We were at the Gambit, and all I wanted was to drag them into my office and fuck them senseless, especially when the air was so heavy with sex and sin, and the deep, base music thumped through my body in time with the throb in my permanently hard cock. I crossed my legs to hide my predicament.
From my usual seat, lording it over the Gambit’s patrons, faces stared at me, some overtly curious or inviting, others with hate and fear. I didn’t care. It had been many centuries sinceI’d been concerned about what others thought of me. Even the haters wouldn’t dare attack. My safety wasn’t a concern. At least, it wasn’t for me. My personal guards may disagree, mainly because only Dav and perhaps Vito were aware I could kill this whole room in the blink of an eye and not get a drop of blood on my black silk shirt or bespoke Saville Row suit. Besides, those who visited the Gambit knew the rule. No violence. This place was neutral ground for all supernaturals. Everyone who set foot in my domain knew my loyal vampires would deal quickly and harshly with anyone who flaunted it.
The sultry music changed suddenly to a dramatic piece that hurt my sensitive ears. I hid my grimace. Normally, I could filter out the noise, but tonight I was on edge. I looked relaxed because that’s how I wanted to appear, but inside, the turbulence of my emotions was hard to control. Thankfully, the mingled scent of sex, sweat, and alcohol masked the scent of my desire. My attention fell on Shane once again. His chin lifted, and his nostrils flared, inhaling, before he stared right at me. His eyes glinted like the predator he was, and his lips tilted in an infuriatingly sexy smirk.
He raised a brow.
My already hard cock twitched in anticipation. Clearly, his senses far surpassed the normal for a newly turned vampire. I shouldn't be surprised. After all, he was an Alpha shifter, too.
Minerva huffed a chuckle. “Your new plaything is sexy as hell, Count.”
I remained quiet, my attention moving from Shane to Sor, whose flushed cheeks told me she’d noticed mine and Shane's heated exchange.
“Does he enjoy it when you fuck him, or does he only allow it so he can fuck her?”
I ignored her. She was a necessary evil. One I would tolerate until she no longer served a purpose.
It took all of my self-control to remain in my seat and not go and slam Shane up against the wall in front of everyone here. It didn’t matter that all three of us had spent every night and most of every day in bed, staining each other’s bodies with cum and sweat, biting, licking and kissing. I wanted more. I’d still not fucked either of them. It was too dangerous, not for them but for me. I was already second-guessing my plan and dreaded having to destroy them. If I got any closer and let my baser side take over, I wouldn’t be able to do what was needed to find the person responsible for the Blood Lust virus. It would destroy my plan….and me, if I got too attached and possessive over them.
I’d put off coming back to London, but my work had built up so much that I’d been unable to avoid it. Dav had returned with Elliott two days ago and resolved some of my more pressing matters. He had also held court in my absence. Tonight, I’d decided it was time to introduce Shane to his role as Sor’s protector while she was in the club. Vito watched him and would continue to until I could be sure Shane's fledgling status wouldn’t override his Alpha control.
The dramatic music came to a sudden halt, and Roco, my ringmaster, strode out into the fight ring with his usual flair. His flamboyant, brightly coloured silk dress and green hair were on his right side tonight, his left side dressed in a dark, well-fitting suit. My ringmaster was a demon, exuding energy and danger. His heterochromatic eyes, one green, one a deep red, surveyed the crowd as he performed an exaggerated bow and tapped the padded mat with his silver-carved walking stick. A loud bang resounded throughout the club, his magic carrying the sound right through the velvet curtains at the rear of the room and into the sex club and den of debauchery beyond.
“My lords, ladies, and gentlemen…” A sarcastic snigger and plenty of jeers went up from the crowd. “Tonight we have a treat for you…”
I listened with detachment, turning my attention to Shane, and then following his intense gaze to where Sor served a steady stream of customers. They exchanged a look. Shane smiled in that slow, sexy way he had, and Sor blushed before she turned her attention back to her customer. Her gaze flicked to me. I smiled a little, and her blush deepened.
