by Brianna West
Anyway, it wouldn't be hard to believe that I would fall so completely in love. Okay, who was I kidding? I hadn't been on a date in two years. In my defense, it was a very small town, and there wasn't too many men I didn't know from infancy to date. Which was why Pavel and Lucas had intrigued me from the moment their overly masculine, beautiful selves walked in that bar.
Lucas' jaw went taut.
Damn.
I set my clasped hands firmly in my lap, and with every bit of womanly manipulation I could muster, turned my gaze on him. “Please Lucas. I just need one night.”
Long minutes passed. His jaw had stayed tightly clenched, but soon I noticed the very subtle easing of his jaw muscles and did an internal fist pump.
“One night, Izzy. You will return at dawn with your belongings.” Hell yeah! “And I will be staying with you,” he finished, and my internal rally halted.
Say what?!
“Beg your pardon?” I asked with a very pretty eyelash flutter. Blink, open, blink. I must have heard wrong.
“I will stay with you,” he repeated as he kept his eyes stiffly on the road ahead. “I do not trust you will be safe. I must ensure that you are, so I will be coming along.”
“What if Nattie is at my apartment?” I questioned hysterically.
How the hell do I explain a hot British squatter in my apartment?!
“You will tell her that we have recently begun dating, and thus will be taking a trip to my homeland,” he reasoned with a quick glance towards me.
My jaw nearly dropped into my lap. Yeah, she wouldn't believe that for a second unless I explain that I either drugged him or convinced him I was some popular celebrity.
“No way in hell,” I replied steadily.
“Then you will not be going,” he returned with a grim voice.
Ah, hell.
I was close to throwing one serious bitch fit but conceded defeat with the slumping of my shoulders.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “But you'll be subjected to all kinds of questions that I will take no liability in should they become increasingly invasive.”
Take that you uptight British jerk.
“I think I can handle that, pet,” he replied with a sultry British twang instead of his usually serious accent.
The smile he gave me was sure to set my nether regions aflame and turn my womanly innocence to wanton whore real quick.
My heart nearly pounded out of my chest. That was cheating. A voice that spoke of an endearment that I had never been on the receiving end of in my entire life, save the few old men at the bar, and a smile that could cause even the most prude of women to open their legs in total submission. I was doomed where I stood—rather, where I sat.
I cleared my throat and did my best to ignore the pounding of my pulse and heat swelling in my cheeks as I said, “We shall see.”
Damn sexy bastard was going to kill me before anyone else did.
--
After dropping off the load in the back (aka scaly bastard) to Pavel, we headed for my place. Sure enough, when we arrived at the complex of my one bedroom apartment, Nattie's car was parked near my Ford Taurus.
Dammit!
We pulled into an open space, my nerves causing my hands to become suddenly clammy.
Nattie and I had known each other from the time we were babies. She could always tell when I was lying. Over the phone I could hide my nuances, but in person, it was very obvious to her when I was keeping something from her.
I sat in silence as I pondered my next move. Lucas shifted beside me, but I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I barely noticed. Fingers touched my arm and caused the gooseflesh to rise. I jerked my head towards him and deciphered the questioning gaze.
“Just a little nervous,” I offered with a small smile. “Nattie can always tell when I'm hiding something.”
“Let me do the talking,” Lucas said, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “Follow my lead, and she will not suspect anything amiss, pet.”
When did he start using a pet name? It threw me off slightly as Lucas was anything if not an uptight bastard.
My heart started in my chest as he slid out and rounded the pickup to open my door. Drawing in a deep breath, I took the proffered hand and was surprised when Lucas drew me towards him, wrapped his heavy arm around my shoulders, and led me towards the apartment building.
Did he even know where I lived?
My question was soon answered as he led me to my apartment door, reading number fifteen, and held out his hand for the key. Startled, I searched my pocket and then my purse. Where the hell did I put my damn key?! Before I could get far though, the door flew open and a wide-grinned Nattie stood before us.
