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Julian opened the basket with a wiggle of his eyebrows that made me giggle and handed me a plate with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a pile of strawberries.
“I had to improvise.” He leaned back on his hands, long legs stretched out before him, as I chewed on a strawberry.
“This is great. Thank you.”
“Charlotte, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner tomorrow night? I’d like to try again without drugged champagne or unwanted intrusions.” Julian leaned in as I chewed my sandwich, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his hand dug in the sand.
Was he nervous? I grinned as I took my time swallowing and sipping my coffee. But as I was about to agree, I realized I already had plans. I preferred to be with Julian so I could cancel with Sam. But…I could also use the opportunity to find out more about what happened between he and Lauren last night, and what—if anything—he knew about her disappearance.
“I would love nothing more, but I already have plans tomorrow night,” I told him, resting a hand on his and using the other to tuck his stray curl back into place.
“I see.” Julian’s full lips pulled into a tight line as he seemed to contemplate something. “May I ask what your plans are?”
“No. You may not. Just as you don’t have to explain to me where you were yesterday or this morning.”
“That’s not the same thing. That was related to the job—”
“How do you know this isn’t?” I challenged, standing and brushing off as much sand as possible. “Not that it matters. I have a right to my privacy.”
Julian stood facing me so fast it took concentration not to react.
“Of course you do,” he said. “My apologies. I do hope you enjoy your date with Sam.”
No amount of concentration could stop my mouth from dropping open or my eyes from widening in surprise. “How did—”
“Word travels fast on Monster Island.”
I hated the blush working its way up my neck as I started babbling. “I didn’t want to go. He was trying to help me get out of the book club meeting and then I thought maybe I could get some information out of him.”
Setting his hands on my shoulders, Julian leaned close enough to rest his forehead against mine. “No need to explain, Charlotte.”
“Wait.” Something wheedled its way into my panicked brain. “You knew I had plans when you asked me out. What was that about?”
In answer, Julian lifted me from the ground and covered my mouth with his. My body responded immediately, not just granting him access to a deeper kiss, but reciprocating like I’d been drowning, and he was my oxygen.
I flicked my tongue against his fangs, feeling the sharp sting and taste of blood. His answering moan sent heat pooling to my core. Closing his lips, he sucked in my tongue and clutched me closer to his body.
The next thing I knew, I was on my back in the soft sand, Julian above me, trailing his hand across the side of my breast as he lightly ran his incisors along the skin of my throat, not breaking through, but raising gooseflesh all over my body. I arched upward, against his hardness.
Julian’s thumb swept over my nipple through my shirt, unleashing tremors of desire and a mad thirst for more skin-on-skin contact. I yanked at his shirt, tugging it loose from his pants, and he caught my hands.
“It’s my turn. I believe I owe you.” His eyes literally glowed with mischief.
But before he could make good on his promise, the familiar alert sounded from both of our phones. We froze, looking at each other—me breathing fast and flushed. Then Julian was off me and lifting his cell while tossing me mine.
Nothing like murder to kill the mood.
Chapter 8
Summoned
At least it wasn’t Lauren. Though I still felt terrible as we hurried back to the base in the vamp mobile. I gave up trying to fix my hair into anything reasonable and settled for getting most of the sand off the visible portions of my outfit. Julian, of course, appeared completely put together in less than a minute. Figured.
Knowing a certain other vampire would be present at the meeting had me chewing on the inside of my cheek again. But he’d be forced to act professional with the general and everyone else there. Besides, he should be more concerned about the victim since it was his pledge.
I’d only met Michelle once, and I hadn’t been impressed. But that didn’t mean I wanted to see her die. No one deserved that, even if her goal was to be undead.
The elevator deposited us on the platform in the command center where the general, Daphne, Tittwell, and several other SHADE military employees gathered, along with Carmichael. His scarlet eyes fixed on me the moment I stepped forward, and I had to resist the urge to cower behind Julian. Fight my own battles. Right.
