Bound by Danger (The Alliance #6) - Brenda K. Davies Page 0,59

risked someone else seeing him do it, especially in a place like this.

He fished out some of the change he took from her and put a couple of quarters into the machine. He pushed a couple of buttons and selected some Elvis songs. Music drifted from the small speakers as he returned his attention to the large window facing out onto the main street.

Outside, a couple of cars cruised down the road. Further down the street, a couple of people from the motel jogged across the road. Once they were safely on the other side, they started walking toward the diner.

He watched them until they were close enough to deduce they weren’t vampires, but that didn’t mean they weren’t a menace. A Savage could take control of anyone’s mind and turn them into the enemy.

His hands opened and closed on the table as he strove to control himself. There were too many possible threats against her, and he was still too weak to protect her from a full-on attack.

Callie finished her breakfast, pushed her plate away, and patted her full stomach. Lucien didn’t look at her. She studied his profile as he stared out the window with his hands on the table. She had no idea what had him so worked up, but he looked like he was about to blow.

“You like Elvis?” she asked, even though it was obvious. Why else would he select Elvis songs? However, she was eager to distract him and learn more about him.

“I do,” Lucien said, but he didn’t turn away from the window.

Leaning across the table, she rested her hand over his again. He relaxed a little beneath her touch and turned toward her.

“It’s okay,” she said.

“It will be, once you’re safe.”

She started to reply, but the waitress’s return stopped her. “Would you like anything else?” the woman asked.

“No, thank you,” Callie said.

The woman left the check on the table, and Lucien pulled it toward him. “Let’s go.”

They rose from the booth and started toward the cash register near the door. Callie’s step slowed as she stared into the glass case at the end of the countertop, running most of the length of the diner.

There was no way she would be hungry by lunchtime, but she and that cherry cheesecake had a date for dinner tonight. Despite being stuffed, her mouth watered in anticipation.

They left the diner, and Lucien took her hand as they walked down the street toward the motel. Callie smiled at his hand on hers, and the natural way he’d taken possession of it.

She had to guard her heart against him, but she couldn’t stop herself from leaning against his side and wrapping her hand around his arm as she rested her head against it. Being with him felt natural and right, even if there was nothing natural about their situation.

When they returned to the room, she collapsed on the bed.

“Are you okay?” Lucien asked.

“Stuffed,” she said as she patted her belly.

He laughed as he sat beside her. He lifted a strand of her silken hair and admired its black hue as he twirled it around his finger. “I can think of a fun way to burn off those calories.”

“As tempting as that sounds, I might throw up on you if I tried moving right now.”

The bark of laughter that escaped startled him. He couldn’t recall the last time he laughed, but it flowed from him now. She seemed as astonished by it as he was; her eyes widened, and she smiled.

“I like your laugh,” she said. It was warm and deep and masculine, like him. She vowed to make him laugh as often as possible so she could hear it more.

“I’m glad,” he said and kissed the tip of her nose.

They talked for a little while, and when she was sure she wouldn’t throw up, she rolled on top of him and kissed him.

They spent the next couple of days learning more about each other, where they grew up, their families, and past relationships. As she’d expected, because he was centuries old and gorgeous, there were many women in his past. However, she was amazed to discover he’d never had a serious relationship. Actually, according to him, he never had a relationship.

It was a giant red flag waving in front of her, but she didn’t care. Given what he was, she couldn’t expect him to have the same kind of relationships as humans. Maybe, in all his years, he should have had a couple of girlfriends, but who was