Page 125 of Evil Hearts

“Already ate,aye? Munro chuckled and shook his head, “I like a woman with a hearty appetite. Let me feed you, lass.”

“I wouldn’t mind a small bowl,” she looked down shyly.

“‘Fraid a serving comes in only size ‘round ‘ere,” Munro winked, ladling a portion into a large bowl, “an’ it ain’t ‘small.’”

He laughed, handing her the bowl before starting another for himself.

The sound of clothes rustling reminded her that Lachlan had just finished transforming outside the cave, and she tilted her head, eager to see what sort of man would emerge. She’d already seen a recognizable difference in the two’s personalities, and curiosity was beginning to get the better of her.

Then he stepped inside…

She nearly swooned as she was greeted with his appearance. His hair was pitch-black and disappeared behind his broad, scarred shoulders. Like them, his chest and stomach were littered in evidence of prior injuries; his body a chiseled tapestry of combat. Even his solemn face bared two scars—streaks of pink that cut through his otherwise tan skin—over his right eye and another above his lip. His eyes were the same shade of green as Munro’s, but seemed darkened by a natural fierceness behind them.

Munro, with his soft, gentle demeanor and pale-blond features reminded her of an angel food cake, while Lachlan’s darker complexion and sharp, almost bitter-looking features reminded her of dark chocolate. Catching sight of the red-plaid kilt tied around his waist, she remembered a batch of chocolate cherry bars she’d been offered at one of Erik’s meet-and-greet parties.

She hadn’t been able to keep her hands off of them.

As she hungrily devoured the delicious stew, she glanced back and forth between the two…

Already thinking about dessert.

Chapter Two:

A Wolf’s Appetite

“Ihope ye offeredher the first bowl o’ stew!” Lachlan’s eyes seemed to refuse to meet Katarina’s as he stepped in and she frowned, biting her lip.

Did she want him to look at her? Munro hadn’t stopped giving her attention, but he seemed…

“Aye! I’m not a totalarse!” Munro rolled his eyes, shoveling another spoonful into his mouth.

“No, not atotalarse, I s’pose,” Lachlan turned and moved to a small shelving unit built in the cave and pulled out several bottles. The first he handed to her and the second he uncorked loudly before chugging down its contents.

Still watching him gulp the mystery beverage, she took another mouthful of stew. Both brothers’ gazes fell upon her and she realized she’d moaned at the taste.

Blushing, she motioned to the bowl. “This is delicious!” she announced, hoping to sway any dirty thoughts, “Who cooked it?”

“Lachlan cooks,” Munro announced, “I forage. We both hunt, though, so I guess we can both take credit.”

“Oh. So do you two live here then?” she looked around, unable to deny that the cave certainly had a homey feel to it.

“We do,” Lachlan took any swig of his drink and turned to finally look at her. “We aren’t exactly welcome anywhere else.”

“Aye! Thosebluidyvampires have seen t’ that!” Munro growled.

“Well… they didn’t seem friendly, that’s for sure.” Katarina blushed, “Thank you again for saving me. I mean, when you first attacked them I thought you were fighting them to have me…” she blushed at her phrasing and quickly added, “to eat, you know?” She bit her lip, curiosity once again getting the better of her. “Why didn’t you?”

“What?Eatye?” Lachlan shook his head, “We’re men of honor, lass.” Lachlan looked down at his drink. “We doona care what ye are; yer a lady first.”

“So are ye truly an artist, Kat?” Munro smirked.

Katarina fought the raging blush from Lachlan’s words and nodded to Munro, “I am. It’s why I’m here. My agent sent me to find some new inspiration.”

“Inspiration?” Lachlan scoffed, “Inthatvillage? Ye have a better chance of finding inspiration in an outhouse!”

“Oh? And why’s that?” she frowned.

“Because it’s a bore,” Lachlan shrugged. “The villagers are simple folk and wouldn’t know art if it grew legs and leapt up their arses!”

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