The Lunch
“MOTHER,” LUCIEN’S SON hissed. “Stop it.”
She wouldn’t. I knew this. I’d been in Cressida’s presence for an hour and I knew this.
Lucien’s ex was a total bitch. I hated her. I tried not to be a hater but she was the kind of woman that even Mother Theresa would consider bitch-slapping.
But Cressida wasn’t my concern. I was a woman. I’d encountered bitches.
It was Lucien’s father Etienne who gave me the creeps. And he did this because he enjoyed Cressida playing with me. Every catty comment out of her mouth, his eyes flashed with a sick happy light and they moved to me to assess my response. I didn’t know how I knew it, but I knew he was waiting for me to break no matter what way that was. To be hurt. To get angry. Just as long as it was negative or damaging.
Vampires were human-ish. This meant that Lucien shared this man’s DNA, which I found impossible to believe.
Lucien could be a jerk, but he was a hot jerk who could be funny, sweet and gentle.
Etienne was none of these (except, damnably I had to admit, the hot part) and proud of it.
If Magdalene wasn’t sweet and openly loving, I would think she stepped out on Etienne.
There was nothing in Lucien that was like his father. They didn’t even look alike, Etienne being blond and blue-eyed, tall, but lean for a vampire. Lucien looked like his mother. In fact, he was the uber-masculine image of her classically beautiful femininity.
Cressida turned her (damnably I had to admit, gorgeous) sky-blue eyes to her son and asked with fake innocence, “Stop what?”
Julian glared at her and ordered, “We need to talk in the study.”
She threw out an elegant hand to the dining table at which Edwina was currently serving us dessert. “But, we haven’t finished lunch.”
Julian pushed his chair back, declaring, “You have.”
“Julian, don’t be rude,” Cressida returned.
I looked to my lap and smiled because that was hilarious coming from her. She’d been rude from the get-go when she took my hand, squeezed it and murmured, “Mm . . . tasty.”
“Study, Mother, now,” Julian growled, and I looked to Lucien’s son.
It was bizarre how Lucien, who I knew was over eight hundred years old, but this didn’t penetrate considering his looks and vitality, had two grown children. It was also bizarre that his parents looked like his contemporaries. And it was equally bizarre how both his children clearly got the best selections in the gene pool they were offered.
Julian was gorgeous in his father’s raw manly way.
Isobel was beautiful in what had to have been her mother’s delicate way, but Lucien was still stamped all over her.
I liked them both. They were obviously close and affectionate with each other, their father, and their grandmother, and until now, patient with Cressida. They also were cautious and watchful with their grandfather, which meant they were far from stupid. And they were kind and welcoming to me, which was nice.
On this thought, I heard Lucien command, “Go with Julian.”
My head came up and I looked down the table to the head where Lucien was sitting. I was at the foot. Lucien seated me where I was and I didn’t think anything was amiss with this, considering it was my house. But when he did this, the rest exchanged looks and I jotted this down on my mental list of what to talk to Lucien about later.
He was also glaring at Cressida and it was clear he did not find anything amusing.
Cressida looked to Lucien and grinned cattily, “I don’t want to miss Edwina’s dessert.” Her head then turned to me and she finished. “I’ve known Edwina for years. She’s the best cook. Don’t you agree?”
Her meaning was clear.
See?
Total bitch.
“You can go or I can carry you,” Lucien bit out, Cressida looked to him, and I pressed my lips together.
“Oh,” she purred, her eyes flaring with a sultry light, her face softening seductively. Neither of which I liked. Neither of which I could do a thing about. “I’ll take the second option.”
Bitch.
Lucien opened his mouth to speak but I took my chances and got there before him.
“Lucien, really, Cressida’s right. No one should miss Edwina’s dessert.” Lucien’s eyes cut to me, but I looked to Cressida. “As you can see,” I pointed to the bowl Edwina had set in front of me, “it looks delicious. Of course, if you wish to chat with Julian and not tax yourself after that rich lunch, Lucien can carry you to the study.” I shrugged and smiled at her. “Anything goes in Casa Leah. So, whatever you wish.”
Cressida’s eyes narrowed on me.
My smile got bigger.
I heard Isobel chuckle.
Cressida’s eyes narrowed further.
I forced myself to quit smiling.
“The Buchanan smell.”
This came from Etienne and I looked to him to see he was studying me in a way that made my flesh crawl.
