowly take a step back—sisterly telepathy thankfully still intact—hoping to disappear back into the thick forest. Pretty flowers forgotten.

Slowly, we lower the curtain of leaves back into place, but I look up and make eye contact with striking jade-green eyes. On the other side of the clearing is the most attractive man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Espresso-brown hair, fit body, chiseled jaw…

His eyes widen for a fraction of a second before the foliage obscures him from my sight.

I turn, ready to run, blindly grabbing for my sister’s hand again. I peek over my shoulder, only to find the leaves swaying in the breeze, all sounds perfectly ensconced behind the wall of foliage once again.

As I take a step forward, with every intention of sprinting back to the beach, I whip my head back around and run straight into a rock-hard chest.

An “oof” escapes me, and I lift my free hand to inspect my nose. I look up into the piercing jade-green eyes that were just across the clearing.

He’s leaning with an arm against a tree trunk like he’s been here all along, looking like a model posing for a luxury brand.

A smirk tugs at the right corner of his mouth as he holds my gaze and leans forward into my personal space, pure arrogance radiating off him in palpable waves.

His tongue peeks out to wet his lips.

Are those fangs?

With a sultry baritone, he says, “Now what do we have here?”

Chapter three

Everett

Ihave no idea how these women were able to find us. The wards should be strong enough for no humans to want to step foot on the island, never mind walking right up to us.

I stare down into the most mesmerizing electric-blue eyes I’ve ever come across. “Now, what do we have here?” I can’t help the smirk that quirks my lips as I lean into her space.

The moment I spotted the beauty, I put on a burst of speed and rushed to intercept them before they could disappear. I’m going to have to present them to Bertie, but I think I’ll take my time. I’m not quite ready to share my discovery.

“Uh, two women who have clearly taken a wrong turn and will be going now,” the pretty creature in the pink dress says, giving me a little finger wave.

She’s positively exquisite, and I’d like nothing more than to get to know her—in every sense of the word. But that’ll have to wait.

Interrogation first, flirting second.

I look over their shoulders to check that the curtain of leaves is in place again, shielding them from the others. With their similar features, I’m guessing the two women must be sisters, and I’m feeling oddly protective of them. I’m curious to find out why.

Focusing on the confident stunner with the heart-shaped face, I relax my shoulders and angle my head in a bid to look unaffected. “Not quite yet,” I drawl. “Do tell, how did you fine ladies manage to stumble upon this island?” I lean in, picking up a tantalizing scent I can’t quite place. “And not just any island… a private island.” Knowing they saw my friends and me in our natural state, I tack on, “For monsters.” There’s no point in denying it. It takes effort to keep the mild panic, bubbling below the surface, off my face.

Pink-dress beauty looks up at me with what I suspect to be nerves, but just as quickly, a cocky mask slips into place as she quirks a brow right back at me.

“Monsters? What monsters?” she dares to ask, popping a hip and twirling a piece of hair around her finger.

She’s got herself some lady balls.

Strike me now, Cupid, I think I might have found the one.

“Cute.” I wink at her but then quickly school my features because I shouldn’t be flirting at this moment.

This is a pressing matter. We have mere moments before the others will realize something is wrong, if they haven’t done so already.

I stand a bit straighter, my brow wrinkling as I try to make sense of the situation. “Seriously though, you shouldn’t have been able to find us. I’m sincerely asking you before one of the others comes out here, potentially scaring your panties off.” Oh fuck, now I’m thinking of her panties. “It would be in your best interest to tell me the truth. Right now,” I implore her.

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