Bad Moon Rising

Chapter One

I kept a fake, sexy smile pressed to my face as I did my job—policing the supernatural. My current assignment was to gather intel on a new nightclub that had opened in the city. Rumor on the street was the place was run by vampires. I'd already confirmed as much.

Not that there was any problem with vamps owning a business, even clubs, but there had been an uptick in violent, supernatural-related deaths in the area. As a slayer, I was there to make sure the place was on the level and wasn't offering an all-you-can-eat buffet of humans or run by Satan himself.

One never knew.

I'd yet to meet him.

I knew his son—the Prince of Darkness.

He was cool.

Wasn't sure if Daddy was hip as well.

Supernaturals lived among humans without humans ever realizing as much. My boss, Zachariah, was the head of the slayers for the city and had explained more than once what had happened each time throughout history when supernaturals had been discovered. After countless lectures on the matter, I knew that bad, bad things had happened. He liked to blame the Dark Ages for it all. I liked to nod and try to get out of hearing any more about the topic.

The club's music was extra loud, and it made me wonder if the fact I thought as much meant I was getting old. Glancing around, I realized I wasn't any older than most of the patrons. My deep-cut, fit-and-flare red dress fit right in with what other women were wearing to the upscale club. I'd paired the dress with four-inch heels, adding height to my five-foot-six-inch frame. While the heels fit the party scene, they weren't exactly practical in my line of work.

Nothing I was wearing was mine.

Zachariah kept numerous rooms full of clothing that might be needed by the slayers. The dress had been pulled from there.

I sat on a stool at the bar while observing my surroundings. Red and purple lights were mounted on the walls, looking more like small torches than modern-day lighting. They cast just enough light to cast a sultry glow over the patrons but not enough to make the bar too bright.

I kept an eye on the vampires I could see, looking for signs that things weren't quite right. So far, other than a lot of trips to the back feeding room with women who looked as if they charged by the hour, nothing had stuck out. I was ready to go home. So far, I'd been hit on by six different vampires and three really smarmy humans who actually made the vampires look like great picks.

There had been a time, not that long ago, when I'd have been happy to spend an entire night at a club such as this one, getting hit on by hot men. Things had changed for me recently, but I wasn't sure why.

All I knew was each time a hot guy, living or dead, approached me, trying to buy me drinks and sweet-talk me out of my panties, the idea of letting them touch me nearly sent me into a panic. I'd never had a problem with random hookups before. In fact, I preferred them.

But not now.

As if on cue, a tall man with long dark hair approached, his blue-gray gaze centered on me. Everything about him said rich and powerful. His deep blue suit was tailored to fit him perfectly and no doubt cost a pretty penny. I had to admit, the man wore it well. The baby-blue shirt he'd paired with the suit was unbuttoned a bit, showing off his alabaster chest. He had a great body. The new me admired his hotness, but I didn't want to grab a cab and head to a hotel with him like the old me would have wanted to do.

Okay, what the old me would have already done.

Everything about the man screamed vampire. The way he seemed to almost glide through the crowd, parting them with ease, his gaze never leaving me, was a big sign he was more than human. The fact he was flawless to look at was another sign. Most vampires that I'd met over the years were suave to the point they didn't even need to bother with sweet-talking a woman out of anything. Women simply threw articles of clothing at them.

I bit my lower lip, hoping he wasn't coming to talk to me.

The closer the vampire got, the more I could sense how dominant he was. He wasn't like the others who had approached me over the past hour. They'd all had a dangerous vibe to them, which all vampires had, but this one screamed master and something else. Something that I couldn't put my finger on.

I was extremely happy I'd decided to use the perfume mixture my boss had made me. Since my boss was a super-friggin'-old vampire himself, he knew certain scents confused his senses, making him unable to detect another supernatural with any sort of ease.

It would do me no good to show up to survey the place if I smelled of slayer to the vampires there. Some didn't have an issue with what I did for a living. But some living-challenged folks clung to the old ways.

When it was us against them.

Good versus evil and that other crap.

Vamps versus slayers.

The master vampire eased in close to me, going to the stool next to mine that had been occupied only seconds before his arrival. I didn't doubt he'd used his power to strongly encourage the person who had been in the seat to get up and move. Luckily, the person had because the master vampire didn't seem like the type who took no for an answer.

He didn't sit so much as he leaned on the edge of the stool, giving him that too-cool-for-school factor. He faced me, putting one of his long legs out, blocking me from exiting from that side. Had I not been on the current kick of apparently all but giving up my sex drive, I'd have thought the guy was hot.

