Free Fated by Alexandra Anthony Page B

surprised at my sudden irritation.
    “Hello, I'm sitting right here!  You don't have to talk about me like I'm not here!”  I exclaimed loudly.  Stefan's thumb rubbed a calming circle on the palm of the hand he was holding and Lukas observed my display with an excited giggle, his eyes twinkling.
    “I like her. She passes,” Lukas said as he clasped his hands together.  “Oh, Josie. I thought he'd never find you.  I was starting to think he was crazy.”
    Letting out a muffled laugh, my mouth twitched in response to Lukas' statement.  Stefan was the crazy one?!?  I'd witnessed more drama and craziness from Lukas in the last 30 minutes than I had all day.
    The server approached with Anna's food and Stefan's drink and Lukas took the opportunity to place a new drink order for Anna.  After the server left, he leaned around Stefan to pour half of his drink onto the patio.  He picked up a few of the wontons gingerly with his fingers and placed them into his napkin, wadding it up and tossing it under the table.  He placed one on his plate and then turned to Stefan again.  It was apparent that I was getting a crash course in Vampire Eating 101.
    “The Council will want to meet her,”  Lukas advised simply as he turned his attention to me. “Has he explained the Council to you?”
    Stefan's face darkened.  “I have only known her for a day, Lukas.  I mentioned the Council.  There is no reason to scare her.  Enough,” Stefan muttered, his handsome face becoming severe and frightening.
     For the first time, he looked like a vampire to me.
    Lukas bowed his head and sat back in his chair.  I was scared about whatever this ‘Council’ was, but I was turned on by the sense of power that Stefan had over Lukas.  Stefan's nostrils flared, smelling my arousal.   I sighed and self-consciously pressed my legs together, wondering if I was the human equivalent of a plug-in for him.
    Stefan must have read my thoughts because his face lightened and he chuckled quietly in response.
    I looked up to see Anna approaching the table, the server behind her with her drink.  “It's about fucking time.  I was wondering what a girl had to do to get a refill,” Anna announced to the table.  “And I see you started eating without me, Lukas.  Don't you need to watch your girlish figure?”
    Anna was one of those people that made you either laugh or cry with her biting sarcasm.  She took no mercy on anyone.
    “I'm sure it would be nothing you haven't already done.  Sit your bitchy ass down and drink your drink,” Lukas retorted loudly, causing her to shoot Lukas another look.  Vampires must be immune to Anna's death stare because Lukas simply rolled his eyes and pushed the drink closer to her.
    Stefan and I stayed for another hour, mainly to laugh at Lukas and Anna.  I soaked up Anna's happiness like a sponge.  She was thrilled to have finally found her gay friend here in Bali.  Lukas alternated between lamenting over his lack of love life and exchanging snarky barbs with Anna.  Finally calling it a night, we paid the bill and made our way to our respective vehicles.
    Anna pulled me into a hug. “Stop by the office.  We can chat about sex on a stick over there.” She jerked her head towards Stefan as she whispered in my ear.
    Hugging her back, I pulled away to give her a non-committal smile. “I'll do that.”
    Stefan came up behind me and wrapped his long arms around my shoulders, resting his chin on the top of my head.  I leaned back against him, enjoying his cool embrace.
    “No you won't.  But I still love you like a sister.”
     I shrugged and smiled weakly.  Anna knew me too well.
    “Anna.  It was a pleasant surprise seeing you again this evening.  Lukas, be safe getting her home,” Stefan said, tugging me towards his Audi and opening the door for me.  I waved goodbye to Anna as Stefan to slide into the driver’s seat.  He started the car and headed down the road to my villa.  We had barely been