Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(17)

“I appreciate your candor. Despite our matched rank, I don’t believe we would make a good pair.”

“Why not?” There was no accusation in her voice, only mild curiosity.

Because I’m daydreaming about a mortal when I have a sex goddess sitting in front of me. When he thought of it like that, Lucian almost winced. Perhaps he should rush Abbey a bit more. Once she was out of his system, he’d be able to focus on this mate search. Not that he expected much to come from it. He’d spent centuries looking for his mate, and Claudette was the closest he’d ever gotten. Abbey, for all her charms, wouldn’t be able to come up with a woman who topped his former lover. Not in a few weeks. And then Melissa would see what a waste of time this agency really was.

“Is it someone else?” Janine asked.

Yes. “No.”

Her lips tightened as if she were fighting back a smile.

“There are several factors. Given our careers, I very much doubt we’d even find time to see each other, let alone develop a mate bond.”

“True. Perhaps we’re not going to last forever.” Her suggestive gaze roamed down his body. “Doesn’t mean we can’t last the night.”

The offer would tempt any man but he found himself shaking his head.

“Not someone else, hmm?” she purred. “Right.”

“Again, my apologies, but I must decline your generous offer. Please, stay and have dinner on me.”

She reached for her menu. “FYI, I’m getting the most expensive thing I can find.”

He smiled sardonically. “I deserve it. Enjoy your evening.”

Janine reached out a hand to him, her new bracelet sparkling in the candlelight. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lucian. I hope she’s worth it.”

He bit back a denial and mechanically kissed her hand. As he walked away from the table, he wondered what was wrong with him. If he’d written out a list of his desired qualities in a woman, Janine would have hit every one.

And Abbey would score a resounding zero.

Still, when he walked into the bar and saw her talking animatedly with the bartender, he couldn’t help but smile at her energy. So young. So human. Two things he’d never be again.

She turned around while he was studying her and saw him. Her green eyes widened and she sat a little straighter. His gaze immediately dropped to the generous breasts straining to break free from her simple blue work dress. Yes, he needed to get her in bed soon if he was ever going to think straight again.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded when he reached her side. “What happened to Janine?”

“It didn’t work out.”

“Why?”

Like hell he was going there. Instead he drew his fingers down her bare arm. Immediately her eyes grew dazed and her body relaxed into his touch.

“I’m glad you stayed,” he told her, realizing he truly meant the words.

“I was going to leave at thirty minutes on the dot but you arrived with five to spare.”

“About twenty-three minutes too long, then.”

Seeming to remember herself, Abbey leaned away and broke the connection between them. “I don’t understand. Janine was perfect.”

“Yes. Just not for me.”

Her green eyes blinked up at him and he wondered if he’d ever get tired of looking at them.

“If she didn’t make the cut, then just what sort of woman is perfect for you?”

A few days ago he would have said everything Abbey was not.

“Come,” he said instead. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll buy you another drink for your troubles.”

She glanced at her empty wineglass while chewing on her lower lip. “One drink,” she said. “But no funny business.”

He nodded, schooling his features to hide his amusement. “As you wish.”

Abbey hopped down from the stool, wobbling slightly on her heels before finding her balance. He took her arm in his as he escorted her from the restaurant.

They fell into an easy rhythm and Lucian found he liked looking down at the top of her curly head. She was the perfect size for him. Not too tall, and when he held her in his arms, her head nestled comfortably under his chin. How he’d like to pull her close right now, press his body against her far softer one. His cock jumped in agreement. Hell. He’d stared down a blatant offer of sex from a succubus, but a few daydreams about Abbey had him hard as iron.

“There’s a bar a few blocks down,” she said. “We can grab a drink before I catch a cab.”

His instinct was to insist on seeing her home but Melissa had filled his ears with rules for dating modern women. Things were so much simpler back when he could just abduct a maiden from a tower.