Read Austin's Lost Bride (The Sterns) Online
Authors: Mindi Winters
Tags: #vampire hunter romance, #paranormal romance for adults, #series, #Vampire kidnapping, #Suspense, #Adult, #angry sex
A ghost hunter! Get real. What women would want you? Chasing ghosts is for children and psychos. I want a real man.
Two years later it still stung when he thought about it. Louise was ‘the one’ or so he had thought and they were about to get married when she finally realized that he hadn’t been joking about what his real occupation was.
He forced a grin as two trustees passed him on the way back from the buffet table and one of them leaned into him, “You’re doing a great job, Lucas, but you should be having fun yourself. Go grab something to eat.”
He nodded in agreement and turned straight for the open bar instead. A drink sounded better right now.
Why couldn’t you be normal like everyone else?
He shook his head to get the shriek of her voice out of his mind. When Louise realized the truth her affection turned to venom in an instant and she walked out leaving him at the altar.
It was humiliating for him and all his guests. The ones who were hunters had understood, but everyone else thought he was crazy. It had taken an awful amount of work to mend a lot of strained relationships after his wedding fiasco.
The speaker started going over all his wonderful credentials to speak on his subject matter and Lucas suppressed a yawn. Why do speakers do that he thought. Their full bio and credentials are in the fucking program, so why not just get on with their speech? He never did that in the rare occasions he was asked to speak. Announce your topic and get to the point.
The bar was still too far away. He started snaking his way through the tables.
You and your ghosts stay the fuck away from me, you hear. I never want to see you again.
He hadn’t let any woman have more than a few dates ever since. It wasn’t worth getting close to anyone who was just going to ditch him when they learned he was a hunter. After all, a shot or two of tequila was better than getting screamed at by a shrew that didn’t care to understand him or how important his work really was. That was all he really needed: good dates with a happy ending and an occasional drink to pass the time. Sometimes after a few shots of tequila, he even started to believe it.
People started crowding Casey as soon as she made it back with more fruit. The smell of fresh strawberries seemed to be a particular hit and before the new tray had even made it to the buffet table it was nearly half-empty.
She took a moment to arrange everything perfectly and took a step back to admire her work when she hit a solid mass. Casey spun around, ready to apologize to whomever she stepped into when her eyes locked with the most beautiful pair of eyes she had ever seen. No exotic green or dazzling blue, but eyes that were simply brown and practically glowing with electricity, power, and danger. She felt a lump in her throat fall down into her stomach and she backed away slightly, her apology a bare whisper.
“You just said you were sorry, but it’s alright. I’ll keep it a secret,” said Lucas.
Casey stammered, her eyes trying to break free from his gaze when she finally looked away to the rest of his face. His skin was perfect, with no cuts or blemishes over any part of his face, from his sandy blonde hair to his prominent jaw. His own hungry eyes never wavered a moment from her, she felt her skin grow warmer. Suddenly she realized how a gazelle felt when a lion regarded it and heated up a few more degrees.
“I don’t know what secret you’re talking about,” she finally got out.
An amused smile broke across his face and she wanted to tell him to move away but didn’t. “It’s the strawberries,” he said. “The guests really cleared the strawberry tray, but they missed the best parts about them.” He went over to the table and grabbed one of the sweet, smaller berries and covered it in whipped cream.
“Strawberries are so sweet and delicious people can eat them plain, but I always like my sweet things with a little extra on them. Don’t you?” he said in a far too seductive voice. He pushed the berry into his mouth, finishing it off in a single bite and made another. “Try one.”
Casey’s thoughts were slow coming to her and she wondered what type of drug he must be to get her so tongue-tied. She tried stepping back again, but the movement rubbed her bra against her breasts and she stifled a groan. There was no denying that her nipples had become aroused and tender. She stopped moving.
“I can’t,” she said. “This is work for me and I need to keep the table up.”
Lucas motioned at the table. “Your table looks wonderful. Just like you do. You can try just one, no one will know. You’re not one of those always have to be safe & secure type of girls are you?”
Casey frowned at his derisive tone when he said ‘girls’. “I smell the liquor on your breath. You’re drunk and you need to stop making a fool of yourself.”
“I’m most certainly not drunk. I’ve had one drink and you dodged the question. Are you a girl that always does things inside the lines? The safe way?”
He paused. “Maybe it’s because we’re strangers. My name is Lucas. What’s your name?”
He was still holding the berry for her and she shot a glance at his ring finger, relieved that it was empty. At least he’s not a married fool, she thought to herself. She couldn’t understand why she was even talking to him except for how hot she was feeling.
She pulled herself up to her best height and replied in the most indignant voice she could muster, “My name is Casey Miller and no I don’t always stay in the lines. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Well now, we’re not strangers any longer. Would you try the strawberry now? It really does have the sweetest juices.”
She reached for the berry for him to brush her hand away. “No, open your mouth and let me,” he said.
She opened her eyes wide with shock at his suggestion and opened her mouth to refuse when he touched the berry to her lips. Three fingers held the berry to her mouth while his pinkie caressed the underside of her chin. A small squeak escaped from her throat and her tongue darted out of her mouth to lick the cream before she bit and swallowed the sweet fruit.
He didn’t withdraw his hand like she expected but instead ran his fingers lightly over her lips. Her body started trembling slightly as the berry juices on his fingers hit her senses and without thinking she parted her lips slightly and moved her head forward to take his fingers into her mouth. Her tongue circled around, licking the juices off them until they were clean and then she pulled back.
Casey stood back horrified. She started darting her head around to see who was nearby when Lucas grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry, everyone’s eating, chatting, or watching the speaker. Nobody saw anything.”
She took a step back, shaking her head. The audience started applauding.
Casey pointed at one of the trustees and said, “They’re looking for you.”
Then she turned and bolted from the event area.
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