42nd & Lex (21 page)

“Please.”
I could use another drink after my hallway tryst with Lucan and it’s a good
excuse to get this would-be Romeo off our table. He saunters back to the bar
checking over his shoulder to see if we are watching. Gag!

“His
name is Kyle. He gave me his number. Do you think I should call?” She doesn’t
pause long enough for me to answer. “That’s probably not a good idea, right?”

“Speaking as your lawyer, no, it’s not a good
idea. You don’t want any more trouble with your divorce than there is already.”
Oh, that might have been saying too much.

“What trouble? Have you heard from Mark?”
she gasps, her drunken drawl gone. “He probably went and got a real shithead of
a lawyer, didn’t he?”

 “No, I’m just saying that divorces between
people with money and property are never trouble free. You don’t want to add a
new boyfriend into the mix as well.”

“Oh. Well, who’s gonna know. I’m here with
my lawyer and you can’t tell anyone, right?”

“True, but I still think it’s a bad idea.” I
leave it at that. She is going to do what she wants regardless of what I say.
He’s going to have to wait though because I’m not leaving this bar without her.

“What about as my friend, what do you think
about it then?” Sarah challenges me with crossed arms.

“As your friend I still think it’s a bad
idea. And if you’re not going to listen to your lawyer, which as your friend, I
also think is a bad idea, you should at least make
him
call
you
and meet in a public place during the day.” Maybe she will listen to that
reasoning. Lucan is nodding his head in agreement from his booth.

“Okay, you’re right. I should give him my
number and tell him to call me. If he doesn’t then that’s fine. If he does, I
will suggest we meet for coffee someplace.”

“In the daylight,” I add.   

Kyle the waiter returns with our drinks and
three shot glasses. I can generally hold my own, but when I start with the
shots things tend to go downhill fast. It’s a good thing we came in a cab.

“These are on me. Bottoms up ladies!”

Sarah grabs Kyle’ arm and writes her number
on his hand. “Call me,” she shouts over the music. He mouths “Tomorrow.” before
leaving us to tend to his other tables.

It is after one and I’m feeling very floaty.
Sarah and I return to the dance floor for a few more songs. She’s dancing for Kyle
and he watches her intently from behind the bar. Leave it to Sarah to meet a
new guy on her first night out as a “single” woman. Just before two, the DJ
announces the last song so we settle up with Kyle, who won’t let us pay for our
drinks, and beat the crowd to the cabstand outside.

“Well, I guess this is where we split up. It wouldn’t make
any sense to cab it back together.” Sarah’s voice sounds muffled after the loud
club.

“Not really,” I agree. “But are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Oh
yeah, I’m fine. Look, you can watch me get in the cab and I will call you when
I get home. My building has security at the door and I already told them not to
let Mark in anymore.” That does nothing to assuage my fears. Mark had already
demonstrated his ability to get into buildings whether he was allowed or not. 

“Okay,”
I relent, mainly because I can’t legitimately keep up my concern for her safety
without it being strange. It’s not as if she is drunk and in need of assistance
or protection from dishonest cab drivers. Plus, I don’t have the cash on me to
cab it to her house and then back to my apartment or the Chrysler. “You take
the first cab then.”

Sarah
hops in the waiting car and waves at me through the window. I wave back holding
my hand up to my head like a phone to remind her to call me when she’s home. She
rolls her eyes as the cab pulls away from the club.

Just
as Sarah’s cab disappears around the corner, the valet brings the Evora up to the
curb. There is a swell of pride in my chest as I notice a few guys gawking at
it. “Need a lift, ma’am?” Lucan’s voice in my ear melts my insides. He is
intoxicating and not just because I am intoxicated.  

“Why,
good sir, that would be most helpful. As long as you’re going my way, that is.”
Two can play at this game. “Wow, is that
your
fancy blue car?”

“No,
it’s my girlfriend’s,” he whispers. “You won’t tell her, will you?”

“Hmm,
I don’t know. But I think you can find a way to keep me quiet.” Oh how the
alcohol is making me bold.

We head back to the Chrysler, making out
like teenagers at the red lights. Just before we get into the iron beast, my
cell phone buzzes to let me know Sarah is home safe and locked in. Relieved, I text
back that I will call her tomorrow. 