“Hot damn!” came Nattie’s wolfish cry. Real subtle there Nattie.
“Hey, Nattie,” I greeted sheepishly.
Oh god, his body felt so damn good. I could feel the flex of his pectorals against me as Lucas shifted and offered his palm to her.
“Hello there, bird,” he greeted with his sultry accent. “I'm Lucas.”
“Uh,” came her lame utter. “…Natalie,” she managed.
At least she remember her name well enough. Good job, Nattie. You’ve done me proud.
He took her hesitant hand and pressed a quick kiss to it before once more pulling me into him. His hand slid from my shoulder down towards my waist, and the movement caused me to inadvertently stiffen. It felt so electric that I nearly pulled away in surprise. However, when I made a move to, he grasped me firmly at my waist and held fast.
Well, okay then.
Nattie was still very much grinning and had a glaze about her eyes that revealed she was totally smitten. Hook, line, and sinker. Unfortunately, Nattie wasn’t impervious to hotties; sadly for me, neither was I. We were both just as starved for hotties it would seem.
She had that star-struck look to her eyes, and I knew she would be prying at me for details as soon as she could get me alone.
Chuckling to myself, I made my way inside with Lucas in tow. His hand stayed at my waist causing my heart to palpitate like I had just run a mile, but at least Nattie was falling for it.
Lucas took a seat on the couch, appearing as if he owned the damn thing. He dwarfed my couch with his sheer size. He had favored a dark black, long sleeve button down with black trousers tonight, and the clothes only emphasized his size rather than slimming it.
Nattie hovered near me, her obvious interest and need for answers clear in her gaze. And before I could offer Lucas a drink, she was pulling me to the privacy of the kitchen, or what she thought was private, oblivious to the fact that Lucas had incredible hearing.
Another vampire thing.
“Okay,” she whispered eagerly. “Where the hell did you find that yummy, oversized pile of hunk?!”
“At 'The Bar,'” I replied truthfully. “He's visiting a friend.” Also truthful in a way. “He stopped in a few nights ago, right after you left with whatshisname.”
“He's...ohmygod, I can't even believe guys that good-looking exist!” came her excited reply.
Well, they did, and they came with friends just as gorgeous.
Her whispers were elevating, and even though I knew he would hear it all despite our whispering it, I hushed her.
“Sorry,” she apologized with flushed cheeks. “I'm just so excited for you. He's amazing...”
“You hardly know him,” I argued, though I wasn't really sure why. “What makes you think that he's not just some hot serial killer?”
Lucas strolled into the kitchen purposefully and slid his arm once more around me. He pulled me against him and gave what I was sure a panty-wetting smile to Nattie because she instantly blushed crimson.
“Are you birds planning to leave me alone all night?” he questioned with meaning. “I was really hoping I might get a bit of alone time with Izzy. Hope it isn’t rude of me to say so.”
Nattie’s head shook left to right. “Not rude at all,” she said breathlessly, winking at me like the true wing man she w
as.
Lucas leaned towards me, pressing his lips to the shell of my ear, and consequently caused an unbidden shiver to course through me like hot electricity.
“You are not helping with chatter like that, love,” he whispered intimately.
My breathing hitched, and I was suddenly both very warm and very uncomfortable. I was able to keep myself from pulling away but only because his arm at my waist was imprisoning me.
“I can go,” Nattie offered graciously. “Actually, I should anyway. Lots to do. Laundry…dishes…other homely things.”
Well played.
Although, both of us knew Nattie never did dishes. She invested in paper plates and plastic utensils to avoid such things. She was also the kind of person that would buy a new shirt or pair of underwear to avoid doing the laundry.
However grateful I was, I missed my friend and wished it were different circumstances. The sooner Nattie left, the sooner we could end this charade. Sighing, I nodded to her.
