Page 20 of Lucien

Luc made a noncommittal noise, eyeing his pile of books skeptically.

Jamie flipped through one of them, a science fiction bestseller he’d been wanting to get his hands on for months. “You’re a bit of a snob, aren’t you?” he asked casually.

Luc barked a short laugh, smirking down at him before crouching low so they were eye to eye. He ran a finger down the back of one of the books, and Jamie shivered as if it was his own spine being touched so delicately. “I just want you to know,” Luc crooned, stroking the book. “I could buy you anything you want. A fine house. Fine clothes. Pretty baubles to decorate yourself with.”

Jamie cocked his head, licking his lips. “Are you trying to seduce me with your riches? Don’t you know I’m already a sure thing?”

Luc’s finger stopped its movement, the vampire seemingly taken aback by his own actions. “Habit, I suppose.”

“You make it ahabitof seducing people?” Jamie didn’t like that at all, actually. He hadn’t been lying the night before in his teasing—thinking of the number of people Luc had probably been with over his impressive life span made him insanely jealous.

Luc’s brow furrowed. “I used to. Often. And well. But it’s been a long time since I’ve trusted the monster within enough to attempt it. Too long.”

Jamie filed away that bit of information. “Is that why you’re afraid to touch me?”

“Am I?” Luc asked mildly, though the heat in his eyes was a contrast to his tone. “Are you so sure Iwantto touch you?”

Jamie leaned in closer. “You do. You’re dying to. Go ahead. I don’t mind.”

But Luc stood in one quick motion, placing distance between them once again.

Jamie really hated that.

He paid for his books at the counter, greeting Anna warmly as she rang him up.

She smiled at his selection—he’d gone for a number of space odysseys today—then gasped as she caught sight of who was lurking behind him. “Whoa.”

Jamie turned his head to look at his vampire. He’d kind of forgotten how freaky Luc’s eyes might look to other people. Jamie was so used to them now.

“Vampire cosplay,” Jamie offered up, shooting Luc a teasing grin before turning back to Anna. “He’s practicing for Halloween.”

“Oh.” The cashier gave a little laugh of relief as she started packing his books into a bag cheerily. “Very cool. With a little fake blood dripping down your chin? That would look amazing.”

“I’ll get right on that,” Luc said flatly.

They went out to lunch afterward, Luc watching him eat with the same intensity as that morning. When Jamie called him out on it, he shrugged, seemingly unembarrassed. “You’re very…vibrant,” he supplied. “In everything you do. I like to watch.”

That little tidbit had Jamie grinning like a madman for the rest of lunch.

Walking downtown afterward, Luc sneered at everyone who passed them by. Subtly, sure, but definitely sneered.

“You don’t like people much, do you?” Jamie asked, popping a piece of gum into his mouth.

“I don’t likethesepeople. Sweaty. Unrefined.”

“Itisover a hundred degrees out right now.”

“Unfair to blame the heat. I should take you to Europe. Italy, perhaps. People there know how to handle the elements with style.” Luc sighed almost wistfully. “Such fond memories of that place.” He shot Jamie an assessing glance, the corners of his mouth tilting up. “I’d like to dress you in linen.”

“Excuse me?”

Luc nodded. “A linen suit. Cream-colored, I think. You could keep the wild hair. It would look lovely, the juxtaposition.”

Jamie laughed in delight. Oh, fuck yeah. The vampire could put as much distance as he wanted between them, but he clearly had it just as bad as Jamie. Dressing him in linen?

Please.

“You fuck me, you can dress me however you like,” Jamie taunted.

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