Lucas (Immortal Blood) (4 page)

The red on her cheeks deepened and she glanced at her short denim skirt, worn-out sneakers and grey hoodie. “Thanks.”

We fell silent. She regarded me, biting her lip. I tightened my grip on her fingers and her eyes flashed, annoyed.

“Look, just because you’re ridiculously handsome doesn’t mean that every girl falls before you.”

“It doesn’t?”

“No.” She smiled hesitantly.

“Damn,” I flirted, “and I thought you would be dazzled by my good looks.”

She laughed, throwing her head down and I laughed, too. “So while we’re here, are you going to buy me some breakfast or am I just supposed to sit here and stare into your eyes?”

“I could live with that,” I muttered but waved for the waitress, who came to take our orders. “So.” I smiled.

“So.” She smiled back. “Why aren’t you staying with us?”

“Would you like that?”

“That’s not what I meant.” She tried to pull her hand away again but my grip held. “I meant why aren’t you staying with other people like us?” She lowered her voice and looked at me meaningfully.

“You mean vampires?”

She glanced around and seemed relieved when no one reacted to my words. She nodded and I shrugged.

“I don’t like other … people.” I lowered my voice for the word people. “Except you.”

“Lucas.”

I put my finger on her lips and she looked uncomfortable.

She moved my finger away. “I told you, I’m sort of with Dane.”

“Sort of?”

“Complicated, remember?”

“It doesn’t have to be.” I lifted her hand to my mouth and let my lips brush her skin lightly. My eyes never left hers. Her lips parted and deep satisfaction spread inside me. I’d done it again. I nibbled her finger gently and let my tongue touch it for a nanosecond.

She pulled her hand away so fast I couldn’t stop her. She looked puzzled. “What are you doing?”

I
looked at her meaningfully.

“Oh, no! No, no, no.” She shook her head and moved her chair back.

“Why not?” I grabbed her hand again.

“Dane will kill you. No. He’ll kill us both.”

“He’s not your keeper, is he?”

“No, but I―”

“What?” My eyes challenged her.

She shook her head and I squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. Friends?”

“You don’t have friends.”

“True. But I would really like to be your friend.”

“Just a friend?” Her eyes were suspicious.

I nodded slowly. The suspicion stayed in her eyes and I did my best to look innocent. She narrowed her eyes, staring at me for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I confirmed and she smiled, relieved.

There was no way I’d settle for being friends with her, but right now I didn’t want to push her. I needed to be patient if I wanted to gain anything, and even if patience was so n
ot my virtue, some parts of me - and not the lower parts, believe me - wanted to take it slow and see where this went. Yes, the rational parts screamed that this was nothing more than a game to me, but something in her eyes was so vulnerable that I didn’t want to hurt her. Much.

“Okay.” She licked her lips nervously but let her hand stay in mine.

“For now.”

“Lucas,” she laughed and punched me lightly.

The waitress brought us two lattes and chocolate brownies but neither of us touched them. I told her about my home in Ireland, trying to create an image of a cozy life and another kind of vampire family. Most of it was a big fat lie but not all, and as she started to relax I found myself relaxing, too. And soon we laughed and joked like we’d known each other for years. But then everything changed. I sensed another vampire approaching the café and assumed my role again.

A minute later I saw Dane and I put my hand on Sam’s hair. Her vision blurred and I gently let my hand slide over her tresses. “Thank you for a lovely morning.”

“Lucas…” she pleaded.

“
Shh.” I leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “It’s okay. Just friends, remember.”

She relaxed again and a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. I pulled away from her, smiling wickedly. Her eyes stayed locked with mine for a while before she glanced at the table, abashed. I glanced out of the window and saw no trace of Dane. Good. My mission for today was complete. I’d gotten what I came for … and even more.

I drove Sam home and she let me. We didn’t talk and the silence between us hung heavy. I tried to take her hand, but when she realized what I was about to do she moved it away. I didn’t try to do it again. She seemed nervous and stole glances at me, at times opening her mouth as if she wanted to say something. I settled on smiling at her reassuringly and let her imagine we were just two friends having a nice Saturday drive together.

When we arrived at her house I hesitated and so did she. I leaned closer and brushed her cheek with my lips.

“Thanks for the morning.”

She sighed and put her hand on the doorknob. I held my breath.

“Would you…” she started, but when I moved she tailed off.

Before she could have a second thought I nodded. “With pleasure.”

She led me to the living room and we sat on the couch together. I could hear voices coming from the kitchen. I hoped whoever was there stayed there. I wasn’t afraid they would recognize me, as when I’d visited London before I’d always done my job and left straightaway, not wanting to stay around any longer than necessary. Sure, some of them might recognize my tattoo and put two and two together, as I wasn’t really trying to hide what I was, but somehow I wished I could postpone the inevitable, ’cause whatever was developing between Sam and me would be gone the second she learned the truth about me and my nature. And yes, a teeny tiny part of me cherished the thought that maybe, just maybe, if she heard about it later when she’d grown to like me she wouldn’t judge me by my reputation.

Sam drummed her knees with her fingers, glancing sideways at me every now and then. I felt awkward. She obviously felt uncomfortable, too, but she was too polite to ask me to leave. The voices came closer.

“Look,” she sighed, “
maybe you should go.”

I didn’t move.

“Or not,” she sneered.

The door opened and a laughing Kate zoomed in with Jonathan right on her heels. They both stopped and the laughter died on their lips when they saw me.

I grinned. And when I saw Dane jogging down the stairs my grin widened.

When he saw us he stopped as if he’d hit a wall, and couldn’t hide the flash of emotion that was written all over his face. “What are you doing here?” he snapped, his eyes darting between Sam and me.

