Love at Stake (14 page)

“As much as I want to keep you right here,” he whispered, “I see a woman by the bar looking a little lost.”

“You should quit that chef gig and join my team. You’re a natural at this.”

He chuckled as he let her go. “I’ll think about it.”

With a last smile, Abbey headed off to do her job. She’d just finished cheering up an abandoned fey when Melissa appeared at her side.

“Go away,” Abbey ordered.

“I’m sorry. I left the invite by the door and Lucian picked it up. There was no way I could talk him out of coming.”

“Why is he here?” Abbey snapped. “He brought a date so obviously he’s not single.”

Melissa held up her hands helplessly. “When I called to RSVP, Vivian insisted he come, too. She wants to show him off while he’s still on his trial in case no woman sticks. You know my sire is her favorite publicity toy.”

“Vivian.” Should have known. Her boss was a bitch on wheels when a cash cow came her way.

Abbey scanned the crowd for the familiar silver-blond head and saw Vivian by the door. The siren lifted her drink in a salute, a mocking grin on her face.

She gritted her teeth. No doubt Vivian thought this a fair repayment for the way Abbey had monopolized Lucian’s time before last week.

“I need a new job,” she muttered.

Melissa winced. “Look, I’ll try to keep Lucian away from you. I’m sure Fiona will be happy to occupy him.”

She worked hard to keep her face straight and not allow her bitterness to show. “Good plan. Just make sure he stays away from me and Christian.”

“I’m on it.” Melissa disappeared into the crush, leaving Abbey alone at the bar.

Turning her back on the supernaturals, she took a deep breath. Her hands smoothed down her bright dress as she fought for calm. She’d known they’d cross paths one day. After all, he was still using her agency’s services. It was better that it happen now, in a crowd where he couldn’t corner her. Besides, she had Christian on her arm. She’d promised Lucian she wouldn’t wait around pining for him, and she’d followed through.

Lifting her chin, she brought herself under control. If Lucian tried to talk to her, he’d regret it.

“Abbey.”

Dammit. How had Melissa failed so quickly?

Head held high, she turned to face her ex-lover.

Lucian looked as delicious as always. The black jeans he’d chosen fit him like a second skin and the black oxford shirt was crisp and impeccable. He looked far too tempting and she cursed herself for helping to turn him into this irresistible man.

“I have nothing to say to you,” she said, keeping her voice low.

“I came here tonight to see you.”

“With another woman on your arm.” She scoffed. “I hear that’s going well. Fiona, right? Must be a tiger in the sack.”

His eyes darkened at her crass words. “I wouldn’t know.”

“Right.”

“You’re the only woman I’ve thought of this past week.”

She almost weakened. How many nights had she lain awake dreaming of him crawling back to her? Groveling that she was the only one for him?

But she knew it was too good to be true. Nothing had changed except maybe he missed her body. If she let him back in, it would be another purely physical affair until he’d had his fill.

“I find that hard to believe,” she said. “After all, I plan your dates.”

A low growl rumbled from his chest. “I tried to focus on someone else. Tried to take this matching business seriously, but it doesn’t matter. I can’t concentrate on anyone else because you haunt my thoughts.”

“For how long?” she asked, rising to her tiptoes. Their mouths nearly touched but she held herself back. “When we first met, I told you I didn’t date vampires. Nothing about you entices me to change my mind.”

“Ah,” he murmured. “Yes. You’ve moved on.”

“I have.”

“How’s that working out for you?”

Her eyes met his. “He doesn’t make excuses to be with me. He’s not ashamed to have me on his arm. He treats me like I’m special, not a dirty little secret.”

“The perfect man,” Lucian agreed, his velvety voice so low she barely heard him. “Aren’t you lucky to have caught such a paragon?”

“Extremely.”

“But I notice you left something out.” He stepped forward just as she stepped back, crowding her against the bar. “You didn’t describe how he makes you yearn for his kiss. How you beg him to touch your naked body.” His lips brushed her ear. “How you scream his name when you shatter with pleasure.”

“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

He drew back enough to meet her eyes. “I don’t think this lady does much kissing at all. At least, not with the dog.”

