Shadow Touched: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (A Touch of Vampire Book 1) by Becky Moynihan (great reads TXT) 📕

other veered right toward the lake, so I took that route, deciding to sit on the dock again. My butt would undoubtedly freeze, but I had a sudden itch to draw the lake with pines encircling it and majestic mountains poking their heads overtop.

I rounded the bend leading down to the water and stopped dead in my tracks. Because there, standing at the edge of the dock, was a half-naked Lochlan. Despite the near-freezing temperature, he’d removed his shirt and shoes. I didn’t know if he’d heard my approach with his heightened vampire senses, but he continued to stare out at the lake, so I let myself stare at him.

Even from several yards away, I could see the powerful line of his broad shoulders, the deep groove of his spine, and the dimples just above the waistband of his pants. My mouth dried at the sight of such symmetrical perfection. The dark twisty vines tattooed on his arms were now on full display, curling up both muscular biceps to disappear over his shoulders.

I wanted to draw him like this. I’d never wanted to draw anything so badly in my life.

When time slowly ticked by and he hadn’t moved, I couldn’t resist the itch any longer. I spotted a boulder beside me and tiptoed to it, careful not to make a sound as I dusted the snow off and perched on top. Not long after, my butt and fingers went numb from the cold, but I didn’t move or pull out my gloves. Capturing this breathtaking sight, so unguarded, so beautiful, was all I could think about.

As the sun slowly dipped toward the mountain peaks, my pencil glided across the paper, transforming a blank canvas into the regal strength and sensual power that was Lochlan. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but as I finished shading in the shadows on his back, he moved.

I tensed, ready to retreat the second he turned. But he didn’t.

His arms flexed while he fiddled with something at his waist. Then the unthinkable happened. He removed his pants. I almost swallowed my tongue, too shocked to look away or even blink. I’d never seen a naked man before, and certainly had never spied on one while they undressed. Fates, I was a peeping tom!

But I couldn’t stop staring, utterly transfixed by how perfect he was. And I was only glimpsing his firm, perfectly-rounded backside. I couldn’t imagine how the front must—

He suddenly dove into the lake.

I gasped and scrambled to my feet, not caring if he saw me. What was he thinking? Panic shot through me and I charged toward the water, slipping and sliding the whole way. The panic only grew the closer I got. I hadn’t seen him surface yet. The lake was nearly cold enough to freeze over. If he didn’t emerge soon, he could die of hypothermia.

I reached the dock and ran to the very end, almost skidding off the side and into the water in my haste. I dropped to my knees and peered into the blackened depths. When I couldn’t find him, my heart twisted painfully. “Lochlan!” I frantically screamed, dropping my sketchpad so I could claw at the buttons of my coat. I was a terrible swimmer, but I’d never forgive myself if I just sat here and let him drown.

Before I could finish yanking off the coat, though, he breached the surface near the dock in a spray of freezing droplets. I cried out in relief and reached for him, then quickly withdrew. My touch would only cause him further harm. I scrambled to pull on my gloves with trembling fingers, then reached for him again. “Take my hand.”

When he didn’t comply, when he continued to tread water just out of reach, I snapped, “Now, Lochlan. You’ll freeze to death!”

His lips parted in surprise. “McKenna,” he said after a beat, his tone almost gentle.

I growled, fear riding my words. “Why are you doing this? Is death really preferable to being near me?” I knew I sounded unhinged, my voice cracking with emotion, but I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand how he could do this to me.

A strangled sob heaved from my lungs before I could stop it. I bit down on my lower lip, but more followed. Angry and confused, I struggled to keep tears from falling.

“Turn around, McKenna. I’m coming up,” Lochlan said over my hysteria, then, “You’re getting an eyeful if you don’t.”

I managed to scoot back and avert my gaze as he rose from the water. The dock shifted under his added weight. I listened as he zipped up his pants and knelt behind me, but refused to turn around. I was too mortified at my outburst. After a moment, he pulled me back against him.

At first, I resisted, a ball of tension in his arms. But when he continued to hold me, when I felt his warm breath stir my hair, I melted into his embrace.

“Vampires can’t drown or freeze to death,” he said in soothing tones meant to calm me.

I swiped a gloved finger at an errant tear. “I know. I forgot.” I looked up at the sky to halt the waterworks. “Sorry.”

“For what? For caring? You have nothing to be sorry for. I should be the one apologizing for scaring you.”

“No. For crying. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I haven’t cried in years.”

He pulled me more firmly against him. “Nothing’s wrong with you, McKenna. Tears just mean you’re tired of fighting. Of staying strong. There’s no shame in taking time to heal.”

I sniffled, surprised at his insight. “Do you cry?”

A pause. Then, “I have.”

“What, like once a hundred years ago?” I quipped, brushing away another tear.

His chest expanded against my back and he sighed quietly. “Every time I lose someone.”

I stilled in his arms. Oh. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.”

“No need to apologize,” he said, pulling his leather wristwatch from his pants pocket. “I have to go.”

Alarm trickled through me. Crap, was he upset? “Is