Very hot.

He motioned to the bartender and then tapped the bar top. "Give the lady another drink."

I licked my lips. A fake smile appeared on my face. It was one I'd perfected over the years. "Thank you, but I'm good."

"I insist," he said, notes of a French accent to his voice. Shamelessly, he pushed my long, dark red hair over my shoulder, his fingers gliding over my skin in the process. "Tell me why it is someone as beautiful as you has been sitting here alone for over an hour. And why you have turned down a number of other men."

I kept calm even though I wanted to shiver at his touch. "I'm meeting someone."

He skimmed a long finger over my bare upper arm, all the while his gaze fixed on the deep cut of my dress. I knew it showed part of my breasts since it was open to just above my navel. That had seemed like a great idea before I went to the club. You know, keep the guys, dead or not, focused on my boobs and not my face, just in case I bumped into one while on patrol.

Being recognized by a vampire was an occupational hazard. Now, the dress seemed like the worst idea I'd had lately, and I'd drank orange juice after I brushed my teeth when I woke for the day.

The vampire leaned in toward me, and it was all I could do to stay on the stool and not thrust him away. He wasn't what he appeared to be. He was something more, something darker.

"Is your gentleman caller late?" he asked, his voice sliding over me like butter even though he leaked darkness.

"Yes," I said, keeping my tone light and sexy. "He'll be here soon. I'm sure he got held up with work. This really isn't like him."

"I can think of a variety of things to do if he does not appear," the vampire said, standing and easing me off the bar stool, his hands finding my waist.

He was over six feet tall, leaving him standing a good deal taller than me. Most supernatural males were freakishly tall. I swear there was something in the water that made them all grow over six feet— and be sexy as hell. It wasn't enough they were deadly, the powers that be apparently thought they also needed to be beautiful too. In nature, the prettiest and more brightly colored animals tended to be the most lethal. Guess it applied here too.

He drew me in toward him as he licked his lips. "You are simply divine."

I stared up at him.

He eased me in the direction of the dance floor, and I hesitated. It was clear he was the guy in charge because it was very rare to have more than one master vampire hanging out together. Two powerful beings didn't like sharing the spotlight. I could learn more from him about what was going on in the area than anyone else. I could also end up having to fight a master vampire, which was harder than dusting the normal ones. And everything about the man near me said he'd be very hard to take down.

There was something else that bothered me about him. More than the added darkness, but I couldn't put my finger on it. But I did start to feel out of my depth near him.

I hedged as he continued to walk in the direction of the dance floor. "I don't think I should. My boyfriend might not really approve."

The vampire touched my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. Something a normal human should avoid at all costs. "Any man who would permit you to come to a club alone and then leave you waiting any length of time is not a man worth your worry or your concern. I can promise you a most enjoyable night. Come, let me show you pleasure like you've never known."

I had to hand it to him; he was so humble.

Cutting my losses and leaving the club sounded great, but if the vampires at the club had something to do with the rise in violent crimes in the area, I needed to know. My job was to protect the innocent, and sometimes, that meant I had to do things I didn't want to.

Like dancing with the super-sexy vampire with undertones of evil.

"I don't know," I said softly. "He's the jealous type."

He licked his lips. "I see no boyfriend here. What he doesn't know will not hurt him."

Giving in, I nodded and let him lead me deeper onto the dance floor. The song changed to one that had a substantial beat accompanied by the sounds of sex. It pumped through the club.

I was sure the master vampire had a hand in the song change and choice. My brow quirked, and he chuckled softly.

Yep. He was guilty.

He drew me against him and began to move in a way that surprised me. For some reason, I didn't expect him to be much of a dancer. I was wrong. Very wrong. I moved with him, trying to glance around to watch for suspicious activity. He was so tall and big that it was hard to see much beyond him.

One of his hands went to my hip and the other he tried to run down my chest.

Catching his hand, I shook my head.

He grinned, his look screaming "challenge accepted."

He dipped his head, going to my neck area. It took all of me to avoid tensing. His lips found my ear and spoke. "What is your name?"

"Gina," I said, surprised I'd blurted out my actual name—or the shortened version of my name anyway.

He kept his lips near my ear. "I am Reynaud."

My hands went to his chest to put space between us. It didn't work.

The next I knew, he was moving my hair back from my neck, putting his face close to my skin.

I tensed. "This feels wrong," I said, hoping to find an out. "I'm sure this would upset my boyfriend. As nice as this is, he means a lot to me. I don't want to hurt him."