Sor was a kind and genuine person. A rarity in this awful world. My protective instincts had reared forward like a tsunami when I’d first seen her at Nicolai’s. I’d wanted to kill Nicolai for the way he treated her, but that would have caused problems that I didn’t have time to deal with, not when my focus was on finding the source of the Blood Lust virus. I was working with Walker, the head of the SBI, and the rulers of each supernatural species, to stop the escalation of this war. The humans were reaching the end of their diplomatic talks with Walker and were threatening action against all supernaturals if this wasn’t brought under control. Stefan had made me his advocate in the UK and Europe, but I still danced to his tune, mostly—for now.
Sor’s happiness as she looked at Shane and then back at me was plain on her face, and I released a heavy breath to rid myself of the ache in my chest. Before I could school my features into my usual mask of indifference, a wicked smile slipped free. One that promised all the things I wanted to do to her later. When her eyes widened, I knew I’d fucked up. It was dangerous to show any kind of emotion in such a public place. It gave my enemies far too much ammunition against me. And I never smiled. I schooled my features and looked away.
The night dragged; even the fights were dull. Minerva sat at my feet, dutifully casting spell after spell to keep the fight ring enclosed in a shield and stop any of the participants from reneging on their deals and trying to escape. My compulsion, and the silver cuffs fixing my prisoners to the floor-to-ceiling poles, were enough to keep them where I wanted them—ondisplay. Others who would steal or conspire against me would think twice if humiliation, assault, and pain were their reward.
Elliot approached from my right, but I kept my attention on the crowd. He leaned down, his clean-smelling aftershave not at all unpleasant, yet it wasn’t the one I wanted filling my nostrils. It was totally different from Shane’s wild scent…
“The Shifter King is here with his queen and a small party of others. He wishes to speak with you.”
I dipped my chin. “Of course. The VIP booth.” The crowd melted from my path as I headed to the slightly raised, curved booth not far from my dais. It was kitted out in deep purple leather, with several large glass tables situated in front of the seat, making it more accessible. Subdued lighting illuminated the dark glass surfaces.
“Some vintage rose water for our guests, please, Elliot.”
Elliot unclipped the rope and nodded. I moved into the booth but stood, waiting for my guests, trying to hide the increasing tension in my muscles. I’d been expecting this, but maybe not quite so soon.
Connor strode across the floor, Ember on his arm, the crowd parting for them, much as it did for me. They made an arresting pair, and there was no mistaking their power. Connor was by far the tallest male in the Gambit, his immense bulk intimidating to most, yet Ember’s beauty captivated those nearby. Behind the King and Queen were Owen Brady, Myles, and D. The big Russian had a hard, scarred face, yet he walked protectively behind another woman. Selina Brady, Owen’s mate. My eyes narrowed as she peered around, her eyes catching on Shane. My nostrils flared. They weren’t taking him from me. Not now, not ever.
“Connor. Ember. It’s good to see you.” The lie fell smoothly from my lips.
Connor shook my outstretched hand, but his eyes narrowed. “Is it? Especially as you know why we’re here.”
I gestured to the booth. “It is. You are my allies, and my door will always be open to you.”
Ember smiled, her green eyes flashing with fire. She was a rare one indeed—a phoenix able to wield fire to her will. “That’s good to hear, Count. But there are rumours about how close you’ve become to Shane while you’ve been helping him through his—transition. We want to see if he is well. And see if he wishes to return to his pack.”
I raised a brow. “His pack? And which would that be? He was Alpha of the Canadian pack, but I understand that role is now Cain Rawson’s, is it not?”
Connor’s thick brows drew down. “Shane is a member of my pack, Count. He is a shifter, and that means he belongs to me.”
My nails grew, but to hide that sign of my utter rage at Connor’s words, I folded them in my lap beneath the table. My voice was icy. “The fledgling is not yours, Connor. He’s a vampire—a Made, and that makes him mine.”
