Taking The Night (Nightshade series Book 1)

by J F Posthumus

  Such sweet fellows, she thought. Here to make sure little ol’ me isn’t harmed.

  The song ended and another slower beat started. Selia slipped from the dance floor and headed back to the bar taking the edge closest to Bernie, just to annoy him. Sliding onto a bar stool, she waved to the bartender and ordered a soda.

  “Can I buy the lady a drink?” a voice said from beside her and she looked up to find a burly blonde leering down at her. His breath smelled like he’d had one too many drinks already and he had stains around his armpits.

  Selia offered a polite smile. “No thanks.” She slid a ten across to the bartender who accepted it with a smile and nod. “Not interested.”

  “Why the hell not?” the man demanded in a surly tone.

  Selia felt Bernie tensing up to jump the drunkard. She decided bloodshed would spoil the rest of her evening.

  “I'm waiting on my date. I got here early.” She shrugged. “Thanks for the offer, though.”

  “Oh,” the man said, and he paused as if considering her words, or at least trying to get his sodden brain to process them. “Well, if you decide you want to trade up, I'll be around.”

  She smiled politely and turned away from him. She knew when he finally wandered off because Bernie relaxed.

  “You got a date?” Bernie asked, as he sat down next to her on a bar stool.

  Selia glanced over at Bernie, a smile on her lips. “Nope, but he doesn’t need to know that.”

  “I wouldn't have let that idiot lay a paw on you, ya know,” Bernie said, almost defensively.

  “I know,” Selia replied. “But I'd rather you not get bounced for starting a fight when I could just brush him off. I'd feel terribly guilty if Alex was the only one being tortured.” She paused and took a sip of her drink. “I'm surprised you aren't dragging me out of here. Didn't you call Uncle Al and tell him that I'm disobeying direct orders by coming here?”

  “He's surprised you waited this long to disobey orders.” Bernie confided. “You might be a quiet one most of the time, but that doesn't make you boring or a recluse.”

  Selia chuckled. “Hey, I try to be the dutiful daughter to Soren!” She glanced up at the mirror, wondering if Wil had arrived and she hadn't realized it. “I promise to behave while I enjoy myself tonight, and I won't take anyone home with me, either.”

  “That really wouldn't be a problem,” Bernie assured her. “As long as it isn't someone from the opposition. Maybe your friend from the shower will be here tonight?”

  It was all Selia could do to not choke on her soda. “Um, I didn't call her.” She couldn't stop the smile from pulling at her lips though. “Besides, I already got chastised from Al about that ‘transgression’. I really don't want to anger him further.” She paused and turned to Bernie, something clicking into place. “Wait a minute... what do you mean that wouldn't be a problem? I didn't think I was allowed to have anyone over.”

  “No one that wasn't approved of,” Bernie replied with a shrug. “If Alex and me are here, we can intervene if you try to take someone we don't trust back to the bungalow.”

  Selia rolled her eyes and turned away from Bernie. “Great. I now have to have my would-be-lovers screened by you two. I think I'll wait until this is over before taking anyone home with me.” She gave Bernie a sidelong look. “With my luck, you two would have any guy who wanted to take me home running for another continent after two questions.”

  “Lia,” Bernie groaned, putting his hand to his heart. “You wound me, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, so it'd be more like from 'hello'?” she teased. “Gotcha.”

  It felt good, laughing and joking with Bernie. The fun jesting reminded her of more normal times when they’d hung out frequently. She sipped her soda, silently acknowledging how much she'd missed their camaraderie.

  Finally, she broke the silence, asking, “So, why were you and Alex sweeping the place? Did Uncle Al think I had found some hot thing from the other side?”

  “Just being cautious,” Bernie said, and took a pull from a longneck beer. “He doesn't know who might come after you, and it never hurts to check up on people. Most people didn't see Alfi turning traitor.”

  “There's only one way I would turn traitor,” Selia said softly. The heavy pounding of the music kept anyone from overhearing them. “That would be if someone murdered Soren, which I can't see happening. I have no reason to want to betray the people who gave me a home.”