There was no boyfriend.

"Gina, I can give you so much pleasure. Beyond anything he could hope to hold a candle to."

Yep. Totally humble.

I eased back a touch more. "Thank you for the offer, Reynaud, but I'm not willing to throw away what I have with him for a night of bliss with you."

His gaze held a hunger that was disconcerting. "It does not have to be one night of bliss. It can be hundreds of years' worth."

Chapter Two

Out of nowhere, the club's temperature seemed to increase as heat pulsed over me, warning me of danger and exciting me. Two things that should never mix. I knew the power wasn't from Reynaud. I sensed something powerful, alpha, and pissed close by. It wasn't a vampire, but it was a force to be reckoned with. I was sure of that. Familiarity came from it, and I found myself fighting a smile.

Turning, I spotted Jayson "Jay" Gonzales about three feet behind me. I'd known him for years and trusted him fully. He had a presence that demanded attention. It didn't hurt that he had an endless supply of muscles, making him hard all over. It wasn't as if he looked overdone like some of those bodybuilder guys in the banana huggers who put on too much self-tanner and then flexed their freakish bulging muscles accompanied by popping veins.

No. Jay was built with a perfect ratio.

His black hair, which was longer on top and shorter on the sides, had gel in it tonight, looking messy yet stylishly so. His chiseled jawline had a light dusting of dark facial hair, which only made him sexier. The black long-sleeved shirt he wore was cuffed on his forearms, with the top unbuttoned enough to show off his steely chest. He had on a pair of dark jeans and black biker boots.

He looked great.

Too great.

At the moment, he looked like a lifeline, and I wasn't about to pass up on the chance to put distance between myself and Reynaud. I may be able to beat the crap out of almost any supernatural, but I'm not stupid. Reynaud was tripping all my inner slayer alarms. I'd be a fool to ignore the warnings.

Jay's deep brown gaze locked on the vampire behind me. From Jay's expression, he wasn't happy. In fact, he looked like he might attack someone, which would be very bad in a club full of vampires.

Unsure what Jay's problem was and needing to avoid a big scene, I smiled wide at him, hoping to head off any problems. "You made it!"

His gaze slid to me and heated instantly.

This time I blushed, and it was for real.

I went to him fast and leaped at him.

He caught me and held me off my feet, leaving me able to put my lips to his ear. "Play nice."

He tightened his hold as I trailed kisses over his cheek to his full lips in an attempt to make it look like he really was the man I'd been waiting for. I was about to wiggle to get down when Jay surprised me, taking hold of my mouth with his. He thrust his tongue into my mouth, and my nipples hardened instantly.

I moaned and returned the kiss tenfold. My entire body ignited with need, and I had to force myself to stop kissing him. For a second, I was too shaken by what happened to comment. Two deep breaths later, I had my hormones under control enough to form a sentence. "Mmm, I was starting to think you forgot about me."

He didn't even bother to help with the act. Instead, Jay kissed me again.

I had to push on his chest a good deal to get him to stop when, in truth, I wanted him to continue. When finished, I let out a nervous giggle, sounding like some of the bubble-headed chicks who had been at the bar near me earlier.

Jay set me down gently and took my hand in his as he cast the vampire a look that screamed "mine." Guiding me through the club, he walked me right into one of the many small rooms in the back. I'd been to enough vampire clubs to know the rooms were used for sex and feeding, which generally went hand in hand.

There was chaise lounge in the room. Decorative pillows were on the floor against the wall to the right. The walls were painted blood red, which was ironic when one thought about it. And sound-absorbing panels were placed strategically, no doubt to block screams.

"Is anyone listening?" I asked, knowing his shifter hearing was far superior to a slayer's.

"No," he said, his breathing hard.

"Where's your date?" I asked, knowing Jay liked the ladies. "I'm sorry I pulled you away from her. I'll explain the kissing bit. Sorry."

He touched my cheek. "I'm here alone."

I lifted a brow. "For real?"

He nodded.

"Jay, you're smart enough to know this club doesn't cater to your kind. I've only seen a handful of shifters here tonight, and the vibe they've let off is not great."

As an alpha wolf shifter, he knew as well as I did that vamps and shifters often refused to play nicely together.

"I know what this place is. Imagine my surprise when I got a call telling me you were here by yourself," he said, his voice hard.

"What? Why would someone call you to report where I'm at?" I asked.

He ignored my question, only to pose one of his own. "You on the prowl for a bloodsucker to spend the night with? That what you're into now? I thought better of you, Gina."

