Learning that Kat was coming on their trip and that she’d be trapped in a tin can for three hours with the two of them made her want to spit tacks. The four-seat luxury jet was not nearly big enough for her to breathe, let alone survive an entire trip with Luca and Kat. Perhaps if she just settled in against the window and tried to sleep the entire flight, she would not have to look at or talk to either one of them. On the way into the plane, Samantha chose to sit away from them in a cabin chair nearest to the front of the plane, essentially separating herself. Luca and Kat sat side by side in their individual bucket seats with only the aisle between them.
In the elevator on the way down to the limo, Luca had informed her that Kat was coming with them; Samantha had silently nodded and pulled a mask of indifference over her face. Whatever had happened at the lake was clearly an insignificant bleep in Luca’s social calendar. She wondered if Kat was Luca’s girlfriend and perhaps she was the other woman. Did Kat know Luca had kissed her mere hours before making love to her? God, she felt so stupid for ever opening herself up to him.
After nearly an hour of total silence, Kat wondered what the hell was up with Luca. He hadn’t said a word since leaving the club and wasn’t acting his normal self. And while she didn’t know Samantha, she felt an icy coolness wash over her as if she’d killed her cat. The last time she’d seen her in Tristan’s office, it had seemed like they were on their way to a friendship. Not able to take one more minute of the tension, she broke the dead air.
“Luca, are you feeling all right?” She reached over and put her hand on his arm.
Luca flinched at her touch, but Kat held firm. “I never thought I’d see the day when a vampire was jumpy. Too much coffee, dear?” she teased.
Hearing the term of endearment, Samantha’s eyes flashed up and held Luca’s gaze. Her tight-lined mouth and intense stare told Luca all he needed to know about what Samantha thought of Kat.
Pulling his arm away from Kat, Luca unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up. “I’m fine. Just have a lot on my mind. I’m going back to the office to make a few calls. I want to make sure Marcel is ready for you and that Kade and Sydney are aware of our ETA,” he responded. He made his way toward the back of the plane and shut the office door.
Kat looked over at Samantha, who gazed out the window into the darkness of night. “Okay, I know witches don’t have night vision, so what could possibly be so interesting out there? You’ve been boring a hole into the window ever since we left.”
“Huh? Yeah, well, it’s better than staring at you all. I feel caged up in this tiny excuse for a plane,” Samantha replied tersely. She hadn’t meant to sound so rude, but she was losing patience with the situation.
“You can put your claws back in, kitty-cat. What’s everyone’s problem around here, anyway?” Kat was taken off guard by Samantha’s snarky attitude.
“Sorry, Kat. I just need to get this over with and done. I guess I’m just nervous,” she lied. “So, what’s with you and Luca? I was supposed to stay in his guest room when we get there, but I can go to the coven if that’d make you all more comfortable.” She silently cursed herself for asking, but she couldn’t take not knowing what was going on between the two of them. Were they lovers? Engaged?
“No need, I’m going to my brother’s house. Marcel. He’s the Alpha in New Orleans. I…I’ve been having a bit of guy trouble lately,” she continued, looking out the window and then back to Samantha. “There’s this Alpha in New York. He wants me as his mate. Tristan and I have both told him it’s so not happening, but wolves don’t always play fair. I’m worried he might try to take me. So, I figured I’d go see my other brother, and have him talk with my persistent suitor. Two brothers are better than one. Plus, I’ll get to go wolf for a while down there, run with the pack in the bayou. I miss it.”
Samantha studied Kat’s face, confused by why she needed to escape to New Orleans and why Luca wouldn’t just help her if they were together. It didn’t make sense.
“But what about Luca? Why can’t you just tell the New York Alpha you’re with him?” she asked.
“Samantha, I’m not sure what you think you saw at Eden, but Luca and I are not mated, nor will we ever be. We’re just very good friends who enjoy a good roll in the hay every now and then. Don’t get me wrong, the man is yummy, but I should not have to lie about my relationship in order to rebuff an overly assertive Alpha who doesn’t know the meaning of respect.” Kat was starting to put two and two together. Samantha’s cold demeanor; Luca’s distant emotions combined with his lack of desire upstairs at Eden; his evident angst. Luca and Samantha were involved. It was all starting to make sense.
Samantha’s eyes pricked with tears hearing Kat practically admit they’d had sex. She wanted to tear off her seatbelt and parachute out of the plane, so she could be anywhere but near the two of them. She managed to get control and took a deep swallow.
“It’s none of my business, Kat. I’m glad you could get a ride with Luca so you’d be safe on your way to your brother’s.” Samantha tried to sound gracious, but in reality, she wanted to vomit. Part of her liked Kat, which made it all the worse knowing her and Luca had slept together.
“Hey, Samantha. I just…” Kat searched for the right words. “I just want you to know that Luca and I did not have sex today. I mean, I did come, but that was all. Oh God, that didn’t come out right. Geez. Okay, it’s like this. The man has got to eat. And I offered. And sure, I was hoping to get my freak on with him a little. I am single, after all. I mean, I had no idea you were together or anything. If I’d known, I would have never…”
“We are not together,” Samantha spat out.
“Whatever you say, but I want you to know the truth. Luca, he didn’t. We didn’t. He just fed. Sure, I came but that’s just a side effect of his bite. I’m sorry,” Kat apologized. She came over to where Samantha was sitting and sat crosslegged in front of her on the floor. She placed her hands on Samantha’s knees.
“Samantha, Tristan told me all about you, ya know. I thought we could be friends, because I know what it’s like…what happened to you. Well, a very long time ago, it happened to me too. God, it seems hard to talk about even now.” She rubbed her eyes and raked her fingers through her hair. “Simone. She took me too. And others. Tristan went to Kade for help. He and Luca found me. Luca dragged me out of that hell hole and brought me back to Marcel. We share a special bond because of that, he and I. And now, you and I. All I’m saying is that it gets better over time.”
Samantha felt like a jerk for being so jealous and mean-spirited towards her. Maybe not Luca, because he damn well knew how she’d felt at the cabin.
“Kat,” Samantha put her hands out to Kat’s. “Thanks. No one else could possibly know what it’s been like for me, and it helps to know there’s someone else on God’s green earth who understands what happened to me. It’s been difficult.” She blew out a breath and continued. “As for Luca, I wasn’t lying. We really aren’t together. We just shared a moment, and I thought it meant more than it did. But I appreciate you telling me what’s going on with you two. As much as it pains me to admit it, I felt…I felt upset.” It was the best Samantha could do at the moment.
“Hey, don’t worry ‘bout it. Whatever’s goin’ on with Luca, I suspect it wasn’t ‘just a moment’ as you put it. I mean, he seems wound tighter than a two dollar watch. And for that man to turn down sex with moi,” she laughed, “he’d have to either be a damn fool or starting to fall for someone else. And I’m guessin’ the latter, girl.”