Marked by Midnight

Jordana stared up into Nathan’s dark eyes. She shook her head.

“Tell me,” he insisted.

Although talking about Elliott was the last thing she wanted to do in that moment, Jordana drew a breath and tried to conjure words. “He’s kind and affectionate,” she murmured lamely. “He’s loyal and steady and attentive . . .”

Nathan’s lips twisted with dark amusement. “That’s how I’d expect you to describe a pet, not the man who’s fucking you.”

The frankness shocked her, embarrassed her. But she was also unwillingly aroused by Nathan’s lack of delicacy. There was a rawness about him that was unlike anything she was accustomed to. She was playing with fire where this dangerous male was concerned, and it only made her want to dance closer to the flame.

“Elliott and I are not lovers,” she said, pushing the words out of her mouth before she was too afraid to bite them back. “I’ve never been with him in that way.”

“And you don’t want him like that either.”

Jordana frowned, hating that Nathan could know that about her so easily. “I’ve never wanted anyone like that. There’s been . . . no one.”

“No one?” Nathan seemed to go even more still where he stood. The only movement she could detect in him was the ticking of a tendon along the line of his jaw. “He wants you, this Elliott Bentley-Squire. He’s waited a year to bond you to him by blood. How long do you think you can keep him from claiming you, Jordana?”

“Elliott is a patient man. He’ll wait until I decide it’s time.”

Nathan gave a harsh grunt. “Then he’s not the kind of mate you need. Not the kind of male a woman like you deserves.”

She collected her courage enough to meet his challenge with one of her own. “What could you possibly know about what I need or deserve?”

He stepped in tighter to her, crowding her backward with the massive breadth of his body. “Have you ever kissed Elliott Bentley-Squire the way you kissed me?”

She didn’t answer, couldn’t form words with him this close to her.

“Has he ever made your cheeks flame just by looking at you, or made your pulse beat like a hammer in your veins because of the things you wish he’d do to you?”

Jordana swallowed. She exhaled a shaky breath edged with a humiliating whimper. Somehow, she managed to find her voice amid the tumult of confusion and dark, unwanted desire that was swirling like a tempest inside her. “I suppose you’re arrogant enough to believe that I should want someone like you instead?”

He chuckled then, low and humorless. “No, Jordana. I’m the last kind of man you should want in your life . . . or in your bed.”

And yet he didn’t move away from her. He just kept her caged with his body for a seemingly endless moment of time.

His irises crackled with tiny sparks of amber as he stared at her. Only the barest tips of his fangs were noticeable behind the lush line of his upper lip.

Jordana felt him reach between the scant distance of their bodies to take her hand. His fingers were warm and strong, so large and commanding as he held her in his firm, guiding grasp.

He uncurled her loose fist, only to place something hard and round, cold and sleek, in her palm. Of course. The roll of packing tape.

“Go back to where you belong now, Jordana.” He drew away from her at last, leaving her standing in a chilled, confused state of arousal and rejection. “Get out,” he said, a warning in the curt command.

Jordana held the tape to her chest and could hardly scramble for the door fast enough.

As she started to rush for the corridor, he added, “That kiss was a mistake, Jordana--for both of us. But don’t expect me to believe you’re any more sorry than I am that it happened.”

CRAVE THE NIGHT

by Lara Adrian

Releasing August 5, 2014

Thirsty for more of the Midnight Breed?

COMPLETE SERIES BOOKLIST

A Touch of Midnight (series prequel novella)

Kiss of Midnight

Kiss of Crimson

Midnight Awakening

Midnight Rising

Veil of Midnight

Ashes of Midnight

Shades of Midnight

Taken by Midnight

Deeper Than Midnight

A Taste of Midnight (ebook novella)

Darker After Midnight

The Midnight Breed Series Companion

Edge of Dawn

Marked by Midnight (novella)

Crave the Night

Tempted by Midnight (novella)

...and more to come!

To hear about upcoming releases from Lara Adrian, be sure to sign up for the newsletter at:

http://bit.ly/LaraAdrianNews

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Other Books by LARA ADRIAN

Masters of Seduction Series

Merciless (in the Masters of Seduction boxed set)

An original new multi-author, paranormal romance series with Do