“Totally your fault,” Carina admitted, swatting his thick thigh playfully. Hitting him was like striking stone. His chiseled form redefined power. Watching him move had become her new favorite hobby.
“Do you dance?” she blurted when the thought popped into her mind.
“Frequently.”
That darn heat kindled inside her at his insinuation. Carina slapped her hands over her cheeks. Her motion made her notice her inner wrist. “Nightfall has the strangest stamp. I didn’t have to scrub it at all. It was gone when I remembered to check it.”
Marcus held out his hand for her wrist. When she placed hers in his, he brushed his thumb over her pulse point. The glowing moon reignited.
“It’s still there?”
“Yes, sweetheart. It will remain on your skin until someone revokes your permission to enter. It will only appear when activated by a clansman’s presence or at the entrance of Nightfall.”
“That’s so neat. Like a disappearing tattoo. But better. The glow is so real. It looks like a real moon.”
“I’m glad you like it, Little girl. I treasure seeing it on you.”
“Because it has something to do with Nightfall or your group?” Carina asked.
“Yes.”
She shivered slightly at the thought of seeing all the staff at Nightfall. Were they all vampires? His answer didn’t provide any explanation. What wasn’t he telling her? She opened her mouth to ask more questions when they turned the corner to come to a quick stop that rocked her forward against the bracing arm Marcus thrust between her and the dashboard.
“What’s going on?” She scanned the huge crowd that filled the street leading to Nightfall.
“The crowd wishing to get in has increased,” Marcus said. He carefully navigated his car into the secluded underground parking lot.
A flamboyantly dressed man appeared next to the vehicle. Carina recognized him as the head bartender. After helping Carina out of the seat, Marcus told her, “I want you to go with Titus. Stay with him at the bar. I will be there as quickly as possible.”
Before she could ask him any questions, Marcus was gone. She stared after him, already missing his presence as if part of her body had been ripped away. Looking at Titus, she asked, “Is everything okay?”
“Marcus will ensure it is. Let’s go on an adventure together, Carina. I have a new drink I’ve concocted. Want to be my guinea pig?”
“Is it good?” Carina asked skeptically. When Titus led her to the elevator, she froze. She couldn’t do it. The doors opened to reveal the stainless-steel, cramped interior of her worst nightmares. Carina backed away. “Um. I don’t do elevators. Can we walk up the stairs?”
“You don’t do elevators?” Titus asked, watching her carefully.
“Never. I live on the tenth floor of my building. I walk up the stairs every day.”
“I’m sure my old bones will survive one flight then. Come on, the stairwell is over here. So back to this drink, it is good. You’ll try it for me?”
She thought about that as they climbed. By the time they reached the turn of the stairs, she guessed, “You want a girl’s take on it?”
“Exactly.” Titus waved his hand again, and the door opened. He held it for her. “You’re brave, aren’t you?”
“Bring it on. Just don’t make it too strong.”
“I would never get Marcus’s mate drunk.” Titus waved her toward the large bar as they entered Nightfall’s main room.
Hearing Titus refer to her as Marcus’s mate thrilled Carina and made their relationship seem more real—not just something between her and Marcus. Keeping the tone light between them, Carina glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “You would too.”
Titus clasped a hand over his heart. “You wound me like a stake to the heart.”
“Marcus already let me know me that doesn’t kill you guys.”
“Uh-oh. He’s in trouble now.” Titus leaped over the bar and grabbed several bottles.
“For revealing your secrets?” she guessed, concerned both by the amount of alcohol he was combining and the implication that Marcus shouldn’t have given her any information.
