She’d be eighty in her bed and still dream of Lucian.
How the hell would any man ever be able to top that?
“What the hell is going on?”
They sprang apart at the roar that shattered the quiet night. Christian stood ten feet from them and Abbey felt more ashamed than she ever had in her life.
“Someone want to tell me what I just walked in on?” he demanded.
“This doesn’t concern you,” Lucian said, stepping between her and her date. The gesture was protective but unnecessary. If anything, it ramped up the rage in Christian’s eyes.
“The hell it doesn’t,” he snarled. “That’s my date you’re pawing.”
“She was mine first.”
Abbey pushed Lucian’s shoulder. “Not helping.”
Christian’s eyes narrowed. “You told me you were seeing a vamp, Abbey. You never mentioned it was Lucian Freaking Redgrave.”
“Didn’t think it mattered,” she muttered. “I was done with him.”
“Apparently not.” She flinched at the disgust in his voice.
“Christian,” she said, darting around Lucian. “I’m so sorry. Nothing I can say can convey how humiliated I am to have acted this way. It’s unforgivable.”
His eyes locked on hers. “What the hell have we been doing if you’re still hung up on your vampire?”
“I’m not.”
“She is,” Lucian cut in.
Abbey rounded on him. “Stay out of this. You have no right to make this harder than it has to be. Don’t you have a date inside who could ask you all these same questions?”
He shrugged. “I told Fiona I was coming here to find you. We weren’t a very good match.”
She blinked at the new information. So she was the only cheater here. Perfect.
Turning back to Christian, she tried to ease the damage. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “When we started this thing, I really wanted to be over him. I told myself I was. Hell, there’s no arguing you’re the better man here.”
“The hell he is,” Lucian snapped.
Christian bared his teeth in warning.
“If I could snap my fingers and be what you need me to be, we’d have a fantastic life,” she said, keeping her eyes on Christian. “But I can’t. And I can’t deny I still have feelings for Lucian.”
“You used me,” Christian said, his voice flat.
She winced. “I didn’t mean to.”
“So you’re going back to him?”
“Yes,” Lucian said.
“No. Absolutely not. You were right. Nothing good comes from dating vampires.”
The rage did not dim in Christian’s eyes. “We have a 96 percent match rating.”
She shook her head. “I keep telling you, it’s only a guideline.”
“A pretty damn good guideline.”
He crossed the distance to her and cupped her face between his hands. “I’ve searched years for a woman who would fit into my life. One who would be able to be my mate. You’re the closest I’ve ever come.”
Not exactly a romantic proposal, but she understood his feelings. They fit in so many ways. Their lives worked together. Not like Lucian and her.
“I’m not a statistic,” she whispered. “And I can’t help what I feel.”
His amber eyes narrowed. “Are you telling me to walk away?”
Was she? Lucian might tempt her, but Christian was perfect. Just not perfect for her.
“I wish we’d met at a different time. But yes. I’m telling you to walk away.”
“Like hell.” He pulled her into his arms, and his lips crashed down on hers.
Other times when he’d touched her, he’d been careful. He’d played the gentleman and she only realized it now when it was lost.
He took possession of her, controlling her with his touch. For the first time, fire sparked between them.
Abbey gasped against his mouth and Christian capitalized on her surprise. His tongue swept into her mouth as he kissed her thoroughly.
Then suddenly her arms were empty.
“Stay away from her,” Lucian ordered.
Christian stumbled back, his eyes flashing wolf yellow. “Mind your own business, leech. Abbey’s mine.”
Lucian’s laugh was biting. “Not ever.”
A growl more animal than human broke from Christian’s chest. All the hairs on the back of Abbey’s neck stood on end.
“Uh, guys? No need to let this get out of hand.”
“I was there the night you left her,” Christian taunted. “I was the one who comforted her.”
Lucian bared his fangs. “That was a mistake. And it’s between me and Abbey.”
“I’m thinking it’s for her to decide what’s between you or not.”