Love at Stake (6 page)

“Not happening,” she said, wincing when her voice sounded like a breathy Marilyn Monroe.

He leaned back, a grin on his face. “Then my secrets shall remain my own.”

They sure as hell would. The very thought of his mouth on her body was enough to boil her down into a puddle of need. The real event would destroy her.

But what a way to go
, the forbidden recesses of her mind whispered.

To buy herself time, she took another bracing gulp of beer. The alcohol took the edge off her nerves, but still, whenever she was close to Lucian she was wound tighter than a spring.

She thought about sitting at Celeste’s bar, staring at her watch. Janine was the perfect match for him. She’d been so sure she’d sit there like an idiot for thirty minutes before trying to slip away unobtrusively.

And then he’d been there, looking at her with lustful eyes instead of the succubus he should have spent the night with.

What did a girl do with that? It was a heady feeling. Perhaps all he was interested in was the chase, but she couldn’t deny she enjoyed the sensation of a man like Lucian pursuing her.

Bad,
she scolded herself. She had a job to do and a company to save.

Rolling her shoulders back, she tried to regain her professional persona.

“Vivian will want a full report tomorrow. You have to give me something I can take back. Tell me why Janine didn’t work.”

He rested one hand on his wineglass. “She was perfect.”

Abbey refrained from rolling her eyes. So now she had to find better than perfect? That should be easy.

“Fine,” she said. “Let’s look at this another way. Why don’t you describe what you’re looking for?”

His eyes flickered up to hers. In the shadows of the bar, he looked more dangerous than usual. And more alluring.

Abbey shifted to ease the ache between her legs. He wasn’t making this easier on her.

“Elegant,” he said at last. “Charming. She needs to be able to navigate political waters and act with tact and decorum.”

Mentally she noted his requirements, although she couldn’t help noticing that she didn’t meet any of them.

“Go on.”

“My position requires travel on occasion to meet with other rulers of vampire factions. It’d be ideal to find a woman able to go with me.”

“Find a woman willing to be whisked away to exotic locations? Impossible,” Abbey said drily.

“If she has a high-powered career of her own, it may pose difficulties,” he pointed out.

“All right. Ability to travel is an asset. What else?”

“She needs to be a good hostess, able to plan and hold events as needed. Someone familiar with my world would be nice, but she doesn’t have to be a vampire.”

“And looks?” She held her breath, wondering what she’d do if he asked for a tall, model-thin blonde.

Instead he shrugged. “When you get to be my age, beauty is all relative. You’ve had it all.”

“TMI.”

He shrugged. “I don’t care what shape or form my mate turns up as.”

“Surely you have preferences.” Why was she pushing this? She knew she’d get an answer she didn’t want to hear.

Taking another sip of wine, Lucian watched her over the top of his glass. “Curved,” he said. “Feminine. I don’t want a stick figure who’s all angles and tiny veins.”

She kept her face blank but inside did a happy dance.

“I am not a fan of modern standards of beauty. In my day, women looked like women.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said. Her voice didn’t reveal her delight.

“And curly, frizzy hair is always a bonus,” he added, taking another sip.

Her hands immediately went to her head. “I tried a new conditioner. It’s supposed to lie flat.”

Lucian threw back his head and laughed.

The sound was rusty but joyous and Abbey realized she’d never heard it before.
A girl could get used to hearing that sound for the rest of her life,
she mused.

As the sound died away, the smile remained. “I do enjoy you, Abbey.”

She smiled but wondered at the comment. Enjoyed her as a sexy, powerful woman or enjoyed her as a bouncing puppy entertaining the crowd?

“I’ll add your preferences into your file when I get to work tomorrow,” she said. “Though it pretty much matches the profile we’ve been working from.”

“You know me so well, do you?”

She shrugged.

“Did I leave anything out, then?”

Dangerous ground. “You know what you want.”

His sharp eyes narrowed. “But you’d add to my list?”

No way she was stepping into that booby trap.

“Come, Abbey. Show off your wisdom.”

“Nope.”

“Ah. Didn’t think of anything else after all, hmm?”

She bristled, knowing he was baiting her but rising to it anyway. “I think you need a woman who can laugh.”

He blinked. “What?”

