Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(32)

“Oh.” She blinked, running through her mental list of candidates for someone who would be free to accompany him. “Do you need someone to go with you? I’m sure we can get a new date here quickly if you didn’t like the woman you were supposed to meet tonight.”

“I do require company,” he agreed. “But I have something else in mind.”

He opened the door and grabbed a box he’d left in the hall.

Abbey’s eyes widened as she looked at the large pink box in his hands. He set it on the desk before her.

“Will you accompany me tonight, Abbey?”

She blinked in surprise. “We can’t. Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“Last night was supposed to be the end.”

He caught her hands and drew her from her chair. Abbey went to him, helpless to do anything else.

“Last night didn’t feel like an end,” he said, wrapping an arm around her. “It felt like a beginning.”

She shook her head, wanting to deny his words but unable to.

“I want to spend the night with you,” he whispered. “Tell me you don’t want that too.”

Abbey closed her eyes at the soft kiss he offered her collarbone. She shouldn’t. Vivian would kill her.

But he’d already canceled his date tonight. Where was the harm?

“I’m not suitable for a vampire gathering,” she said. Her last protest.

“You’re perfect.” He tapped the box. “It is customary at Fated Match to give first-date gifts, is it not?”

“Humans don’t really do it.”

“How lucky that I am not human, then.” Again he pushed the box forward.

She took the parcel gingerly. “Vivian won’t like this.”

“I’ve already spoken to her about clearing your evening and rescheduling my date. I believe she has moved the model to tomorrow and bumped a were-tiger to the following day.”

Sounded right. No way Vivian was going to let a cover model get away if there was any chance of her catching Lucian’s interest.

“Which means all you need to do is say yes,” Lucian said.

Say yes and have one more day of her fairy tale. It hadn’t been the plan, but surely no one could blame her.

“I don’t have a dress.” If he was in a rush, she wouldn’t have time to make it all the way to her apartment in the West Village and back. While she looked pretty snappy at the moment, if she did say so herself, her outfit was definitely not appropriate for a vampire soiree.

“Do you not?” His gaze dropped to the box.

Following his lead, she lifted the lid.

And gasped.

It was the dress. The dress of her dreams that she’d admired the night they went shopping at Armani. How had he known?

Reverently she took out the stunning red gown and held it up. It was as beautiful as she remembered.

Elegant black shoes rested at the bottom of the box, along with a simple black clutch. A blush heated her cheeks as she also noted the skimpy black-and-red underwear with Victoria’s Secret tags. Lucian really had thought of everything she’d need.

“It’s too much,” she said, unable to look away from the dress in her hands.

He shook his head. “You’ve had very little spoiling in your lifetime. Allow me the pleasure, just for tonight.”

The Miss Manners voice in her head demanded she refuse such an extravagant gift, but it was drowned out by her inner temptress, who longed to feel the silk against her skin.

“Thank you.” Abbey rose to her tiptoes to brush her lips against his. “It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever owned.”

“Not nearly as beautiful as the woman who will wear it,” he said before he deepened the kiss.

Abbey held the silk to her chest as Lucian ravished her mouth. Fire ignited within her, making her wish they didn’t have to rush to an event. She’d much rather tumble into bed with her addicting lover.

“Change,” he said, pulling back. She was gratified to hear the strain in his voice. “We must leave as soon as possible.”

Abbey nodded. “All right. Out you go.”

He raised a brow. “I’ve already seen every inch of you, darling.”

“That was different.” Squeezing herself into the red dress wouldn’t be as attractive as rolling around his bed. “Wait outside and see if you can recruit Chloe to help me with my hair. The woman is a genius.” And she literally had magic fingers. If anyone could help her tame the rat’s nest, it was Chloe.

He looked amused but bowed to her wishes. “Don’t keep me waiting too long,” he said as he swept from the office.

…

Lucian had to dodge Vivian and her attempts to get him to take one of her candidates tonight but when Abbey stepped from her office, the annoyance was more than worth it. A shy smile lit her face as she looked at him, as if she was actually worried about his reaction.