Chapter 3

EMMETT

My eyes linger on her more than they should. I let my hand drop from her face. My eyes move up and look behind her to see Whitney appearing around the door with a grin. “Go for it,” she mouthed. She turned around and was gone without a trace.

“I think I should go,” Lena murmured, making me look back at her. I frowned as she pushed me back slightly. Her eyes were on me.

“I want to—” I said, but she shook her head, cutting me off. “I think you can do better than me,” Lena said, moving away.

Lena sidestepped me and walked away. I couldn’t let her go. I latched onto her wrist, spinning her to face me. I pull her toward me and wrap my arm around her waist, keeping her against me. Her eyes widened.

I move to the crook of her neck. My nose ran along until I reached her ear and let out a low growl. “Don’t run away from me,” I mumbled. “I want to get to know you. You’re beautiful.”

I move away slowly and stare back at her. Her eyes were wide. Her mouth opened and closed like she a gaping goldfish.

A smirk curled my lips.

I placed my hand on her face and stared. “Do you want to dance?” I asked.

Lena’s mouth dropped open.

“Well, darling,” I asked, gently stroking her cheek. “Dance with me?”

I moved my finger under her chin to close her mouth but moved my finger to her mouth and smudged her lipstick till it was on the side of her mouth.

“Perfect,” I whispered and leaned into her. “Now, dance with me.”

I moved my finger away from her mouth and placed my hand in hers, twisting her around and moving her forward. I guided her toward the next room, where some people were dancing. We moved to the middle and pulled her toward me as I leaned into her neck and closed my eyes.

My hands move and graze her arms, making tingles ripple through my touch. Goosebumps appeared on her skin again. I wrapped one hand around her waist as the other went onto her hip and started moving her with the beat, but the song ended, and another came on—Dangerous Girl.

Lena sighed and rested against my body as I moved her body to the beat. She swayed her hips as her head leaned back onto my shoulder.

I opened my eyes and grinned as I let her move.

My hand loosened on her waist and went to the other side of her hip, gripping her tight.

My dream was finally coming true—my mate was in my arms finally.

Lena loosened up and moved with me. I felt eyes on us, but I didn’t care.

Lena’s ass pressed against my ever-growing bulge, which I knew she could feel. The way she makes me feel is hard to explain. I have stayed in the shadows for too long, and now I have her in my arms. I was never giving her up—she’s mine.

I moved my hands down her hips and thighs and slid up the little material of the costume, skimming over her bare skin.

Fuck, she was wearing a thong.

My c**k throbbed in my pants as I grazed over her panties, making her moan. “Don’t,” she whispered. “People will see.”

I groaned into the crook of her neck. “Darling,” I murmur. “There is no one here but us. Let me—”

My eyes move slightly, taking in the lack of attention from people around me. Most of these humans were tongue f*****g someone, and over in the corner, a couple f*****g.

The smell of blood wafts toward me, making me move fully to stand. My eyes dart around the room until I see a vampire drinking from a woman’s neck in the corner. I growl, making Lena tense and stop dancing.

A trickle of her blood runs past and down her neck. My eyes went to see if she wanted it, but her eyes were closed. It was hard to hear anything with the music blaring.

“What’s wrong?” Lena blurts. “Are you having a good time with me? If not, you—”

I heard the uncertainty in her voice. I moved her around in my arms to have her face me so she couldn’t see what was happening.

I stared down at her. Her eyes met mine as I grinned. “I am having a good time,” I murmured, pulling her toward me and making her slam into my chest.

My grin widens.

“Come with me,” I whisper, leaning into her ear. “I would like to get to know you.”

I pulled back slightly till my eyes went to hers. She stares and moves her head to the side as a slow smile pulls the corners up. “Sure,” she said. “How about we leave? Let’s go outside.”

I nodded.

Lena moved slightly, but I gripped her hand, making her look at me with an arched eyebrow. “You okay?” she asked.

I stepped closer, closing the gap between us. “Yes, I am,” I said, looking up to see the vampire and human girl gone. My eyes met hers, and smiled. “Shall we go out the back?” I said, placing my hand in hers and moving her to the front of me.

Lena moved and gently squeezed my hand. She guided me out of the room and straight back through the kitchen, where some people were talking. We walked past them all and headed to the back door.

Stepping outside, the cold breeze rippled over me. Lena shivered against me. I moved my hand from her and untied the cloak that came with my costume. I stepped back and wrapped it around her. Lena pulled it over her and closed it around her like a blanket. Her eyes look up at me. “Thank you,” she said, placing her hand in mine.

“Shall we?” I said, motioning toward the other end of the place.

Lena nodded, and we walked away.

The noise of the party faded as we stepped toward a gate but stopped. Lena turned around and leaned on it while I stood before her. I placed my hands in my pockets and kept my eyes on her.

“I hate parties. I would rather be painting,” she mumbled, keeping her eyes on me. “So you know my name? What’s yours?”

I smiled. “Emmett.”

Lena nodded and smiled.

“So, Emmett, what brought you here tonight?” she asked.

I pulled my hands out of my pocket and placed them out. “Well, it’s a costume party,” I said with a grin. “I like Halloween.”

Lena laughed.

“I can tell,” she said, eyeing my costume until she met my eyes. “Vampires are your thing.”

Oh, you have no idea, darling.

“You can say that,” I said, stepping closer to her. I placed my hands on her hips and leaned into her slightly. “Can I drink your blood?”

Lena licked her lips as she stared back. “Maybe a kiss first,” she whispered.

Grinning, I move closer and lean into her, capturing her lips with mine.