Several men had been swarming her all evening, admiring the dress that made her look like an hourglass fashioned from pixie dust. The V-neck stretched down to her navel, probably held on with industrial-strength glue. What was it about blondes that always attracted men? Her large curls, reminiscent of a pinup model, caressed her shoulders. I glanced down at my jeans and red tank top. I had decent breasts—they just weren’t spilling out of my clothes. My legs were long, but I didn’t need to show everyone by wearing a napkin around my waist.
Why was casual not sexy?
Christian watched her reapply her blood-red lipstick. “While I’m getting lucky, why don’t you order some steak and lobster?”
“If you think you can afford it.”
He stood up and swayed for a moment before placing his palms on the table and looking me square in the eye. “If I have to give her an Aussie kiss with my hat on, then that’s what I’ll do.”
“Aussie kiss?”
He grinned, the tips of his fangs giving me a preview. “It’s like a French kiss… only down under.”
A flush of heat rolled over me as I stared at his mouth. I scooted back and ate another onion ring. “Quit stalling and demonstrate your skills, pimp daddy.”
“You still don’t believe I can bed a woman without using my gift.” He regarded me for a moment. “You could have picked any woman in this bar, but you chose the shark over there who turns everyone down. If I didn’t know better, I’d say this has nothing to do with our bet.”
“Watch out for the dingo while you’re down under.”
He pulled up my eyelid. “You’re langered.”
“I’m fit enough to drive.”
He stood up. “No one drives my bike.”
“I spent my whole life on a bike. I know a thing or two about a thing or two.”
“Aye, but you can’t even count the onion rings on the table.”
“You’redrunk,” I pointed out, resting my cheek against my fist.
“You make an excellent point. There’s a hotel just across the street. If I’m not back at the table in five minutes, you’ll know where to find us.”
He left the remark hanging in the air and stalked off. This bonding with my partner idea was starting to come with feelings of resentment. Our conversations had been superficial, and I still didn’t feel like I knew anything about the man who was supposed to have my back. Despite all the alcohol, he was deliberately closing himself off from me.
Christian approached the blonde, who was standing against the wall beneath a spotlight that made her dress sparkle. I’d watched her reject one man right after the next. Maybe she was looking for a certain Breed, and that made me curious since Christian was the first Vampire to approach her.
He didn’t show a submissive bone in his body as he swaggered toward her and placed one hand on the wall. He leaned in close and lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. I watched closely to make sure he wasn’t charming her, and since I could see their profile, I paid attention to the direction of their eyes.
Hers were staring at the hilarious hat atop his head, while his were affixed to her unrealistically proportioned breasts.
“Take off his hat, take off his hat,” I chanted to myself.
Christian cut me a sharp look when he heard me with his Vampy little ears.
I smiled wide and waved my fingers. Knowing he was listening to me made me want to have a little fun.
“Oh, the finger brushing along the jaw.That’soriginal,” I said. “Did she shave down the stubble this morning? This isn’t a petting zoo.”
His jaw set. Christian continued talking, and I wondered what he was saying. She smiled briefly and said something in response. His finger grazed down her neck, holding firm at her clavicle.
I nibbled on my onion ring. “Leaning in—that’s a nice touch. Too bad you smell like beer and tacos. I bet she’s wondering if you run that taco stand up the road. Why don’t you tell her how you want to spend tens of dollars on her?”
Christian turned his back to me. When she reached for his hat, I gripped the edge of the table, excitement rippling through me. Just when I thought she was going to flick it off, he gently took her hand and lowered it to his ass.
“Dammit,” I whispered.
There was no way a woman like her would be caught dead making out with a Vampire in a blue fedora with a feather stuck to the side. Impossible!
