Marcus. The system just flagged a mate. Your mate.
Chapter
Three
Carina couldn’t believe Karla had talked her into coming to THE new nightclub in town. The striking exterior grabbed the attention of everyone who passed. When the name had appeared etched in glowing red gothic font, Karla had vowed to attend the opening night festivities.
This was so not Carina’s scene. She would never have waited in line for hours. Once inside though, she’d vibrated with excitement. The atmosphere was electric.
Carried away by the energy of the room, Carina had repeated the somehow addictive words with the crowd. She rubbed the glowing moon on her skin. Why did this feel like more than a simple bar entry stamp? The decoration seemed to tug her farther inside. She had to be imagining it, right?
In the vast nightclub area, Carina paused to scan the room. Tables and chairs filled one section. A huge bar stretched along the entire side of the club with multiple bartenders tossing bottles as they mixed drinks and flirted with the patrons. Her body moved automatically to the throbbing music. Dancers gyrated on the raised platform that filled the rear section of Nightfall. What should they do first?
“Stop thinking. Dance with me!” Karla towed her through the bar crowd to the dance floor.
Carina scooted past Karla as she shimmied on the edge of the glowing dance floor. She preferred not to be on display, giving Karla the prime position on the outer edge. The music wove into Carina, distracting her from the presence of others. Her hips swayed instinctively as she raised her hands over her head. One song followed the next. Unable to resist the allure of the striking beat, Carina abandoned herself to the music.
Several songs later, a handsome blond man inserted himself between Carina and Karla. His gaze roamed over Carina’s body, making her instantly self-conscious. Her movements became awkward as she stiffened. Why did guys think it was okay to check someone out this aggressively?
“Hey, babe. Let me buy you a drink,” the man said.
“No, thank you. I’m dancing with my friend,” she answered tersely, trying to shift around him.
He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the crowd surrounding the dance floor. “It’s time for a drink. You must be thirsty after those moves.”
“Let me go,” she requested, struggling to free her arm from his tight grip.
“Hey, asshole! She said no!” Karla yelled, coming to Carina’s defense and attracting the attention of those around them. She wrapped her arms around Carina’s waist and anchored her in place.
Carina turned to appeal to her friend. “Help me get this guy’s hand off me.”
Before either could act, the tugging on Carina’s wrist evaporated. The two women stumbled backward, and the onlookers steadied them. Whirling around to glare at the culprit, Carina froze.
A security guy muscled the handsy jerk away. In his place stood a striking man in a snug Nightfall polo. His deep brown hair pulled back tightly from his face made his features appear as if chiseled from stone. Handsome wasn’t a good enough word for him.
Her gaze traced his impressive form. He could snap her in half without breathing hard. Power radiated from him. Carina shivered at the visceral response he evoked inside her. She recognized him instantly as a predator.
“Whoa,” Karla said from behind her.
Whoa, indeed.Carina’s heart pounded, but she couldn’t tell if her rapid pulse was from fright or arousal. The two emotions swirled together inside her. A surge of slickness dampened her panties. The immense man inhaled deeply. His dark eyes flashed with a red glow.
He couldn’t smell the excitement he’d inspired in her, could he?
“Damn, I’d jump on that man all night long.” Karla’s whisper reached Carina’s ears.
Without thinking, Carina whirled on her friend. Her fingers curled into weapons as anger and jealousy flooded her system.
“Carina? Are you all right? You look like you’re ready to fight me,” Karla said, lifting her forearm to ward off any potential attack.
A powerful hand closed gently around her shoulder. Instantly, Carina’s anger evaporated as the stranger drew her attention from Karla back to himself. “All is well, Carina.”
Unable to stop herself, Carina stepped toward the handsome stranger. His hand wrapped around her back, urging her closer. She didn’t understand what drew her to him. This attraction both thrilled and scared her—like he was a drug she craved.
Carina lifted a hand toward his face, rising on her tiptoes to trace the hard edge of his jawline. His hand wrapped aroundhers, pressing her skin to his, before he drew her closer. Carina didn’t passively let him hug her. She yielded to the overwhelming need building inside her and climbed him like a rabid monkey to bury her face in his neck. Rubbing her skin against his, she instinctively transferred her scent onto the massive man to claim him.
“Yours, Carina. I am yours.”
At his promise, the link between them solidified. Carina didn’t understand anything that was happening, but that confusion didn’t matter to her. Nothing was important except for him. She sighed with contentment and relaxed against him.
