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Ember froze. A sensation of being watched sent prickles along the back of her neck. She scanned the area but didn’t see anyone. Perhaps the wolf wanted to keep an eye on her.

Shrugging away the paranoia, she took off her backpack, pulled out a blanket and sat down. Her feet tingled and ached. Two weeks on the treadmill hadn’t been near enough preparation.

Legs stretched out, she leaned back on her elbows, listening to the subtle sounds of the rainforest. As she started to unwind the sensation of being watched returned full force. She peered ahead and noticed a man staring straight at her.

Ember groaned. There went any attempt at peace. She sat up and grabbed her power bar.

Is a little privacy too much to ask for?

She tore the wrapper off and took a bite. The mix of rich dark chocolate and gooey caramel helped quell her appetite, but did little to ease her frustration.

Half-concealed by an overgrown leafy bush the man stood statue still, eyes trained on her like a predator. She wondered what he was thinking and how he saw her. Maybe he thought her an alien? Most of the time she felt like one, sheltered in her little world of siphoning pain and taking care of everyone but herself. Only those who sought her for personal healing thought her normal. And they were the ones who made her sick. Vampires she called them. They drained the joy right out of her life, sucked her of health and energy.

Ember chuckled to herself. When had she become so bitter? The heat must be getting to her. Or the fact a half-naked man watched her.

She tried to pretend he wasn’t there, but his steady gaze proved unnerving. Of course, there was nothing wrong with savoring him from afar. Her gaze favored the braided muscles of his shoulders and arms. He could probably lift her over his head one-handed.

The distance made it difficult to see his expression. She’d put it somewhere between a frown and deep in thought.

What does he want?

Did he plan to hurt her?

Frustrated, she called out, “Hello?”

When he didn’t respond, she decided she’d had enough and stood up.

“Excuse me, sir?” she hollered. “Are you going to stand there all day and be rude, or what?”

He uncrossed his arms and stepped out from the bush. All six foot of him. Pulse elevated, she couldn’t help but appreciate his muscle-bound form. A shirtless, tight-black-pants-wearing dream. As he approached she picked up dangerous vibrations. Her mind said run but her eyes begged to feast on his powerful physique. Though pale-skinned, it did nothing to diminish the hard lines of his body or the way his six-pack looked chiseled by hand.

Figures a man this deceptively handsome existed only in the Amazon.

He stopped just past her comfort zone. She’d have taken a step back if it weren’t for the way she melted in his commanding presence. Sure his face was set in a scowl and his brows were two dark slants. But his deep-set eyes, velvety brown like wet sand, mesmerized her. He had a squared face with defined cheekbones and a firm jaw. Her fingers longed to reach out and run through the long chocolate brown hair that draped his shoulders and chest.

When she’d sufficiently drunk him in and the dreamy haze faded, she realized his scowl had deepened. What she could have done to anger this man already, she had no idea. Eye-catching as he was, the silence grated on her nerves.

Then it occurred to her that he might be foreign.

Before she had a chance to ask, he spoke. “You have something of mine, mortal, and I demand you return it.”

Caught off-guard by his harsh tone, she struggled to find words.

“I—I’m fairly certain I don’t have anything of yours.”

His gaze shifted from her eyes to her chest. “The necklace you wear. Is it yours?”

She brought her hand up to the moonstone and stroked it with her fingertips. “Yes.”

“Liar.”

The bold accusation drew a gasp from her. “Pardon?”

“I said you’re a liar,” he repeated. “Unless you can tell me the moonstone’s true origin, I won’t be lenient on you.”

“You won’t be lenient? I’m not following.” What the hell did he mean?

“I won’t take it easy on you just because you’re a woman, mortal,” he said gruffly.

Had she missed a sign posted somewhere? Warning—cold-blooded male up ahead. Liable to chew you up and spit you out.

“Hang on. If we could back up one second it might help me to understand,” she proposed. “Is that possible?”

He shrugged.

“And real quick, my name’s Ember. I’d prefer that than being called mortal.”

“Fine,” he thundered. “Ember, I’ll give you one more chance to confess to stealing the moonstone.”

While she liked the sound of her name from his lips, it was the “one more chance” part that concerned her. She swallowed down the lump of fear rising in her throat and tried to steady her voice.

“Honest. I didn’t steal it.”

His eyes darkened. “That lie will cost you.”