“I have, of course, smelled it at Selections over the years, but haven’t partaken. You, my dear, have changed that. I believe you have cousins who’ll be attending their Selections soon?” he asked, but didn’t wait for me to answer. “I’ll be certain to arrange it so I’m free of concubine and I’ll act quickly at their Selections to declare my intentions.”
Oh yes, my flesh was crawling and I tasted bile considering it suddenly crept up my throat.
I didn’t want my cousins to service this man and my eyes flew to Lucien to communicate this fact. The instant they caught his, his locked on mine and they were intense. I knew what that meant and I swallowed the bile, deciding I disliked Etienne even more, considering he put me off Edwina’s dessert. I didn’t know what it was, but by the looks of it she’d used a heavy hand with whipped cream, so I also didn’t care.
Now I knew I’d have to force it down.
I pulled in a breath, looked back at Etienne and lied quietly, “I’m sure they’d be honored.”
Actually, what I was sure of was that I’d warn my aunties about this and prepare my cousins for this eventuality. They could refuse him and would have to wait for another Selection, but it would be worth it.
“And how do you find serving your master?” Etienne asked what I considered a rude question. I hadn’t sat down to lunch with vampires, except, of course, Lucien and Stephanie, but what I did for and with Lucien was personal, not a topic for luncheon conversation.
And I didn’t like the way he put it. Lucien had called himself my master in the beginning, so I guessed this was accepted language in their culture. But I still didn’t think the way Etienne phrased this was nice.
My gaze again went to Lucien to see his jaw was hard and his eyes were still intent.
I was right, it might be accepted language, but Etienne wasn’t being nice.
I forced myself to smile a small smile at Lucien, take in the elegant dining room where we were seated, and I looked back at Etienne.
“I believe I’ve done well,” I replied. “At least for my part. You’d have to ask Lucien if he agrees.”
“Oh, Lucien always enjoys his meals to their fullest,” Cressida put in. I fought against my back going straight even as I felt the air in the room get thick, but she wasn’t done. “Of course, considering all that is you, he’s enjoying it even more.”
“That’s enough.”
This was said quietly and surprisingly by Magdalene and all eyes went to her to see she was looking at Cressida.
“You are at Leah’s table in Leah’s home eating Leah’s food. She is concubine. She is Buchanan. And you have repeatedly disrespected her,” Magdalene went on, again quietly, her voice soft, and if it wasn’t for the sharp look in her eyes, you wouldn’t know she was angry.
But that sharp look was in her eyes, so sharp it was piercing, so you couldn’t mistake it.
Magdalene wasn’t done.
“I know for a fact that if Lucien referred to your Teo as your ‘meal,’ you’d challenge him without hesitation. And yet here you sit, at his concubine’s table in her presence and his, and treat them both to your insolence. I’ve shown you patience, Cressida, until now. One more demonstration of your lack of regard for this family, it will be me who challenges you.”
Cressida’s brows went up. “This family?”
Magdalene sat back. “Are you not seated at a table with your son, his sister, their grandparents?”
“Are you not inferring that Leah is family?” Cressida shot back.
“If that is what you wish to read into my statement, be my guest. I, for one,” her eyes intriguingly slid to Etienne before going back to Cressida, “hold my concubines in deep regard, so I have no issue with that.”
Cressida had no retort and it was clear she didn’t like this because her face went hard and her nose scrunched.
Magdalene dismissed her and looked at me.
“My apologies, Leah. I’m deeply sorry we’ve intruded on you and my son only for you to be treated to this behavior.”
“Good Christ,” Etienne muttered in clear contempt. “Apologies to a concubine?”
I so did not like Lucien’s father.
But with effort I ignored him, held Magdalene’s eyes and said quietly, “Thank you.”
She nodded to me and her face went soft.
I so did like Lucien’s mother.
I smiled at her, picked up my spoon and forced myself to take a bite of dessert. I was right. Lots of whipped cream with a hint of strawberries and chunks of moist rich yellow cake. I was also wrong. Even the antics of Lucien’s crazy family didn’t make me not enjoy Edwina’s scrumptious dessert.
Edwina was a genius.
I was scooping up more dessert when I heard in my head, I’m proud of you, pet.
I kept my attention on my bowl when I replied, Thank you, darling.
Only when I swallowed my next bite did I look to Lucien.
