*Prologue*

“Wait. Are you breaking up with me?” Derrick’s brown eyes filled with disbelief and confusion. I sighed.

“You and I both know long distance relationships never work.” I said carefully. “It would be too hard on us. California and Maine are too far apart.”

“I’m willing to try it! I love you Lolly! I don’t want to loose you!” he shouted, grabbing my hand. I winced and gently extracted myself from his grip. I’ve always been careful not to use those three little words ‘I love you’. They seem so harmless, but they’re always full of false promise and make this part so much harder to do. I took a deep breath.

“It’s not you, it’s me.” I said lamely, practically smacking myself for saying that old cliché. “You may be willing to work for it, but I’m not. I can’t do it... I’m sorry… Really.” I watched as his lovely face hardened and the lips I’d just kissed, thin into a straight line.

“Whatever. I should have known you were like that, Lolly.” He turned and walked away. I stared at his retreating figure. His tall, lanky frame was covered with beautiful, dark, bronze skin that rippled over hard muscle. His long, curly, India ink hair seemed to let the sun shine through like a halo.

He was gorgeous. I wasn’t going to deny it. It was a shame I had to let him go so soon. I would have liked to play with him a little longer...

“Oh well.” I said with a shrug. August was ending and his season was pretty much over. As much as I liked his cool and artsy persona, I didn’t want to have him in tow when I returned to White Peak, especially when Jock and Prep season started.

I smiled and began to imagine what my next prey would be like. I think I’m in the mood for a blond…