Sam jumped up, looking guilty as hell. “It’s not what you think it is.”

“No? Well, next time you decide to bring your toy-boys here, remind me to stay out of your way.”

“Dane,” she pleaded and glanced apologetically at me. “Seriously, it’s nothing.”

He turned, growling, and rushed back upstairs. Sam rushed after him as Kate sat next to me.

“Well, you seem to be everywhere,” she stated. “Like an unwanted disease.”

I flinched. Ouch. I deserved that, but coming from her it hurt a bit. I shrugged. “I was invited.”

She snorted. “Whatever.”

Jonathan was leaning on the doorframe watching us. He had a cup in his hands and I could smell the sweet aroma of warm blood from it. I wished he’d offer me one, too, but nope. He just stood there and let Kate investigate me.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” she asked and looked at me more closely.

I laughed dryly and tried to relax my mind. “I don’t think so. I’ve been away for years.”

“Uh-huh. Is that so?”

I nodded and got up.

She grabbed my wrist. “Please, you don’t have to leave yet.”

Oh yes, I did. But to my surprise I sat back down. She smiled and I smiled back.

“Ireland,” I said, even though she didn’t ask me anything. “I’ve been to Ireland.”

“Hmm.” She puckered her lips. “And why did you come back?”

I glanced at the stairs and prepared to say something lame, like I came to find a girl, or that I felt like I had to come, but instead I locked my eyes onto hers. “Revenge.”

She swallowed but I flashed her my hundred-volt smile, which I knew she couldn’t resist. No one could. She opened her mouth but no words came out and I laughed easily. “Yeah, someone did something to a person I loved and I need to know why. And yes, it’s a sort of eye for an eye thing.”

“Revenge,” she repeated, stupefied.

I nodded and took her hand. “But you don’t have to worry, love. You’re perfectly safe.”

Something flashed in her eyes. Guilt, maybe, and I decided to use this moment well. “If you didn’t kill my brother, that is.”

She glanced quickly at Jonathan, who looked mostly bored, but he didn’t seem to react in any way and her eyes came back to me. “Was he a vampire, too?”

“No.” Something flashed in her eyes again and I could feel her stiffen. “He was a human.”

“Oh.” She smiled nervously and I could swear her hands were trembling a little. “Humans can be so fragile.”

“That they can be,” I agreed and didn’t stop her when she got up and went to Jonathan.

She whispered something in his ear and he looked at me sharply. I met his eyes and for a moment I could see behind his easy-going attitude. I found myself staring at a lethal predator that could’ve been my equal if it came to it. But when I blinked, whatever it was I thought I saw was gone and he was smiling at me just like before.

He lifted his cup and then turned it upside down. “Gotta get one more.”

“I need one, too,” Kate said, but neither offered me one.

I raised my brow and watched as they disappeared from the room.

Interesting. Maybe I should spend some uncle-niece time with Kate and shake her up a bit. I bet it wouldn’t take much to make her spill all her secrets to me. A loud bang interrupted my thoughts. I smiled cruelly when I heard Dane and Sam’s not so quiet voices.

“You have no right to be angry!” Sam shouted and Dane smacked his fist on the wall. “No! You don’t get to do this!” Her voice was hoarse. “You dumped me. You, not me, so back off, will you! I can bring anyone I want here.”

“Oh no you can’t,” Dane growled.

“And who’s gonna stop me? You?” Sam laughed sarcastically.

He murmured something so quietly that even my vampire ears didn’t get it.

“You’re an ass!” she yelled and I heard a thump. “Let go of me! You son of a―”

His lips had obviously stopped her, as I heard quiet kissing noises.

“I hate you,” she mumbled but he quietened her again.

I heard her sighing with pleasure and soon the sounds of them making out started to fade.

Shit! I needed to do something fast. “Sam?” I shouted. “Are you okay?”

Silence. And then I heard clothes rustling, as if someone was hastily trying to correct their looks.

Sam’s head appeared at the top of the stairs and she tried to wipe off her smudged lipstick. “A minute.”

Her head disappeared again and I heard Dane whispering quietly to her. She sighed again and soon they both came down.

“Still here?” Dane said scornfully and put his hand on Sam’s hips. He slid his fingers up slowly, revealing her flat tummy before she slapped his hand away.

“Sorry,” she mouthed and I pretended to be hurt.

“I think I’ll go now,” I said.

“You do that,” Dane said and pulled Sam close to him. She struggled feebly but let him hold on to her.

“I’ll call you,” I said, moving to the door.

Sam nodded and I left before I did anything rash. After all, she was just a girl I’d be using to get my revenge.

After returning to my hotel room I decided to take a long walk in Regent’s Park. The tulips and daffodils were blooming and made colorful patterns both sides of the footpath. The park was quite quiet but not quiet enough, so I made my way to Queen Mary’s Garden.

Right after I entered the garden I noticed a familiar figure sitting on a bench, hidden between two large rose bushes. I stopped, unsure if I wanted to go to her. But just like that she turned her head and looked at me. I gave her a lopsided smile. She lowered her gaze and wiped her eyes. Great. She had been crying. I wondered if there was still a chance for me to turn around, but she waved and gestured me to join her, so I had no choice but to keep walking. After all, I owed her that.

“Hi,” I said and sat next to her.

“Hi,” Kate replied and her lower lip trembled a little.

I stared at the roses around us and the nameplates in front of the bushes. She stared at her shoes and tried to wipe a lonely tear from her cheek. I shifted uncomfortably.

She smiled miserably. “I lost my dad a while ago.”