Page 41 of Tempt

Not every house is hosting an event—only two.

It’s easy to find a parking spot since most of the attendees walked from campus.

I head up the sidewalk, pausing in front of the walkway up to the first house.

I’m halfway inside before I even consider what I’m wearing. Dark jeans and a black T-shirt are a step below the polo and chinos, but I don’t care.

I’ve got one goal.

Find her.

I get some weird looks, plus some inviting ones as I move through the house.

“Nice tattoo,” a girl wearing a headband for a shirt murmurs, draping her hand over my shoulder.

“Thanks.” I glance at the dog on my arm as I tug away.

There must be a hundred people on the main floor, and I check all of them until I see a familiar face.

The woman was at the club the same night as Liv and Kat.

Jen.

Jamie…

“Jules,” I say.

Her eyes narrow. “Do I know you?”

“Daniel. Sawyer’s friend. We met at Velvet. I’m looking for Kat.”

Understanding dawns. She smiles, a beat slow. “I saw her in the kitchen, I think. Or maybe upstairs?”

The image of her in some dark corner pressed against a preppy shit with wandering hands makes my lip curl.

I check the kitchen. No Kat.

She’s not here. Either she left or she’s upstairs.

If she’s with a guy…the one from the door earlier or someone else…

She was dressed like sin, and any man in his right mind would see how gorgeous she is.

If some prick took advantage of her, I will lose my mind.

I take the stairs two at a time, shoving past students.

At the top, I look both ways down the wide hall.

This is insane.

You’re at a fraternity party searching for a student who never asked for your help.

One who only hours ago looked as if she’d rather eat nails than accept it.

I’m about to go back downstairs when Kat steps out of a doorway, her fox ears tilted sideways and her lipstick smudged.

“Kat.”

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