Read Sergius: #4 (Luna Lodge: Hunters of Atlas) for Free Online

and would smile every so often when he gave a groan of appreciation. He’d never seen someone be so happy from watching someone else eat, but then, he didn’t really know much about the normal human world of dating.
    “Where did you learn to cook like this?” he asked.
    He set his empty bowl on the table and drank a bit of his beer while he watched her.
    Jade shook her head.
    He wanted to see some of the joy he had seen before, but it vanished. He suppressed a wince.
    Had he said something wrong? He couldn’t figure out how she’d interpret it as anything but a compliment.
    “I had to learn,” she said. “Someone had to cook in the house, and there is no way I was counting on my father for that.”
    She sighed loudly and looked over to him. Her sad expression pained Sergius.
    For all his differences from normal humans, her problem was something he could understand all too well. He and his fellow hybrids had been robbed of their childhood by the Horatius Group, but it seemed like they weren’t the only ones who missed out on a childhood.
    “I just started buying things that were cheap and easy to cook,” she said. “The more I cooked, the better I got. It was the one thing I had no problem working towards. It’s nice to have a clear goal, you know?”
    Sergius frowned. “What about your parents?”
    Jade’s eyes glassed over slightly, and she looked up to the ceiling.
    “My mom split when I was a kid, and my dad, well,” she said and shook her head. “My dad was never someone I could count on.”
    He reached out and took hold of her hand. He had to do something to make her feel better.
    “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I didn’t mean to bring up something so painful.”
    “No, it’s fine,” she said. “It was a long time ago.”
    Sergius doubted she was actually fine, but he could tell she didn’t really want to pursue the conversation, and he didn’t want to make her more uncomfortable.
    “I think I should probably go,” she said and stood. Without another word, she took several steps away from the couch.
    He stood and moved toward her. “Why?”
    She backed up to the door. “I just think it’s for the best. I don’t want to make the same mistake as last night.”
    He frowned, not understanding what she was talking about.
    “Last night?”
    Her eyes flicked down to his lips and then back up to his eyes again.
    “I almost crossed the line yesterday,” she said. “I shouldn’t have tried to kiss you. I… don’t even know why I did that. It was silly. I guess I was just overwhelmed by everything that happened yesterday.”
    She thought he was mad at her. How could she ever think that? There was no way he could ever feel that way about her.
    He stepped forward, pressed his body into hers, and leaned in.
    “I’m sorry that you didn’t kiss me,” he rumbled against her ear.
    His cheek barely scraped against her face, and he felt her shiver. Sergius brushed his lips against hers and listened to the short burst of air they came out.
    His kiss was soft. He didn’t want to overwhelm her. But damn did he want to taste her.
    Part of last night’s dream floated to his mind as he did. No matter how real it felt, it was no substitute for them actually sharing a bed together.
    He bit back a growl, arousal flaring in him and his cock hardening.
    No. This wasn’t a dream; this was real life, and he needed to be careful to not destroy his progress with Jade.
    She moaned as he pressed in against her. She wound her arms around his neck.
    Sergius didn’t want to intimidate her, especially now that she seemed willing to give into their attraction. Baby steps. That was what they should be taking: baby steps.
    He pulled his mouth off of hers and stared down at her. Her glazed green eyes stared back up to him, and he smiled.
    “Thank you for dinner, Jade,” he said softly.
    She nodded and unwrapped her arms from behind his back. “You’re welcome, Sergius.”
    Jade stepped out of his embrace and