His eyes were on me.
I grinned.
He grinned back.
I liked that. Therefore my grin got bigger and I gave him a smile I had no idea was dazzling. Not even when Lucien’s eyes warmed and his face got soft upon witnessing it.
I turned my attention back to my bowl and thus missed his family again exchanging glances.
Some were relieved. Some were hard.
All were knowing.
It was after dessert and coffee. Lucien had come down to my end of the table to pull out my chair, help me up and guide me out of the room with his hand at the small of my back.
We were walking through the double doors when I saw Magdalene and Isobel were hovering. As was Cressida, if farther away. Julian and Etienne were moving to the formal living room, which I found a relief.
No lounging in the comfy seating area off the kitchen for Etienne. No way.
I was wondering if I could tell them I needed to powder my nose and Lucien had to help me, whereupon I would barricade us in our bathroom until they all went away, when Magdalene came forward and wrapped her fingers around my elbow.
“Girl talk,” she said on a smile tipped up to her son.
I felt Lucien’s body get tight even as mine did the same.
“Oh goodie!” Cressida exclaimed.
My body got tighter and Lucien’s hand pressed into the small of my back
“Magdalene said ‘girl talk,’ Cressida, not cat talk,” Isobel stated instantly.
Cressida sliced her a look, but Lucien relaxed and I did too.
“I’ll behave,” Cressida declared, I knew lying through her teeth.
“No you won’t,” Isobel returned, knowing better than me that Cressida was full of it.
“Reap what you sow,” Magdalene stated in her quiet voice. “You came here full of curiosity, like a cat, and recklessly indulged yourself in that curiosity, like a cat. Now you bear the consequences.”
Not giving Cressida the opportunity to reply—but I got a funny feeling I didn’t like all that much when her angry eyes cut through me—Magdalene drew me away. I saw Lucien give his daughter a look and felt his hand slide around my waist to curl at its side.
I stopped and looked up at him just in time for his mouth to touch mine.
When his head lifted slightly, he said gently, but I still knew it was an order, “Don’t be long.”
I nodded. I could do not long. I could definitely do not long.
I had to say, it freaked me out he was so cautious about me being with his family. Sure, they were strange and he’d forewarned me about Cressida and Etienne, but I sensed there was more.
I needed to ask him, Edwina, or Stephanie about this. I didn’t know if I missed this when I missed my studies. Perhaps concubines didn’t socialize with a vampire’s family and his was just weird or weirdly nosy. I did know, whatever was happening, Lucien didn’t like it.
He let me go and Magdalene again commenced in moving me away. I followed, as did Isobel. Neither woman talked even after we moved outside. And they continued their silence as they moved me to the trail that led to the pier.
I knew what this meant. They didn’t want their family’s vampire hearing to catch our conversation.
I wasn’t certain this was good.
I was so uncertain, we walked in silence to the pier, and when we arrived I was a bundle of nerves.
“You can relax, Leah, we’re all friends here,” Magdalene assured me softly as we moved on to the wooden slats, the serenity of the lake all around us. A serenity that did nothing to calm me. She could hear my heart, I knew, and read me.
“We just wanted to apologize personally for showing up out of the blue and bringing Etienne and Cressida,” Isobel added when we stopped. “I hope you see they both need to be handled with care.”
Oh, I saw that all right.
“Of course,” I murmured.
“When we return to the house, we’ll do our best to conclude the visit swiftly,” Magdalene told me.
“No, that’s unnecessary,” I semi-lied, seeing as I liked them. I just didn’t like Etienne and Cressida. “Stay as long as you like. Lucien is enjoying his time with you.” That last was also a semi-lie.
They’d both known Lucien for a long time (and that long for them was long), therefore they both burst into laughter.
Slightly sobering, Magdalene’s hand came up and squeezed my biceps before she dropped it and said, “I appreciate the sacrifice you’d make for my son, but as gracious as that is, we’ll do our best to conclude the visit.”
“Okay,” I whispered then rallied, “But, just so you know,” I emphasized the “you” so they’d understand exactly which “yous” I was talking about. “You’re welcome anytime. Edwina likes company, so do I, and Lucien has shared with me his fondness for the both of you.”
“That’s very kind, Leah,” Isobel replied softly.
