Chapter Seventeen

“It’s so pretty out here.” I sip my cocktail, looking at the water. We’re on the top deck, enjoying the night.

“My view isn’t so bad either.” Lucas is leaning against the railing and hasn’t taken his eyes off me all evening. Dinner was amazing. The food was great, and I ate most of the shared appetizer by myself, since, well, Lucas isn’t going to eat spinach-artichoke dip. Or anything, for that matter.

Talking to Lucas is easy and having him know and approve of my life as a witch is a game changer. But it’s more than just the convenience of going on a date with a guy I don’t have to lie to. There’s more to Lucas than he lets on. He’s a complicated man but I know one thing for certain: he might not care for many people, but he’s fierce when it comes to those he loves.

I finish my drink and set the empty glass down on a table and go back to the railing, looking out at the cityscape. Lucas steps in behind me, pressing my ass against his pelvis and resting his hands on my stomach. I’m right up against his cock, and while it’s not hard, I can still feel it through his pants.

My mouth goes dry and I have to remind myself how to breathe. We’re standing on the deck of a crowded boat, yet somehow everyone else fades from view. Gently, he brushes my hair away from my shoulder, bringing it around my neck and smoothing the ends out against my breast. His fingers deliberately graze over my nipple, and dammit, he gets a physical response out of me. Chills run down my spine and I lean back, needing to feel more of him against me. He brings his hand down over my breast, along my stomach, and inches it down to my thigh. Slowly, he moves his fingers, gathering the hem of my dress in his hand.

My heart flutters and speeds up. He brings his other hand down, running his fingers over my exposed flesh, dangerously close to my core. His lips press against my neck, gently kissing me.

And then he draws his fangs. I can feel the razor-sharp tips on my skin. My pulse bounds, echoing in my head. If I can hear it, he can.

He can feel it, too.

Deft fingers sweep across my clit, just barely touching it through the thin fabric of my panties. Everything inside me heats up, and if he pressed his fingers to me again, he’d feel just how wet he’s making me right now. I grip the railing, needing to hold onto it for support. Trailing kisses, he moves his lips down along my neck, fangs digging into but not breaking my skin with each and every kiss.

“Are you…are you hungry?” I ask, barely louder than a whisper. It doesn’t matter. Lucas can hear me. His mouth goes to my neck again, and his tongue lashes out, running along a vein. He pauses for a moment, and I know what he’s doing. He’s reading my heartbeat, finding the best place to bite me.

“When I do drink you, it won’t be like this,” he growls, lips brushing against me as he speaks. “I want to feel you squirming in my lap as I sink my fangs into your neck. Hear you moan as your blood pours into my mouth.”

I whimper, pressing my ass up against his cock, my entire body craving to feel it harden against me. Suddenly he pushes me away and spins me around so I’m facing him. I blink rapidly, trying to regain my composure. His hands land on my shoulders and he tips his head down, flashing his fangs.

“I’ll give you what you want, but not until I’ve gotten what I need.”

I nod, feeling very young, inexperienced, and desperate standing before him. Closing my eyes in a long blink, I suck in a breath and push my shoulders back, looking into Lucas’s deep blue eyes.

I want to say something equally domineering back, but all I can do is pant out, “Okay,” and then step back into his embrace. He runs his fingers through my hair before cradling me to his chest. I rest my head against him and standing here wrapped in his arms feels so right, so natural.

It should unnerve me. Should raise a red flag. Or at the very least make me feel a tad nervous. But it doesn’t, and everything about tonight is so oddly perfect, I never want it to end. I’ve been on a lot of crappy first dates. Shitty second ones, too. But this…this is the best first date I’ve ever experienced. Hell, it’s the best date I’ve had, period.

Obviously, I’m very attracted to Lucas, but it’s more than that. It’s freeing to be with him, not having to hide my secrets and lies.

I’m just me.

And this…being out here at night, watching my beloved city slowly drift by…it’s such a nice moment, one that will go down in First Date History.

So of course, something has to ruin it.

During dinner, the couple at the table next to ours kept stealing glances our way. They’d look away if I turned in their direction, but it was pretty obvious they were trying to figure out if Lucas was a vampire or not. He didn’t order a drink, but not everyone does. A lot of people stick to water.

But then he didn’t eat any of the appetizer. Or order dinner. I could tell they’re Vampire Exclusion Act supporters and were offended that a vampire was in their vicinity. Which, come on, assholes. You booked dinner on the only late-night cruise that caters to vampires. What were you expecting?

