Page 158 of The Villain We Tempt

But as I try to focus on the uncomfortable sensation that something is wrong here, my attention keeps getting pulled to something…someone…else.

Someone darker, and more dangerously alluring.

Someone who wears a mask and tells me what a good girl I’m being…

A heated flush thrums in my core as my masked stalker takes full and utter control of my thoughts.

The Ghost Prince.

Or is his name LOCHLAN…

I feel myself shaking my head, semi-oblivious to Ari’s concerned expression as I finally allow myself to follow that thread.

What if I’m not making it up?

What if the Ghost Prince is Lochlan?

“Have you seen him?”

Ari’s face swims into focus, puzzled.

“What?” she frowns. “Seen who?

“Lochlan,” I hear myself groan. “Is heheeeeeree?”

The music slows. The heated, erotic sensation sliding over my skin clutches me tighter, taking my breath away as my nipples tighten against my dress.

“Lochlan Kildare?” Ari asks, her brows furrowed. “Okay, no more absinthe?—”

“More absinthe!” I crow before I start giggling again.

I sort of register the concern on Arianna’s face when she tells me to stay where I am for a minute, but I guess I don’t register it enough. Because when she turns away to stop Wren from hugging complete strangers, I immediately start to push through the crowd.

Hemustbe here. He’s one of the most popular guys on campus, and this istheparty tonight.

I’m sure he’s around.

Maybe he is, but at a certain point, I realize I’m standing in the shadows, staring up at the dragon on the LCD screen as it loomsover me ready to swallow me whole. I haveno ideahow long I’ve been standing here.

I finally manage to rip my gaze away from the dragon as I whirl…

…And immediately slam into a tall, muscled torso.

“You look lost, little lamb.”

My eyes snap up, and my pulse skips a beat as I find myself staring up into the dark, dangerous eyes of Adrik Volkov.

I blink, my mouth opening and closing before slowly opening again, all without a single sound coming from my throat.

I swallow heavily as I try to wet my suddenly parched lips. Darkness pulses and throbs around his head like a black, ominous halo.

“I…” I blink rapidly.

His mouth pulls into a small smirk.

God, his lips areperfect. I guess I’ve just never been close enough to Adrik to notice before.

“What the fuck are you doing?”