Before Lucan can ask me about Sarah, I have
him pinned against the wall of the elevator. The alcohol has completely taken
away my inhibitions because I am never this forward. Lucan pushes a laughing thought
into my mind that he doesn’t care and will still respect me in the morning. The
cliché makes me giggle. He’s letting me lead. I run my hands down his chest
feeling each hard muscle along the way. My hands stop suggestively at his belt.

His lips part in surprise and I invade with
my tongue, running it along one extended fang. What is it about these things
that excite me so much? A deep, primal growl erupts from his throat. It is the
sexiest sound I’ve ever heard. He deepens the kiss as he runs his hands down my
body, cupping my ass and lifting me off my feet.

The elevator stops with a jerk. Before I can
let go of my kiss I am in Lucan’s arms. He throws open the grate and we are
across the room at the bed.   

“Oh!” I exclaim as my brain catches up to
how far we’ve traveled. “Wow.”

Lucan sets me down on the edge of the bed
and begins taking off his shirt. I want to rip the buttons from their stitching
and tear the shirt from his back but Lucan is slow and deliberate in his
actions. His eyes never leave mine as he tosses shirt on the floor. My hands
are fisting the comforter in frustrated anticipation. I can’t wait any longer
and I reach for his belt. It’s undone in one swift, almost vampiric, movement
while my other hand flicks open the button of his jeans open and undoes the
zipper. He raises an eyebrow at my prowess before giving the jeans a final push
over his ass, letting them drop to the floor. 

“My turn. He extends his hand to help me off
the bed. When I am standing, he begins kissing the shoulder left exposed by my
dress. An amazing chill runs up my body that had nothing to do with amps and I
throw my head back in ecstasy. My dress is unzipped and on the floor with one
swipe of his hand.

“It was all I could do not to do this at
your apartment earlier and again at the club this evening. You’re lucky Sarah
was there.” Lucan’s voice is husky and deep as he moves his kisses across my collarbone.

“Lucky?” I tease. His jet-black hair is so
soft between my fingers. The amps are low and slow between us, drawing me in.  

“Yes, love.” His tone is decidedly more
serious. “But you must be entirely sure this is what you want before we go any
further.”

“It is. Don’t worry, I’m not drunk or anything.
I know what I’m doing.” Something tells me he means more than just regretting
moving too quickly.

“Abri, sex with me will be a little
different than with a human man.” He steps back from me a little, breaking my
focus. I drop my hands from his hair and instinctively cross my arms over my
exposed chest. 

“How? I mean other than the obvious.”

“What
do you think is obvious?” he asks hesitantly.

“The
amps. I sure they will be stronger with that kind of, um, connection.”

“That’s
part of it. But please don’t worry about that part; it’s not any more dangerous
than when we kiss.” His face is grave. “The other part is a connection of a
different sort. When a vampire has sex, they become bonded. We become, well,
fixated on our partner afterwards. I know it’s weird and a total mood killer
but I wanted to tell you.” Lucan is looking at me with pleading eyes.

“Still
no bats though, right?” I say with mock uncertainty. Lucan smirks at me. “I’m
already your Sodalis. That’s pretty much the same thing, isn’t it?”

“Well,
sort of, but maybe a little more intense. I don’t know. I’ve never done this
before and I want to be sure you’re okay with it first.”

“Ever?”
I ask, trying to suppress the shock trying to flood my face and mind.

“No,
not
ever
. Just not since I became a vampire. The last time I dated
people weren’t having a lot of sex outside of marriage.”

I’m
still shocked. And here I thought my two year dry spell was unfortunate.

“That’s
a long time.” My voice sounds calm, which is good. I close the distance between
us by tugging on the waistband of Lucan’s boxer briefs forcing him to follow. He
gently pushes me back down on the bed. This is the most we’ve talked since
leaving the club but I’m done with talking. “
Fuck the consequences,
” I
think to him.
“If your obsession with me is the worst thing I have to deal
with, so be it.”

Lucan
silently takes off his boxer briefs and climbs onto the massive bed next to me.
He starts at my lips and kisses a trail down to the tops of my lacy panties. I am
squirming with ecstasy and anticipation.

