by KD Bond
Luke ran his hands down her arms, looking at her with those amazing blue eyes. "Please don’t go, not yet."
Kat bit her lip and glanced towards the windows, calculating the time before her sister would arise. She still had a few more hours in the day left, which meant she could stay for a while. But the harpy shouldn’t stay. Her itch was officially scratched, yet she heard herself answer.
"Whisky...." "Neat."
Luke smiled that deviously attractive smile and hurried off to the bar.
"So," he cut a glance at her and looked back to focus on pouring her drink into a crystal glass.
Ah yes, here it comes, the questions. Shit!
"I never got your name."
"I never gave it." Kat stuck her hands in her robe pocket, walking closer to the bar.
"That, you did not."
Luke came around the bar and handed her, the drink. Kat took a swing of the liquid loving the smooth burn as it slid down her throat. Yeah, that was the good stuff. Top shelf. She gave the glass a little swirl.
"So....?"
Luke looked down at her again, and this time his baby blues held. He wasn’t backing down. Good boy.
"It’s Katrine Thorne," hell, might as well give him the truth. All Phantom Knights had an alias in the human world. They just didn’t need anyone digging too hard into who they pretended to be. "Kat, for short."
"Beautiful name."
“Thanks.”
Luke came and joined her, sitting on the opposite barstool across from her, sliding her legs in between his. Noticing he was still extremely naked under that towel. Focus Kat.
"So, Kat, what do you do?"
"I’m an electrician," the lie rolled off effortlessly.
Luke paused, his eyes got a little full, and he blinked. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, why? You want me to pull out my tool belt."
Luke laughed, "no, I didn’t think... yeah I wouldn’t peg you for someone who works with their hands. I mean you don’t look like someone that could do manual labor. You’re just so, so delicate."
"Oh, Luke, you can’t even begin to believe what I could do with my hands.” Kat ran her hand over his knee. “And as for manual labor, I’m not as delicate as you think." She took another drink from her glass.
"Right. Never judge a book by its cover. Noted,” Luke took a moment to collect himself. “So, I know it’s probably too late to ask, but I’m going to ask anyway. Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, Luke, I don’t have a boyfriend," Kat smiled. The guy was just too cute.
"Husband?"
"No."
"Thank God." Kat laughed, then took another sip of her drink which was now empty.
"Do you have any family around here?"
"Just a sister," who was probably going to kill her if she found out where she was.
"What about your parents?"
Okay, this was getting a little too personal. Kat jumped up from the barstool. She didn’t want to talk about her parents to anyone, and she didn’t like the direction the questions were taking. Kat couldn’t afford to slip up, and she was getting so relaxed she just might.
"I should get going. It’s getting late."
Luke slid off his bar stool as well. He stood in her way, glancing at his watch.
"It’s only 8:30, can’t you stay a little longer, talk some more. Please, I want to get to know you."
"Why?" Kat stumbled out. The Knight seemed to lose her cool when he was near her, looking down at her with such hunger in his eyes.
"I don’t know, because of I... I guess I like you. Isn’t that what you do with people you like? Get to know them."
Kat went to step past him, "you don’t want to get to know me. Trust me."
"Give me a chance to make my own decision..." Grabbing her arm to stop her retreat, "please."
The man needed to stop with the “please.” Kat could feel herself caving every time he used it and especially looking as adorably naked as he did now.
"Fine," Kat said, walking back towards the bar once more, hopping on the barstool.
"What do you want to know?"
Chapter Twenty-One
Kat and Luke ended up back in the bed after downing a few more drinks. And partaking in another round of steamy, hot sex. The two were lying back, staring at the ceiling talking about nothing and everything at the same time. Kat couldn’t remember the last time conversation like this flowed so smoothly. And she didn’t even have to lie, much.
The two had a lot in common, which was pleasantly surprising. They two both enjoyed to run, swim and rock climb. They appreciated the same type of music. Their playlist consisted of hip hop and R&B with some rock and roll thrown in for kicks and giggles. They also enjoyed electricity; sure his was more the electrical engineering type. While Kat’s was more flashing lights.
