Love at Stake (9 page)

“Temptress,” he purred against her throat.

She tipped her head back despite herself. Pleasure flooded her unlike any she’d ever known. What would happen if he drove his fangs into her exposed throat?

But he didn’t. He respected her wish, pulling his fangs back and kissing her neck with gentle lips instead.

Good man
, she though.
Good vampire.

When he plunged into her, a cry burst from her.

“Yes,” she panted, rocking her hips against his. “Lucian. Now.”

He didn’t leave her wanting.

Gripping her hips, he drove into her madly.

Abbey met his thrusts, each one taking her higher. Her climax grew ever closer. Building until it was infuriatingly near.

“Please,” she cried as he drove deep within her.

Abbey shattered at his thrust, screaming her release. Every nerve in her body pulsed with pleasure from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.

Lucian roared as his own orgasm took him. Wave after wave of sensation buffeted her until it was all she could do to cling to consciousness.

Lucian collapsed over her body and she welcomed his weight. She kissed his shoulder, tasting the salty sheen of his skin.

Never before had her body felt so boneless, so sated. Words were beyond her. Thought was a distant memory. There was nothing but basking in the afterglow of the most perfect sexual experience she’d ever had.

Tilting her head to the side, she watched Lucian’s features and saw a similar peace settle over him.

Perfect,
she thought,
utterly perfect.

How was she ever going to let him go?

Chapter Eight

The smile never left her face.

Abbey spent her day dodging Vivian which, as it turned out, hadn’t been all that hard. The entire office was working at top speed to handle the influx of new clients who had scrambled to sign up as soon as they heard about Lucian. Abbey had just finished explaining to an eager new member that the selection process to be matched with the famous vampire was stiff. The giggling fey hadn’t cared, merely demanded that her application be processed as soon as possible so she could check her match rating.

Though she dutifully sloughed through the files on her desk, her mind was elsewhere. What would he say when he showed up tonight? Would his eyes still heat when he looked at her, or had Vivian been right? Once the chase was over, so was she.

Abbey shook her head. It didn’t matter. If he still wanted her, she just had to reiterate that it had been a one-shot deal. And if he didn’t… Well, she’d survived worse.

Hadn’t she?

The minutes counting down to his arrival were interminable. She checked the clock twenty times in five minutes before his appointment was scheduled to start.

Play it cool
, she instructed herself. He had a date with a cover model tonight, and she refused to wait at the bar and see it play out. They would be nothing more than client and rep from now on. She could be around him and not think of the perfect body lurking beneath his designer clothes or the heights of pleasure he was capable of lifting her to.

It all sounded very mature and civil until Lucian walked into her office and all thoughts of letting him go vanished.

“Abbey,” he said, her name rolling off his tongue.

Heat swept through her. Logically, she knew one night had been it. But her body wasn’t ready to concede defeat. It demanded she walk into his arms, sweep everything off her desk and part her legs. Anything for one more taste.

“Hi,” she said, curling her hands into her purple skirt.
Be professional
, she commanded herself.
He’s not yours anymore.

But the lust in his eyes seared her.

“That’s it?” he purred.

“We agreed. One night only.”

A wicked grin curved his lips. “I never was a fan of playing by the rules.”

He couldn’t be saying what she thought he was saying. And she couldn’t be tempted. He had to focus on the women they paired him with. Not the lust that begged her to spend another night in his bed.

She grabbed the file off the desk and held it out to him. “We need to get a move on if we’re going to make your date. The restaurant is across the city.”

“Actually, there’s been a change of plans.” Lucian set the file on her desk without even looking at it. “I called ahead and had Chloe cancel my date for the evening. A social engagement has come up. I didn’t plan on attending but it seems my presence is required.”

“Oh.” She blinked, running through her mental list of candidates for someone who would be free to accompany him. “Do you need someone to go with you? I’m sure we can get a new date here quickly if you didn’t like the woman you were supposed to meet tonight.”

“I do require company,” he agreed. “But I have something else in mind.”

He opened the door and grabbed a box he’d left in the hall.

Abbey’s eyes widened as she looked at the large pink box in his hands. He set it on the desk before her.

“Will you accompany me tonight, Abbey?”

She blinked in surprise. “We can’t. Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“Last night was supposed to be the end.”

He caught her hands and drew her from her chair. Abbey went to him, helpless to do anything else.

“Last night didn’t feel like an end,” he said, wrapping an arm around her. “It felt like a beginning.”