“Are
you nervous?” he breathes from somewhere south of my belly button.

“No,
are you?” I manage to reply in between heavy breaths.

“Not
anymore. I love you, Abri.”

“I
love you too.” The words fall out of my mouth before I can stop them but I
don’t regret it. I mean them completely. I am completely under his spell.   

This is all the encouragement he needs. Lucan
tugs at my panties and I arch up so he can slide them over my ass. The feel of
the lace as it scrapes across my legs makes me feel like a wanton goddess. Now
that we were both completely naked and the moment is upon us, my rational
brain, who has been all but relieved of her usual duties lately, sounds the
alarm. 

“Uh, Lucan, do we need to, um, use anything?”

“Oh
shit. I didn’t think about that.” He pulls himself up to lay beside me. “The
last time I did this that wasn’t an issue or an option for that matter. Human
diseases don’t affect me so I don’t think there is anything to worry about. I
mean, I can’t give you anything.”

“What
about the other issue?” I say, ignoring the unstated “
I can’t get anything
either
.” I know what he means.

“Oh…
OH!” Lucan’s eyes are wide. “No, no. I can’t get you pregnant so we are safe on
that point, too.”

“Just
checking. Now where were we?” I can feel the amps growing stronger between us
but they are different somehow, addictive. Comfortable and relaxed like a good
massage. For the first time I can see how they are used to lure prey. Good
thing I want to be preyed upon. Lucan’s hand roams from my hip, up my side, to
my breast making me quiver with excitement. When we kiss again Lucan opens his
mind so I can see his thoughts. He is picturing us together.

“Yes.”
I whisper.

His eyes are blue fire as they run up and
down my body. Moonlight is streaming in the window and bouncing off his muscled
chest, begging me to touch it. When I reach up, he grabs my hand, running his
lips across my knuckles. There is something about his mouth on me, the unknown
danger and excitement, and I shudder at the thought. He knows what I want him
to do, but I try not to think about whether he likes the idea or not.

He pushes my legs apart with his knees and I
feel the rising need in my belly start to boil over. Our brief encounter in the
bathtub is nothing compared to this. Ordinarily, his intense gaze on my
sprawled and naked body would make me shy but I cannot turn my eyes away. I am
writhing beneath his stare. He takes me slowly, careful not to make any
vampire-like movements. The amps spike and so does my breathing. It takes me a
second to adjust to his presence. Lucan is as still as a statute waiting for my
cue to continue. After a few deep breaths, I am relaxed again and he begins to
thrust, slowly at first, as he tests my reaction. My hips respond in
affirmation.

It might have been five centuries, but Lucan
is not lacking for skill. My legs snake around his waist to pull him in deeper.
He groans as he leans down for a kiss. Before he can reach my mouth, I turn my
head, bearing my neck to him. He pauses for a split second as if he’s weighing
his options, steeling his resolve. I don’t want him to draw blood; I tell
myself and him, not yet anyways. A quiet hiss fills the air between us as his
bared fangs graze my neck again before moving lower. I watch him through
lowered lashes as he nips his way down to my breasts, careful not to break the
skin.

For once, I don’t have any distinct thoughts
to worry about hiding from him. This is unlike anything I have experienced
before. Lucan’s mouth and hands explore long neglected places on my body that
even I have forgotten exist. The feel of his smooth muscled skin under my hands
makes my toes curl.

Wanting to return the favor, I nip at his
shoulder as the muscles bunch and contract with his rhythm against my body.
Well past the point of no return, Lucan releases what control he has over the
amps. The result is an immediate, earth-shaking orgasm for us both. We fall
back on the bed in a panting heap. 

After a few minutes, Lucan reaches over to
take my hand. He laces his fingers in mine but there are no amps. He must be
tapped out. “Are you okay?”

Unable
to form a coherent response, I nod my head. The light outside is growing
faintly pink. We have stayed up all night. Hell, we’ve had sex all night. That
is definitely different than with a human. “It’s almost light out.”

“I
know. I can feel it.” Lucan’s arm is draped over his eyes.  

“I thought the sun didn’t have any effect on
you?” I ask, reaching for the covers to ward off the chill from my sweaty state
and Lucan’s lack of body heat.