What connected them, even more, was the loss of their parents. Well okay, Luke lost his in a plane crash, along with his only sibling, his sister. After hearing his heartfelt story of their death, Kat understood why he had a catch in his voice whenever he talked about his younger sister. The one who helped him pick out this place. They had taken a family trip that he was supposed to attend himself, yet he had got held up at work. Luke was going to meet them in Paris a few days later, yet their plane never made it to Europe. The engine malfunctioned and went down in the Atlantic Ocean, with no known survivors. Luke had been devastated by the loss, and hearing his story made her ice-cold heart melt.
To have family and then lose them all in one tragic accident would be overwhelming for anyone. And well her, her parents might still be breathing, but according to her, they were as good as dead in her eyes.
"Yep, they are straight-up assholes," Kat began, "sperm and egg donors. Nothing more, nothing less.”
"I can’t believe parents would treat their children that way. My parents were so loving and caring. I couldn’t imagine them not loving me the way they did.” Luke paused for a few heartbeats, “I miss them every day."
"Yeah well, I didn’t have that...” Kat noted with envy in her heart, “my sister Sia and I were all each other had... All each other still have." The Knight responded, sounded small. Where the hell are my balls?
"Must have been tough growing up?" Luke leaned over, propping himself up on his elbow and resting his head on his palm.
"Yeah, but we made it out alive, and now she and I are the best war... Ahhhhh wor-kers the firm has ever seen."
"So, I guess the training helped in a way, huh?"
"Yeah…. I guess it did." Kat replied distantly, throwing an arm over her eyes.
A vibration sounded again in the distance. She had heard it a few times before, but Kat ignored it. Luke started talking about his parents, and she didn’t want to be rude. Besides, Kat loved the way she felt laying up next to him as he ran a hand up and down her stomach. But she couldn’t ignore it any longer. Kat was quite sure she knew where the vibration was coming from...Yep by the door where her clothes were...Again.
"Shit!" Kat sat up and shot a quick look out through the floor to ceiling windows.
It was pitch black outside. FUCK! Kat reached down, grabbed her robe off the floor, and slipped out of bed to grab her phone. She looked down at the screen and saw the time. Midnight are you fucking kidding me. Where had the time gone? The phone had stopped and started back up again, bracing herself for her sister’s wrath Kat answered on the second ring.
“Hel…….”
"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!!!!" Sia shouted through the phone. Yep, she was capital P.I.S.S.E.D, pissed.
"Calm down sister please, I’m okay" Kat looked over at Luke who had sat up and was looking over at her. Luke gave her that secret smile she was beginning to love when their eyes locked... Wait, love? Did she think that word?
"What do you mean, calm down?! I’ve been trying to reach you all night. I was so close to calling Sky, Kat, this fucking close."
Kat winced. Thankfully Sia had a little faith in her. Because if she’d made that cal
l, all hell would’ve broken loose.
"Look I’m sorry I lost track of time. Can we meet now?"
"Where are you, Kat?" Sia seethed through her teeth.
Kat gazed over again; why lie? It was her sister, and they seemed to be getting back on the right foot.
"I’m with Luke... You know, the guy from the club." The silence was so high over the other line of the phone; Kat thought her sister hung up. Or died from shock.
"Meet me at your loft in ten minutes, Kat. Ten fucking minutes," Sia spat, hanging up.
"Shit," Kat whispered under her breath. She went to grab her pants and jacket from off the floor and started to get dressed as fast as she could. Without seeming supernatural, of course.
"Hey Look, I gotta go," Kat directed the sentence across the room. Not bothering to look in his direction as she got dressed.
But Luke was already standing next to her close enough to touch. He was also still gloriously in the buff, which was hauntingly distracting. Luke knew he had a fantastic body, and the male wasn’t afraid to show it.
"Please wait. I want to see you again. Tell me; I get to see you again."
"I don’t know Luke,” Kat threw her tank top on, then jacket over her arms, “I’m a busy girl. I usually don’t let time slip away from me like this."