  She swirled her straw around her glass. If they knew she'd fallen head-over-heels in love with the Sandman, they'd claim she was a traitor. The problem with that was, she hadn't moved against anyone in the Family, except Alfi. Would that change? She didn't know, but she did know Nightshade wouldn't go near Soren and neither would the Sandman.

  “Hello,” a soft-spoken male voice said, and her heart skipped a beat while her skin warmed.

  She turned and found Wil standing between her and Bernie. He wore an electric blue shirt unbuttoned almost to his navel. Tight black jeans were adorned with a spiked belt. He had a gold ring in his right nostril, and five more in his right ear. His wig was a straight black affair, touching his collar and covering his ears. Bangs stopped severely at his eyebrows. She didn't take notice of what kind of footwear he wore.

  “Would you like to dance?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she said with a smile, and looked at Bernie. “Would you keep an eye on my drink, for me?”

  Bernie rolled his eyes, nodded, and took a sip of his beer.

  “Actually, I was asking your hot honey bear of a friend to dance,” Wil said, his voice completely convincing in its bored delivery.

  Bernie spewed beer all over the bar.

  Selia burst out laughing. “Oh, my gods,” she managed to gasp. “I didn't know you could turn so many shades of red, Bernie!”

  “Gah, um...” Bernie seemed to be gagging on words. He wiped his mouth with the cuff of his jacket. He seemed to be gathering steam as he turned on Wil and said, “Hey, man, you need to-”

  “Ohhh, I get it,” Wil interrupted with the same bored tone. “You only dig other bears. I get it. It's cool.” He glanced at Selia.

  “Okay, you'll do, then.”

  Selia giggled and let her eyes roam over Wil. She'd seen nearly every inch of him already, but damn, the man was handsome.

  She grinned and gave a shrug. “Well, at least that means I’ll be safe from groping hands.”

  Sliding a hand around his waist as she moved around him, she snagged a finger in a belt loop and led him onto the dance floor. Pressing up against him, she swayed with the music. There was barely more than a hair's breadth between them. Her eyes twinkled as she slid her hands over his bare skin, enjoying the muscles that rippled beneath her palms.

  “You are evil, sir,” she whispered into his ear. The colored lights flashed and blinked around them. As they danced, she waited until the pulsing lights put her in the shadows and she nipped his collar bone. “Maybe I should ask Bernie if I can take you home with me.”

  “That would be awesome.” He dragged out the last word, making it last for several seconds, in the same bored tone. But he dropped a wink at her.

  They continued to dance, and she was surprised to discover that he was completely uninhibited. He ground against her, shook his hips, let his arms flow about him as if he were moving in water, and was, in a word, outrageous.

  “Want to make Bernie even more miserable?” he asked in his true voice.

  “Oh, yes!” Selia said, laughing, as she pressed up against him. “I'm more than willing to torture him!” She giggled. “So, what's your name, handsome?”

  “Brad. Now turn around and put that shapely butt out,” he instructed.

  She did, shaking her hips and dancing as if to invite him. Selia felt his hips slam against her bottom in time with the drums of the song. A playful slap struck against her right hip, and she turned around.

  “Brad” was staring right at Bernie while licking his lips. He continued to jackhammer at her
backside and slap her bottom on every other down beat in the music.

  Bernie looked like he was going to soil himself, throw up, or both.

  Selia smiled and shook her head in mock ecstasy to avoid laughing. She stole another glance at Bernie, just in time to see Alex tap him on the shoulder. Bernie flinched as though shot, bringing up a fist. Alex looked at him reproachfully.

  It was too much. She spun around, grabbed Wil, and turned him so his back was to the brothers. Once out of their line of sight, she burst out laughing, barely able to stay on her feet. Wil smiled at her, but he just kept on dancing.

  “And I thought I enjoyed making Bernie miserable,” Selia finally said, her laughter ebbing. “Pity you can't do the same to Alex.”

  “Alex would handle it better. He isn't questioning his sexuality,” Wil replied, knowingly.

