Love at Stake (Entangled Covet)(60)

“Please,” he begged against her skin. “More.”

Her speed increased, and she slammed herself down onto him. “So close,” she panted. “So very close.”

Lucian gripped her hips and thrust into her just as she came down on him. They cried out together as their climaxes claimed them both. Abbey stiffened above him, rigid with the pleasure riding her body.

She collapsed over him, twitching with the aftermath. Her thoughts whirled in a daze. Lucian’s harsh panting filled her ears and brought a smile to her lips.

Whatever their differences, they more than made up for it in bed.

“Be mine,” he whispered, rolling her into his arms. “Forget the wolf. Say you’re mine, Abbey.”

She smiled against his chest but kept her words to herself. Lucian had burned her before, and despite the world-altering pleasure he showed her, she wouldn’t be such a fool twice.





Chapter Thirteen

She sat curled in her bedroom armchair, watching her lover sleep. Her body was sated and calm. Nothing like the turmoil in her mind.

Now that the desperate desire had been satisfied, for the moment at least, she could think clearly. And her thoughts were not happy ones.

Last night Lucian had shared memories with her she was grateful to know. But instead of inspiring confidence, his disclosures worried her even more.

Claudette was the only woman who’d ever come close to his heart. He’d spent years with her and never truly loved her. Such a relationship, even if he were offering it, would kill Abbey. She knew she was on a slippery slope. It would be so easy to love this man for the rest of her life. And staying with him knowing she’d only ever be inferior in his eyes would rip her to shreds.

Lucian offered pleasure but only coupled with mountains of pain. And she didn’t think she could take it.

Abbey closed her eyes. Bloody supernatural men. Christian wanted her to be something she wasn’t and Lucian had a heart she could never touch.

Her fingers traced over her wrist, remembering the pain of his bite. They were different. Fundamentally so. If she stayed with him, he’d use her up until there was nothing left and toss her aside. She had no illusions about how their romance would end. He’d leave her eventually.

Unless she left him first.

Her heart clenched at the thought.

It was the only choice, she knew. He’d walked away from her before. He’d do it again. She couldn’t trust that this was more than a fling with a human whose body he craved.

Abbey knew she couldn’t continue to be physical with him and not become emotionally attached. And he didn’t want her heart.

She dropped her head to her knees. After this, she needed to get out of the supernatural dating world. Find a nice, boring human to occupy her time. One who wouldn’t try to change her into a different species and one who would love her the way she longed to be loved.

Someone who wasn’t Lucian.

As her dark thoughts circled her head, Lucian’s eyes opened.

“Hello.” He smiled. “The sun will be up soon. I need to leave.”

“Yeah,” she said, her throat feeling tight.

“I’ll send a car for you tonight, after your shift. We’ll go for dinner.”

Now or never, she thought. The words she needed to say clogged in her throat. Do it, her mind whispered. End this before he does and breaks your heart. Protect yourself.

Because he sure wasn’t going to.

“No car,” she said, the fault line in her chest ripping open.

He arched a brow. “Going to taxi?”

She shook her head. “I’m not going to see you tonight.”

Lucian stilled. “What?”

Abbey drew a deep breath. “You left me.”

“I apologized for that.”

“I know, but some things you can’t undo.” She straightened her legs. “I don’t trust you to stay with me for long. And I can’t pretend to be in a happy relationship with a sword hanging over my head.”

“It’s not like that. I will take care of you.”

“I’m taking care of me,” she said. “I’m not like Claudette, able to settle for crumbs of your affection. I can’t accept half of a relationship.”

His eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying…” She swallowed hard. “I’m saying when you leave here, don’t come back. I’ll have Jessie or Chloe work with your file for the remainder of your trial. We are done.”

Anger darkened his eyes. “I don’t accept that.”

“Too bad. I didn’t get a say when you dumped me. This is fair play.”

His lips curled, revealing sharp fangs. “Revenge, Abbey? Surely we are past that.”