Moonlight Kin 4: Tristan by Jordan Summers Page B

safe.
    Izzy should’ve known the moment wouldn’t
last. Life as she knew it was a never-ending nightmare. Tristan’s
arrival wasn’t going to change that.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Tristan couldn’t seem to get her scent off
his skin. It was like he’d absorbed part of her essence overnight.
He scrubbed harder, but he still felt her warmth in his arms. He
glanced down at his hard shaft and cursed under his breath.
    This wasn’t good.
    He jerked the nozzle to cold and stood under
the pelting spray. It helped with his body’s physical response but
did little to alleviate his growing need.
    Damn her!
    Tristan shut the water off and wrung his hair
out. He didn’t dare go out there in his current condition. He heard
Isabel crunching on something and smelled the aroma of freshly
brewed coffee wafting on the air.
    He couldn’t hide in the bathroom all day.
Eventually he’d have to face her. It was best to do so head on
before she got the wrong idea about them—about him.
    Tristan pulled on a pair of jeans and a clean
navy T-shirt, then yanked his hair back and tied it at his nape. He
shaved quickly, while glaring at himself in the mirror.
    Last night, he’d come close to doing
something he’d absolutely regret. He’d have to make sure the
opportunity didn’t arise again because he wouldn’t be strong enough
to turn it down a second time.
     
    * * * * *
     

Chapter Nine
     
    The French Quarter bustled with tourists by
the time Tristan parked his truck. He hadn’t said much on the drive
into New Orleans, and for that Izzy was grateful.
    She was so embarrassed about last night that
she’d rather pretend it didn’t happen. Izzy unhooked her seatbelt
and climbed out.
    “What now?” she asked.
    Tristan adjusted his sunglasses. “Now we
mingle, so the Darkling has a chance to catch your scent.”
    “What happens if he does?” she asked, hoping
there was more to the plan than that.
    “It’ll draw him out and allow me to get close
to him,” he said.
    Izzy glanced around at the crowded sidewalks.
“Tell me your plan isn’t to kill him in front of all these people,”
she said.
    Tristan snorted. “Hardly,” he said. “I’ll
track him back to his lair, then I’ll kill him.”
    Izzy rolled her eyes.
    “What?” Tristan asked.
    “Frosty, you make him sound like a Bond
villain,” she said. “I’ll follow him back his lair.” Izzy rubbed
her hands together and cackled maniacally.
    Tristan’s expression eased.
    For a second, she thought he might laugh, but
then the moment passed.
    “There’s something really wrong with you,” he
said.
    “At least I’m not a talking snowball,” she
said, then wandered down the sidewalk.
    Tristan crossed his arms over his chest.
“Where are you going?”
    Izzy shrugged. “You said to wander. I’m
wandering.”
    “I’ll be close by,” he said.
    Her footsteps faltered. “You’re not coming
with me?”
    “He won’t approach you if I’m by your side,”
Tristan said, then disappeared in the crowd. Quite an impressive
feat given his size.
    Izzy hesitated then kept walking. Being bait
sucked! As she window-shopped, she thought about last night. She
hadn’t expected Tristan to be so caring. When she’d woken up and
thought she’d seen a monster outside her window, Izzy had expected
him to ask her if she was okay, then go back to the couch. But he
hadn’t.
    Instead, Tristan had climbed into bed beside
her and held her until she fell asleep. Izzy didn’t want to think
about how good his arms had felt wrapped around her. Part of her
hated that he’d made her feel safe. It only made his absence
worse.
    She kept walking. A couple times Izzy thought
she caught a glimpse of Tristan in the window’s reflection, but
when she’d checked, he was nowhere to be found.
    Izzy wandered another two blocks. The heat
was already beginning to make her sweat. Most natives knew to get
inside in the afternoon. Only the tourists were dumb enough to
soldier on.
    She turned a corner, and