Page 30 of The Monster and the Last Blood Match

“S-sorry,” she stuttered. She put a hand to her forehead, and the other was holding his jacket.

“When you said you didn’t enjoy public speaking, I thought you meant that you weren’t fond of it. I didn’t think you meant that you would freeze up and almost pass out.”

“Oh hey, public speaking makes me almost pass out,” she quipped.

“Do you always do that?”

“What?”

“Use sarcasm as a defense mechanism.”

“You think?” she asked. Her breathing was slowly getting under control. She leaned heavily against the door and threw her head back.

His eyes widened as he stared down at her exposed throat. She felt him inch toward her. Her own body stilled at his approach. For a moment, it was as if the world revolved around them. As if she had been waiting her whole life for him to get close to her. Then he took a step back and cleared his throat. “I should probably return.”

She closed her eyes, not sure if it was in fear or in embarrassment at what he must have seen in them. “Fine. Go.”

“Your heart is racing,” he growled softly, so close to her she could practically feel him on her.

“Yes,” she murmured. His hand brushed her neck gently, and she almost stopped breathing altogether. “Becks?”

She opened her eyes when the pressure disappeared, and he was gone. She straightened. She looked through the glass, back into the room, but he was nowhere to be seen. What the hell? Where had he gone, and why had he disappeared so suddenly when he had touched her?

Beckham was an enigma wrapped in a mystery.

Chapter Ten

Reyna stayed leaning back against the door until she finally calmed down, her pulse returned to normal, and her breathing wasn’t ragged. Though she was confused about what had happened with Beckham, her mind was back to functioning on a normal level.

She didn’t know what had scared him off, and asking him would do no good. She hadn’t been with him all that long, and it was clear that he didn’t like to answer questions or for her to ask them.

A few minutes later, the staff meeting dispersed and all the vampires exited the room. She plastered herself against the wall, suddenly feeling very vulnerable without Beckham there next to her. But people barely glanced at her as they left. The flow had reduced to a trickle when Roland and Cassandra appeared with their subjects and Mr. Harrington.

“Ah, there you are, Miss Carpenter,” he said. “I don’t believe we were officially introduced. William Harrington.”

He extended his hand out to her, and she placed hers in his. “Um…you can call me Reyna.”

“Reyna, of course. Sorry to see your discomfort earlier. Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. Much better,” she said quickly. She drew into herself at the present company. God, where was Beckham? He might make her uneasy, but he was her vampire, at least.

“Good.” Mr. Harrington gave her a toothy grin, and she could see his fangs. She tried to keep from shuddering. “How are you liking the program so far?”

His eyes were as sharp as his fangs when he asked her. She didn’t know what he was fishing for, but she wasn’t going to give him any more information than he needed. “Good. I’m very satisfied.”

“I bet you are,” Roland said.

She ignored that comment. “Thank you for asking, Mr. Harrington.”

“Where did Beckham get to, anyway?”

Roland shrugged. “Do you want to wait for him? I can take care of his pet until he shows up,” he said, placing his hand on Reyna’s shoulder.

Her heart kicked into overdrive. No. She wasn’t supposed to be alone with Roland. That much had been very clear from Beckham, but where the hell was he?

Sophie reached out and took his hand. “Why? Do you want her, too?”

“Oh baby, don’t worry,” he said, petting her hair like a child. “I’ll take care of you both.”

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