“What I do with Christian is none of your business. Not anymore. You dumped me, not the other way around, remember?”

“I know.”

“Then what are you doing here?” Lucian had no answer for her and she snorted in disgust. “Why did you come tonight?”

“I had to see you. I know nothing beyond that.”

“Well, too bad. I’m not yours anymore and nothing you could say would tempt me to think otherwise. Go to hell, leech.”

Abbey shoved him hard enough to squeeze by. She fought her way to the door, weaving through the happy couples around her.

Chloe was manning the door when Abbey reached her. “I need a minute,” she whispered to her friend. “Cover for me?”

“With who? Your boyfriend, your lover, or our boss?”

A bitter laugh escaped her. “All of the above.”

Making sure no one was looking, she ducked out the front door. As soon as she hit the sidewalk, she headed to the left. There was a little park around the corner and right now, the thought of peace and quiet sounded like heaven.

“Abbey, stop.”

Lucian’s voice split the air and she quickened her pace. “Go away,” she called over her shoulder.

His footfalls pounding on the pavement made her take off. Running from a vampire might not be the smartest move, but there was only so much a girl could take. She didn’t want to see him, didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

Abbey jogged into the dark park and looked around.

New York City and this damn park is empty?
Just when you wanted busybody observers, the city was fresh out.

A hand grabbed her arm and she twirled around.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” she snarled, jerking back from his touch.

Lucian held up his hands in peace. “Then don’t run from me.”

“Why? Does it excite you?”

“Yes.”

A shiver snaked through her. Lucian watched her with the red-rimmed gaze of a predator.

“Monster,” she whispered.

“Maybe. But I still need to speak to you.”

“Me leaving the bar? That was our conversation ending. Take the hint.”

“And let you walk out of my life?”

“You didn’t want me in your life. You hurt me, Lucian, and I told you I wouldn’t wait around for you to realize your mistake. This might be hard for you, Mr. Thousand-Year-Old-Vampire, but you’ve lost here. There is nothing you can say to make me want to have anything to do with you again.”

His mouth covered hers.

Abbey wanted to rail at him but he took away her options. His tongue invaded her mouth, dominating her in the most delicious ways. All it took was one touch and her body burned for him. Her mind might remember the pain he’d caused her, but her body only remembered the incredible pleasure, unlike anything she’d ever known.

Lucian wrapped an arm around her and pulled her up against his hard body. They fit together so freaking perfectly it made her want to scream. He was wrong for her. So wrong.

But in his arms everything felt so goddamn right.

“No,” she whispered. “We need to stop.”

“Stopping means talking. We do better without words.”

Amen to that. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders. What they were doing was very far from okay. Hell, they’d both come with dates. But this was exactly what she’d been missing with Christian. The wolf kissed her and she felt his skill, but he didn’t send her up in flames.

All it took was a brush of his fingers for Lucian to take her further than Christian and all his talent ever had.

“I hate the effect you have on me.” He interspersed his words with kisses.

“That’s my line,” she whispered.

No other man in her life had ever been able to make her feel the things he did. And she feared he might be that elusive, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The wrong man with the right touch.

She’d be eighty in her bed and still dream of Lucian.

How the hell would any man ever be able to top that?

“What the hell is going on?”

They sprang apart at the roar that shattered the quiet night. Christian stood ten feet from them and Abbey felt more ashamed than she ever had in her life.

“Someone want to tell me what I just walked in on?” he demanded.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Lucian said, stepping between her and her date. The gesture was protective but unnecessary. If anything, it ramped up the rage in Christian’s eyes.

“The hell it doesn’t,” he snarled. “That’s my date you’re pawing.”

“She was mine first.”

Abbey pushed Lucian’s shoulder. “Not helping.”

Christian’s eyes narrowed. “You told me you were seeing a vamp, Abbey. You never mentioned it was Lucian Freaking Redgrave.”

“Didn’t think it mattered,” she muttered. “I was done with him.”

“Apparently not.” She flinched at the disgust in his voice.

“Christian,” she said, darting around Lucian. “I’m so sorry. Nothing I can say can convey how humiliated I am to have acted this way. It’s unforgivable.”