I'd have taken offense if I didn't sense his concern for me. "Jayson, I'm working. I'm here checking out the club to report back to Zachariah. I'm not on the prowl for anyone or anything, or did you miss the way I threw myself at you to get away from Reynaud?"

He exhaled slowly, relief showing on his face.

"I'd have called you if I wanted to go out clubbing and this place wouldn't have been my first choice," I stressed, my gut telling me he needed to hear that. "I've been here over an hour doing my best to turn down a seemingly endless line of guys who do nothing for me. Well, the last one gave me a hinky vibe. He's more than what he looks like."

Jay drew me against him. "You shouldn't be here alone. They would gang up on you and tear you apart if they knew what you really are."

I put my hand on his chest. "Jay, one of them will smell what you are if we go back out there. You don't let off a dark vibe. They'll tear you apart too."

"I'm not worried about me," he said, keeping me close.

I couldn't look away from him. "I worry about you."

For a second, neither of us said a word.

I glanced around the room. "Well, since we have the place to ourselves, how about we get naked and rub all over each other?"

Jay stiffened. "Gina?"

"Relax. I was joking. Kind of. I want you safe, so you need to take a seat."

He didn't budge.

I yanked on Jay, tapping into my slayer strength so I could move him. I pushed him back and onto the chaise. He landed on his butt, sitting upright, his feet on the floor, his back to the wall. Wasting no time, I climbed onto his lap, straddling him. I then unbuttoned his shirt more, pushing it open.

"Gina!" he said, trying and failing to get me off him. "Are you trying to make me lose control here?"

"I'm trying to mask your scent with mine. Zachariah gave me something to help hide what I am," I said, grinning at him. "Now, rub yourself against me until my scent masks your wolf."

He licked his lips and smirked as he stopped trying to escape. He took hold of my hips, settling in nicely. "It's like Christmas and my birthday all wrapped into one."

I'd have laughed if I wasn't so worried that he'd end up a one-man blood bank to the vamps in the club. "Jayson, hurry."

He reached between us and adjusted himself. "Baby, the problem is going to be getting me to slow down. Not hurry."

Used to his humor, I sat up and eased the front of my already low-cut dress open more. "Okay, get to getting here, buddy."

He thumped his head against the wall as his hands found my exposed thighs, making my body heat even more. "Gina, I'm pretty sure I had this exact fantasy when I was a teenager. Okay, I had it yesterday, too."

"Having a chick on your lap?" I asked with a snort. "Somehow, I think you've made that a reality quite a few times in your life."

His gaze locked on mine. "Having a fiery redhead on me, pressing her chest against my face."

Groaning, I tugged on his shoulders, as the darkness I'd sensed from Reynaud seemed to permeate through the wall. "Jay, please."

Jay drew me to him more, his hands sliding higher on my thighs as his face pressed to my neck first. His lips skimmed my skin, at the exact location Reynaud had touched me earlier. Suddenly, I wasn't so sure having Jay mask his scent by using me was such a great idea.

He'd become my secret obsession over the past several months, but I couldn't figure out why. I'd known him for years and had never been sexually attracted to him before. It was as if someone had flipped a switch on my sex drive, and suddenly, it only had eyes for Jay.

The only problem with my choice of men was Jay cycled through women like there was no tomorrow. Well, he had cycled through them. I hadn't noticed him around any women in the last several months or so, but I didn't spend every hour of every day with him either.

Anything was possible. And I didn't want to think about him with other women.

Jay lifted me slightly.

I wrapped my arms around his head, effectively leaving his face right between my breasts. Thankfully, my groin was off his, or it might have gotten very damp down there very fast.

"Yep, my lucky day," he said against my chest.

As he covered himself with my scent, or rather the smell of the perfume on me, it was all too easy for me to picture myself naked on him.

When I realized he was more than covered enough to mask the scent of his wolf but was still going, I cleared my throat. "Jay?"

He kept his head where it was. "Yeah?"

"You're going to rub my skin raw with your facial hair," I said, liking the fact he wasn't in a hurry to leave the spot.

He released me and sighed as I eased off his lap. His gaze was hungry. "Willing to let me rub you raw with my facial hair in other areas?"

I lost it, laughing as I righted my dress. "We'll save that bucket list item for another day."

He stood painfully slowly, and then he reached for my hand. "Okay, I forgot why the hell we're here. All I can think about is how hard my dick is. I know I was pissed about something. I'm sure of it."