"That only means this time was special. It means this thing, whatever this is between us," he drew his finger back and forth between them, "is special."
Kat paused; he was right. Somewhere deep inside her small Grinch-like heart, she felt he was right. This, whatever it was, felt… Right. But damnit, she could get him killed. If not by the dark lords in the shadows, but by Sky. The boss would freak if she found out Kat was sleeping with a human. Even though she was never one to play by the rules, this would take the cake in her leader’s eyes. Kat didn’t want to push Sky to her breaking point. But it seemed the logical part of her brain was dormant. Besides, it wasn’t like she’d let anything get serious.
"How about we go out tomorrow night for dinner? I know a nice restaurant nearby. It has an excellent selection of just about anything."
"I can’t do dinner Luke, I work late nights," Kat was fully dressed now and easing towards the door. Just leave Kat.
"Okay, what about breakfast?"
"Don’t you work in the morning?"
"I’ll call out." Kat had to laugh at that.
"No, Luke, go to work," she chuckled.
Luke gave a dramatic sigh, "then at least meet me for lunch. I know I'm being pushy, and women like you probably don’t like pushy, but you got to throw a guy a bone here... Please."
There’s that word again. And what do you know, she found herself caving at that gorgeous boyish smile.
"Give me a pen."
Kat smiled again as he darted over to the dresser in the walkway. Luke grabbed the note pad and pen on the chest. Skating back towards her, once he had what he desired.
The Knight scribbled her number down onto the pad and handed it back to him, then started to head out. He walked towards the door, and he unlocked it for her, cracking it a little.
"Text me with the when and where you want to meet."
Luke sighed against the door with relief, "absolutely."
The male grabbed her abruptly by the back of her neck and drew her forward for a scorching kiss that was all tongue and passion. As he released her, Luke gave her his secret smile. Kat, a little shaky, stepped outside in the hallway. Turning away, Kat heard Lucas lock the door behind her as she walked towards the elevator.
Kat ran her hand across her lips. That last lingering kiss was almost worth the verbal ass whooping she was about to take against Sia in a few minutes...Well almost.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The next day Luke probably got an hour worth of work done. Even though he’d been at work for almost five hours. Luke looked at his watch, for about the hundredth time and it was finally 11:00. The guy had just one more hour until lunchtime, and Luke would finally get to see Kat.
On his fifteen-minute break, he’d called her with a bit of nerve in his stomach. Hoping she had given him the right number. When she picked up, with that musical seductive sirens voice, Luke knew it was his Kat. The two talked his whole break about nothing. And it was the most natural conversation with anyone he’d had in a long, long time. Luke asked her to meet him across the street at Tony’s bar, and she agreed. He couldn’t wait to see her.
Glancing down at his watch, he realized his mussing had lasted all of three minutes: Urrrghh, just fifty-seven more to go. Turning, back towards his computer, Luke woke it up from its screen saver setting. He really should try to focus and work.
Reorganizing his thoughts, Luke pulled up his notes for the day. He was running through his numbers until a balled-up piece of paper hit his desk. With confusion, Luke looked up to find the paper culprit was Justin. Holding up the paper, he looked at him with a question until he mouthed, incoming. Frowning his face, Luke glared in the direction Justin cut his eyes, to see Casey coming towards his desk. He groaned.
"Hi Luke, wanna do lunch?" His coworker asked after stopping in front of him.
"Hey Casey, sorry I already have lunch plans today."
"Oh really, where are you and Justin going, Tony’s? I can tag along with you two if that’s okay."
"It’s not with Justin," and he didn’t mention it was in fact at Tony’s, but that was none of her business.
"Oh, with who then?"
"No one you know, Casey. Maybe some other time. I really should get back to work. I don’t want the boss man to come out here and flip."
"Oh right, so maybe we can get together tonight. Hit Phantom? It’s been a while since we hanged."
"Sorry, but no. I’ll probably stay in tonight." Hopefully, with Katrina.
