Meeting Destiny; Lachlan’s Story (Annalese and the Immortals) by Annie Buff Read Free Book Online Page A

grinned. Lachlan, however, almost fell over. He was sure his heart had stopped. She looked beautiful—like an angel wrapped in sin. Oh, goddess help him. He was going to lose it. That dress hugged every curve she had, and she was smiling at him. He was so hard it hurt. How could he keep his hands off her when she looked like that, and looked at him like that?
    They arrived at Augustino’s at 9:30 and were immediately greeted by the owner, Augustino Romano.
    “Vlad, Sophie, wonderful to see you. Mr. Lachlan, it’s been too long. I should have made more cannoli for you, say two dozen.”
    Lach laughed. “Ye might as well, I do love those bloody things.”
    Dinner was just as wonderful as Sophie had said it would be. Lese was so full, but she heard cannoli, and damn, if they weren’t a favorite of hers, too.
    There were a few couples dancing to the band that was playing, and Lese thought it was time.
    “Lachlan,” she whispered.
    “Aye, lass.”
    “Dance with me.”
    Oh shit , he thought. Her in that dress held tight against him….He’d be lucky if he had enough resolve not to take her on the dance floor. But she’d asked, and he couldn’t tell her no. Instead, he took her hand and led her to the wooden floor. He had her in his arms. God, she felt like every fantasy he’d ever had. She smelled like jasmine. It must be his imagination. He hadn’t smelled anything so sweet since his young days in Scotland.
    Lachlan swore he saw Sophie grin. About the same time, he felt Lese kiss the scar on his check, not just once either, and then her lips were at his ear.
    “Lachlan, look at me.”
    He did.
    “I have been thinking a lot.”
    “Aye, thinkin’ about what, lass?”
    “Mating with you.”
    They stopped dancing and he stared into her eyes.
    “What, lass?” He asked, loud enough for several heads to turn. Grabbing her hand, he said, “Come with me.” He led her to a balcony used in good weather for dining, but since it was the end of November, it was unoccupied.
    “OK, lass. Say again.”
    “Lachlan, I said, I’ve been thinking about this mating thing a lot. Sophie explained a lot of things to me. Things I never thought to ask you.”
    Lachlan couldn’t breathe. What was happening? Was this the end? It had to be. She was gonna run, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
    She was touching his face, his scar in particular. “Lachlan, I’ve known you for five days, but it seems like years. You know all my secrets, and I know a lot of yours. Every time you leave my side, I ache. I feel cold and very empty, like I’m missing a piece of myself. I had no idea why. Sophie told me why, and you know something?”
    “Lass?” Lachlan squeaked out, still trying to breathe, his eyes full of tears.
    “She’s right. Lachlan Michael McCain, I love you into the deepest parts of my soul. I love you. I would very much, if that offer is still open that is, like to spend eternity with you as your mate.”
    He stood in front of her, tears falling, chest so tight he expected it to explode. He was trying to speak, but no words would form, so he just wrapped his arms around her and cried. After a few moments he got himself under control and pulled back so he could see her face. Gods-damn, she was so beautiful.
    “Oh Angel, gods be damned, I never thought I’d hear those words from ye. Are ye sure, lass? There’s no going back once it’s done.”
    “I’m sure Lachlan, so very sure.”
    “Then I’ll call Mehmet.”
    Lese asked, “Um, who’s Mehmet?”
    “Aye, he will do the ceremony. He’s the oldest living Vampire. I think he’s close to a millennia now.”
    “Holy shit,” Lese laughed. “I thought Vlad was on old man.”
    They started back to the table, when he stopped her. “Annalese.” He took her cheek in his hand and kissed her, a toe-curling, fire-lighting kiss. Then just like that, they rejoined their friends for cannoli.
    After two dozen cannoli, Lachlan was on sugar overload, and