  “Part of why I like him so much,” Selia agreed. She kissed Wil's cheek then bobbed her brows. “Want to meet Alex? Or would you prefer to wait until... later?”

  “No, no. We've successfully created your 'safe' environment for the night.” Wil chuckled. “No need to push it. I'll 'meet' him another time.” He paused and then chuckled again. “You know, I've met them both eight separate times.”

  “Really?” she asked, intrigued. “When did you meet them?” She paused, tilting her head to the side. “Does that mean you've seen me before?”

  “How do you think I've pooled so much knowledge about the Families, the dealers, and everything else?” Wil asked. “I do a lot of surveillance; and in the beginning it was all done without any cameras. I never do surveillance as myself, and only about a fourth of it has been done as... your favorite fellow. As for you? Yes, I've seen you before we met on the fire escape. But met you?” He paused, thinking. “You thanked me for opening the door for you at the Lascari office building, twice. No... three times.”

  Selia giggled and leaned against Wil as the songs changed and the music slowed.

  “You know, you could come home with me tonight,” she murmured in his ear.

  “I could, but I'm betting you ate all the Ben and Jerry's today,” he scolded her. “You meanie.”

  “There’s some left-” she started to reply, stopping in mid-sentence. She lifted her head and stopped moving. “Wait... you put the Ben & Jerry's in the freezer? But... when?” Her brows furrowed and she eyed him suspiciously. “How did you know I was eating it today?”

  He leaned into her ear and purred, “Man of mystery. Get used to it.” Then he kissed her earlobe.

  She gave a soft moan of pleasure and pressed closer against him, moving in time with the music again. “Keep that up and I'll be dragging you back with me.” She pressed herself against his pelvis as she rocked her hips. Nuzzling his neck, she whispered, “I have something to confess.”

  He nodded against her, encouraging.

  “I might have the magic, but you're the one who's enchanted me,” she whispered, nibbling at his earlobe beneath his wig. “I've fallen in love with you.”

  There was the slightest pause in his dancing. She felt it, but doubted Alex and Bernie could have noticed it, even if they were staring.

  “I feel the same way about you,” he breathed back. “But to be fair, you barely know me.”

  Selia laughed softly, her breath warm against his skin; she could feel him shiver from the pleasure. “I know enough and what I don't know already, I'm willing to learn.” She chuckled, and then nipped his earlobe. “I don't think my heart cares how little or how much I know you.”

  “The erection in my pants doesn't care that I am portraying a very gay man, either” Wil rejoined. “But you and I both know that once the excitement and adrenaline wears down, say on the trip to anywhere but here, the exhaustion, damage, and Ben and Jerry's are going to catch up to you. I told you before: I want you in the best way, and with no distractions.”

  Selia groaned and pouted. A part of her felt as though she were being pushed away. At the same time, she couldn't blame him for his choice.

  “But I wanna feel you more,” she grumbled, dropping her chin onto his shoulder.

  “That's fine. Feel away,” he said, and she could feel him smiling. “I can't let you get far from me until certain parts calm down, after all. That will probably take a while.”

  She snickered softly. “Well, I could take care of it for you, but you won't let me.”

  “Are you always this pouty when you don't get your way?” he said with mock exasperation.

  “Only with you,” she countered, giggling. Taking a step away, she twirled around, her dark brown hair swirling around her face.

  He pulled her back against him, and she felt that part of him that hadn't calmed down at all. He suddenly pulled out his phone and held it out away from them.

  “Smile!” he said.

  She gave him a warm, sultry smile. A smile meant only for him. He pressed his cheek up against hers and snapped the picture.

  “Okay, back to you being the one that'll do since I can't have Bernie. We have fun dancing, or we have a drink, or I'm going to ruin these pants,” Wil confessed.

  “How about a drink?” Selia suggested. “I'll be less tempted to seduce you that way.”

  “That's fine with me.”

  Selia led him to the bar, away from Bernie and Alex. She smiled at the pair and pulled Wil down beside her. They sat together, talking softly about normal, everyday life. From music to movies, to discussing their favorite TV shows. It was relaxing and felt more normal than anything else had in the past several days. Over an hour later, Selia's purse rang. Or rather, the phone in her purse rang. Surprised, she pulled it out, and upon seeing the name, groaned.

