Page 25 of The Monster and the Last Blood Match

He laughed humorlessly. “Work. That’s all. We’re having a special presentation this morning. You’ll be involved.”

“Me?” she squeaked. “Involved how?”

“You’ll be part of the presentation. Maybe say a few words. Just do whatever I tell you,” he said distractedly.

“Sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “There are two things I don’t do: needles and public speaking.”

His head popped up from his phone. “You’re afraid of needles?”

She shuddered. At least she had gotten his attention. “They give me the creeps.”

He gave her the funniest look, as if he couldn’t believe that anyone could be afraid of needles.

“Look, it’s a common fear.” She fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably.

“Do you miss the irony in being afraid of needles when you’re working as a subject for a vampire?”

She cut her eyes over to him and forced herself not to touch the spot on her neck where he had nicked her last night. “I think a vampire would have to bite me for it to be ironic.”

“Don’t tempt me, Little One,” he growled.

Reyna straightened quickly. That wasn’t what she had meant.

“So, is that my new nickname or something? IsReynatoo long?” she asked, trying to lighten the mood and stop thinking about the powerful man sitting only inches from her. If she kept pushing him to feed on her, he might actually do it. Then she’d really test her fears.

“Reynais perfectly adequate.”

He returned to his phone, and that was the end of the conversation. Her gaze went back out the window to the bleak city all cast in the early morning glow. It was eerily beautiful in its own way.

Then his hand brushed her dark hair off her shoulder and all thoughts of the city evaporated. Goosebumps erupted on her skin. With her hair out of the way, he touched the tender spot where his fangs had pierced.

“Yes.”

Reyna didn’t move. She didn’t even breathe. She felt the power of his touch vibrate through her body. His fingers moved from her neck up to her chin, and he forced her to look at him.

“Look at how you tremble.”

A smug expression crossed his face. He seemed pleased that his touch frightened her. But she couldn’t keep from feeling that way. He tilted his head in assessment and then seemed to find what he was looking for.

“Yes, Reyna, you are my Little One.”

All that was before her was Beckham.

A predator luring his prey.

And she was trapped.

As thoroughly as a rabbit in a snare.

Beckham abruptly dropped his hand. For a moment, she had completely forgotten where she was and what she was doing. She shifted in her seat and tried to get herself back under control.

The car stopped in front of Visage, and the driver, Gerard, hurried around the car and opened the door for Beckham. Gerard then offered her his hand, assisting her from the vehicle. She tottered for a moment, then regained her balance. Her head tilted up at the enormous Visage building in utter awe of the sheer magnitude of the all-glass facade.

When she saw that Beckham hadn’t waited for her, hadn’t even looked back to see if she was coming, she jumped and made a dash to catch up. Luckily, her high heels held traction on the concrete steps, and then she was breezing into Visage Incorporated right behind Beckham. As she walked into the tallest building in the city, her feet stilled again.

The entryway was a sight to behold. Glass upon glass upon more glass. And everything else was beautifully clean white marble and porcelain and polished granite.

“Reyna,” Beckham said sharply.

---