“Will you really?”
It took her a moment to recall what they had been talking about. His hand had begun to stroke her neck, sending chills down her spine. “Yes,” she managed to choke out.
He took a step closer so that his chest brushed against hers. Isabelle tilted her head back to meet his smoky gaze as he bent his head. His lips brushed against hers in a butterfly touch that caused her knees to tremble. The soft flicker of his tongue against her lips caused the room to tilt, the floor to fall away, and the entire world to becomecentered onhim, and only him.
Her mouth opened beneath the soft flickering of his tongue. He tasted her slowly, stroking over the roof of her mouth, skimming across her teeth. His hand tightened upon her neck as she moaned softly. He had only meant to taste her, to tease her, to show her that she was wrong, that there was something between them. But she tasted so good, felt so good,and she was so responsive that he found himself losing track of his intent, and wanting to devour her.
He broke away before he couldn’t. She blinked dazedly up at him, her eyes dark and smoky as shivers ran through her body. “We’ll find out tonight.”
The bewildered look in her eyes vanished almost instantly as anger sparked through their deep purple depths. “You wouldn’t dare!” she gasped.
“Maybe, maybe not.”
He turned quickly away from her and descended the stairs before he drug her into his room and took her now. The thought of the others downstairs was the only thing that stopped him. He had every intention of seeing her later, but he didn’t want them to know about it. Her room would be much more private, and secure, for what he intended. There would be no stopping him tonight.
Isabelle slumped against the wall, fear and anticipation warring through her so fiercely that she could hardly breathe. She wanted to run for her life, at the same time that she wanted to curl up in bed, and wait for himto come to her. She had no doubt that he would show up in her room tonight. She just had to decide if she would be there, or not.
***
As it turned out, the decision was taken from her hands. The minute she returned to the living room Ian asked if she wanted to go into the city. Normally she would have said no, but tonight she jumped at the opportunity. She ignored everyone’s surprise as she eagerly accepted, and darted down to her room. This would be her chance to prove that she could be attracted to other men, that Stefan wasn’t the only one that affected her.
She ran downstairs and threw on her favorite black dress. Her mother hadgiven it to herfor Christmas two years ago, she had never worn it out, but she had tried it on often, loving the way that it felt, and fit. It was lose and flowing, yet it emphasized the gentle swell of her breasts, her small waist, and flaring hips before ending at mid thigh. She knew that Ian went to clubs when he went out, and she was certain the dress would fit in perfectly. Quickly brushing out her wet hair, she grabbed her black, high heeled shoes, and bolted out of the room.
Everyone’s eyes widened as soon as she stepped back into the living room. “ShitIssy, I don’t remember the last time I saw you in a dress!” Mike cried.
“What?” Jack demanded, poking his head around the doorway. His eyes widened in surprise as his mouth dropped open. “You’re not wearing that!”
“Shut up Jack!” she snapped.
“I’m with Jack,” Ethan stated, folding his arms firmly over his chest as he stared at her in disapproval.
She cast him an angry glare, which he matched. “No one asked you.”
“Isabelle...” Jack started.
“You go to clubs, right?” she interrupted angrily.
“Well uh, yeah, but...”
“I can’t walk in there wearing jeans.”
“But...”he stammered.
“For crying out loud Jack I’m twenty three years old! I think I should be able to wear whatever the hell I want!”she snapped, tired of being babied and coddled.
Hisbright hazeleyes gleamed angrily, but he nodded briskly and ducked out of the doorway. A minute later the screen door opened and banged shut. “You’d better hurry up, he might leave you behind,” David warned.
“I’ll kill him!”
She hurried toward the door, slipping her shoes on as she went. “Isabelle, you look nice!”
“Thanks Doug.” At least she could count on someone not to act like a total ass all the time.
She hurried out the door and toward Jack’s idling car.Throwingopen the back doorsheslidin, eager to escape the house and Stefan. Ian gapedat her in the dim light, his eyes wide in shock. “Not one word,” she growled in warning.
“What the hell are you wearing?” he demanded, completely ignoring her.
Isabelle rolled her eyes and turned to slam the door shut. A pair of gleaming onyx eyes stopped her in her tracks. Her heart and breath froze as Stefan stared at her from the front seat. There was anger in his gaze, but also a fierce hunger that caused her toes to curl in her shoes. It was only then that she realized he had not been in the living room.