And now, the blonde girl who gave me the stink eye throughout dinner is shaking her head, eyes narrowing. It’s crowded up here on the deck, and the only empty space is near us. Her boyfriend tries to get her to come over, to claim the empty table nearby as their own, but she shakes her head, loudly stating that she doesn’t want to be near a vampire.

Finally, she relents and huffs as she walks toward the table. I watch her, not turning away when she casts another pointed stare at me. She wasn’t expecting me to hold her gaze, and the act both startles and pisses her off.

“Fang-banging whore. You should be ashamed of yourself,” she snits as she walks by. Lucas goes to turn, but I pull him back around and put my lips to his.

“I got this,” I whisper and bring my hand down, flicking my wrist, making the glass of wine the woman was holding tip all down the front of her dress.

“Dammit, Jason!” she yells, blaming it on her boyfriend even though he’s a good four feet ahead of her.

Lucas snickers. “Subtle.”

“I’ll admit it was petty and impulsive. But people like that really piss me off.”

“Petty and impulsive just happen to be two of my favorite qualities in a person,” he only half jokes.

“You’ll get a lot of that with me.”

He pulls me in close again. “I’m looking forward to it.”

*

“The night is young.” Lucas entwines his fingers through mine. We just got off the dinner cruise and are walking along the pier. “What do you want to do?”

I look around, eyes settling on the carousel. Lucas follows my line of sight and stops short.

“Seriously?”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s a carousel and we’re not children.”

“Where is your sense of adventure?” I laugh.

“I thought killing zombies in your yard was enough of an adventure for you.”

“That’s not what an adventure is.”

“I’m not sure I’m following your logic.”

“People think adventures mean going on quests or these big journeys to destroy a magical ring. But really, it’s about pushing out of your comfort zone and doing something you normally wouldn’t. It’s about taking a risk and having fun.”

“You’re drunk,” he insists.

“I’m not. Now come on.” I tug his hand forward. “The line isn’t crazy long right now.”

Lucas’s lips curve into a genuine smile again and he steps forward. “Fine. For you.”

We get our tickets and get in line. The current ride just let out, and half the line in front of us gets on. We’ll get on the next round.

“The city has changed a lot since I first moved here,” Lucas muses as he looks around.

“What drew you here?” I ask. “You could have gone anywhere.”

“I’d been everywhere,” he replies. “But I hadn’t yet been to Chicago. And with the Vampire Council originating here, there were rumors Chicago would be the first city to allow assimilation.”

“It was talked about way back then?” Lucas said he’s lived in Chicago for over fifty years, but vampires haven’t been out even half that time.

“It was talked about for centuries.”

“I had no idea.”

“No one but the vampires should have had an idea. The Council was very secretive.”

I adjust the strap of my purse on my shoulder. “How do you know about it?”

“I was asked to sit in on the Council,” he tells me, which actually isn’t surprising, given his age. “I did for a few years, but as I told you before, politics don’t interest me.”

“That’s one thing we have in common.”

“Your covens are organized in a similar fashion, though, aren’t they?”

“Some are. Mine is still rather old-fashioned, well, without the cannibalism.”

“Witches really partook in that?”

“Oh yeah. You’re not the only ones who drink blood.” I shudder. “But it’s rare to find a civilized coven who still practices regularly.”

I watch the carousel go around, looking at each of the horses. “You want to make sure you get one that goes up and down. The ones that don’t move are lame,” I tell Lucas, feeling like he needs some prep on this.

“The whole thing is lame.”

“Now you’re the buzz kill.”

When it’s our turn to get on the carousel, I hurry, though, finding two open horses next to each other. I swing up onto a dark horse with a colorful saddle. Lucas stands there begrudgingly.

“I’m sixteen hundred years old,” he reminds me. “I don’t do carnival rides.”

“You do now.” I pat the open seat next to me. “Now get on the zebra. You look stupid just standing there, you know.”

Grumbling, he gets on the zebra, which looks tiny under his large frame. I can’t help but laugh. The carousel starts moving, and the sights and sounds of the pier spin around us. I don’t remember the last time I was on any type of carousel.

“What?” I say, noticing that Lucas has been watching me for a while.

“Nothing,” he replies. “Only I realized I’d do pretty much anything to make you smile.”

When the ride ends and Lucas and I are walking along the pier again, he asks what else I’d like to do. I’ve never been on the Ferris wheel, but the line is long, and he’s done enough to appease me tonight.

“We could get a drink,” I suggest. “Well, I guess I can. Are you sure you’re not, uh, hungry?”

