The waiter chose that moment to approach. “Would you like to order now?”
Lucian glanced at me. I nodded and picked up the menu. “I’ll have the char-grilled eye fillet with vegetables, thanks. Medium rare.”
“I love a woman who appreciates a good bit of meat,” Lucian said, amusement dancing around his lips as he handed the waiter the menu. “I’ll have the same.”
The waiter left. Lucian leaned his arms on the table again. “Okay, your turn. Tell me about yourself.”
So I did, though I omitted lots of important stuff, like my mom and the fact we were obscenely rich. While I no longer thought it was anything more than a coincidence that he’d been in the right place at the right time to come to my rescue, I still preferred to keep my secrets until I knew him a little better.
We continued to chat over the meal, talking about everything from movies to politics. He was easy to talk to, easy to be with, and it was with some surprise that I glanced at my watch and saw it was nearly eleven.
“I have to go,” I said, pulling my hand from his regretfully.
“And here I was hoping this night would last into morning,” he teased.
I smiled. “It almost has.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do, and I’m sorry, but I’ve already arranged for a friend to pick me up.” I hesitated, and gave him a slow, sexy smile. The furnace in his eyes flamed even brighter, burning me with the scent of his desire. “But I’d love to see you again.”
“Then call me,” he said, pulling his wallet out of his pocket. He dumped a wad of notes onto the table to pay for the meal, then handed me a business card. All it had on it were his name and a cell phone number. “This friend who’s picking you up—male or female?”
My smile grew. “Male. Is that a problem?”
“To repeat your rather emphatic statement, no.” The heat still burned in his eyes, but there was something else—something that made me quiver in anticipation and perhaps a little fear as he added, “Although I do prefer to know whether I have competition or not.”
“Tao’s not competition. As I said, he’s just a friend.” I smiled and picked up my purse. “Thank you for the lovely evening.”
“Indeed.” He waved a hand to the front door. “Allow me to escort you out.”
He did so, his fingers pressed lightly against my spine, causing all sorts of havoc to my pulse rate. The maître d’ opened the door as we approached, and a blast of wintry air hit my skin. I shivered and crossed my arms as we left the restaurant, half wishing I’d brought Kiera’s coat with me. But that was a risk given that, at the time, I’d had no idea if this man was safe or not.
I still wasn’t sure, but for entirely different reasons.
“Here,” he said, stripping off his jacket and resting it over my shoulders. My nostrils flared, taking in the scent of him, feeling it wrap all around me as securely as his jacket. “Take this. You can return it on our next date.”
I smiled. “Thereby ensuring I do have to see you again.”
“Of course.”
He was still holding the lapels of the coat and he tugged on them lightly, pulling me closer. My chest brushed the silk of his shirt, and my already erect nipples reacted as if we were both naked.
“Call me tomorrow,” he added, voice little more than a murmur. Then he kissed me.
It was like no kiss I’d ever felt before. It was heat and passion and desire, but it also transcended all that, becoming as tumultuous as the fiercest storm. Electricity surged between us, swirling around our flesh, through our flesh, until it felt as if we were nothing more than night and air and energy.
When we finally parted, I could barely breathe and my legs felt like water.
“Is it always like that?” I muttered, touching his forearm to hold myself upright.
He smiled and ran his finger lightly from my cheek to my kiss-swollen lips. “Kissing another Aedh is like flirting with the sun. There isn’t another sensation quite like it.”
He could say that again. And what the hell would making love to the man be like if a mere kiss had this effect?
Part of me wasn’t entirely sure I was up for it, but the long frustrated rest of me howled those doubts down.
“So why have you guys got the reputation for being such cold and clinical beings?”