His eyes locked on hers. “What the hell have we been doing if you’re still hung up on your vampire?”

“I’m not.”

“She is,” Lucian cut in.

Abbey rounded on him. “Stay out of this. You have no right to make this harder than it has to be. Don’t you have a date inside who could ask you all these same questions?”

He shrugged. “I told Fiona I was coming here to find you. We weren’t a very good match.”

She blinked at the new information. So she was the only cheater here. Perfect.

Turning back to Christian, she tried to ease the damage. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “When we started this thing, I really wanted to be over him. I told myself I was. Hell, there’s no arguing you’re the better man here.”

“The hell he is,” Lucian snapped.

Christian bared his teeth in warning.

“If I could snap my fingers and be what you need me to be, we’d have a fantastic life,” she said, keeping her eyes on Christian. “But I can’t. And I can’t deny I still have feelings for Lucian.”

“You used me,” Christian said, his voice flat.

She winced. “I didn’t mean to.”

“So you’re going back to him?”

“Yes,” Lucian said.

“No. Absolutely not. You were right. Nothing good comes from dating vampires.”

The rage did not dim in Christian’s eyes. “We have a 96 percent match rating.”

She shook her head. “I keep telling you, it’s only a guideline.”

“A pretty damn good guideline.”

He crossed the distance to her and cupped her face between his hands. “I’ve searched years for a woman who would fit into my life. One who would be able to be my mate. You’re the closest I’ve ever come.”

Not exactly a romantic proposal, but she understood his feelings. They fit in so many ways. Their lives worked together. Not like Lucian and her.

“I’m not a statistic,” she whispered. “And I can’t help what I feel.”

His amber eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me to walk away?”

Was she? Lucian might tempt her, but Christian was perfect. Just not perfect for her.

“I wish we’d met at a different time. But yes. I’m telling you to walk away.”

“Like hell.” He pulled her into his arms, and his lips crashed down on hers.

Other times when he’d touched her, he’d been careful. He’d played the gentleman and she only realized it now when it was lost.

He took possession of her, controlling her with his touch. For the first time, fire sparked between them.

Abbey gasped against his mouth and Christian capitalized on her surprise. His tongue swept into her mouth as he kissed her thoroughly.

Then suddenly her arms were empty.

“Stay away from her,” Lucian ordered.

Christian stumbled back, his eyes flashing wolf yellow. “Mind your own business, leech. Abbey’s mine.”

Lucian’s laugh was biting. “Not ever.”

A growl more animal than human broke from Christian’s chest. All the hairs on the back of Abbey’s neck stood on end.

“Uh, guys? No need to let this get out of hand.”

“I was there the night you left her,” Christian taunted. “I was the one who comforted her.”

Lucian bared his fangs. “That was a mistake. And it’s between me and Abbey.”

“I’m thinking it’s for her to decide what’s between you or not.”

“I do not have to justify myself to a wolf.” Lucian turned away but Christian wasn’t done. He grabbed Lucian’s shoulder and the vampire reacted instantly. Abbey cried out as Christian sailed over Lucian’s head.

“Enough,” she shouted. “You’re grown men, for Christ’s sake. Act like it.”

“You’re human,” Christian said, not looking at her. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Anger threaded through her. “Don’t you dare bring my biology into this. I’m sure there are a dozen supernatural women in the bar who’d agree brawling in the park is beneath us all.”

“Let him be, Abbey,” Lucian said. “Brute force is the only thing his kind understands.”

Christian charged with a deafening roar.

The men met with a force Abbey swore shook the park. She would have jumped at the chance to push them apart but they moved faster than her eyes could follow. All she saw was a flash of yellow eyes and fur followed by fangs and nails sharpened to razor points.

“Stop it!” she screamed but neither man listened.

Christian slashed out with hooked claws that sprouted from his hands. Gray fur covered his knuckles and puffed from his T-shirt. Abbey knew enough about weres to know he wasn’t in full shift, but he was close. Dangerously close, given their rather public location.

Lucian, on the other hand, looked like an emotionless warrior. He gauged Christian’s charge and sidestepped out of the way, delivering blows to his vulnerable side that the wolf failed to defend.