Page 21 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them
“Why ever not?” the model demanded. She didn’t sound pleased, her tone growing hard and impatient.
“Because I have a date tonight.”
“Well, that’s only going to last until the condom hits the trashcan. We know you, André.”
Ouch. Brutal. Likely true, but still brutal. On the other hand, Ian didn’t like André’s answer, either, which was ridiculous. What did it matter to him if André had a date or not?
André used his vampire speed and twisted slightly away from her to keep out of her grasp, and as he turned, he spied Ian. The change was instantaneous. He went from an irritated scowl to delighted, his smile bright enough to put the sun to shame. Seeing his smile aimed at Ian made his heart skip a beat. Damn, André was blindingly gorgeous when he smiled like that, joy personified.
“Ian!”
Look at him, bouncing down the few steps to Ian like an overeager puppy, which madeno fucking sense, by the way. Why the hell would he escape four beautiful women to come to Ian? He did, though, his delight in seeing Ian blatant.
“André!” Model snapped after him, and she looked mad enough to start throwing things. She had her hand still outstretched as if to snatch him back, only she grasped air instead of arm.
André ducked against Ian’s side like Casper did when seeking shelter. He leaned in, hand on Ian’s arm as he whispered, “Help! They won’t take no for an answer, but I’m not comfortable going to a party with alcohol after what happened.”
Oh. All right, Ian couldn’t blame him there. If André needed him to be the excuse, he could do that. After everything the man had done this weekend, he owed him, at the very least. Although watching the tough vampire run to the human for protection tickled Ian’s funny bone.
The girls fumed, but Ian bore their glares stoically. “I’m sorry, he’s not available.”
“Why?” Model demanded.
“Because my date is with Ian,” André retaliated immediately. “So sorry, do play again. Come on, Ian.”
Ian, still reeling from André’s announcement had no choice but to follow as André snagged his hand and towed him away down the rest of the stairs. It was the first time a man had ever held hands with him, much longer than André previous playful grabs, and it felt strangely nice. He hadn’t noticed last time, but André’s fingers had more calluses than he expected. Larger than a woman’s hand, so it should have felt oddly different, but it somehow didn’t? Like it was natural for those fingers to be twined with his. André’s fingers felt cool, though. Not cold, but not quite the natural warmth of a human’s fingers.
Why the hell was Ian thinking about this?
André existed to confuse him. Ian would swear to this.
Ian waited until they were far away from the girls, rounding the corner of the building, before speaking. He pulled André to a stop, using the secluded area to speak candidly. “You know, you don’t have to use me as an excuse. No is no.” Ian tactfully decided not to ask whom he actually had a date with, or if that had just been an bald-faced lie. His tangled feelings preferred ignorance.
“Yeah, but they weren’t taking a no.” André shrugged, manner defeated. “I tried that first. Besides, it’s not an excuse. Can I come over tonight? Are you busy?”
Unable to hold the question back he blurted out, “I, uh, thought you had a date.”
André’s expression morphed into confusion, then a smirk played across his lips. “I do—”
Ian locked down the sharp sting of disappointment. See? He knew it was only a matter of time before André moved on.
“—if you agree to one. I said that earlier as wishful thinking you’d say yes.”
Oh.
Ian nearly face-palmed due to his own stupidity. He needed to get away from this confusing man. “Sorry, I work tonight.”
André’s face immediately fell. “Oh, I see.” He pouted a bit before adding, “I bought Casper a collar. I’d hoped to give it to her soon.”
He’d…what? Ian cocked his head and studied him. “Wait. You bought her a collar?”
André perked back up. “Yeah. It’s red with white cherry blossoms on it. Really cute. I think it’ll complement her coloring perfectly.”
“Why would you buy her a collar?”
André rolled his eyes. “Because I want to be her friend. Easiest way to make friends with girls is to give them something pretty.”
This damn playboy. What was Ian supposed to do with him? “Well, you’ll have to wait.”
