She was acutely aware of Lucien watching her, but she didn’t care. She was starving, and she was going to devour every last bite on her plate. Besides, she’d watched him feed on blood; he could watch her eat this gooey plate of deliciousness.
They sat in silence while she ate, but the drone of conversations sounded around them. From what she could gather, most of the people there were men who met up with their friends to discuss the local gossip while they ate and flirted with the waitresses. She suspected most of the men were widowed or divorced as she saw few rings on their work-worn hands.
Lucien admired the old-fashioned, fifties motif of the place with its stools lining the counter, black-and-white-tiled floor, and pictures of old celebrities adorning the walls. A small jukebox sat on the table, and he pushed a couple of buttons to look at the songs. While the music wasn’t his favorite, he’d enjoyed the fifties even though he despised poodle skirts.
Before coming here, he’d taken some money from the woman in the office so he wouldn’t have to keep taking control of people’s minds to get what they required. Not only would it weaken him, but he 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 wasnothingnatural 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.
