Blood Lust (A Shiver of Sharks #1)

Prologue

DELILAH

The sound of distant rolling waves blended seamlessly into the crackles of the large bonfire.

The natural lullaby mixed with the mingling voices of the party, creating the perfect setting for a late-night rendezvous.

Despite the radiating warmth of the fire, the coolness of the summer night swirled in the darkness, prickling my skin.

I pulled at the long sleeves of my knit sweater, seeking to conserve what little heat my body created, watching as the shadows of the flames danced across the faces of reckless adults circling around the burning pit.

The gathered partiers were drunk, smoking, engulfing themselves in the freeing euphoria of the night’s festivities, mixing the ingredients of the perfect summer cocktail: drugs, sex, and booze.

Combine the three elements, and you could have a thrilling summer romance, or at least a memorable one-night stand.

One of the random beach dwellers dabbled with the strings of his acoustic guitar, strumming the instrument while a lit joint hung from his lips.

He bore an intoxicating smile plastered across his obviously high face.

He moved his fingers, his head bobbing to the gentle, comforting melody as smoke streamed from his mouth and drifted into the air.

The couple next to him laughed, their hands in each other's pants as they kissed, uncaring of who was watching.

Much like the rest of the adults present, they simply enjoyed the thrilling and suggestive aura of the bonfire, grasping the opportunity to let loose and live.

I sighed, jealous and annoyed at being alone, wishing that someone would steal me away and claim me in the night like an animal. Even thinking about it aroused me.

I stared across the circle of people, my eyes bouncing over their illuminated faces before halting, locking with a pair of dark irises across the wavering flames.

They belonged to a large, attractive man drinking his beer, his gaze intensely linked with mine, pulling me in with an alluring force.

It seemed as though my luck had changed. Here we go.

Biting my lip, I shifted my weight against the damp wooden log beneath me, sand scratching my bare legs as I adjusted my posture, purposely accentuating my chest as I tossed my long golden hair from one side to the other.

I wanted to look appetizing for the handsome stranger, to enthrall his interest and make him want me.

I glanced away bashfully, attempting to appear shy and innocent—something men in my experience, always seemed to enjoy. As my eyes sheepishly returned to his, I instantly knew my moves had worked. The man stood, slowly walking around the fire in my direction. Perfect.

He cleared his throat as he approached me.

“Is this seat taken?” he asked, pointing to the clearly empty space next to me.

I shook my head sweetly, smiling at his flirty voice.

He tried to hide his eagerness as he sat next to me, crossing his legs, his bare feet covered in the gritty beach sand.

The man glanced up at the night sky, my gaze following his, anxiously pretending to care what he was looking at, waiting for him to progress things further.

“The sky is really nice tonight, isn’t it? ”

“Mhm,” I agreed. Are we actually talking about the night sky right now? I thought he wanted to have sex?

We sat there, silently listening to everything around us, our eyes bouncing to the stars.

I inhaled deeply, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as a ripple of horniness surged through my core, desperate to be satisfied.

The man continued to sip on his drink, glancing over at me, our eyes meeting one another.

Looks like I need to be the one to initiate things.

“Hey.” I turned to face him, keeping my back straight.

“You want to get out of here? Maybe go for a walk on the beach?” I raised a brow, pointing towards the ocean, my suggestion clear as day.

The man didn’t hesitate, smiling as he replied. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

Together, we stood, the man helping me to my feet before leading the way as we stepped from the lively party in the sand dunes. I glanced back over my shoulder, noticing how everyone at the party was preoccupied; making out, drinking, too high to notice what we were doing or note our absence.

Once we finally reached the edge of the ocean, the man grabbed my hand in a sweet advance, his warm fingers intertwined with mine as we walked along the intertidal part of the beach, kicking at the small, smooth rocks and seashells in our path.

His eyes ran over my body, ogling as he continued to drink his beer.

I struggled to control myself, twirling a long strand of my golden hair, the energy thickening with each step we took through the cool Atlantic water.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before. Are you new to Golden Coast or just visiting for the summer?” I asked, drawing out the moment so we could distance ourselves from the party, allowing us some privacy.

