my skin. A complex scent assaulted my nostrils—summer sunlight shining through rain, honeydews in the frost, sandalwood and sex. The intoxicating scent stole my breath and lit all my nerve endings on fire, making me instantly and embarrassingly horny.
I’d never felt such unholy lust for anyone before. Not for my good-looking boyfriend whom I left behind at Columbia University. Not even for the quarterback of the high school football team—the hottest boy I’d ever met.
Yet now I was vomiting lust, eyeing the two fanged monsters in front of me like they were the most delicious cake.
I stalked toward them, my hips swinging, eager and desperate to get my hands on them. I’d slide my wanton fingers down Rowan’s cut chest to his hard stomach, then slip further down. After I had some fun with him, I’d try his brother. I’d take them both.
Judging from the devouring heat in their heavily lidded eyes, I was confident they desired me just as much.
“Evie!” Fawn’s calling through the broken window in the kitchen reached me, a swirl of cool air chasing away the excessive heat in my mind.
Fawn, my innocent, defenseless sister. I had a family to protect.
I forced myself to halt, but my body wanted to keep going. It craved the beautiful monsters more than anything. It answered their mating call like hearing a siren song. Their scent and desire flowed in my veins like liquid fire.
Just let me taste them a little, and then I’ll stop.
My will said no, and my fingernails dug into my palms until they bled. Pain lanced through me, cutting a path to my lust-addled mind and finally cleared the rest of the haze. I looked at the males and the curved alley and the sky behind them and swallowed. I hadn’t thrown myself at them and performed whatever they wanted me to. Relief flooded me that I’d stopped myself before it was too late.
Rowan and Baron stepped toward me with their arms open, insane hunger lighting like fire in their lust-filled eyes.
“Stop!” I shouted, lifting my refresher and spraying in their direction.
They blinked as if they just woke up, and paused their advance. Yet they still leaned forward, eager to pounce.
“What the fuck, dudes?” I yelled at them, mimicking how the street gangs talked to scare these two away. “What did you do to me? It’s uncool.” My accent thickened. “You fuck with me again, I’ll fuck you up.” I shot two fingers toward the level of their eyes.
“I think you fucked us up already,” Rowan said grimly, his eyes remaining bright with a trace of a red ring around his irises. A puff of icy steam escaped his lips as he exhaled.
Damn his kissable lips. I wanted to tangle my fingers in the silky, thick mane of his hair and drag him down toward me, so I could lick them like the goddamn forbidden fruit—
I ripped my gaze away from his mouth.
“Normal people don’t do that, dude,” I murmured over his confused look. “It’s summer. You shouldn’t feel that cold. Your trench coat is also out of season.”
An understanding flashed by his eyes, easing off the haze of lust in them.
“I’m from the Winter realm, my lady,” Rowan said. “I can’t change my nature anymore than my heritage. However, to please you, I’ll put up the glamour. But then, you might see through it.”
We were so not on the same page. We weren’t even carrying on the same conversation.
“Sweet girl.” Baron’s voice dripped with honey as he put on one of the most striking smiles a male could do. If I hadn’t seen his vicious side not so long ago, I’d have bought his new persona.
“I’m not sweet,” I said before he could go on. “You should not pretend, either, Scarlet-shirt. You won’t get a damn thing from me with your sweet talk.”
Rowan chuckled in approval. “You’ll fit in with the Winter court just fine, my lady.”
“Like hell she’ll go with you.” Baron pulled his lips back and snarled at his half-brother.
I stepped back in alarm. Were they going to kidnap me?
When Baron turned to gaze at me again, he was all sugary as he prowled closer. “I just want to talk to you undisturbed.”
“Stop!” I ordered, waving my refresher in front of me. “Keep your distance.”
Rowan darted into Baron’s path. “She said stop, and you’ll keep your distance. I won’t let you screw this up.”
The air current still circulated between the three of us, and both Fae sniffed again as if they couldn’t get