She shook her head, wanting to deny his words but unable to.

“I want to spend the night with you,” he whispered. “Tell me you don’t want that too.”

Abbey closed her eyes at the soft kiss he offered her collarbone. She shouldn’t. Vivian would kill her.

But he’d already canceled his date tonight. Where was the harm?

“I’m not suitable for a vampire gathering,” she said. Her last protest.

“You’re perfect.” He tapped the box. “It is customary at Fated Match to give first-date gifts, is it not?”

“Humans don’t really do it.”

“How lucky that I am not human, then.” Again he pushed the box forward.

She took the parcel gingerly. “Vivian won’t like this.”

“I’ve already spoken to her about clearing your evening and rescheduling my date. I believe she has moved the model to tomorrow and bumped a were-tiger to the following day.”

Sounded right. No way Vivian was going to let a cover model get away if there was any chance of her catching Lucian’s interest.

“Which means all you need to do is say yes,” Lucian said.

Say yes and have one more day of her fairy tale. It hadn’t been the plan, but surely no one could blame her.

“I don’t have a dress.” If he was in a rush, she wouldn’t have time to make it all the way to her apartment in the West Village and back. While she looked pretty snappy at the moment, if she did say so herself, her outfit was definitely not appropriate for a vampire soiree.

“Do you not?” His gaze dropped to the box.

Following his lead, she lifted the lid.

And gasped.

It was the dress. The dress of her dreams that she’d admired the night they went shopping at Armani. How had he known?

Reverently she took out the stunning red gown and held it up. It was as beautiful as she remembered.

Elegant black shoes rested at the bottom of the box, along with a simple black clutch. A blush heated her cheeks as she also noted the skimpy black-and-red underwear with Victoria’s Secret tags. Lucian really had thought of everything she’d need.

“It’s too much,” she said, unable to look away from the dress in her hands.

He shook his head. “You’ve had very little spoiling in your lifetime. Allow me the pleasure, just for tonight.”

The Miss Manners voice in her head demanded she refuse such an extravagant gift, but it was drowned out by her inner temptress, who longed to feel the silk against her skin.

“Thank you.” Abbey rose to her tiptoes to brush her lips against his. “It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever owned.”

“Not nearly as beautiful as the woman who will wear it,” he said before he deepened the kiss.

Abbey held the silk to her chest as Lucian ravished her mouth. Fire ignited within her, making her wish they didn’t have to rush to an event. She’d much rather tumble into bed with her addicting lover.

“Change,” he said, pulling back. She was gratified to hear the strain in his voice. “We must leave as soon as possible.”

Abbey nodded. “All right. Out you go.”

He raised a brow. “I’ve already seen every inch of you, darling.”

“That was different.” Squeezing herself into the red dress wouldn’t be as attractive as rolling around his bed. “Wait outside and see if you can recruit Chloe to help me with my hair. The woman is a genius.” And she literally had magic fingers. If anyone could help her tame the rat’s nest, it was Chloe.

He looked amused but bowed to her wishes. “Don’t keep me waiting too long,” he said as he swept from the office.

…

Lucian had to dodge Vivian and her attempts to get him to take one of her candidates tonight but when Abbey stepped from her office, the annoyance was more than worth it. A shy smile lit her face as she looked at him, as if she was actually worried about his reaction.

All he could do was wonder if he’d ever seen someone so lovely.

The red dress he’d seen her admiring fit her beautifully. It accented her curves and made her legs look long and shapely. His eyes lifted to her generous bosom and wondered if he should have brought something to cover her up. Once his brethren saw her, he’d have his hands full keeping her to himself.

The witch who had gone into Abbey’s office shortly after he’d left smiled behind Abbey. Whatever the woman had done with Abbey’s unruly hair was magnificent. Though he hoped the transformation wasn’t permanent, for the moment her brown hair was straight and pulled back into a sleek updo. The look was elegant and refined, two words he wouldn’t have used to describe Abbey moments ago.

She looked…perfect, he realized. Like someone who not only belonged in his world but thrived in it.

“What do you think?” she asked, teetering a bit in her unfamiliar heels.

“I think you are utterly breathtaking,” he said.

Abbey’s friend grinned widely at him though he could sense waves of displeasure rolling off Vivian. Too bad. For tonight, he was going to enjoy showing off his lovely mortal. Even though he might wish they could skip the reception and head for bed instead. He was curious to see if she’d slipped on the daring underwear he’d bought.