  “Hello, Uncle,” she said, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

  Wil looked at her, curious. She shrugged and mouthed the words ‘Big Al’.

  “I think it would be best if you call it a night.” Al's voice was calm and cool.

  “But it's just barely after midnight,” Selia grumbled. “I'm being good, too!”

  “The point is that you need to get some rest, and so do my gentlemen.” Al's voice did not waver. “Also, the later you are out, the more opportunity there is for... unfortunate things to occur.”

  Selia's eyes narrowed. She wasn't certain if that was a threat or a warning.

  “Fine,” she sighed, relenting. “I'll be a good little girl and go home. I'll even go home alone. This time.”

  “You have always been a reasonable woman,” Al said. There was a trace of something -- perhaps smugness, maybe satisfaction -- in his voice. “Feel free to go out tomorrow night if you want. The brothers will be available to maintain your safety.”

  “Thanks,” she replied, dryly. “Have a good night, dear uncle.” She hung up before he could reply.

  “Guess that's it for my night out,” she grumbled. “I can't tell if he was making a threat towards me or if he was truly worried about a possible danger.”

  “Hard to tell with his type,” Wil mused. “Do I need to sneak you out in the early afternoon for your meeting?”

  “Afraid so, handsome,” Selia replied. “I'm allowed out, but only with the brothers over there as my guardians.”

  “Okay. I will be in my usual spot in the woods. In the meantime...” He took her right hand and kissed it. “Sweet dreams.”

  Selia gave a sigh of longing. “You, too, handsome.”

  She kissed his cheek, stood, and headed back to where Bernie and Alex were sitting. Stopping between the pair, she draped her arms over their shoulders and leaned down between them.

  “Uncle Al called and said I've been naughty by staying out past my bedtime. He said I need to go home. Thought I should let you boys know and see who wants to escort me to my car.”

  Both men rose to their feet. A smile on her lips, she walked out, arm in arm, with the two enforcers.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  F or once, Selia woke before noon. Her body was no longer aching or sore and she felt refreshed. More like her usual self
.

  Fixing herself an omelet of bacon, eggs, and cheese, she ate alone, unlike the last time when Wil had fixed her breakfast. She discovered a selection of teas and made herself a cup of Earl Grey to complete her meal.

  A quick shower later, she stood in her lingerie trying to figure out what she should wear to her meeting with Lucien. She grabbed her phone and making certain it was the one for ‘Sandy’, dialed his number.

  “Can you bring me something to wear?” she asked, shoving mini-dresses and skimpy skirts to the side. There was nothing in the closet she could wear to a luncheon with Lucien.

  “Is it for your lunch with Lucien, or something else?” Wil asked her, sounding curious.

  “For Lucien,” she grumbled. “Though, I wouldn't object to wearing something you'd like to see me in... or rather, take off of me.”

  “Right, so business suit for lunch, French maid outfit for later.”

  “Je suis impatient de vous servir plus tard,” Selia replied in a sultry voice. She hadn’t learned French for nothing and offering to service him hadn’t been a slip of the tongue.

  “Okay. You have succeeded in distracting me from all else,” Wil breathed. “Wow. Are you fluent in French, or just at seductive lines?”

  “Oh, I'm fairly fluent,” Selia replied, laughter in her voice. “Not as good as a native, but I'm better than the average tourist or visitor.” She paused as she studied the contents of her lingerie drawer. “Of course, the real question is if you'll have that French Maid outfit for me so I can speak more French.”

  “You'd be amazed how fast I'm typing in my credit card number on the lingerie boutique website,” he countered, sounding hurried.

  Selia giggled again. “Awww, does that mean you won't have it by tonight?”

  “If it's going to go on your body, I refuse to buy anything but the best. The best isn't in New Campania,” he stated. “Well maybe it is, but I'm not looking all over the city when I can order it and overnight it for less than shops around here would charge for it.”

  Selia laughed. “Fine, you can take me out of the pantsuit later, then.”