“And to return the kindness,” Magdalene pulled a business-card-shaped piece of paper out of the pocket of her awesome, tailored, loose-legged slacks and offered it to me, “this is our contact information. Bel’s and mine. If you should need anything,” her eyes held mine, hers communicating something I didn’t get but something I wasn’t sure I liked, “anything, Leah, call on us.”
What was this all about?
Taking the card from her, cautiously I asked, “Are you talking about the trouble Lucien is in?”
Magdalene’s head tilted slightly to the side but her face gave away nothing. “Trouble?”
Uh-oh. Maybe she didn’t know Lucien was hauled away in the middle of the night by The Council. She might look like his sister but she was his mom and that wouldn’t be stellar news.
“Uh . . .” I mumbled to cover.
It was lame but I didn’t know where else to go.
“Do you know of Father’s troubles with The Council?” Isobel asked, clearly knowing herself and not afraid to mention it in front of Magdalene, which meant she knew too, so I relaxed.
“Not, um . . . exactly. I know he had an, uh . . . visit from them, but he hasn’t shared more,” I answered.
“Actually,” Magdalene cut in, “that card is for you to use whenever you feel you need it, my dear. Whatever concerns you have. Whatever you wish to discuss. My son endures an interest amongst our people that can be trying. Not only for him, but for those with whom he shares his time. We just wished you to know, regardless of how Cressida and Etienne behaved at lunch, that you have his family’s support, a listening ear, whatever you need.”
Wow. That was super nice.
“Thank you,” I replied quietly.
“Whatever you need,” Magdalene repeated, getting slightly closer to me in a way I found contradictorily both reassuring and a little scary.
Great, now Lucien’s mother was causing me to have bizarre, conflicting emotions.
“Okay.” I was still talking quietly. “Thank you.”
Her hand came up and she again gave my arm another squeeze.
I smiled then looked to the path and back to the women.
“I really should get back to Lucien,” I told them. “As you know, he’s not a big fan of his father, Cressida worked his nerves at lunch, and he can sometimes have a temper. I don’t know you all very well, but I’m thinking Julian working on his own can’t keep the beast at bay. And anyway, Lucien would much rather spend time with you, so maybe we should return.”
“I see you have grown to know my son well,” Magdalene noted in her soft voice.
“He’s an immensely knowable guy,” I replied and heard Isobel chuckle. “I mean, he’s a guy you’d want to know, uh . . . immensely,” I clarified stupidly.
“A guy,” Isobel murmured, amusement vibrating in her voice.
“It’s refreshing, my dear,” Magdalene started and my attention went to her, “to see my son with someone, anyone, who enjoys his company, his company, without veneration.”
Well, I worshipped her son, but not in a way I’d share with her.
“I’m pleased you find that refreshing,” I told her, and she moved into me again, this time to slide an arm around my waist and turn me back to the path.
“Let’s get to know each other better, you and I,” she stated as she started us on our way, Isobel following. “Use that card to call on me just to chat.”
“Me too,” Isobel called from behind us.
Wow, totally nice. They completely made up for Cressida being a bitch and Etienne being super creepy.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“And perhaps we’ll return. Take you to lunch, just girls. Maybe shopping,” Magdalene went on.
I would love that.
I didn’t share that.
I just said, “That’d be great. Maybe we can invite Stephanie.”
“Excellent idea,” Magdalene stated on a waist squeeze.
We were on the path, woods surrounding us, when it hit me and I found my feet suddenly stopping. Thus I stopped Magdalene with me and Isobel was forced to halt behind us.
I turned to them, moving out of the curve of Magdalene’s arm, and that was when I found my mouth moving.
“I . . . Lucien . . . he’s shared with me a variety of things and I . . . well, being me, being mortal, I mean, it’s very hard to wrap my mind around them. But at lunch, I was worried . . . um, I mean to say . . .”
Damn! I was screwing this up!
I took in a deep breath and forged on, “What I mean is, he’s very strong, but still, I sense he’s suffered. That will happen to everyone at times in their lives, I know. It would just suck if it happened to you and you didn’t have good people, family, friends, at your back. At lunch I worried that he didn’t.” My eyes took them both in and I finished quietly, “I’m glad to know that he does.”
Magdalene’s normally soft friendly face got softer and friendlier. Isobel, who played her cards closer to her vest, smiled a genuine heartfelt smile.
I kept talking.
“Lucien would never thank you and it isn’t my place to do it, but I’m going to do it anyway. So, uh . . . thank you.”
