Page 13 of Crave You

“I have no intention of doing any such thing,” I say. “Honestly though, you make him sound dangerous.”

“He is dangerous,” Erin says. “On the surface, he is popular and friendly. But watch his eyes when he talks to people. There’s no emotion there. His smiles don’t reach his eyes. He uses people, makes them feel special until he’s gotten what he needs from them and then he casts them aside. He hurts people for fun.”

A strange thrill ripples through me.

But why? It isn’t fear. It’s something like… excitement, but that wouldn’t make any sense. Surely it’s not normal. It’s warm and-

“You sound like you know this first-hand,” I blurt out, just to say something. Anything to reroute my brain off that train of thought.

“God no,” Erin says, wrinkling her nose. “I have far too much self-respect to get mixed up with a Valens guy. It’s bad enough my brother is involved with them.”

I’m listening to Erin, but watching Zander. My eyes wander from his face and swoop down his body. Even clothed I can see his pecs and the hint of a six pack through his top. I want to run my hands over his body, and feel his smooth skin. I don’t know what’s come over me. I have never met anyone who has made me feel like this before. I hate that I’m so attracted to him.

“Oh God, I’m too late, aren’t I? You’re already smitten,” Erin says.

“I’m not smitten,” I say.

Besides, smitten is for Jane Austen novels. I don’t look away from Zander and when he catches my eye across the room, he makes me feel things I didn’t know someone could make me feel with just a look.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Laurel announces. “Then I’m going to have a wander around. Catch you guys later on.”

I’m surprised that she is going off on her own at a party, but as I watch her chatting with people, I realize she knows almost everyone here, so it’s more like she’s mingling with friends.

I down the last of my drink and see that Erin’s cup has gone.

“Should we go and get another drink?” I ask.

However, she seems distracted. She’s watching Shawn, who is talking to one of the guys who turned up with Matthew.

“Erin?” I say, nudging her with my elbow.

“Sorry,” she says. “I just need to go and have a quick word with my brother, OK? You go and grab us some drinks and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

She doesn’t give me chance to argue the point and so I start making my way through the crowd towards the kitchen. The room is full but it’s not so full that I can’t make my way through easily enough. Until someone steps in my path. I try to sidestep around the person but they sidestep too. I look up to see who it is, and I find myself once more looking at Zander’s beautiful green eyes.

My stomach flutters and my pussy clenches as he holds my gaze. He reaches out with one hand and cups my chin. His thumb comes up and rubs roughly across my bottom lip, smearing my lipstick slightly. The gesture is so intimate I’m momentarily shocked into silence. I just stand there looking at him, my treacherous body thrumming with desire.

He removes his hand from my chin and I instantly miss his touch. I’m breathless and panting as though I have run over here. I can feel my chest heaving but no amount of me telling myself to calm down is making it stop.

“Come with me,” Zander says.

It’s a command, not an invitation. He’s already heading off in the direction I’ve just come from.

I ache to follow him.

My heels dig into the ground.

Remember who this is, Leona: he’s the guy they warned you about. A heartbreaker. A downright sociopath.

And yet, they were so wrong about his eyes…

I allow my foot one step before I dig it back into the ground.

No. I don’t follow orders. I’m not used to being commanded and ordered about. I am no one’s plaything.

No.

I get out my phone and pretend to check my flashcards, even though all of me is tensed with what I want, how much I want it.

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