“Excellent.” Shane released the lapels of Rat’s jacket and sat casually in his chair as though nothing had happened. “Now, I think it would be best if you tended to your customers and left me to my business. And I’m sure I don’t need to remind you not to alert the wolves to my presence. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Rat adjusted his jacket and walked toward the VIP table, with TJ close behind. “Enjoy the show, Quesada.”
A new song came blaring through the speakers, and as if on cue, the front door of the club swung open and the pack of werewolves walked through the door.
The one in front was the alpha of the group and had to be Horace. He was short and stocky, probably no more than five foot eight, but he looked to be solid muscle, which was common for their kind. Shane’s body went rigid while he studied each of the pack members carefully. But as intent as he was on the wolves, he didn’t miss Maya’s wide-eyed stare. She watched the six of them stride into the club with awe and, he hoped, a bit of healthy fear.
Rat greeted Horace with a warm, welcoming handshake and pat on the shoulder, like they were old friends. Watching the exchange, Shane’s eyes narrowed, and every alarm bell in his head went off. Rat had said he was getting information through the dancer and had only spoken with Horace tonight. But based on the body language, these two men knew each other and had met before. There was a comfort level between the two that left Shane with a strong sense of wariness.
Rat gestured toward the VIP table, and the pack followed him over. Viola, the redhead who set up the table, ran over and practically jumped on the tallest fellow at the back of the group. He greeted her, but not with the warmth of a lover, and when she hugged him, the man locked eyes with Shane. He released the girl and whispered something to Horace. Knowing he’d been made as a vampire, Shane tilted his head and raised his beer bottle. Horace remained stone-faced and turned his attention back to the group at his table.
A few moments later, the lights flickered, music blared, and a young woman took the stage.
As the evening wore on, the wolves ordered copious amounts of alcohol and were clearly getting wasted. The night was proving to be even more aggravating, because Maya had started coming out from behind the bar and hand-delivering the drinks to the VIP table.
Much to Shane’s chagrin, Horace had begun paying more attention to Maya than the women who were taking off their clothes. He couldn’t really blame the wolf. Maya was beautiful, and every sexy inch of her was accentuated by the miniscule dress and sky-high heels she wore. Her legs seemed to go on forever.
What are you doing? Edged with obvious irritation, Shane’s voice touched Maya’s mind sharply. You are supposed to be tending bar, not catering to this pack of animals.
I’m working, and Rat asked me to do it. Placing a drink in front of Horace, she kept speaking with him. It’s not a big deal. Just relax.
Shane was about to respond, but when he saw Horace’s hand find its way to Maya’s ass, any restraint he’d been showing dissolved in a blink. Rising from the table with a growl rumbling in his chest, he swiftly closed the distance between himself and the wolves. If any humans in the club noticed the blinding speed with which he crossed the room, they gave no indication, and even though Shane knew it was risky, he couldn’t help himself.
The five members of Horace’s pack instantly rose to their feet, and Shane could feel the growls that reverberated in their chests. The sound sent his sonar-like senses off the charts, and though no human could hear it, it sounded to him like freight trains rumbling through the club. Maya must have heard it too, because she looked at the wolves with some of that healthy fear Shane was hoping to see.
“Excuse me, gentlemen.” Shane kept his voice even, his hands at his sides, and his eyes on Horace. “I need to speak with Maya for a moment.”
“She’s busy,” Horace said, leering. He tugged Maya closer and squeezed her backside. “I’m just getting started with this one.”
Shane let his fangs erupt, not caring if a human saw. Just when he thought he’d lose all self-control and start a bloodbath in the middle of the club, Maya’s sweet voice swept between them.
“Now, now,” she sang. Maya placed one hand on Shane’s shoulder and reached around with the other to grasp Horace’s hand and pull it gently but insistently off her butt. “I’m flattered by all this male posturing, but let’s not make a big scene in front of all these nice humans.”
“I would never argue with a lady.” Shane retracted his fangs and glanced at Maya. “I do need to speak with her privately, if you gentlemen don’t mind.”
Bullshit. Maya’s lilting laugh filled his head. I feel like all you do is argue with me.
“Don’t keep her away too long.” Raising Maya’s hand to his lips, Horace kept his gaze locked with Shane and kissed her fingers. “I have a feeling this one is special.”
Seconds later, a bevy of half-naked dancers showed up at the table, obviously sent there by Rat, and each one draped herself over a pack member. Two women, one vamp and one of the human familiars, pushed Maya aside and crawled into Horace’s lap. With the girls distracting Horace and his gang, Maya grabbed Shane by the hand and pulled him to the back of the club. She pushed open the door that said “Dancers Only,” and without a word, she dragged him through the girls’ dressing room and out another door that led them into a dark, narrow hallway.
There was barely enough space for the two of them to stand side by side, and the only light was from the bright-red exit sign above the door to the alley. Shane couldn’t help but notice it cast a glow over Maya, making her hair look like it was on fire. In that tiny, red leather dress and with the tinges of fire in her hair, she looked like the little devil that she was.
“Are you crazy?” Maya asked with her hands on her hips.
“I was going to ask you the same question.”
“Me?” Maya scoffed. “I’m just doing my job.”
Shane leaned closer so that their faces were only a few inches apart. “So am I.”
“No, you’re not.” She poked him in the chest with one finger and met his challenge. “You practically started a big, fat fight with Horace in the middle of the bar, which is not like you. You’re acting like some kind of overprotective boyfriend or something.”
Shane’s mouth set in a grim line and shame washed over him because Maya was right. He showed a remarkable lack of self-control and almost broke the truce with the wolves. His gaze skittered over Maya’s face and he realized how much trouble he was actually in. This woman had managed to turn his entire existence upside down, and for the first time in centuries, Shane was unsure of himself.
“He should not have touched you like that.” Shane’s voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone.
“Oh please, it’s not the first time some guy in the bar has grabbed my ass, and in case you suffer from short-term memory loss,” she said in a quivering voice, “I’ve had worse.” Her chin jutted forward defiantly. “I can handle myself now. I’m not some stupid, sniveling human girl who doesn’t know any better.”
“I have no doubt of that.” Shane placed both hands on the wall, one on either side of Maya, caging her in. “But I can assure you that no man, vampire or human, will be touching you that way ever again.” He inched closer, his lips a breath away from hers. “Except for me. Whether you are willing to acknowledge it or not, I’m your bloodmate, Maya, and the meaning of that goes far beyond ‘boyfriend.’”