The thought of her standing before him wearing nothing but those scraps of silk had him hard in an instant.

Lucian shifted to a more comfortable position as he held out his arm. “Shall we?”

Her smile grew more confident. Taking his arm, she waved good-bye to her colleagues.

“So where are we going?” she asked as they headed for his car.

“The Met. Ostensibly it’s a fund-raising event for cancer research, but for the supernatural community, it’s a way for different factions to get together and talk politics.”

“Man, restrain your enthusiasm, why don’t you?”

He opened the car door for her before moving to his side. “I try to avoid such gatherings,” he said as he sat behind the wheel. “When you are as old as I am, there is a long list of people you’d rather evade, and an event like this attracts them all.”

“So why go?” she asked as he pulled out onto the street.

“A favor, really. An old acquaintance is part of the planning committee.”

“And she wants your clout at her event.”

He inclined his head. “Yes. I owe her a favor and she’s chosen to collect.”

Abbey looked out at the world flashing past her window. “I’d have thought this was right up your alley, given your job and all.”

“Most of my business is conducted in smaller gatherings or council meetings but you are correct, I will be taking advantage of this opportunity.”

“Just let me know what I can do to help,” she said with an easy smile.

Help from a human
. He grinned at the thought. Every other time he’d gone to an event like this, he had made sure to pick the perfect partner. Someone to help him navigate the shark-filled waters of the supernatural elite. Abbey, however, wasn’t that sort of woman. He’d invited her because he couldn’t stand to spend an evening apart. Taking her to his bed should have cured him of her temptation. Instead, he craved her more than ever before.

It’s the novelty,
he told himself. Once he’d gotten her out of his system, he’d be back to normal and able to focus on more than his cock.

…

Abbey looked up at the Met with mixed feelings. Spending the evening with Lucian? Fantastic. Doing it in a room of bloodsuckers? Not her favorite pastime.

“Are we late?” she asked, exiting the car.

“One cannot be late to a gathering such as this.” Lucian tossed the valet his keys. “However, different hours will yield different entertainment. I have no intention of allowing you to see what occurs in the wee hours of the morning. We shall stay only long enough to be polite.”

At least they were in agreement on that. One vampire she was growing used to, but she had no desire to be inside a room full of them when the thin veil of civility they wore was removed.

They climbed the steps to the Met and joined the stream of guests heading into the museum. Abbey noticed a few eyes flashing red as they looked at her and tried not to let the sign of vampirism freak her out. She would show Lucian she could handle his world. Even if she felt woefully out of her element.

Lucian handed a white invitation card to the organizers at the door before leading her though the entrance. She’d been to the museum before, but not for years and never after hours. It felt decadent to be at a private event surrounded by such incredible art. Lucian definitely lived a very different life from hers. If these were the perks of dating him, she’d enjoy every minute of it.

Not dating,
she scolded herself. They had slept together and enjoyed each other’s company, nothing more. She had no claim on him beyond that. Hell, it was her job to practically find him a wife.

Lucian led her into the Great Hall, where hundreds of guests already milled about. Waiters weaved through the crush with trays laid out with glasses of what looked like red champagne. With a queasy feeling, Abbey realized what the liquid in those glasses must be. This was going to be an evening unlike any she’d ever experienced.

Everyone was dressed in grand style and she was thankful for Lucian’s thoughtful gift. If one didn’t count her humanity, she almost looked as if she fit into the crowd around them. Except she was missing one thing.

All the vampires wore masks. Some were small, barely there disguises that did nothing to hide their identity, and others were full-headed affairs that obscured all hint of the person underneath. But while faces were covered, their eyes were not. Abbey shivered as bloodred gazes fastened on her. Even those who did not have red eyes still looked elegantly deadly.

“Allow me, my dear.” Lucian’s voice broke her reverie. He turned her around and deftly tied a small black half-mask over her face. Then he tied an identical mask on himself. The black framed his eyes and made them look even more stunning. Stunning and lethal.

“Why the masks?” she whispered.

“Several reasons. In a gathering like this, we don’t want to take the chance of an intrepid reporter catching a shot they shouldn’t. This room is filled with vampires old enough to guard their secrecy well.”

“And the other reasons?”

A hard glint lit his eyes. “The entertainment grows more”—he hesitated—“extreme as the night goes on. There are those who wish to indulge without endangering their reputations. What happens at vampire gatherings, Abbey, stays at vampire gatherings.”