“I’m fine,” he tells me, leading me to believe he ate beforehand.

Walking silently for a few paces, I suddenly stop. Lucas halts too, whirling around.

“Is something wrong?” he asks, automatically going on the defense.

“No, nothing is wrong. I just…thank you.”

He raises an eyebrow, not sure what I’m talking about.

“For taking me out tonight. You were right. I really did need this.”

“I’m always right.” He playfully nudges me. “Remember that next time I advise you to do something.”

“Is that something going to involve a second date?”

“Do you need advising to agree to go out with me again?”

“No, not at all.” I reach for his hand.

“You like wine,” he starts.

“Is it that obvious?”

Chuckling, he takes his hand from mine and wraps it around my waist. “I’m asking because I’d like to get you some.”

“Oh, well in that case, yes. I do. I’m not a picky wine drinker. If it’s sweet and has a cute label on the bottle, I’ll drink it.”

“Classy.”

“You know it.”

We leave the pier and find a swanky wine store. I pick out a bottle of White Zinfandel to take back to Lucas’s place in Lincoln Park.

“Where do you keep all your cars?” I ask as he parallel parks on the street.

“I have some garage space here, some are parked on the street, and the rest are kept elsewhere.”

“How many cars do you have?”

He has to stop and think for a second, mentally counting. “Twenty-seven.”

“Why so many?”

“I guess you could call it a hobby. Most are kept at my vineyard in California.”

“You have a vineyard too?”

“I’m old,” he reminds me with a smile. “I’ve invested wisely over the years. I have houses in Paris and Italy and other investments all over the country.”

He kills the engine and gets out, moving fast to open the door for me. We’re a ways from his house and have to walk a bit to get there. Other than my little stint the other night when I did a pathetic drive-by of my sister’s place, I haven’t been in this particular neighborhood in a while. But I remember enough to know Lucas lives on North Orchard Street, one of the most expensive streets in Lincoln Park.

He wasn’t kidding when he said he was wise with his investments over the years.

“Does Eliza live here too?” I ask, following him up the stone steps to an ostentatious brick house.

“Not currently.” He unlocks the door. “She has a condo at the Waldorf Astoria.”

That place is fancy too. “Oh. I wasn’t sure how that worked with you two being…being…whatever it is you are.”

The door opens and an alarm starts beeping. Not turning any lights on, Lucas walks through the house and disarms his alarm system. I take off my shoes, feeling instant relief on my feet, and hold out my hand, conjuring a ball of energy so I can see.

This place is big, stark, and modern. It’s spotlessly clean and professionally decorated. It’s gorgeous and impressive and not at all what I expected a sixteen-hundred-year-old vampire’s house to look like.

A light comes on in the hall, and Lucas comes rushing back, moving so fast a draft of air blows my hair. He takes the wine from me and turns, waving for me to follow him into the kitchen. I’m no stranger to big, fancy houses, but I can’t help but look around in awe.

“I don’t have a corkscrew.” Lucas gets a wine glass from the cabinet once we’re in the kitchen. It’s huge, of course, which is kind of funny considering Lucas doesn’t eat real food.

“But you have wine glasses?” I raise an eyebrow.

“I don’t always drink directly from the source.” He sets the wine glass down in front of me. “Care to do your party trick and use magic to open the bottle?”

I slide the wine across the marble countertop and hold my hand over it. “If I had to pick the best thing about being a witch, it’s this.” The cork rises out of the bottle and falls onto the counter.

Lucas laughs and pours the wine for me, filling the glass halfway. My phone dings with a text, and I reach into my purse to see who sent it, make sure it’s not urgent, and then silence my phone.

But when I see my brother’s name on the screen, I let out a sigh.

“Is something wrong?”

“Nothing a little wine can’t fix,” I say and grab the glass. I take a big gulp.

“Easy, Jessica Jones,” Lucas says. “You can’t drink your problems away.”

“I can, actually. Well, for the time being at least.”

He moves at vamp speed and looks over my shoulder. “Who is Scott?”

“My brother.”

“And a text from your brother is upsetting? You haven’t read it yet.”

I swallow another mouthful of wine. “I know it will be.” I heavily exhale and unlock my phone. “See for yourself.” I open the text and hold the phone up so Lucas can see.