“We,” I emphasized this with what I hoped appeared like a girl-in-love smile at Lucas, “have an early morning. Lucas invited me to England for a few weeks. I'll be leaving tomorrow.”
“Ohmygod! That's amazing,” she squeaked. “You'll have to tell me everything when you get back! Okay, call me in the morning as soon as you get to the airport!”
I'm glad that Nattie's wit wasn't with her tonight; otherwise, she would have figured out that I didn't have a passport nor could I get one in a day's time. Apparently, Lucas's handsome had made her go brainless. Thank god for small miracles.
Lucas released me so that she and I could hug goodbye before she grabbed her purse, and with one last wistful glance towards Lucas, left the apartment. I sighed as I put distance between Lucas and I, suddenly very aware of him.
He smelled incredibly of mint and aftershave. I wanted to bury my nose in his chest and inhale deeply.
I escaped to the kitchen and sifted through the contents of my refrigerator. I realized belatedly that Lucas didn't eat food as I grabbed enough for two and microwaved the leftover chicken casserole.
Lucas had not spoken of his eating habits since our little interlude in the kitchen. I wasn't really even sure how often he needed blood, or where he got it from. I assumed that he did since I had never seen him eat—um—drink the blood. Feeling suddenly guilty, I left the kitchen with my portion.
“Are you in need of...you know?” I questioned as I rose my plate, hoping my message would come across well enough.
“Are you offering?” he asked with a slight raise to his eyebrow.
Now he joked? Well, damn.
“Um...” I started, but his chuckle interrupted my rambling.
“I do not drink from the source,” he explained.
“You mean...” Me?
“Yes, I am able to sustain myself on blood bags that I keep an ample supply of. I have a few reserves in my vehicle,” he further explained.
Well, that wasn't creepy.
I nodded despite the uneasy feeling in my stomach. It wasn't his fault for being what he was. I knew that. However, that did not detract from the fact that it made me uncomfortable.
I noticed him peering at my book collection, and suddenly, I was at his side doing my best to hide the objects of his interest.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” I asked as a diversion. “I have loads...of um, actions.”
Lucas regarded me with a raised eyebrow before nodding.
Thank god!
I studied my collection of DVDs for a few minutes before deciding on 'Die Hard'. Bruce Willis was hot and funny, and there was no sexual tension or love-making. Something about watching anything like that with uptight Lucas felt like a bad idea.
I scurried over to my Blu-ray player and popped the movie in before finding my usual spot on the couch and curling up with my casserole. Lucas followed soon after, turning out the lights, and situating himself at the other side of the couch. I was grateful. I doubt I could pay attention to Bruce if Lucas was too close.
I couldn't help my hyper vigilance of him, however. I found myself glancing over to him every once and a while. He seemed surprisingly immersed in the film though. He laughed and frowned, making him appear more, for a lack of a better word, human.
The last few days, Lucas barely spent any time at the house. Pavel was always around making inappropriate comments and gestures.
Pavel was the exact opposite of Lucas. Lucas was unapproachable most times while Pavel was almost always too close. Lucas was gentle and in control whereas Pavel was crude and prone to tempers. I hadn't spent enough time with them to know them well but I knew enough.
I had finished my dinner, washing the plates that I found in the sink along with it, and returning to the living room to finish the movie with Lucas. I settled into the comfort of my beloved couch, blanketing myself with the throw I kept on it. I turned towards Lucas to find him watching me. It startled me enough to stall my hands around my shoulders.
His gaze had unsettled me so much that I was forced to glance away towards the television just to calm myself down. The couch shifted slightly as he moved closer. I was as stiff as a board with my heart crashing into my chest as if it was planning to make a break for it.
“I can hear your heartbeat,” was all he said as he leaned towards me. “Are you so innocent to having a man near you? I would have thought in this day and age it would be a common enough occurrence.”
This day and age? How the hell old was he? Well, he wasn't about to call my bluff.
“I am,” I lied. “It’s just been a while.”
