The Vampire's Fake Fiancée (Nocturne Falls Book 5) (13 page)

Her second thought was that she didn’t care.

She leaned into him, letting him kiss her and reveling in the fact that he’d wanted to do it again. And that she hadn’t been the only one to take pleasure in the moment they’d shared last night.

Her hand settled on his chest. His very hard chest. She hadn’t touched a man this intimately in many years. The thrill of it zipped through her, hot and wicked.

She shuddered with overwhelming pleasure just as he released her. She breathed open-mouthed, trying to catch her breath. “Th-that was a test?”

He nodded, eyes gleaming silver-bright for a moment. Then he quickly looked away, suddenly concerned with the position of one of his gold cuff links. “Yes. I’m sorry to say you failed.”

She got a hold of herself, straightening and shunting the pleasurable feelings he’d filled her with to some safe part of her brain where she could dissect them later. “I failed? What was the test?”

He tugged at the cuff of his shirt. “To see how you’d react to a spontaneous show of affection.”

Was that what that was supposed to be? Because it had felt like a blatant display of lust. But then, what did she know? He was the first man she’d kissed in ages so her ability to compare was pretty low. “I see. And I reacted with too much surprise?”

“Precisely. If we’re a couple, those sorts of things should be more commonplace. More expected. Don’t you agree?”

He had yet to make eye contact with her since the kiss. She decide to try a test of her own. “So that was
just
an assessment of my reaction?”

He finally looked at her. “Yes. That’s what I said. Merely a test.”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling and giving herself away. He was lying. She didn’t need her valkyrie senses to figure that out. He’d wanted to kiss her. The test excuse had been just that. An excuse. “Just checking.”

He made a small noise of agreement.

She crossed her arms, feeling a jolt of power at her new knowledge. “I’ll try to do better the next time.”

He started, then quickly covered with a fake cough. “Very good. Well, we should get on with the tour or our breakfast will be cold by the time we return.”

“Let’s go.”

But as beautiful as his house was, it was difficult to pay attention. All she could think about was that he’d wanted to kiss her. And had.

Was Sebastian falling for her? Maybe just a little bit?

She’d never considered the possibility of a vampire as a partner, but maybe that was just short-sightedness on her behalf. A vampire was immortal, so they’d be immune to…death. That would make him the perfect mate for her, considering.

She stared out a window, lost in memory, her fingers absently caressing the scar on her knuckles.

“
Tessa
.”

She jumped and looked at him, tucking her hands behind her. “Sorry, what?”

He frowned. “Have you heard a word I’ve said? This is important. If we’ve been seeing each other for over a year, you have to know the layout of my house.”

“Yes, sorry, this is your…den?”

“My office.”

She glanced around. Of course it was. Why else would there be a desk in it? She moved to stand beside it, trying to ignore the wall of weaponry on proud display. The man liked his blades, apparently. In that respect, they were very different. “I got a little distracted.”

“By what?”

She frowned right back at him. “By your
test
.”

He straightened. “I see.”

Ooo, that felt judgy. She crossed her arms and leaned against his desk. “And you pretending that’s all it was didn’t help.”

He shifted uncomfortably. “It
was
a test.”

“You’re lying again. Did you forget I can tell intent? Maybe on some level you meant it as a test, but the truth is, you wanted to kiss me.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed but he said nothing. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “I have been alone for a very long time. I apologize if I’ve offended you. That was certainly not what I meant to do.”

“You didn’t offend me.” She trailed her finger along the wood grain on his desktop, unable to look at him as her feelings about the kiss came to the surface. Her cheeks burned as hot as Brokkr’s fabled forge. “I wasn’t upset by the kiss. At all.”

He took a step toward her. “I’m happy to hear that.”

She looked at him. “I hear a
but
in your voice.”

He sighed and brushed a strand of hair back behind her shoulder, his smile tentative and a little sad. “I don’t want to lead you on. My desire for a woman’s touch shouldn’t be confused with an interest in a relationship. That’s not the case. I have an obligation to Evangeline, regardless of what anyone thinks, and I will uphold it. There is no place in my life for another woman.”

His words stung far more than they should have. She’d known the man for a day, had no reason to feel anything for him, and yet…she felt like he was breaking up with her. She made herself smile. “I completely understand.”

She didn’t. Not at all. But difficult decisions were one of the many threads that made up a valkyrie’s tapestry.

He nodded. “Thank you.”

He lifted his hand and gently caressed her cheek.

She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away. “You can’t do that. You can’t tell me you don’t want to lead me on and then touch me with that kind of tenderness.”

“We are supposed to be an engaged couple. If I cannot be tender with you, how am I supposed to be?”

“During the dinner and in front of Evangeline is one thing. But beyond that, it can’t happen. No more
tests
. And don’t tell me I need to be comfortable with you touching me or kissing me. I’ll be fine, you’ll see.”

He stiffened as if rebuked, which she guessed was exactly what she’d done. But he couldn’t expect her to not respond to his attentions. He nodded. “Of course, you’re right.”

He might think she was a mouse, and maybe in many ways she was, but she was a mouse with a heart and she wasn’t about to sacrifice it for his sake.

Job or no job.

