“For fuck's sake!” I yell in frustration.
Devon glances at me in amusement. “Anxious, my dear?” he queries.
“Yes!” I snap, checking my watch again. Three hours until I have to be ready and back in the city.
Devon's hand reaches over to my thigh and pushes my too-short skirt up. Frustrated, I push him away and he frowns at me.
“Rejection?” he hisses, pissed off. “Since when?”
“Since I decided,” I say to him.
“Not fair,” he growls. “Don’t be cruel to me.”
“Cruel?” I scoff. “Hardly, Dev. I am just nervous about this date with Cole,” I admit.
“Why?” he asks, his annoyance at my rejection already forgotten. “It’s not like you haven’t been on a date with a human before.”
“I know,” I say with a look of irritation at his smart mouth. “All of this week, we have talked for hours on the phone, about everything and nothing…and yet…”
“And yet what?” Devon asks with a sneer. “You feel bad about lying to him about who you really are?”
“Yes,” I say in a small voice.
“What?” Devon asks incredulously. “That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard. He’s human. He won’t keep your interest for longer than a few moments and then you will move on and forget all about him.”
“Hm,” I say, noncommittal. I’m not so sure. He is gorgeous, fun and clever, and so sweet. He sent me flowers after we stayed up all night talking, getting to know each other. We have a lot in common, surprisingly considering I am a thousand-year-old Vampire and he is a twenty-something human actor. Tonight, is no more our first date and more like our fifth, only this one will be face to face. His face against my face and way too close to my fangs for me not to want to bite him. That’s what makes my palms start to sweat. Well, that and whether or not he will think I am being presumptuous when I ask him to come home with me. And I am definitely asking him to come home with me. A week’s worth of flirting and innuendos has left me wanting him in the worst way.
Devon has the grumps with me now, but I just can’t deal with him. He will have to go and find someone else to satisfy his needs tonight.
I leap out of the car as soon as it stops and head straight for my shower. So little time left.
I dry myself off and set to work on drying and straightening my hair.
Having already decided on my outfit, I open the closet. A huge walk-in affair blocked off in sections according to the occasion. The back wall is dedicated to shoes. I pull out the chosen outfit: a long black skirt, with a simple black bustier and black Louboutins. Quite conservative for my usual style of night attire, but I don’t want to scare Cole off. I picture his handsome face, smiling at me and wonder for the hundredth time about the feeling I had when I first saw him, about him being a part of my destiny.
With my make-up complete, I head back downstairs and call for Grayson to bring the car around. Devon joins me by the front door, Bourbon in hand. With his tie discarded and shirt unbuttoned, I mentally swoon at the sight of him despite my earlier rejection.
“Well, Kitten, have fun tonight,” he says slyly. He has clearly gotten over it already which makes me glad.
“Stop calling me ‘Kitten’ and I intend to,” I respond, casting a quick glance at him. He's wearing a smug smile; absolutely confident I will return to his bed tonight as he bids me farewell.
I step into the car absolutely confident I will have Cole in my bed tonight. A pang of nerves hits my stomach unexpectedly. I remember the last time a man made me feel this way and it didn’t end well. I just don't know what it is about him that has turned my head.
Half an hour later, Grayson pulls up outside the restaurant and comes around to open my door. Checking my watch, 7:55, I alight gracefully with a nod of thanks. I make my way into the large, busy French restaurant that I chose for the occasion. Better to have some background noise in case of any awkward silences, although I’m sure there won’t be any.
My Vampire senses scan the room, finding Cole in seconds, standing at the bar. Punctual. Good. I make my way over to him, my confidence returning as every eye in the room is on me. Vampires are very alluring and downright irresistible when a bit of effort is put into it. Sensing me, he turns around. His eyes tighten and his lips part as he sees me walking towards him. I stop in front of him and it takes him a second to compose himself.
“Hi,” he breathes, taking my hand. He grazes his lips over my knuckles. A tingle goes down my spine as I smile in return.
“Hi,” I say.
“You look beautiful,” he murmurs.
“Thank you,” I say, looking him straight in the eye. No modesty from me. “And you look very handsome,” I return the compliment.
He relaxes as the maître d’ ushers us to our table. This gives me a few seconds to take in his gorgeousness. His eyes, so unusual, are dark blue this evening. I assume that has something to do with the navy dress shirt he has on. He’s wearing fitted navy pants that complete his outfit and show off his best features. The man knows how to dress to impress, and I am impressed all right. He is all kinds of good-looking.
Once seated with menus on the table, he smiles at me and I just want him to kiss me with that sexy mouth.