Like two years, six months, and seven days.
“Is that right?” he mocked with a sexy grin, which was clearly cheating. I mumbled as such before letting out a defeated sigh.
“Men like you,” I emphasized this with a gesture towards him, “don’t frequent our little town. And they certainly don't frequent my apartment. I'm pretty sure that if not for the circumstances of my discovery, I would have never had someone as, um, attractive”—and sinfully delicious—“inside my humble abode.”
That sounded smart enough.
I was truly proud of how even and unaffected my voice sounded despite my clammy palms and trembling thighs. I was one minute away from flinging myself at him and demanding that he pillage my village.
His face was lit only by the faint illumination of the television. The shadows did nothing to hide his amazing features, however. His eyes appeared darker in the low light, his hair as black as night, and a slow, sexy smirk that was doing nothing to calm my nerves. It was true that he was as handsome as they come, but he was also kind of amazing as well. From what I knew of him the last few days, anyway.
He seemed to ponder what I was saying with that sexy grin still causing my heart to rapidly beat. Finally, he eased back into the couch and ended the topic with his silence. Following suit, I relaxed back into the couch despite being unable to calm myself after the very intimate way he had held me earlier and our now very close proximity.
Fishing for topics, I decided to bring up an inevitable one.
“About where you're going to sleep...” I started hesitantly.
“I will take the couch, Izzy. I am imposing upon you as it is,” he offered graciously.
To say I was relieved he offered would be an understatement. However, it also made me guilt-ridden.
“You know, I don't mind taking the couch.” Even though the thought of you sleeping on the bed did crazy things to my pulse. “You’re my guest so you can have the bed. You're doing me a favor anyway,” I argued despite not entirely feeling that way.
I was not happy that I was basically being forced to stay with him especially considering that I wouldn't have any space of my own after this.
“No,” he resolved firmly. “I will take the couch.”
Well, okay then.
I shrugged. I had made a gallant effort to relinquish the comfort of my bed chambers. I giggled, catching Lucas off guard and earning me a sidewa
ys glance of confusion.
“Then, I should head to bed,” I said, rising from the couch.
I needed to gather my things, and honestly, I was eager to put some distance between Lucas and I. I think I had hit my limit on handsome men and their touches today. I was also in pain from my earlier injury which had yet to be dressed and weak from the burst of energy I expelled earlier. I needed a shower and then a good night's sleep.
“Before you do,” Lucas said as he rose beside me, “I would like to dress that wound you acquired earlier.”
Well, how nice of you to finally noticed, I thought begrudgingly. My interest piqued though with the memory of what Blondie had divulged earlier.
Instead of dwelling on it, knowing it would do little, I merely nodded my head in silent agreement and led him towards my bathroom. I wasn't clumsy, but I had had my fair share of injuries, mostly as a result of my outings with Nattie. I kept a small supply of dressings in my bathroom: antiseptic, neosporin, and band-aids. I led him into the small bathroom, pulling my little supply from the cabinet and setting it down near him.
“I will need to take a shower first,” I stated quickly as the size of him made my bathroom feel even smaller than usual.
“I do not trust that you will be well enough to,” he argued with his eyes narrowing on me. “I can fix the wound quickly, and then you can shower after I have finished.”
Bossy jerk.
“I'll be fine,” I stated as evenly as I could, but my temper was bubbling.
I didn't care very much for being told what and what not to do. I realized there was an element of truth to what he said, but that didn't make it right for him to deny me what I very much needed at the moment.
Overprotective brute.
“If you insist,” he said smirking in a way that caused my body to warm treacherously. “Then I shall stay in the room to ensure you do not lose consciousness.”
“You're joking,” I stated with a lax jaw. He had to be. He had incredible senses and didn't need to be in the room to know if I had lost consciousness. “What are you playing at?” I questioned angrily.
“Nothing at all, pet,” he replied with the sensual grin, giving everything and nothing away.
