Page 14 of Twilight Destiny

Rosa stared up at him as warmth spiraled through her. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

He shook his head.

“You’re not exerting your innate vampire allure to seduce me?”

Kincaid regarded her for a moment then threw back his head and laughed. She was delightfully outspoken. “Is that what you think?”

She glared at him. “Saintcrow told me vampires possess some kind of preternatural sex appeal.”

“He did, huh? Well, I’ll try to turn it down a notch.”

“So I was right. Youweretrying to seduce me.”

“I was kidding, Rosa. I wasn’ttryingto do anything.”

But he could if he wanted to, she thought, suddenly frightened by the possibility. Tugging her hand from his, she said, “Well, see that you don’t.”

“Hey,” he said with a grin, “I can’t help it if you find me irresistible.”

“Irresistible?” She stared at him, her cheeks bright pink with embarrassment because he was right. “I think you’re totally resistible,” she lied.

“I guess our date is off,” he said quietly. “Come on, I’ll take you back to your car.”

The trip back to the restaurant parking lot was strained and silent.

He pulled up next to her rental, parked, got out, and opened the door of the Mustang for her.

Her hand trembled as she unlocked the Kia.

“I’m sorry if I offended you earlier,” he said, his voice cold and flat.

His apology caught her completely off guard.

She felt a rush of regret when he turned away. Maybe shewasover-reacting just a little. “Kincaid, wait!”

He paused a moment then turned to look at her, his expression impassive.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t go.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “You never know when my vampire allure might go into high gear.”

Stifling a smile, she said, with mock seriousness, “Maybe you can warn me.”

Closing the distance between them, he gazed into her eyes. “I’m warning you now.”

“Oh?” It was suddenly hard to breathe.

“I’m going to kiss you.”

“Oh.”

With a nod, he lowered his head and claimed her lips with his, right there in the parking lot where anyone passing by could see them. It was a chaste kiss, just the brush of his lips on hers, and yet she felt it in every nerve and fiber of her body.

When he lifted his head, she stared up at him. Lordy, if that was how he kissed when he wasn’t exerting any vampire allure, what must it be like when he did?

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