Forcing himself to look away, he swung his attention back to the bride. “Congratulations,” he said, his voice huskier, and not because of the bride, as he slipped back behind the bar. “He’s a lucky man.”
Payne placed a rag in front of his face, and as he wiped the remaining alcohol from his chest she held her hand to the crowd, accepting the money.
The party quickly returned to their seats, or back to the dance floor to finish the celebrations. “So?” he asked as Payne counted the notes.
She looked up, lips tight. “I have to curtsey and smile on my next shift.”
Sam barked a laugh. “Have you ever asked what I did before this?”
“Oh, I knew you were a stripper.” Her eyes glistened as she handed him half of the tips, the rest going inside her back pocket.
“Wait, have I just been hustled?”
She blinked up at him innocently.
“Fuck’s sake,” he chuckled, pulling his t-shirt back on. “That’s the last time I accept a bet from you.”
“Why? You won and we both made money.” Her eyes glanced over his shoulder, her expression darkening. With a quick movement she pulled a coaster from beside the sink, carefully placing it on the wood. Sam dropped his gaze to the red explanation mark before turning, immediately noticing a man amongst a crowd of women dancing. He had pressed himself against a single woman, arms wrapping around her waist from behind. She looked upset, and although her friends were trying to pull her away, he seemed to follow. He gripped his hand on her upper arm, pulling her against him despite her clear protests.
“Shall I call one of the brothers?” Payne asked, ready to press the emergency button hidden beneath the bar. There were no bouncers, generally because they didn’t get too many problems, but then again, the bar had a reputation of removing troublemakers with more force than necessary.
“Yeah, it may be worth…” Sam didn’t get to finish his sentence, not when he noticed the sudden rage darkening the man’s expression. He was over the bar, and through the crowd before he’d even realised he’d moved, claws teasing his fingertips as he grabbed the guy by the back of his shirt and pulled.
The man came too easily, which meant he’d had a drink or two. Sam was strong, stronger than the average man, but compared to other Breed he was nothing special. He couldn’t tell what the guy was from his scent. Possibly human by the way sweat coated his skin, except his odour had a slight rotten edge.
“Listen when someone says no,” he growled, releasing the man so he could turn. They were the same height, which put him just above six foot, but that didn’t stop the man from trying to square up.
“I was just dancing,” he snarled, a red ring circling both his irises. “The bitch wanted it.”
Not drunk,Sam thought.High.
“Get the fuck out of the bar,” Sam growled, sensing the man’s weird energy, one that made his leopard uncomfortable. “We have zero tolerance for drugs and gobshites who don’t understand consent.”
Sam kept a cushion of air around them, their voices muffled beneath the loud music.
The man’s face scrunched up, and Sam jumped out of the way just as he launched forward with a cry. Catching the man’s shirt once more, he changed his trajectory, sending him into a poseur table in the corner. It crashed to the ground, the glasses that were perched on the surface shattering on impact.
Sam turned back to the bar and waved to Payne just as the man stood, his face as red as his eyes, humiliation fuelling his anger as he clenched a meaty fist.
Sam tensed for the impact, but before the knuckles could connect, a hand caught the punch, and Sam suppressed his growl as Axel stood there, looking pissed.
* * *
AXEL
Axel didn’t believe in the Fates, had never in fact believed in the women whom his Breed revered. But right then, he prayed to the three sisters, hoping Sam wasn’t working. He just wanted to continue his charade long enough until he could sneak home and wallow in his self-pity. And probably smoke again, because the pain was starting to come back, and soon he wouldn’t be able to hide the tremors without another hit of something even stronger.
“You mess with my gun again, and I’ll fucking kill you,” Titus muttered as they passed the front desk, waving a hello to the cloakroom staff.
“What?” Axel laughed, patting his cousin on the back. “You didn’t like the glitter?”
“I swear, one of these days,” Titus growled. “You just fucking wait.”
Axel grinned, Blood Bar a heap of activity as they walked inside. Most of the seating along the walls and in the corners were taken, as were many of the tall tables that were a recent addition. He wanted to keep his attention on the highly shined wooden floor but was unable to stop himself from sweeping his gaze across the room, drawn to the bar where he found the one person he didn’t want to see.
A princess crown glittered on Sam’s head, his blonde hair a straight curtain long enough it draped down his back, as a woman dressed all in white licked down his chest.
His very much naked chest.