“You need someone with a good sense of humor. Someone who can pull you out of your shell and make you stop for a moment and see the world around you. You need a partner who knows how to play and helps you relax when you need to. Someone who is excited to explore the world and shows it to you with fresh eyes. A woman who is as tightly wound and ordered as you would only push you both into isolated, lonely lives.”

She paused for breath and wished she hadn’t been quite so honest. Lucian merely stared at her. His eyes were hooded, his expression enigmatic. Abbey fought the urge to squirm like a five-year-old.

“You asked,” she said, trying not to sound defensive.

He inclined his head. “So I did. I had not realized, darling, that you’d paid such close attention to me.”

She looked away, motioning for the waiter. “It’s my job.”

“Then you excel at it.”

She reached for her purse but Lucian waved away the gesture, handing the man a black credit card instead. As they waited for the bill to return, she said, “You’re booked to meet a valkyrie tomorrow. She hits most of your requirements, I think.”

“And yours?”

Her chin rose. “Yes. And mine.”

“Good.”

Abbey blinked.

“You will wait by the bar again. Thirty minutes.”

She could have protested. Should have, really. He didn’t need her to babysit him, and it was an insult to his prospective date. Instead of refusing, however, she found herself nodding her agreement.

“Excellent,” he said, triumph in his eyes.

Chapter Six

At least she’d come prepared this time. Abbey waited at the bar with a book in hand but she’d spent ten minutes reading the same page. The words could be upside-down for all she knew.

Waiting to see if Lucian would appear was killing her.

He’d shown up tonight for the debriefing and barely looked at the valkryie’s file. Abbey had made the introductions, eying the petite blond warrior-woman. Lucian liked a good battle of wits. He might have met his match tonight.

Which meant she’d just sit here, an empty wineglass next to her and an unread book in her hand. She couldn’t even think of flirting with the handsome man down the bar who’d been sending her suggestive looks for the past ten minutes. A few days ago, she would have been happy to strike up a conversation but right now he seemed too…human.

She sighed. Damned vampire was addicting. She knew the dangers associated with his nature, but every time he started to tease her, all her concerns went out the window. Well, at least the life-or-death concerns. The keep-my-panties-on concerns were ever present.

“Would you like another, miss?” the bartender asked.

Abbey glanced at her watch. Seven minutes to go. “No, thanks,” she replied. “I’ll be heading out soon.”

Would she be alone, though? That was the question of the night.

She pushed the book back into her purse, admitting defeat. Despite her best intentions, she was going to sit here and watch the clock for the next few minutes and hope for a miraculous appearance from the man who had haunted her dreams last night. She knew she should be wishing he’d find his mate and save Fated Match, but a selfish, insidious voice within her only craved a few more moments of feeling special. All Lucian had to do was look at her and her heart thundered in her chest.

As if her thoughts had conjured him, she felt his long finger run up the back of her neck. She tried not to smile as she twisted around on her stool.

“Not the one,” he said, looking at her as though he could devour her whole.

“You can’t possibly know that so soon.”

“Trust me.” He caressed the back of her neck, playing with the strands of hair escaping her clip.

“Then what now?” she asked. Her professional side wanted to call back the words. That woman wanted to shake his hand coolly and walk off with her head held high.

The teenage girl inside, however, just wanted to stare at him dreamily and imagine his lips on hers.

“I know a place I want to show you,” he said. “Will you come?”

“Only for a little while,” she said. “To debrief about the valkyrie.”

His finger brushed along her jaw before he dropped his hand. “Whatever you wish.”

Grabbing her purse, she jumped down from the barstool. Lucian’s hand rested on the small of her back as he guided her outside.

“My car is waiting,” he said.

She glanced at him. “You couldn’t have known this date wouldn’t last either.”

The vampire looked down at her with amusement in his eyes, as if she’d said something endearing. Or naive.

“I knew,” was all he’d say.

He held the door for her as she slipped into the car before proceeding to his own side. The driver took off, needing no explanation.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“A surprise,” he replied smoothly. “No more blaring music and clashing colors.”

She grinned. “I like those places.”

“The place I’m taking you has one of the best views in the city. You’ll enjoy it.”

“So sure of me?”

His lids dipped to half-mast over his eyes. “Cautiously optimistic.”

He wouldn’t say more no matter how much she badgered him for information. When they stopped before a building on the Upper East Side, she frowned in confusion.

“This way,” Lucian said, escorting her from the car.