"I'm here to gather intel. You're here because someone tattled to you about me being here," I said with a smirk. "That ring any bells?"

"Nope. Still just thinking about how hard my dick is."

I chuckled.

"For real, this isn't a safe place. Fuck what Zachariah wants."

"What if more innocents are hurt because of something happening here?" I questioned, knowing he wanted innocents safe as much as me. Maybe more.

"The pack has their eye on this place."

"How many pack members have gained entrance?" I gave him a pointed stare. "I'm only asking because I didn't get the sense the shifters I spotted earlier were pack."

Jay glanced away. "So far, me, here and now."

I took a deep breath. "I'm pretty sure if I walk back out there and we pretend to get into a tiff, the master vampire here, Reynaud, will take me behind the scenes. I can see the inner workings and get a better idea of what's happening around here for us."

Jay's eyes filled with flecks of amber, indicating his wolf was surfacing. "No."

"He gives me the creeps, and something deep down says I don't want to have to go head-to-head with him, but Jay, I couldn't live with myself if he has something to do with the rise in violence around here, and I did nothing about it."

He backed me up against the door and put his hands on both sides of my head, his eyes still holding amber flecks. He was even bigger than Reynaud, leaving him towering over me. He was in control right now, and he knew it. Didn't matter that I was a slayer. "You are not to go near him again. If you do, I'll shift fucking forms in the middle of the club. Fuck who sees me."

My gaze hardened. "Jayson, you're being unreasonable."

"Me?" He huffed, giving me a look that left me cringing. "Uh, try another one, sweetheart. I'm the only one thinking clearly here. I smelled something more on him the second I entered this place. There is no way in hell I'm allowing him near you again. You can get pissy all you want. In the end, I'll carry you out of here over my shoulder, kicking and screaming if need be."

I knew Jay well enough to know he wasn't bluffing. He'd do it without thinking twice.

Grunting, I went to push him away, but the second I made contact with his bare chest, I found myself caressing it lightly. So not what I'd intended to do. Damn him for being so sexy.

"Gina?" he asked, his hand moving over mine.

"Shut up, Jay," I snapped. "If you don't like it, button your shirt. How can I be expected to argue with you when your hard, really well-defined chest is right there, close enough to touch?"

The slightest of smiles formed on his face. He undid the rest of his buttons and put his arms out wide. "Touch your fill. Really, take your time. I find myself in less of a hurry to get you out of here right this second. Fuck the vampires."

With a groan, I rolled my eyes. "Button up there, Casanova."

He did, but he buttoned his shirt all wrong while he stared at my chest.

I knew my little lap dance had teased his inner wolf, and that was why he was acting so horny. It was to be expected with alphas. It had nothing to do with him wanting to be with me.

Not that I could judge him for that. Right now, I wanted to push him down and continue the dance, only this time without clothes.

Damn your natural pheromones, Jay. How is a girl supposed to think straight?

Taking pity on him, I took over, buttoning his shirt correctly for him, leaving the top few buttons undone as he'd had them before.

He sniffed the air, his eyes moving from dark brown to amber as he tapped into his wolf more. He jerked me against him and nodded to the door as he lifted three fingers before touching his ear.

I was a great Jay interpreter.

There were three vampires on the other side of the door, listening in on us.

"Uh, there, right there," I said in a low voice. "Oh, gods! Come with me. Right there. Yes!"

Jay licked his lips, trying to avoid laughing at my antics.

"Ah, baby," he said, his voice deep. "Don't fucking move. Fuck! You have got to stop doing that thing with your hips if you want me to last longer next time. I'm not usually a man who is undone that fast, but damn, girl. You're fucking perfect."

It was my turn to crack up. I had to slap my hand over my mouth to keep from making a noise.

"Guess we should get back out there before people figure out what we're doing in here," he said. "Ready?"

Nodding, I pulled my dress slightly, partially exposing more of my breasts. I tousled my hair, doing my best to look like I'd just banged Jay. My hand found Jay's as I gave a sultry laugh.

He drew me away from the door and opened it, putting his body in front of mine as we headed out of the room.

"That was worth waiting for you tonight," I said, easing around him while ignoring him squeezing my hand to get me to stop.

Jay was right. Three men were there, looking as if they were having a conversation, but I knew better. All their gazes went to my chest.

Maybe my plan for the dress wasn't as horrible as I'd thought.

"Baby, wait a second," said Jay, easing up behind me, his hand sliding around me and finding my partially exposed breasts. He fixed my dress.

