Page 54 of The Monster and the Last Blood Match

“You look beautiful, Sophie. Eclipsing, of course,” Reyna said.

“Of course,” she said, beaming.

And then Roland snaked his nasty arm around Sophie’s waist and drew her close to him. “I have to agree. Innocent virginal white suits you, ma chérie,” he purred against her skin.

Reyna instinctively moved closer to Beckham. Her body tensed and felt coiled like a snake ready to strike. Everything about Roland set her on edge, and it was worse because Beckham only vaguely knew how much of a threat he was. She was mentally chastising herself for not clueing him in. Especially as Roland’s eyes crawled over her outfit. She shuddered. She hated the way he looked at her.

“And you—” Roland smirked. “You chose a different dress.”

“The other one made me feel uncomfortable,” she said pointedly.

“Either way. It’s a good choice. Beckham, your girl looks like a dream, don’t you think?”

Beckham had been staring off and away at that moment, but suddenly he snapped back to attention. His eyes landed on Reyna, and everything narrowed down to him. Only him.

“A dream. A daydream,” he agreed. “And a nightmare.”

“Her or you, Anderson?” Roland asked. He laughed as if what Beckham had said was a joke. Reyna knew it was not.

“Me, of course,” Beckham said. “I’m the one with the fangs.”

“Right you are. At least nightmares get the blood pumping,” Roland said devilishly.

“Excuse me.” Beckham placed his hand on her arm, and she jolted from the sparks that flew between them. She met his heated gaze. “I’m going to get a drink. Would you like anything?”

“Yes, please.”

“Champagne?”

She nodded. “All right.”

She watched him leave, her heart beating furiously in her chest. How did one touch ignite her so? How could his words and actions be so contradictory?

Her eyes followed his progress across the room.

“And you say you’re not fucking,” Sophie said crudely.

“Sophie!” she snapped.

“What? Just look at the way he looks at you. That’s a man ready to eat you right up.”

Reyna looked over at Roland anxiously and then back to Sophie. “You are ridiculous. It’s not like that at all.”

Such a lie.

“Tell yourself whatever you want, but in that dress, every guy in the room is watching you,” Sophie said with a hint of jealousy. “Beckham included.”

“I doubt it,” she said.

“Oh, but he will,” Roland said, walking past Sophie. When he moved into position right next to Reyna, he leaned forward and breathed into her ear, “As am I.”

Reyna shivered in disgust and yanked away from him hard. Sophie glanced between them, but either she was a twit and didn’t understand Roland’s objective or she didn’t care so long as he continued to buy her expensive clothing.

“I will find you later, love,” he murmured. “Be sure of it.”

Roland wandered off, but Reyna couldn’t eradicate the sinking feeling of despair at his words. She needed to find Beckham and fast. The last thing she ever wanted was to be alone with Roland. She cast her eyes around the room, looking for Beckham. His height and bulk made him easy to pick out, even in a room full of vampires. He was standing at the bar with a glass of some kind of whiskey in his hand. She watched him tip back the entire glass, grimace slightly, and then pass it back to the bartender, who refilled it quickly.

The bartender began filling a glass flute with champagne when a woman approached Beckham. He spoke with her comfortably, relaxing in a way he never did around Reyna. The woman placed her hand on his sleeve, and he didn’t move it. What the hell?

---