Tension colored the rest of the morning and afternoon, until at last they separated to prepare for the evening ahead. Sebastian stood in his quarters, pondering the day. He understood where Tessa was coming from and actually agreed with her. He shouldn’t kiss her or touch her or pull her into his arms. Not when he couldn’t promise her more than that. It wasn’t fair to either of them, but especially her.

But knowing that did nothing to quell the desire in him. He was inexplicably drawn to her, against all his common sense and better judgment. Was it because she was the first woman he’d allowed into his life since Evangeline? Or was it because, with every passing moment, Tessa seemed more and more the complete opposite of Evangeline, and therefore, his perfect match? Tessa definitely made him feel alive in ways Evangeline never had. And never would. Or was it because Tessa seemed more and more perfect for him with every passing moment?

He had no idea the reason. All he knew was that dwelling on it only made him want to kiss her again to test his theories.

But she’d specifically said no more tests.

He sighed, frustrated with himself, with his life, with his pledge to the late Lord Heathcote, Evangeline’s father. The money the man had left Sebastian remained untouched in numerous accounts all over the world. He’d moved it periodically as time had demanded, but once settled into a new account, there it sat, collecting interest and serving as a reminder of what rash promises could cost.

That money was a millstone about his neck. He would never be rid of it or Evangeline. Never be free to attempt happiness with another. This was his life. His burden to bear.

And people wondered why his mood was always so dour. Who wouldn’t be dour in his shoes? Which were currently a pair of John Lobb oxfords in black to complement his charcoal gray suit. At least his outward appearance didn’t match his mood.

As far as he knew. He frowned at the reflection in the mirror, inspecting his attire. He’d dressed for dinner early, knowing that his brothers would arrive well ahead of seven p.m. so they could talk.

The sun set around six p.m. in Nocturne Falls in January, meaning Evangeline could arrive any time after that, but it had always been her fashion to arrive late so that she could make a grand entrance. He didn’t imagine tonight would be any different.

Satisfied with his appearance, he headed downstairs. He’d borrowed Frauke again to prepare dinner. The woman was a bit of a terror, but if Greaves had been left in charge of dinner they’d be eating tinned soup and crackers. He stuck his head into the kitchen.

Everything smelled wonderful. He picked out the scents of beef and wine and roasting potatoes. A good winter meal. Frauke’s back was to him as she stirred something on the stove. She had earbuds in. No doubt listening to one of her operas. He let her be, heading next to the dining room where Greaves was putting the finishing touches on the table.

The man looked up as Sebastian walked in. Greaves stood back from the table and gave it a nod. “I was never a butler or a footman, but I think it’ll do.”

“Well done, old man. It looks very nice.” Hard to set an ugly table with good crystal and china and the heirloom silver.

“Much appreciated. Can’t recall the last time you used this room.”

“Neither can I.” Dinner parties were not something he did. “Have you seen Tessa?”

“She’s in the guest suite getting ready.”

“Fine. I’ll be in the library. Having a stiff drink. Send my brothers in when they arrive, will you?”

“Very good, sir.”

Sebastian went into the library, closing the doors behind him. He tried to shake the tension from his muscles and failed. He’d been so sure about tonight’s outcome until the moment earlier in his office with Tessa. Now, that certainty was gone. What if he touched her and she reacted poorly? Or grabbed his hand again to keep him away?

Evangeline would see that for what it was in an instant.

He poured a generous drink. This whole thing was foolishness. He should just confess all to Evangeline and be done with it.

Except she would then continue to act toward him as she always had. Or worse, if that was possible. He needed some leverage with her, especially if she truly wanted to live as husband and wife again. It was the only way he’d get her under control enough to fulfill her father’s wishes that she be protected.

With every passing year, Sebastian was astonished that Evangeline remained alive. How she hadn’t yet been discovered as a vampire with all her reckless living, he had no idea. Daily he checked news sites around the world for reports of a woman suddenly going up in flames as the sun hit her. That would be just like Evangeline, to be caught outside at dawn.

Just like her to do something he couldn’t protect her from. Something that would make it impossible for him to keep the promise he’d made. He knew that her decision to leave him meant the only protection he could really offer was financial, and he’d done that, but it wasn’t what her father would have wanted.

Sebastian wonder what the man would think of his daughter now. He downed the whiskey in a single swallow and poured himself another one as the last one burned a pleasurable path down his throat. If Evangeline did accidentally incinerate herself, he would at least be free. He closed his eyes at such a horrible thought, but the truth remained. Evangeline was the reason he couldn’t even entertain the idea of a woman like Tessa.

Sweet, pretty, intelligent Tessa. He’d called her a mouse and yet, she’d stood up to him today. He’d been so wrong about her. She wasn’t plain or simple. She was a rare jewel of a woman with a keen mind, a sharp wit and the kind of beauty that went beyond her pretty face and blue eyes.

A soft knock at the library door turned him around. “Come in.”

The door opened and Tessa stepped through, shining brighter than any gem he’d ever seen. “I hope this dress is all right for dinner. I borrowed it from my sister. The shoes too. I was sort of surprised she owned anything this nice, but I’m glad she did.”

“So am I. You look…perfect.” And she did. The slim black dress was simple, but showed off her gorgeous figure and the black lace pumps were a little naughty, a nice contrast to the strand of pearls around her throat. She’d left her hair down, creating a new desire in him to run his hands through it. The blazing diamond on her finger stood out like a beacon.