My gaze met the vampires', and I bit my lower lip. "Oops."

Darkness circled my feet first, working its way up my legs. I recognized the source.

Reynaud.

I had to hand it to him. He was persistent. And still as creepy as before.

At that moment, every inner alarm I had went off like there was a five-alarm fire. I knew better than to ignore the warning. My gut feelings had saved my life more than once over the years. And they were something that other slayers I'd met to date didn't possess to the level I did.

"Jay?" I asked, wondering if he felt the darkness creeping up to him.

He pulled me against him on the dance floor. He spun me around, putting my back to his front. When he moved, I stiffened. Every time I'd seen Jay dancing with someone, he'd looked bored and barely moved. That was not the case now.

It was hard to keep my mind on the task at hand with Jay grinding against me. I fell into sync naturally with him, as if we did this all the time.

We didn't.

I had to force myself to keep looking around the club, trying to get a full read on the situation before we hightailed it out of there. Even I wasn't crazy enough to want to take them all on by myself.

I noticed a fair number of vampires coming and going from a door I'd not seen from the bar. There were too many going in and out for it to be another feeding room.

A tall, burly vampire stood guard at the door, dressed in standard-issue bouncer attire. All black.

Glancing up and behind me, I met Jay's gaze, and he nodded as if reading my mind. Something was beyond that door that was important. His arms wrapped around me, and he tugged me tighter against his frame.

Jay kissed the side of my head, his mouth finding my ear. "We can go now."

I nodded, but neither one of us stopped dancing. I turned my head, and Jay jerked me hard to him, the lowest of growls coming from him.

The massive press of darkness hit me hard, and when I glanced straight ahead, I found myself staring directly at Reynaud. I'd never heard him approach.

Jay held me to him in a death grip, his entire body coiling. He'd attack soon.

Reynaud's gaze moved up slowly. He looked up and stared at Jay. "Your girlfriend is exquisite. I find myself drawn to her. Hold her close. You never know when another will snatch her away from you."

I planted my body firmly, afraid Jay would try to charge Reynaud. It would be a very Jay thing to do. As a wolf shifter, his temper was always there, just below the surface.

Jay surprised me by staying where he was. He slid his arms around me more, splaying his hands over my stomach. "Oh, I'm well aware of just how special she is. I plan to hold on to her and never let her go. I wouldn't want to be the person who tried to take her from me. They'll find out real fast that I don't share what is mine."

Twisting, I hugged Jay. "Can we get some fresh air?"

"Of course, baby." He stared past me at Reynaud. And while no threats were outwardly made, they were implied. Not to mention, Jay's expression said it all. He wanted to rip Reynaud's head off.

I pushed more on his chest. "Hon."

Nodding, he laced his fingers through mine, holding my hand as he led me through the club to the entrance. Jay kept going around the exterior of the club to the parking area. He all but dragged me behind him.

My gaze moved toward the far corner of the club's parking area. Three men were there, watching the club, their attention whipping to Jay and me. The man in the center had ink-black hair that hung freely down and over his shoulders. He stared right at me, his green gaze familiar. He rubbed his medium-length beard but didn't look away.

Neither did I.

At least not until Jay jerked me around in front of his large black SUV. It was one of several vehicles and modes of transportation I'd seen him with.

He ran his hands up and into my hair. "Baby, my place or yours?"

I realized then that he sensed someone listening in. "Mine."

He touched my cheek. "I'm sorry I was late. Work held me up. It won't happen again. And to be clear, if that swanky bastard in the club with the girl hair tries to take you from me, I'll fucking kill him."

My eyes widened. "Jayson!"

Jay shrugged, his hands going to my ass. He gave my backside a good squeeze as he yanked me against him hard. "You're fucking killing me. I'm about to put on a show if we don't get out of here."

I trusted him enough to follow his lead. He helped me into his SUV. My Jeep was parked a ways from the club. He shut the door and walked around, getting in himself. He started the vehicle and pulled out, taking his time to avoid suspicion.

Music from the band Loup Garou blasted through the high-end sound system. Jay turned it down, and I grinned.

"Busted. I knew you liked them."

He cast me a sideways look. "They grow on you."

We knew the band well, especially its frontman, Exavier Kedmen—or Xavier if you asked his wife, my best friend Lindsay… also known as Jay's ex.

When Jay was on the road and a safe distance from the club, he looked at me. "Why in the fuck would Zachariah send you into an entire den of vampires alone?"

I blinked. "What? No. It's just a club. Not an actual den."