"What’s going on Luke?" Casey frowned down at him and pushed out her lips in a pout. "I hardly see you anymore. You don’t answer your phone when I call. I... I miss you."
No, no she didn’t, she missed her lap dog. She missed the fact that he didn’t follow her around like every other male tool in this office, with a hope that she’ll look his way.
"Nothing’s wrong, Casey. I’ve just been swamped lately. Nothing against you personally, I don’t have time to hang out, sorry."
"Well, whenever you finally have time for me, just shoot me a text, okay. Mr. I’m Too Busy For My Friends."
Casey turned around and stomped off, with purpose, back to her desk. Luke glanced at Justin, and his friend smiled brightly. All boy next door smile, giving him a thumbs up. He just shook his head and counted down the minutes until he saw the woman he was beginning to fall hard for.
∞∞∞
This was a bad idea, Kat thought, as she waited outside of Tony’s bar. She rechecked her phone. Yep, the text message from Luke saying he was in the bar at a booth in the back, was still on her message feeds. Kat shouldn’t go in. This was a horribly, bad idea. An idea that could lead to very wickedly, evil, naughty things. Kat shivered. Decision made, she was going in.
Kat knew once she crossed the entrance and sat down, she’d be officially dating a human. But she was okay with that. The male was special. Luke was the first thing, in a while, that made her feel good. There wasn’t much happiness in her line of work. So she owed it to herself to see where this was going. Just for a while, anyway. Kat knew nothing would come of it. Taking a deep breath, she decided to rip off the bandage and walk-in.
Tony’s bar was a simplistic, old-school, dive bar. It had a few pool tables off to the side. And a jukebox with smooth jazz playing in the background. There were also a few tables and booths littered around for lounging. The bar was modernized despite its rustic vibe and was twice the size it appeared to be from outside. But when you were across the street from a building like Fall Heights one guessed they’d need a pretty big bar. Stressful job equals a lot of booze.
Sweeping her gaze around to the back, she saw Luke in the corner by himself. Kat’s mouth began to water, as their ey
es linked across the distance. He signaled her over, and she followed his beckon.
Luke looked terrific in his form-fitting grey suit. He wore a crisp white shirt under his blazer, with a dark grey tie with blue straps that matched his eyes. Eyes that were without glasses. Looking at his gorgeous bear face, Kat kinda missed his other set of eyes. Okay, time to stop drooling.
“Hi," Kat announced. Luke stood to greet her, so she leaned in to kiss his cheek.
"Hi, Kat, you look great."
"Thanks,” Kat uttered with a slight blush. Considering all she wore was a light green blouse, with wide black leg pleated palazzo pants. “You look quite edible yourself." His blush was adorable, as she took a seat opposite him.
"Hey Luke, what can I get you and your guest... Oh Kat, hey." The waitress spoke, noticing her for the first time.
Bitty, her name was Bitty. The female was a lion shifter just like her boss behind the bar.
Many paranormal hid in the human world to work and find a conceptional life. It was just easier to come up and make money here. Back home if one wasn’t a witch; the market was slim pickings.
Casting a look over to Tony, Kat gave him a tilt of her head and a smile. She’d been here plenty of times, and Tony was a great ally to have.
"Hi, Bit how you been?"
"Good. I haven’t seen you around in a while and with a hu... Ummm with Luke. How do you two know each other?"
"We just recently met, a few weeks ago at Phantom," Luke cut in with a smile.
"Oh well, that’s nice. So, what can I get you two?" Bit said with a nervous hiccup in her voice.
The pretty waitress knew better than to question Kat. The lion also knew she never saw them here together. That’s why she loved the pack at Tony’s. They were loyal to a tee and didn’t ask too many questions.
"Kat? What would you like?"
The harpy cut her eyes over at Bit and gave her a reassuring smile. A smile that read she wasn’t here to cause trouble today Which was usually the cause any other time the Knight visited their bar. The lion probably thought she was here to kill the poor guy. But, it wasn’t her fault most of her perps liked to hide here. They probably figured they were on neutral territory since Tony had a no violence spell around the place.