Magdalene looked at Isobel, Isobel looked at Magdalene, then Magdalene again moved in to me and wrapped her hand around my elbow.
She turned us and started us forward again, but she did this walking close and saying softly, “And thank you, my dear. It’s lovely to know my son spends his time with a woman who cares.”
“I do,” I said softly back, and actually (shocker), I did.
Her fingers gave my elbow a squeeze.
“Good,” she murmured and I looked to the side to see her facing forward, her expression thoughtful but content.
I threw a look behind me and caught Lucien’s beautiful daughter’s smile.
Totally weird. Either one of them could be his sister.
Still, I smiled back.
Then I concentrated on walking close to Lucien’s mother as we made our way back to her son.
Wearing a raspberry satin nightie with a deep edge of black lace at the bottom, I wandered out of the dressing room, through the bathroom and into the bedroom.
Although Magdalene and Isobel had been true to their promise to conclude the visit from Lucien’s family shortly after we returned, five minutes after they left, my family descended.
This did not make Lucien happy and his frustration was apparent. He only put a clamp on it when Aunt Kate explained their plane left early the next morning and that evening was the last opportunity they had to visit with me. Therefore, they stayed for dinner and beyond, leaving only fifteen minutes ago.
However, during their visit they were all watchful of Lucien and me. I didn’t get the opportunity to ask them to explain, though it felt weirdly like they were taking our pulse after the visit from Lucien’s family.
The second we walked back from me giving them hugs and kisses at their rental car and Lucien closed the front door of the house, he turned, looked down at me and growled, “Bed.”
I felt his growl in secret happy places and this feeling was so strong, I totally forgot I wanted to ask him about his family and my family seemingly worried about my visit with them. So I called my goodnight to Edwina and skedaddled up the stairs to peruse my lingerie drawer for Lucien’s next treat.
As I changed, I heard him in the bathroom brushing his teeth. Then I heard him leave the bathroom.
Now I was walking through the bedroom to see he was as he was last night. Reclined against the headboard, chest bared, book in hand, but eyes on me.
He immediately flipped his book shut and set it on his nightstand.
I immediately walked to him, put a knee in the bed, threw my other leg around and settled astride his hips.
“You don’t use a bookmark,” I noted, moving my hands to rest them lightly on his upper abs.
“No,” he answered shortly as I felt his stomach muscles tighten even with my light touch.
Power.
My power over the Mighty Vampire Lucien.
I liked that.
“What?” I tipped my head to the side. “Do you memorize the page number or something?”
“Do you really care?” he shot back.
I smiled at him. “No.”
His hands came to my hips. I felt the pads of his fingers press in and just with that my body heated.
“I like your kids,” I whispered, sliding my hands up slightly, my torso moving down a smidgeon as I did.
“Good,” he muttered, sliding his hands up too, pulling me down a smidgeon more.
“And your mom is lovely,” I told him, my hands sliding up more as I bent just a touch closer.
“She is,” he agreed, his hands doing the same, pulling me even closer.
That was when I moved down. Folding one of my arms between us, the other hand slid up to curve around his strong jaw as my thumb slid out to glide along his beautiful lips.
“I like that for you,” I whispered, and he blinked.
“Pardon?”
“You’re Mighty Vampire Lucien,” I told him and felt his lips twitch. “But even superheroes need good folks at their backs. Batman has Robin and that butler guy. Iron Man has that dude in the military and Pepper Potts. Spiderman has Aunt May. The Fantastic Four are, well . . . four. And—”
“You don’t have to recite your knowledge of all things superhero, sweetling,” Lucien said against my thumb, his voice vibrating with humor. “I think I’ve got it.”
My thumb swept his cheekbone and I repeated softly, “I like that for you.”
“There’s a problem with this scenario,” Lucien noted and my head tilted.
“What problem?”
Suddenly I found myself on my back with Lucien’s weight on top of me and his lips brushing mine.
“Superheroes don’t often get the girl,” he murmured against my lips and that made my body heat more.
“Okay, then you’re a new, better, real kind of superhero who gets laid regularly,” I murmured back, my hands traveling light on his skin.
“Better?” he whispered, his hands traveling light on the satin of my nightie.
“Oh yeah,” I whispered back.
His mouth grinned against mine and I watched up close as his eyes got smug.
That used to annoy me.
