Temptation Read Free Page B

that she was right, that he had acted foolishly. “She was so soft and ripe,” he muttered.
    â€œYou’re a jerk,” Jessica said. “Have I mentioned that before?”
    He kept his back to her and stared at the rocks sloping up to the cliff. “I’m sick of your insults,” he hissed bitterly.
    â€œThat wasn’t an insult. It was a compliment,” she joked.
    Angry, he spun around to face her, his features tight with fury. “How old are you?” he demanded.
    â€œHuh?” Her full lips formed an O of surprise. “Old enough to know more than you,” she replied, laughing, pleased at her own smugness.
    His eyes continued to burn into hers. She tried to look away, but he held her with his stare. “You really think you’re hot stuff, don’t you?”
    She nodded.
    â€œYou really think you’re better than me.”
    She nodded again.
    Again she tried to turn away from him. But the powerful hold of his stare was too overwhelming.
    They stared at each other in silence for what seemed a long time, locked together by ancient, invisible forces.
    â€œHow would you feel about a little challenge?” he asked finally.
    â€œA challenge?” She felt herself pulled toward him, pulled against her will.
    â€œA bet,” he said, a smile slowly forming on his handsome face.
    â€œI’ll win,” she said flatly, her face expressionless, only her eyes alive.
    The smile faded quickly from his face. “No, you won’t. You will lose.”
    â€œWhat’s the bet?” she asked softly, drawn toward him, caught in his grip, a prisoner of his eyes. “Do you want to bet on the Red Sox?”
    He didn’t laugh. “I hate your sense of humor,” he said heatedly.
    â€œJealous,” she accused. And then screamed, “Stop staring at me, Gabri!”
    To her relief, he obediently averted his eyes. But the curve of a smile on his face revealed that he enjoyed having power over her. “Do you want to hear the bet or not?” he asked sharply.
    â€œSure.” She moved beside him and leaned back against a sloping rock. It felt cool against her back. Soothing.
    â€œWe both need the nectar,” he said, reaching up and sliding his fingers through her long hair. “We need it so badly.”
    â€œCut to the chase,” Jessica said sharply.
    Ignoring her impatience, he continued to comb her hair with his long, slender fingers. “Why not see which of us is better at getting the nectar?” His fingers moved slowly, rhythmically through her hair, giving her chills. “Why not see which of us is more successful with the young humans, which of us is more attractive, more appealing?”
    She shuddered, then grabbed his arm, gently pulling his hand from her hair. “What are you suggesting, Gabri?” she asked, not releasing his arm.
    â€œI will get a girl within my power before you can get a boy to succumb to you,” Gabri said, his entire face lighting up with the challenge.
    Jessica’s face expressed disgust. “You mean you will fly onto the beach and attack a girl before I can attack a boy—like that disgusting, babyish display you put on tonight?”
    He squeezed her hand. “No, no,” he said softly. “Not like that. Three sips, Jessica. Three small, measured sips on three different nights. That’s what it takes to turn a human into an Eternal One. Take too big a drink, and the human dies. Three small, measured sips—and the human lives forever, as we do.”
    â€œSo what are you suggesting?” Jessica asked, becoming more interested. “Are you saying that you will choose a girl, a living girl, and take three sips on three different nights, and change her into an Eternal One?”
    â€œYes!” he agreed excitedly. “I will do that before you can dothe same to a boy. What do you say, Jessica? Do you accept the challenge?”
    She closed her eyes