Lucas (Immortal Blood) Read Online Free PDF Page A

bright-green ones. “You look beautiful.”
    The red on her cheeks deepened and she glanced at her short denim skirt, worn-out sneakers and grey hoodie. “Thanks.”
    We fell silent. She regarded me, biting her lip. I tightened my grip on her fingers and her eyes flashed, annoyed.
    “Look, just because you’re ridiculously handsome doesn’t mean that every girl falls before you.”
    “It doesn’t?”
    “No.” She smiled hesitantly.
    “Damn,” I flirted, “and I thought you would be dazzled by my good looks.”
    She laughed, throwing her head down and I laughed, too. “So while we’re here, are you going to buy me some breakfast or am I just supposed to sit here and stare into your eyes?”
    “I could live with that,” I muttered but waved for the waitress, who came to take our orders. “So.” I smiled.
    “So.” She smiled back. “Why aren’t you staying with us?”
    “Would you like that?”
    “That’s not what I meant.” She tried to pull her hand away again but my grip held. “I meant why aren’t you staying with other people like us?” She lowered her voice and looked at me meaningfully.
    “You mean vampires?”
    She glanced around and seemed relieved when no one reacted to my words. She nodded and I shrugged.
    “I don’t like other … people.” I lowered my voice for the word people. “Except you.”
    “Lucas.”
    I put my finger on her lips and she looked uncomfortable.
    She moved my finger away. “I told you, I’m sort of with Dane.”
    “Sort of?”
    “Complicated, remember?”
    “It doesn’t have to be.” I lifted her hand to my mouth and let my lips brush her skin lightly. My eyes never left hers. Her lips parted and deep satisfaction spread inside me. I’d done it again. I nibbled her finger gently and let my tongue touch it for a nanosecond.
    She pulled her hand away so fast I couldn’t stop her. She looked puzzled. “What are you doing?”
    I looked at her meaningfully.
    “Oh, no! No, no, no.” She shook her head and moved her chair back.
    “Why not?” I grabbed her hand again.
    “Dane will kill you. No. He’ll kill us both.”
    “He’s not your keeper, is he?”
    “No, but I―”
    “What?” My eyes challenged her.
    She shook her head and I squeezed her hand. “It’s okay. Friends?”
    “You don’t have friends.”
    “True. But I would really like to be your friend.”
    “Just a friend?” Her eyes were suspicious.
    I nodded slowly. The suspicion stayed in her eyes and I did my best to look innocent. She narrowed her eyes, staring at me for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”
    “Okay,” I confirmed and she smiled, relieved.
    There was no way I’d settle for being friends with her, but right now I didn’t want to push her. I needed to be patient if I wanted to gain anything, and even if patience was so n ot my virtue, some parts of me - and not the lower parts, believe me - wanted to take it slow and see where this went. Yes, the rational parts screamed that this was nothing more than a game to me, but something in her eyes was so vulnerable that I didn’t want to hurt her. Much.
    “Okay.” She licked her lips nervously but let her hand stay in mine.
    “For now.”
    “Lucas,” she laughed and punched me lightly.
    The waitress brought us two lattes and chocolate brownies but neither of us touched them. I told her about my home in Ireland, trying to create an image of a cozy life and another kind of vampire family. Most of it was a big fat lie but not all, and as she started to relax I found myself relaxing, too. And soon we laughed and joked like we’d known each other for years. But then everything changed. I sensed another vampire approaching the café and assumed my role again.
    A minute later I saw Dane and I put my hand on Sam’s hair. Her vision blurred and I gently let my hand slide over her tresses. “Thank you for a lovely morning.”
    “Lucas…” she pleaded.
    “ Shh.” I leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “It’s