Scott: I just saw Abigale and she’s holding onto hope you’re coming to the party. Callie, you really need to do the mature thing and tell Abigale you are NOT going to Penny’s birthday party. You KNOW it’s best to stay away. That innocent child hasn’t met you yet and it’s best to keep it that way. You’re getting our sister’s hopes up. Tell her soon before she says something to Mom. She doesn’t need that kind of stress and, come on…we both know you cause a lot of stress.

“I don’t understand.” Lucas looks from the text to me and back again. “Penny is the niece you were talking about.”

“Yeah, she is. She just turned a year old and my sister invited me to the party.”

“Why doesn’t your brother want you to go?”

I set my phone down on the counter, afraid if I look down and read Scott’s words again, I’ll throw it.

“The rest of my family…they…” I close my eyes and shake my head. “They don’t have powers.” I open my eyes and look directly at Lucas. “I’m the first and only witch in my family.” The emptiness swirls inside of me, pulling at my heart. “And they hate me for it.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “You asked why I left Chicago, well, that’s why. My family is ashamed of who I am. They want to pretend like I don’t exist, and my sister inviting me to her daughter’s birthday party is putting her at risk for ex-communication, I’m sure. God forbid someone finds out I’m—gasp—a witch.”

“Why would they be ashamed of you? Your powers are incredible. You are incredible.”

“Tell that to them,” I mutter, and the truth burns inside of me, wanting to come out. Only Kristy, Evander, and our High Priestess know the whole truth. But I can’t bring myself to say it. I don’t want to even think about it. White walls and bright overhead lights flash before me, and the smell of bleach burns my nose. I take another gulp of wine, force my eyes open as wide as they can go, and look around the kitchen, reminding myself I’m not there. I’m here, in a fancy kitchen full of expensive appliances, in the house of a vampire who doesn’t eat food.

“My family has been into politics for years,” I go on. “My grandpa, my dad, and now my brother’s starting his career in it, and I’ll just say they are very conservative.”

“They’re against vampires assimilating?”

“Big time. And vampires are bad enough…can you imagine if it got out that there was a witch in the family?” I let out a heavy sigh. “I’m the shame of the family and was forced for years to hide who I really was. Trust me, leaving Chicago was the best thing for me. And now I have my coven, and they’ve become my new family.”

“I’m sorry,” Lucas says, and he means it. His brow furrows, face tightening almost as if he’s fighting against the emotions he’s feeling right now. They’re foreign to him, and I get the impression he’s not sure how to process everything.

“Thanks. And it’s okay now. Well, kind of. It obviously still upsets me, but I’m working on it.”

“Do you want to go to your niece’s birthday party?”

“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “I miss my sister, and it’d be great to meet my niece. If I have powers, there’s a chance she could too. And I don’t want her to go through everything I went through.”

“What did you go through?” he asks slowly, knowing there’s way more to my story than living with disapproving parents.

“That’s a story for another time.” I offer a small smile and take another sip of wine. “Now I’m the buzz kill. For real.”

“No,” he says and takes me in his arms. “You’re not at all.”

“I’m sorry, Lucas. Let’s pretend this never happened and get back to our date. Because I’m having a really good time.”

My heart is hammering away and blood rushes through me. So many raw emotions are flooding my system right now, yet somehow, Lucas knows exactly what to do. He just gets me.

Grabbing the bottle of wine, he tops off my glass. “Come with me,” he says and leads me to a rooftop patio. I take another big drink before setting it down on a cast iron table.

“It’s peaceful out here.” I let out a breath. “More so than I thought.”

“Yes,” he agrees. “It is.” Coming up behind me, he wraps his arms around my waist. “Do that thing you do with your magic.”

“What thing?”

“Where you hold the light in your hand.”

I rub my thumb over my fingers and conjure a pink string of magic. It twists between my fingers, glowing bright in the night.

“Anyone who is ashamed of you is a damn fool,” he whispers. “And anyone who thinks you need to hide who you are…I wouldn’t show them the mercy that you have.”

“They’re my family.”

“Family doesn’t treat each other like that. You could have anything you want. Make them cower. Make them bleed. You could rule over them.”

“I don’t want to rule.” I shake my head and look out at the night.

“What do you want?”

My breath leaves me, heart swelling in my chest. I spin around, facing Lucas. The emptiness is back, opening up wide. But this time I don’t feel like it’s going to suck me in and bring me down to the abyss. Because this time, I’m not alone. “I just want to be happy.”

“I do too,” he whispers. “I was starting to think it was impossible, you know.”

“Do you still?”

He pushes my hair back behind my ear and traces his finger along a vein in my neck. I inhale quickly, heat rushing through me.

“No,” he tells me. “I don’t.”