She glanced at the doorman as they entered the lobby and would have sworn she saw his eyes flash yellow before he dropped his gaze.

A werewolf?

“Where are we?”

“Not quite yet,” he said, pushing the elevator call button.

When the doors opened, Lucian ushered her into the elevator with utter calmness.

As the elevator car rose, she studied him from the corner of her eye. He looked as devastatingly handsome as he always did. All his new clothes must be black, she thought with a critical eye. Not that the color did him any injustice. She thought of her own wardrobe and the variety of colors that delighted her senses when she opened her closet. Tonight she’d paired a blue buttoned shirt with a yellow polka-dotted skirt. She didn’t have it in her to do monochromatic.

One more difference between us
, she mused as the floors climbed.
And this building better have a nice, tasteful bar on the top floor or I’m going to kill him
. It seemed more like an apartment complex than a happening hot spot.

The elevator slowed with a soft ping. The doors opened to reveal a stately hallway. She stepped out onto plush carpet and glanced at the two doors on either end of the corridor.

“This way,” he said, pulling a set of keys from his pocket.

“Lucian,” she said in warning.

“Voilà,” he replied, throwing open the door.

She drifted across the threshold despite herself, entering a beautifully elegant apartment. As she could have predicted, his entire home was decorated in black and white. No color anywhere. A massive living area sprawled out before her and every inch spoke of tasteful, passionless decorating. The furniture in the sitting area looked hard and uncomfortable. The appliances in the open-concept kitchen were stainless steel.

The apartment had very few creature comforts. Especially of the electronic kind.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met a man without a TV,” she said.

Lucian shrugged as he closed the door. “There’s a laptop in the study. I use technology when I must.”

“For work?”

“Exactly.”

She walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows and had to admit, the man had one damn fine view. She looked to the side, noting the heavy, lightproof curtains pushed into the corners. This place would be a dark tomb during the day. But at night… The city stretched out before her, glittering in the inky darkness.

“This is not a bar,” she said, looking back at the vampire.

“No.” He moved to the fully stocked side table. “I keep an apartment in the city for when my position brings me here. It’s more convenient than a long drive.”

“Impressive.”

His Cheshire cat smile was back. “Wine?”

“White,” she said, noting he poured red for himself. Looked like even their taste in drinks differed.

He joined her at the window and handed her the wineglass. She took a sip while they admired the view of the lit-up skyscrapers and distant bridges.

“This is rather sneaky,” she said. “Should I feel abducted?”

He turned back to her, his eyes heating. “If I’d truly abducted you, darling, you wouldn’t still be vertical.”

She took another sip to calm the heat flooding her cheeks. “Then what am I doing here?”

He took a step closer. “What do you want to do here?”

Her gaze dropped to his mouth before she looked resolutely away. “Not you.”

His laugh surrounded her once more. Feeling off-balance being near him, she left the window and wandered into his living room. The low-backed white couches and hard black lounges didn’t look very tempting. Choosing the couch that looked the least uncomfortable, she dropped down onto it.

“I thought we could speak without interruption here,” he said, gliding over to her.

“No,” she said. “You thought I’d be easier to seduce if you could get me to within walking distance of a bed.”

A smile split his lips. “It’s a good bed.”

“I’m sure it is,” she said with a snort. “My clothes, however, are staying on.”

His gaze ran over her. “That still leaves a whole host of possibilities, darling.”

She took another bracing swallow of wine. “You were going to tell me about the valkyrie.”

“No, I wasn’t. You just needed an excuse.”

She scoffed. “Arrogant.”

“Always.” He settled beside her with a grin. “I’ve had centuries of getting my way.”

“Think you’ll get me?” Abbey took another sip, unable to believe the words had left her mouth.

“Yes.”

She should be offended that he thought she was such a sure thing. “Maybe I’ll be the woman to finally put you in your place.”

“And where would that be?” he asked, shifting closer. “Under you?”

His words conjured searing fantasies flashing through her mind. “In your own bed,” she said. “Alone.”

“Such a pity. I’m far more fun to play with.”

“Which is exactly the problem. This is a game to you, but it’s my life, my job, you’re trying to screw up.”

He reached out, running a finger from her elbow to wrist. “Fated Match,” he murmured. “Such a strange place to find a mortal like you.”

“Like me?”

