Don't Hex and Drive (Stay a Spell #2) - Juliette Cross Page 0,56
When I looked back at the TV, the heroine had joined him in his moonlight swim, the song having ended. He was sensually holding her close, whispering sensual words in his silky smooth voice.
Give me one night, and I’ll prove it to you.
What would it be like to be the focus of all of that vampire’s attention? Biting my lip, I watched him embrace the woman onscreen and couldn’t deny the flair of jealousy burning up my skin.
Whether it was pretend or not, I was burning up with jealousy of a movie star or the relationship he might or might not have had with her offscreen. The thing was, it wasn’t just his beautiful body that had my stomach twisted into knots and my libido revving to go. He was compelling on so many levels, and I just couldn’t deny I honestly wanted to see what he could offer. For only one night, of course. What could be the harm?
I debated for all of two more minutes, then I shut my nightstand drawer, turned off the TV, threw a few extra things I thought we’d need into my purse, then headed downstairs before I lost my nerve. Someone was watching television in the living room.
When I popped my head in, it was Evie and her boyfriend Mateo curled up on the couch together, practically glued to each other. They were watching Avengers: End Game and Mateo was playing with her ponytail, his gaze on her, not the TV. They were disgustingly adorable, and so in love.
“Hey, Evie. I’m going to pop out for a while. Don’t wait up.”
“Headed to Tia’s?” she asked.
“Mmhmm,” I lied, turning for the front door before she asked for details.
I wasn’t a liar and just that teensy tiny one made my insides clench. But I sure as hell wasn’t telling her where I was really going.
“Make her drive you home,” she called. “It’ll be too late to ride back on your bike.”
“Okay!” I said as I opened the front door.
Crap. Now I had to take my bicycle to fake that I was headed to Tia’s. This little escapade had already turned into something bigger than I’d planned.
It was late afternoon, the sun casting a warm glow on the houses and landscape as I rode my bicycle down the driveway, onto the sidewalk, and up the driveway next door. He’d gotten his Lamborghini back. I decided to park my bicycle well under the open garage behind the car, just in case one of my sisters passed by for some reason.
I felt like I was sneaking around, because I guess I was.
Hiking my bag over my shoulder to cross my chest, I opened the wrought iron gate that led to his back door. At the center of his pretty brick courtyard, there was a trickling fountain that butted up against the white fence that separated our backyards. Summoning courage, I inhaled a deep breath and knocked on the door.
No answer. This could be a terrible mistake. What if he already had a woman in there? A blood host? A lover? Or both? And he was at this very minute kissing down her throat like he did that actress in the movie. What if they were going to town in his no-doubt luxurious bed, and I was standing here on his doorstep like an idiot?
Oh, hell.
I turned away right as the door swung open. Devraj stood there in his jeans, a T-shirt, and his bare feet, his long hair down around his shoulders. He had a kitchen towel in his hand and something smelled heavenly coming from his kitchen. His signature smile beamed as his warm brown eyes ate me up from top to bottom.
I didn’t even think to change, dammit! What kind of panties was I wearing? Did it really matter?
“This is a pleasant surprise.”
“Hi.” My voice had a little squeak to it, but there was no going back now. Lifting my chin, I plowed forward. “I’d like to take you up on your offer,” I said with as much confidence as I could manage. “On a one-night stand. Well, not a whole night. Just one time. Or one sitting really.” A sitting? This wasn’t a portrait painting. I glanced back at the darkening sky. “A one-evening stand, I suppose. I have till ten o’clock.” After that, Jules would be texting Tia, frantically worrying about me because I was always in bed by ten-thirty. Always. “If the offer still stands, of course.”