“I mean this isn’t fair to you. We need to stop.”
“Stop what? Sleeping together?”
He nodded.
Pain ripped through her heart. When had this happened? Surely he hadn’t gotten tired of her in the few hours since they’d last touched.
“Why?” she demanded.
He didn’t reach for her. “I made you a bet and I haven’t been upholding my end of it. I need to focus on finding my mate. Nothing else.”
She flinched. He’d never take a human as his mate, she knew that.
“So you woke up this morning and suddenly I wasn’t good enough for you?”
His fists clenched. “Of course not. I just don’t want you getting attached.”
“Because you’ll never feel anything more for me. And you thought, what? That I was doodling ‘Mrs. Redgrave’ in my work binders? Sometimes great sex is just great sex, Lucian.”
He looked away. “Good. I don’t want you hurt.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “You are an absolute jerk for doing this now, here. I didn’t deserve any more consideration than dumping me in your car on your way to meet another woman?”
“I’ve handled this poorly. I meant no insult.”
Anger curled through her. “No insult? I find it pretty damn insulting that you think I’m either a hopeless fool wishing for something I can’t have or a disposable commodity that’s met its expiration date.”
He lunged forward, surrounding her without touching her. “That is not it at all. Dammit, Abbey, can’t you see I am trying to protect you?”
“From what?”
“From me.” His roar filled the car.
She scowled, holding her tongue.
“If you want more, I don’t have it in me to give. And if you only want great sex, I can’t keep playing this half game. Seeking other women and coming home to you. It’s not fair. Not to anyone involved.”
“I told you all that before we even started this thing,” she snapped.
“And I should have listened. You were right. You are always bloody right.”
“Convenient that you see that now, after we’ve gone to bed together.”
“This isn’t about not wanting you,” he denied. “It’s about wanting what’s best for you.”
“I choose what’s best for me,” she said. “And who. Be clear about this. I’m not a simpering milkmaid to swoon after you. Do this and I won’t be waiting if you change your mind.”
He said nothing, his gaze locked on hers.
Her heart thundered in her ears as she waited. Choose me, she prayed. Don’t end this now, not yet. Not until we see where it leads. I don’t need forever, I’d settle for right now.
Lucian leaned forward until his lips were a breath away from hers. She held still, forcing him to come to her.
They hung there, frozen in limbo.
Until he moved back. “I won’t change my mind.”
She couldn’t believe he’d said it. How had she been so wrong about everything?
“Screw you, Redgrave.” Abbey burst from the car, unable to look at him. Her heels pounded the pavement as she stalked away.
How dare he? She’d known there was a reason to avoid vampires. They obviously liked to play with their food.
Her mind filled with images of him over her, under her, behind her. They’d done things together she couldn’t spell but it seemed a few nights was all she was good for. Vivian had been right, damn her. Humans were toys to be used and thrown aside. She’d never been anything else to the bloodsucker.
Her hands fisted at her sides. The need to destroy rose within her, to pound some inanimate object into dust. It was either that or have a mental breakdown.
Angrily, she shook her head. No way would she waste tears over the bastard. Everyone had seen this coming. She’d get over him.
The thought slowed her furious march. One man had predicted tonight’s outcome just hours before it happened. Christian’s card was in her purse, and the werewolf was just the thing to take her mind off staking her ex-lover.
She’d show him. Other men wanted her, even if Lucian didn’t. And she had promised him she wouldn’t be waiting when he realized his mistake.
Grabbing her cell, she dialed Christian’s number. He picked up on the second ring.
“Still want to take me out?” she said in greeting.
There was a beat of silence before he replied, “Hell yes.”
Chapter Ten
“Honey, you look ready to do battle,” Christian said.
Abbey twirled on the street corner as the wolf loped toward her. He’d been quick. It was barely twenty minutes after she’d called and here he was.
The light from the streetlamp overhead added a golden sheen to his tousled hair. Traffic whizzed by the intersection but she only focused on her would-be date.