Shadow Touched: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (A Touch of Vampire Book 1) Becky Moynihan (read novel full .TXT) 📖

and turning the ignition before she could reach me. In a spray of mud and gravel, I reversed down the drive to the main road, then slammed my foot on the gas. The car fishtailed on the slick pavement, but I quickly straightened and shot down the road.

I drove without direction, letting my instincts take over as I sped faster and faster. I had screwed up. Big time. I punched the dashboard and the car swerved, nearly wrenching the wheel from my grip. I immediately slowed, shaking from fear and anger. When my heart was no longer threatening to suffocate me, I sped up again, but at a more reasonable speed.

Instead of heading downtown, I’d driven the opposite direction, which I’d never done before. Somehow, the dense woods blurring past looked familiar though. It took me a few minutes, but I eventually figured out where I’d seen this area before. On our way to Hailey’s lakehouse. Bittersweet memories—mostly bitter—smacked me upside the head.

I almost turned around, loath to remember how the trip went from sweet to sour. How the four of us were now split in two. But my thoughts snagged on another memory then, of meeting Lochlan in the woods. He and Kade lived out here.

A part of me never wanted to see them again. They had stared at me for weeks without saying a word. For some reason, that made me feel like an idiot. Neither of them had stared because they were interested in asking me out. They had stared because it was their job.

I was their freaking job.

Yeah, we’ll see about that.

My resolve hardened, and I tightened my grip on the wheel.

Sooner than expected, I passed the private drive that led to Hailey’s lakehouse. Beyond that was another stretch of empty road. A few miles later, I skidded to a stop, almost overshooting what I hoped was the right turnoff. The drive was nearly hidden behind the twisted branches of a gnarled oak tree. I was hesitant to drive under the branches, afraid they’d snap off and land on my Honda.

Making it safely through, I drove down a windy, gravel drive at least a mile long. My wipers thwacked against the windshield, desperately trying to clear the way. Finally, the watery shape of a house swam into view. House was a cheap word for the place though. Even with the rain and approaching dusk obscuring most of the details, I could still make out a three-story maple wood monstrosity. Gable-shaped windows dominated the front, and porches wrapped around the bottom two stories.

“This creepy family business stuff must pay well,” I grumbled, killing the engine. Rain pelted the windshield and roof, loud enough to drown out my arrival. Maybe Lochlan and Kade weren’t even home. I searched for the black Lexus I’d seen them leaning against in the school parking lot, but the drive was empty. This place probably had a garage though. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a helicopter pad, it was that huge.

I sat there for who knew how long, listening to the rain and wondering why on earth I was here. I wanted answers, I knew that much, but did I actually believe what Lochlan had said about me being a missing person? “No freaking way,” I said firmly. Did I believe he was dangerous? I couldn’t answer that one. But if he’d wished me harm, he could have done so already. I had to hope that wasn’t the case.

Gathering my courage, I opened the car door and stepped out. Rain further saturated my shirt, fusing the material to my body. I stood a few paces from the car, suddenly feeling like a half-drowned, weirdo stalker. Now that I was here, my earlier anger seemed inconsequential. Who was I to storm over here and demand answers?

As if in agreement, lightning forked the sky, followed closely by a boom of thunder.

I turned to leave when a sudden gust of wind to my left startled me. Damp hair smacked my cheeks as I whipped that way. Nothing was there but an empty stretch of lush green lawn. Still, the feeling of being watched shivered up my spine. I squinted through the rain at the house, but the windows were dark.

The last of my courage melted away. I shouldn’t have come here. What if this wasn’t even their house?

Another gust whooshed close by and I whirled, still unable to see anything. My heart thundered as I quickly backed up toward my car. I spun and reached for the door, but a tall, dark form barred the way. I yelped and backpedaled too fast, tripping over my own feet. Before I could eat gravel, a pair of arms surrounded me, halting my descent.

Blinking against the rain pelting my face, I peered up into black eyes mere inches from mine. “Lochlan,” I gasped, too shocked by his sudden appearance to do anything but stare.

I expected him to quickly release me like he had the past couple of times I’d bumped into him. When he didn’t, I became fully aware of his hands supporting my head and lower back—but especially his thigh wedged between mine, inching dangerously close to the apex. Without permission, my body heated in response to his nearness. My own hands reached up to clutch his slick leather jacket.

“What are you doing here?” His deep, silken voice was like a caress against my skin, and I shivered. When he continued to hold me, almost as if he didn’t realize it, my brain emptied.

Why was I here?

And were Lochlan’s eyes growing brighter? That deep wine red had returned, wholly captivating me. I felt stripped bare under the intensity of his stare, like my every emotion was spread out before him. I couldn’t decide whether to pull away or draw closer, to hide or expose myself further.

A sense of déjà vu washed over me then. There was something familiar about his hold. A memory pricked at my consciousness.

Just as the memory began to sharpen, Lochlan