Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(51)

Her eyes met his. “He doesn’t make excuses to be with me. He’s not ashamed to have me on his arm. He treats me like I’m special, not a dirty little secret.”

“The perfect man,” Lucian agreed, his velvety voice so low she barely heard him. “Aren’t you lucky to have caught such a paragon?”

“Extremely.”

“But I notice you left something out.” He stepped forward just as she stepped back, crowding her against the bar. “You didn’t describe how he makes you yearn for his kiss. How you beg him to touch your naked body.” His lips brushed her ear. “How you scream his name when you shatter with pleasure.”

“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.”

He drew back enough to meet her eyes. “I don’t think this lady does much kissing at all. At least, not with the dog.”

“What I do with Christian is none of your business. Not anymore. You dumped me, not the other way around, remember?”

“I know.”

“Then what are you doing here?” Lucian had no answer for her and she snorted in disgust. “Why did you come tonight?”

“I had to see you. I know nothing beyond that.”

“Well, too bad. I’m not yours anymore and nothing you could say would tempt me to think otherwise. Go to hell, leech.”

Abbey shoved him hard enough to squeeze by. She fought her way to the door, weaving through the happy couples around her.

Chloe was manning the door when Abbey reached her. “I need a minute,” she whispered to her friend. “Cover for me?”

“With who? Your boyfriend, your lover, or our boss?”

A bitter laugh escaped her. “All of the above.”

Making sure no one was looking, she ducked out the front door. As soon as she hit the sidewalk, she headed to the left. There was a little park around the corner and right now, the thought of peace and quiet sounded like heaven.

“Abbey, stop.”

Lucian’s voice split the air and she quickened her pace. “Go away,” she called over her shoulder.

His footfalls pounding on the pavement made her take off. Running from a vampire might not be the smartest move, but there was only so much a girl could take. She didn’t want to see him, didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

Abbey jogged into the dark park and looked around.

New York City and this damn park is empty? Just when you wanted busybody observers, the city was fresh out.

A hand grabbed her arm and she twirled around.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” she snarled, jerking back from his touch.

Lucian held up his hands in peace. “Then don’t run from me.”

“Why? Does it excite you?”

“Yes.”

A shiver snaked through her. Lucian watched her with the red-rimmed gaze of a predator.

“Monster,” she whispered.

“Maybe. But I still need to speak to you.”

“Me leaving the bar? That was our conversation ending. Take the hint.”

“And let you walk out of my life?”

“You didn’t want me in your life. You hurt me, Lucian, and I told you I wouldn’t wait around for you to realize your mistake. This might be hard for you, Mr. Thousand-Year-Old-Vampire, but you’ve lost here. There is nothing you can say to make me want to have anything to do with you again.”

His mouth covered hers.

Abbey wanted to rail at him but he took away her options. His tongue invaded her mouth, dominating her in the most delicious ways. All it took was one touch and her body burned for him. Her mind might remember the pain he’d caused her, but her body only remembered the incredible pleasure, unlike anything she’d ever known.

Lucian wrapped an arm around her and pulled her up against his hard body. They fit together so freaking perfectly it made her want to scream. He was wrong for her. So wrong.

But in his arms everything felt so goddamn right.

“No,” she whispered. “We need to stop.”

“Stopping means talking. We do better without words.”

Amen to that. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders. What they were doing was very far from okay. Hell, they’d both come with dates. But this was exactly what she’d been missing with Christian. The wolf kissed her and she felt his skill, but he didn’t send her up in flames.

All it took was a brush of his fingers for Lucian to take her further than Christian and all his talent ever had.

“I hate the effect you have on me.” He interspersed his words with kisses.

“That’s my line,” she whispered.

No other man in her life had ever been able to make her feel the things he did. And she feared he might be that elusive, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The wrong man with the right touch.