Now I thought it was hot.
I wrapped my legs around his hips as his lips trailed down my cheek to my ear. One of his hands pushed between me and the bed so his arm could wrap around me tight.
His tongue touched the skin under my ear then his lips moved against it. “I’m going to feed from you, my pet.”
My whole body trembled.
Lucien wasn’t done.
“And I’m going to do it everywhere.”
Oh yes. That sounded nice.
He kept going.
“There will be places you’ll be numb.”
Hmm. That didn’t sound nice.
He went on.
“But there’ll be other better places where you absolutely will not.”
Goodie!
“Are you ready?” he asked.
Was he crazy?
“Yes,” I breathed.
He lifted his head so his burning eyes caught mine and my entire body felt the burn.
Then in a blur of motion he was between my legs. I felt his tongue run along the inside of my thigh as his finger ran feather-light along the outside edge of my panties between my legs.
Another full-body shiver.
Yes. I was right. This was nice.
He repeated, his tongue running up my thigh, his finger running over my panties between my legs.
My womb spasmed and I whimpered.
Then I felt him feed from my thigh as his finger pressed in at the perfect spot over my panties and my hips surged up as my neck arched and my eyes closed.
Definitely right.
Nice.
God, God.
I thought I had the best the night before, the excruciatingly beautiful intensity of that morning.
But now, Lucien crouched back on his calves, me straddling him, his hips powering up, his cock ramming into me, his mouth at my neck feeding from me, his big hand curled at my cheek, his thumb in my mouth and I was sucking, I knew this was the best.
My hips jerked, it was almost on me and he sensed it.
His thumb slid out of my mouth but only to glide along my lips before it happened. Then his thumb slid back in sideways and my teeth automatically clamped down on it as my hips bucked. A moan stuck in my throat, my arms clenched him tight and my back arched, pressing my torso into his hard body.
Through my overpowering orgasm I vaguely felt his tongue lash the wound at my neck. His thumb moved from between my teeth so his fist could clench in my hair to position my head where he wanted it.
Then his mouth was on mine as his cock kept driving up inside me, filling me so full it felt like he was an essential part of me.
“When you come, the world stops,” he growled against my lips as I kept trembling through my orgasm. “The whole world becomes nothing but you, your pussy, your pussy taking my cock and me.”
Oh God, just his words and tone were going to make me come again.
“Darling,” I whispered, holding tighter as my body jolted with his thrusts.
“Eight hundred, twenty-two years, I’ve never felt anything this beautiful,” he whispered, still driving and my eyes, half-closed, shot open.
Oh God.
I loved that he thought that.
He wasn’t done.
His gaze held mine. “Eight hundred, twenty-two years, I’ve never seen anything this beautiful.”
Oh God.
God!
“I could fuck you for eternity,” he whispered.
My hands slid up and fisted in his hair as my hips bucked again.
“Lucien.”
“Eternity,” he murmured against my lips then his head slanted, his mouth claimed mine, our tongues dueled and his thrusts became savage. Suddenly I was on my back in the bed taking the force of him between my legs and it was pure brutal beauty.
His mouth broke from mine, he buried his face in my neck as he buried his cock in me, and I listened to the power of his groan.
I gave him that. Me. Just who I was. All that I was. I gave him that. I made him feel that beauty. My beauty was what he saw.
I loved that.
He barely finished before he rolled to his back, taking me with him, keeping himself a part of me. When he settled, one strong arm held me tight around my back and his other hand in my hair pressed my face in my throat.
“Christ, I’m sorry, Leah.”
I blinked at his throat.
These were words I didn’t expect to hear.
I lifted my head to look down at him.
Wow. He even looked sorry.
“You’re sorry?” I asked.
“Yes, sweetling,” he replied gently, his black eyes filled with remorse, his hand sliding out of my hair to cup my cheek.
“For what?”
“For taking you that hard.”
Was he serious?”
“Uh, darling, it seems you might have missed this, but I liked it,” I informed him.
His thumb slid along my cheek as his gaze moved over my face.
His eyes came back to mine and he murmured, “You aren’t lying.”
“Why would I lie about that?”
“Because that would be what I wanted to hear.”
It was my turn for my eyes to move over his face.
Cautiously, I asked, “Do people tell you what you want to hear often?”
“Except for Cosmo, Teffie, and occasionally others, always.”
