Prey Drive (Parallel Prey, #1)

by Jen Stevens

I'm the hostile wolf with an insatiable prey drive, and she's the little lamb that's accidentally wandered into my path.

Then, to my complete horror, she abruptly stops in the middle of the dining room and swivels her head directly toward me, as if someone had called her name. As if something inside of me silently called to something inside of her. And her eyes land right on my dark figure.

How the fuck do you even eat a fig, anyway?

It's no coincidence that he chose a fig. The infamous forbidden fruit.

I can't stop thinking about the girl in the cottage. My beautiful, deadly little Stardust, as I've decided to call her.

Even serial murderers have fears. Mine just happens to be a five-foot Italian woman from the Bronx.

The dream man is back. Or perhaps it's more appropriate to call him a nightmare, since I'm pretty sure it's impossible to deny he's the same man I found standing outside my window.

“Who the hell even are you? What are you?” Those eyes cut over to me. “Me? I'm your worst nightmare, little Stardust.”

“Relax, little lamb. Let me take care of you,” I whisper against her neck, earning a small moan that seems to hit me in all the right places.

She should run. I wouldn’t even blame her for it. Of course, I’d chase her. But at least then I would know she possessed some semblance of self-preservation.

“I’m not afraid of dying. I've already done that. I’m afraid of not living.”

If I'm going to Hell, I might as well have a good time on my descent.

“I don't think you get it, Stardust. The second I coat my tongue with your cum, you're going to be mine. No other man will ever touch you again and live to talk about it. When I eat this pussy”—he glides his finger down my slit again, and I shudder out a breath—“I'm taking ownership of it.”

“I told you, you're mine now, and I don't like when people touch my things. Anyone with the balls to do so is going to deal with the consequences. Do you understand?”

“Would you like to spread your legs for me now and give me a taste? I thought it might be uncouth of me to lick your pussy so soon after your ex scared you, but I'd be more than happy to chase him out of your thoughts with my tongue. All you have to do is ask, baby.”

She deserves the entire night sky and every exploding, magnificent star floating inside of it. No, fuck that. She deserves the universe. My girl is so much bigger than all of this. I hope one day she allows me to give it to her.

“You’re afraid of me,” I point out, refusing to answer her obvious question. Of course, I think it’s funny. I had my fingers buried inside of her less than two hours ago, and now she’s looking for an item to smash against my head. “I’m not afraid of you.” She stomps her foot, still refusing to move from her spot in the foyer. “Then come closer,” I challenge. Stabbing a finger toward the ground, she says, “This is my house.” “I thought we already cleared up that this was my house,” I point out uselessly, because it doesn't matter either way. I just want to irritate her as much as she irritates me.

I like this side of her. I want to pull it out and bottle it up to carry around with me. To shrink the image of her right now down into my locket and wear it around my neck.

“Don’t run. I’ll catch you,” he warns in a deep, menacing voice.

How is it that she can look so innocent and sinful at the same time? The epitome of forbidden fruit. My beautiful fig.

For you, I'll never tire. I'll never stop feeding on each and every scrap you give me. I want to devour you. Own you. And I'm afraid that by the time I've had my fill, there won't be anything left of you.”

“You can’t escape me. Not in this life or any one that comes after it. My soul has latched onto yours, melding us into one. I’ll always find you, Stardust.”

“I don’t think you understand me, Stardust. There’s no way I’m going to have you sleeping anywhere but my bed while you’re in my city,”