“Not many of your kind exist in my world.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t have much choice. When my mom was bitten I left school. I always figured I’d head back to finish my degree but real life intervened. We lived in a small town where it was hard to hide her more unusual behaviors so we had to move to the city. We both had to work to keep a tiny apartment.”

“And you learned more about my world.”

“Vivian needed a receptionist. The money was good since humans who know about supernaturals are in short supply. I fit the bill. It took a few years of saving, but Mom’s remarried and on her feet now, and I have a cute little cubbyhole apartment all to myself. I’ve moved up from just manning the phones at Fated Match and I’ve started making a name for myself in the industry. Vivian can be tough, but I have great coworkers and love my job most of the time. Things worked out for the best.”

“Remarkable,” he said, turning her hand over in his. “You are determined, strong.” Bedroom eyes assessed her. “Passionate.”

“Yes,” she agreed, pulling her hand free from him. “And still not sleeping with you.”

She moved to stand but Lucian was faster. He caught her around the waist and tugged her back into his arms.

Abbey fell against him haphazardly, her legs straddling his. Lucian lifted the wine from her hand before she could spill it and placed it on the glass coffee table.

“Let me go.” She wiggled to get free.

“Truly?” he asked, his mouth a breath away from hers. “Think of this as research. You can learn about the species you spend so much time trying to avoid.”

“I already know about you,” she said, her hands resting on his shoulders for balance. “I make vampire profiles all the time.”

“Really?” He dropped a light kiss against her neck. “Dazzle me.”

Abbey knew she should move; she was playing with fire. But damn, it was feeling pretty good to get burned.

“You live off blood but can consume small quantities of human food if you have to.”

“Good.” He rewarded her by pressing another kiss higher up her neck. “What else?”

“No sunlight or silver,” she said. “Garlic is fine and crosses are useless.”

“Very good.” Another kiss, this time on her jaw.

“A stake through the heart kills you.”

“As it does most things,” he pointed out, placing a kiss against the corner of her mouth. “But that is all very standard information.”

“What am I missing?” she whispered.

Hands slid over her thighs. “It’s far more important,” he said, his voice intoxicating her, “to learn how a vampire kisses. How he likes to touch his lovers. How his bite can make you explode with a single touch.”

The breath froze in her lungs. Lucian leaned forward and she had nowhere to run. She knew what came next. He’d planned his trap too well and now that she was caught, she couldn’t think of breaking free without tasting his lips.

He was wrong for her. So wrong. But right now, his fangs were the furthest thing from her mind, especially given the hard cock pressing between her thighs. She didn’t know whether to damn or praise the flowing skirt that allowed her to straddle him so easily.

“It seems my education is sadly lacking,” she said, hardly able to believe the words had come from her.

“Never fear. I’ve always been an excellent teacher.”

Abbey hardly dared to move when he cupped her face between his palms. His mouth stopped an inch from hers, taunting her with his maddening nearness.

Lucian obviously took pleasure in teasing her, but enough was enough. Diving her hands into his hair, she pressed her mouth to his.

For a moment he froze under her touch. But it didn’t take her vampire long to shake off his surprise.

His lips slanted over hers in a tender caress. Lucian didn’t try to swamp her with the passion she knew he was capable of. Instead he touched her as if she were precious.

Well, she’d wanted to know what his embrace would feel like. Now she worried she’d never be able to forget it. Touching him felt like coming home.

Her hand brushed against his newly shortened hair, cupping his nape. Abbey parted her mouth and snaked out the tip of her tongue to caress his. His guttural groan rewarded her efforts.

She smiled against his lips. Who would have thought plain old Abbey Sinclair would command such a reaction?

His tongue dueled with hers as his hands slid down her hips. Remembering her viciously tight control-top pantyhose, she worried he’d feel the constricting material or complain about the extra flesh on her thighs. But Lucian never stopped kissing her. He gave no indication that her body did anything other than please him.

She kissed him more aggressively. Lucian shifted. A small gasp escaped her as his hard erection pressed against her thigh. Her flowing skirt rode up higher but she didn’t care. Not when there were far more pleasurable things to focus on, such as the heat from his hands branding her as he pulled her hips closer.

His harsh breathing filled her ears. They were unequal in so many ways except when they touched. She couldn’t match his strength or his speed, but she could certainly match his passion.

His finger brushed along the strip of skin above the waistband of her skirt. The questing fingertips glided gently along her spine, sending delicious shivers through her body.