He laughed softly, his nervousness on full display.

“Just visiting. I came out here with a few close friends for the holiday, but now that the Fourth has passed, they’ve all returned home.

I’m just hanging out a little longer, enjoying my time alone before I head back myself.

” His gaze blatantly hovered over my breasts as we walked, the sounds of the bonfire finally out of ear shot.

“What about you?” he asked, his eyes still preoccupied.

Despite his obvious lack of respect, the question was unexpected, causing me to stop and ponder my response. “Well,” I breathed, “I’m a local, born and raised here in town.”

“Ah, a local coastie,” he teased.

“Yeah, but I left minutes after I graduated high school. Packed everything up and just took off. I told myself that once I left this place, I’d never come back.

” I stopped as I stared out at the ocean, admiring its midnight beauty.

“And yet, here I am.” The muted words drifted quietly from my lips.

I could feel my mood shifting at the sad recollection of my past, the memories seeping into my mind, drowning me in all sorts of emotions as they tried to take control of the moment.

No. I slapped the pain back. This man doesn’t care about your feelings. They never do.

He continued to look me up and down, his intentions obvious as he took another sip of his beer. “Why did you come back?” he asked, the words empty and meaningless as his gaze returned to my chest. I inhaled, annoyed with the small talk as we both seemed to want the same thing. Screw it.

My demeanor shifted as I shook my complicated past from my mind and turned to face him, the moonlight casting its beams across our features.

I glanced him over, admiring his physique with a seductive gaze, the corner of my lips curling upwards.

“Do you want to just sit here and talk about our lives all night?” I released his hand and effortlessly removed my sweater, revealing my pridefully perky bare chest. “Or do you want to do something a little more fun? Like fucking me, right here, on the beach?” I leaned into him, my breasts pressed into his chest as I ran my hands beneath his shirt, gliding across his skin as I slightly arched my back, longing to be touched. To be fucked senselessly.

The blatant boldness of my offer threw the man off guard as he stared, wide-eyed, with a mouthful of beer.

“Oh shit—” He swallowed, nodding his head, setting the glass bottle down onto the sand.

His hands fumbled, struggling to remove his shirt as I waited, half naked, in only my tiny jean shorts.

He tossed his shirt down at our feet. “Yeah, let—let’s do that.

” He smiled, laughing nervously to himself, his shoulders lightly caving in awkwardly towards his chest. He stepped further into me, wrapping his hands around my bare waist, reaching for my back pockets.

He smiled, exhaling as his warm, beer-tainted breath hit my face.

Just muster through. I was desperate to skip to the good part, ready to live.

I gripped the man’s wrist, stopping him as he wandered beneath my jeans to my ass. His face twisted in confusion. “Allow me,” I whispered, smiling before forcefully shoving him back. He fell, landing hard on his backside, kicking up sand. The man remained there, shocked by my aggression.

“Wha—”

“Shhhh.” I bent down, seductively crawling over his body, gently kissing along his bare, muscular chest as I whispered my words. “I’m taking control.” He shuttered, slightly scared yet blatantly turned on by my lead.

“Oh, okay.” He swallowed, unsure of what to do.

My tongue ran up his neck, flicking the underside of his chin as he released a faint, childish whimper.

I laughed internally. Exactly where I want you.

I spread my legs, cradling his body between my knees as my tongue returned to his neck, moving and swirling to his ear, all while my bare chest pressed against his, our skin sticking together from the heat of the moment.

I could feel his cock hardening beneath his jeans, pushing forcefully against my shorts, begging to be ridden.

My hot breath brushed along his cheek as he shivered in response.

“Don’t be scared,” I whispered into his ear, licking the shell playfully.

“I just want to have a good time.” My teeth pierced his earlobe, startling him as he jolted in response, his hands gripping my backside.

I couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, kissing his neck in an apologetic way.

Poor baby, so innocent and sweet. I continued to kiss his body, my tongue tasting his skin as I made my way to his chest. He’s probably used to messing around with a pillow princess or one night stand.

Bet they only last a few minutes and have sex in the same position every single time. So sad.