I felt my lips part and my eyes grow wide.
Whoa.
I didn’t know what to do with that.
“Seriously?” I asked in amazement, the shadow moved out of his handsome face, and he grinned.
“Seriously,” he answered.
“I don’t know if that’s cool or if that would suck,” I shared.
“The latter,” Lucien clarified.
I tipped my head to the side even as I dipped it closer to his and I grinned before saying, “I don’t know. I think it would be cool to have everyone tell me what I want to hear. Like, ‘Leah, your butt absolutely does not look big in that.’ And, ‘Oh no, this hollandaise sauce isn’t runny and disgusting. It tastes great.’ Stuff like that.”
Lucien’s hand left my face so that arm could also wrap tight around me and his hips adjusted slightly so he slid out of me as he grinned and stated, “For the record, your ass never looks big in anything.”
“Good to know,” I said through my smile.
“But please, don’t attempt hollandaise sauce.”
I burst out laughing, and as I was doing it, Lucien rolled me to my back. We ended with his torso on mine but most of his weight on a forearm in the bed beside me. I was still giggling, and although Lucien was smiling a beautiful smile, he wasn’t laughing. He was watching and he was doing it like he liked what he saw.
And I liked that.
“All right, darling,” I replied. “I won’t attempt hollandaise sauce. But I’ll inform you that this is mostly because I already have about seven thousand times. I’ve always ruined it, so I know that’s a road I shouldn’t go down.”
“This is good,” he muttered, his eyes holding humor.
“But I make no such assurances about béarnaise sauce. I think I could kick some béarnaise ass.”
Lucien kept muttering as his eyes kept dancing when he said, “Heaven help me.”
“Just saying,” I muttered back.
He held my eyes, his still lit with amusement, then I watched the amusement die and he said quietly, “We must talk.”
I sighed, replied, “I know,” and finished, “Cressida.”
His head jerked slightly and he asked, “Cressida?”
“Darling, I have to say, and please, no offense, but I’m concerned you’re into me considering the two other women that have been in your life that I’ve met. Am I like them?”
“Not in any way,” he stated firmly.
Interesting.
“Then why did you pick them?” I asked.
“I’m not certain you want to know.”
I totally did.
“Call me crazy, but I do.”
“Then I’ll amend my response,” Lucien returned. “I’m not certain I want to tell you because, having you, I’m no longer certain why I chose them.”
Oh my God.
That was sweet.
“Lucien,” I whispered.
Lucien changed the subject. “But that isn’t what we need to talk about.”
I nodded and said, “The table thing.”
Lucien’s brows drew together. “Pardon?”
I fluttered my hand in the air and explained, “The table thing. I saw it. When you seated me at the foot, everyone went kind of weird. What was that?”
“Tradition,” Lucien answered. “You’re a mortal and you were amongst vampires. My mother would normally take the foot.”
I didn’t think that was good.
“Then why’d you seat me there?”
“Because it’s your house, your place, and my seating you there was my way of telling them they should respect you in it. Unfortunately, even this did not deter Cressida and my father from behaving badly.”
He was right about that.
Still.
“I hope your mother wasn’t offended,” I whispered.
“She understood why I did it and therefore she wasn’t.”
Well, that was good.
Lucien went on, “That also isn’t what we need to talk about.”
Again I nodded and stated, “The Council.”
“Leah—” he started, but I interrupted him.
“You still haven’t told me about what happened and I’d like to know.”
His eyes moved over my face again and he noted, “You’re worried.”
“I told you I was, but that was then, only the morning after. Now I’ve had two days of inexplicably being under guard at your demand, something else you haven’t explained. And, I should tell you, I kind of figured it out that I don’t have a guard to stop me from sleeping without you close. Then both our families descended unexpectedly. Not to mention lots of hot sex. But bottom line, time has passed. So before I was worried. Now I’m worried.”
His eyes warmed and his head dropped so he could rest his forehead to mine.
What he didn’t do was answer.
Therefore, I prompted, “So can you either tell me everything is all right or tell me what’s wrong so I can pinpoint my freakout rather than making shit up in my head?”
Lucien lifted his forehead from mine and caught my eyes but I kept talking.
“Because you should know, I have this thing I do. So I can prepare for the worst, I worry about the worst. Then I find out what’s happening or what’s going to happen happens and it’s never the worst and I’m relieved. And, seriously darling, the shit I make up is really not good, so give me something to go on here.”
