DeLeina, Maya - Veil of Seduction [Ambrose Heights Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Read Free Page B

stood in their driveway, dangling a package in front of him as he turned over the engine. A shawl rested on her shoulders, outlining her low-cut white embroidered tunic. Her long bohemian skirt blew gracefully in the light wind. She pulled her hair behind her ear on one side, exposing her exuberant smile as she walked to the passenger door. Anya’s shapely body stirred something in him as he watched her walk in front of the SUV. She opened the door and leaned in through the passenger seat to hang her present on his rearview mirror, creating the most advantageous view of her cleavage . Ryan closed his eyes tightly and shook his head, reminding himself of the decision he had already made.
    By that evening, he would be gone .
    “It’s red jasper. It is said to protect against harm, especially against hazards that come at night.”Anya looked up at Ryan with a smileandreached to cup his jawline in her hand.“Perfect for you, Mr. Workaholic. I would feel a lot better if this was with you. ”
    “And, I suppose I have Michelle to thank for this as well?”
    She shrugged innocently before giving him a quick peck on the lips. “My last lesson cancelled for this evening, so I can be home early. Call me when you’re about to leave the office and we can hurry and start the weekend.”
    Ryan nodded in response, watching her make her way to her car .
    From the moment he first saw Anya, he was captivated. He watched her command attention, dominate all focus in a room. He saw the way men would stop and stare, clamor for her attention. More than just an exotic beauty, she was a treasure , an indispensable asset that could solidify a man’s worth. Without a second thought, he knew right then and there, he had to have her. When she’d taken his name, he soaked in all of the covetous eyes, relishing his possession. But he soon realized deep in his core he craved variety, novelty in the unfamiliar and adventure in the unexpected.
    All things a marriage could not easily afford.
    He’d waited, watching her car disappear around the bend from his rearview mirror. Ryan cut the Mercedes engine and stepped out of the vehicle, back onto the driveway. He hurried, entering their home, and retrieved the suitcase he had concealed in the coat closet. He’d worked all week to inconspicuously pack for his getaway. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a square envelope. He ran his fingers over the envelope one last time as he balanced the letter against a vase that sat on the foyer’s entry table .
    Ryan’s thoughts drifted back to the present, concentrating on the last few miles of his drive. The red jasper’s hypnotic swing was now reduced to a simple sway, breaking any hold it once had on him.
    He glanced at the time.
    Anya should be making her way home .
    His plan was moving along like clockwork. Everything spilled into that letter, waiting to be revealed.
    After five years of marriage, his love for her diminished. Life became too predictable, too routine, and too ordinary. There was no fire, no passion. He wished to start a new life, a life with someone new. He looked over at the passenger seat and gazed at Anise. The woman had stolen his heart. She was the unique fire that rekindled everything he’d lost.
    In that moment, he settled his thoughts, confident in his decision.
    The straightway ended and the last set of sharp turns in the road before reaching the gates of Ambrose Heights were coming up.
    The stretch of road that had no guardrails , he mentally noted.
    The snow was now heavier, quickly diminishing visibility in the darkness. Ryan readjusted himself in the seat as his foot lightened its demand on the gas pedal.
    Anise reached for her seat belt. She tugged and pulled, but all she could capture was the smoothness of the fabric. Somewhere behind the seat, the belt’s metal fitting had gotten tangled. She turned around in her seat, pressing her cheek against the cold window and reached behind to untangle the belt.
    “What