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Prologue

Tristan looked around the large living rooust It was the week before Christ their short-tered about on the furniture, while others danced in the corners ora hand across the back of his neck, Tristan tried to not think about the thirst that consuaze stopped on the back of Shannon’s dark hair She was sitting on Michael’s lap, her hand wrapped around the idiots’ thick neck Red crept into Tristan’s vision and he had to quickly avert his gaze If she wanted to act out the charade tonight, that was fine by Tristan Taking a s of the beer he was holding, he choked it down and wondered what else they ht have to drink at the party

"Hey, Trist" A girl from his chemistry class sidled up next to hi ht" He sirl and tried to not focus on the lush skin of her neck He turned his attention to other interesting body parts and slid an arainst his chest Shaking her curly hair, she leaned back in a calculated e

"Maybe we could go hang out so her lips, she smiled at him and placed a hand on his chest

"Well, we could always go work on soood lab partners" If he couldn’t quench his thirst, he could get lost in other things E along the sa a fistful of his shirt, E to the second floor They passed Paden, who rolled his eyes at E, Tristan tried to not be bothered by his best friend’s disgust There had been a tio, when Tristan would have never disappeared with a girl like Emma Paden would never understand what it meant to be the scholarship kid It didn’t s he was good for were taking the school to state or serving as a distraction for the rich girls before they settled doith someone their family would approve of

Unintentionally, Tristan’s gazeon Michael’s lap, but now her scrutiny was focused on Tristan and Emma She narrowed her dark eyes Tristan could aler and jealousy from the other side of the roo his gaze from Shannon’s, he set his cup down on the banister and swooped Emma up in his arhed as he took the stairs two at a time

The bedrooms were already taken, so Tristan pushed into the bathroom and kicked the door shut behind hi her hands across his stomach When she pressed her mouth to his, he tried to focus on the kiss instead of the thud of her heartbeat It see away froainst the counter and saze focused on the thu back to her, he ran his hands up into her hair before yanking her head to the side

"God, you sue he traced a path down to her shirt collar

Her hands reached between theh he could taste the spike of fear in the air, she wasn’t going to miss her chance to score with the school’s soccer captain While he was excited by her desire, he was evencouldn’t be far now; he could sh her skin

With his hands still fisted in her hair, he scraped his teeth along her neck She groaned and pushed her body closer to his Testing, he bit her as gently as he could and tensed when she gasped in pain

The door to the bathrooht fro halo, and Tristan could taste her fury He lifted his head sloay fro out once more to trace her neck as he pulled away Shannon’s nostrils flared, and her hands fisted on her hips

"Geez, Shannon This bathroom is occupied" Emma yanked her hands out of his pants and tried to readjust her shirt

"Get out" Without waiting for them to move, Shannon walked into the bathroom and yanked E with you?" Elared at Shannon "Couldn’t you just use one of the other bathrooms?"

"I don’t need to use the bathrooh she barely stood five feet tall, Shannon dominated the tiny space Emma backed out of the bathroom and flipped her hair over her shoulder

Tristan could see his bite mark even in the dark of the bathroom He tensed and wondered if Shannon had seen it too

"God, you act like you haven’t fooled around with Michael while you were ata little fun" E the doorway and she smiled at Tristan "What do you say, Trist? Wanna talk about our homework somewhere else? Seems we’re not welco about Tristan, idiot I just said for you to leave" Shannon crossed her arms and tilted her head "Or are you so stupid you couldn’t understand the simple words I used?"

"What?" E to let her tell you what to do?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Tristan leaned back against the bathroom counter and folded his arms across his chest "It’s her house"

Elared at Shannon and then Tristan "Whatever" Turning on one heel, she flounced away, her hair swinging angrily

"Elare at Tristan "And you bit her! Jesus, Tristan What has gotten into you?" Stepping up to hirip, will you?"

"I’ his eyes with the palainst the wall "It’s got to happen soon I could smell her blood I wanted to bite her, wanted to doto turn you now?" Shannon’s voice grew quiet and so in her eyes looked sad "Are you sure this is what you want, Trist?"

"I want this" Standing up straight, he placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned down to look in her eyes "I want you And this is the only way I can have you The only way your father will ever let you be with iant idiot You’re too good for Michael and it makes me sick to watch him touch you"

"Tristan…"