When I shut up, instantly he stated, “I broke a rule. Not an insignificant one. However, it is one that was created a long time ago for reasons that might have been sound then, although that’s debatable. What isn’t debatable is that they no longer are. It’s antiquated and confining. I’ve explained my reasoning to The Council and they’re considering it. They’ll find in my favor and all will be well.”
I studied his face and asked, “You’re sure?”
He held my eyes and I had no idea that he lied when he replied softly, “I’m sure.”
“And, say, just for the sake of discussion, they don’t find in your favor. What happens to you?”
“They’ll find in my favor.”
“What if they don’t?”
“Leah, they’ll find in my favor.”
“Okay, Lucien, but what if they don’t?”
“They will.”
I pressed both hands to his chest, not to push him away, but to communicate my need to know, and repeated, “What if they don’t? Will they punish you? Vampire torture? Vampire prison? What are we talking about here?”
Lucien grinned. “There is no vampire torture or vampire prison.”
“So what if someone does something wrong?”
“If their transgressions are discovered, they’re told to stop doing it and pay compensation, if The Council deems it necessary.”
My eyes got wide. “That’s it?”
“Often the compensation is significant.”
I couldn’t believe this.
“So all forms of vampire punishment are paid through fines?”
“No. If a vampire breaks a very significant rule or continues to break a rule they’ve been penalized for before, they’d pay with their life.”
I sucked in breath and my body went solid.
Lucien’s big hand framed my face. “The rule I broke wasn’t that significant.”
“Holy heck,” I breathed.
His hand pressed gently into my head, even as he gave me some of the weight of his torso. “Leah, listen to me. The rule I broke was not that significant.”
“There aren’t any crazy redneck vampires on The Council who pass down insanely ridiculous sentences for minor infractions are there?” I asked.
Lucien stared at me a second then threw his head back and burst out laughing.
I slapped his chest and snapped, “I’m not being funny.”
He visibly struggled to quell his laughter and looked back at me. “Sweetheart, there are no crazy redneck vampires at all. So no, there definitely aren’t any on The Council.”
That was a relief.
“So, they rule against you, they’ll make you pay a fine?”
The laughter moved out of his face but he held my eyes and I didn’t know he lied again when he stated, “Yes.”
“And you’re a gazillionaire,” I remarked.
Humor hit his features again when he murmured, “I might fall short of that.”
“A billionaire then,” I stated, and Lucien didn’t answer, which meant yes. I powered through understanding this insane, totally unbelievable but still true tidbit of Lucien’s life and carried on, “So, essentially, it’s water off your back.”
Something drifted through his eyes, it wasn’t fast and it didn’t seem pleasant, but I still couldn’t read it.
It was gone like it had never been there when he replied, “Essentially, yes.”
“Okay then,” I mumbled.
“Feel better now?” Lucien asked gently.
“Yes, but you’re a billionaire so we can probably access arms dealers. Therefore we’re buying a flamethrower and I’m manning it should someone on The Council get a wild hair, do something stupid and they come after you.”
At that, a statement I made in jest (partially), Lucien’s entire face changed and I felt his body get tight. I also couldn’t read this change, but I knew to my bones it was significant.
“Lucien?” I called when he didn’t speak.
He blinked, his body relaxed and his hand slid into my hair on the pillow where he started to twirl a lock around his finger.
“A flamethrower is unnecessary,” he whispered, his eyes warm, his face soft and even the air around us in our bed felt snug and safe.
“Of course,” I whispered back, sliding into his mood, the look on his face, in his eyes. “You could probably take on the lot.”
“Without a doubt.”
“So I have nothing to worry about.”
That thing drifted through his eyes again even as he murmured, “No, my pet, you have nothing to worry about.”
I didn’t like whatever was drifting through his features, but even so, I decided to trust him.
“Good,” I whispered.
His gaze moved over my face then his head dipped, and even as his fingers kept twisting my hair, his lips moved on my neck. Lazy. Sweet. Nice.
My arms circled him. “Are we done talking?”
“Absolutely.”
“Are we going to sleep?”
“Absolutely not.”
I grinned. Then I twisted my neck, his head came up and our mouths met.
And we absolutely didn’t sleep.
Not for a long time.
And when we did, we did it close. Our bodies snug.
And, for my part, I did it feeling safe.