Max

by Terry Bolryder

  “As for the fact that you’re a shifter, women accept shifters in this club all the time,” Benny said with a shrug. “You just need to tell her on a night that Lock is here so he can erase her memory if it goes bad. That’s my only rule with this place.”

  Max nodded. He hated asking Lock for anything, but the alpha wolf had access to powers no one else did.

  Just then, the office door opened, and Harley walked into the room. She was wearing an apron, and her red curls were pulled into a low bun. “Sorry, am I interrupting something?”

  “Max over here is just angsting,” Benny said causally, struggling to pull his eyes away from Harley’s red hair. “He’s thinking of coming out to Jackie.”

  Harley grinned. “For what it’s worth, I really like Jackie. I would lock that down as soon as you can. She got a lot of attention at the club last night.”

  “I know,” Max said sharply. “I’m not sure I should allow her in again.”

  “Nonsense,” Harley said, sitting on a stool and taking Lionel from Benny. “You scent-marked her, right? You don’t have to go all the way for that.”

  Max narrowed his eyes. “For a human, she knows a lot about us.”

  Benny shrugged. “With all the time she spends here, you know Harley’s basically an honorary shifter by now.”

  Harley flushed at the compliment and continued to coo over Lionel. Lionel cuddled into her shirt and, to Max’s surprise, began to let out a soft purr.

  “Hey, that’s the first time he’s done that,” Max said. “Boo.”

  Harley smiled. “It’s just because you’ve taken such good care of him.” She snuggled Lionel close. “Are you sure you want to keep him? Because I’d love to give him a home.”

  Max considered it for a moment. “I’d have to ask Jackie if it’s okay.”

  “Well, just know there’s a place for him with me or if you ever need a cat sitter.”

  Max nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate that.” All he knew was that Jackie couldn’t have a cat at her place. Then again, if she moved in with him…

  He shook his head. “I’m still not sure what I should do here.”

  “Listen to your heart,” Benny said, but he seemed to be distracted by watching Harley cuddle Lionel. If Max wasn’t wrong, he almost seemed a little jealous.

  If Benny didn’t make a move soon, he’d be another stupid bear in a long line of stupid bears.

  Max didn’t want to see that.

  Just then, they were all distracted as the front door to the bar opened with a jingling sound.

  “How’s my kitten doing?” A deep voice boomed as Lock walked in through the main entrance. He was wearing ridiculous amounts of leather as usual, covered from head to toe except for his forearms.

  “Your kitten?” Max asked, looking up with a scowl.

  Lock cocked a hip, leaning on the counter. Today, his purplish-brown hair was half up, a style that would have looked silly on anyone less ruggedly handsome. “I helped you go home and take care of it. It should be at least partially mine.”

  Max frowned a frown he felt all the way down to his toes. “You are the last person who deserves to take any credit where Lionel is concerned.”

  “Boo.” Lock grinned over at Lionel. “Still, not deserving something never stopped me from taking it before.”

  As Max’s brows screwed up, Lock strode over to Harley and Lionel.

  “Oh, look at this cute little fucker,” Lock said, reaching forward as Harley jerked back from him. “Come on. Let Uncle Lock give you a scratch.”

  “Ew, no,” Harley said, handing the kitten back over to Benny. “Don’t get your filth anywhere near him. He doesn’t need to get an STD.”

  “Shifters can’t get them,” Lock said with a smug grin, flashing white teeth. “So if you’re ever interested in exploring things with an alpha wolf, Harley, let me know.”

  As Harley made a face as if she’d been offered rotten bologna, Benny stood to subtly place himself between her and Lock.

  Lock let out a deep sigh. “You big spoilsport.” He glanced down at Lionel, who was resting contentedly in Benny’s hand. “Can I at least hold him?”

  Benny pursed his lips. “I don’t know. If you fuck up, you’ll have a very angry lion on your hands.”

  Lock rolled his eyes, taking Lionel out of Benny’s arms. “I already have a very angry lion on my hands most of the time.” His leather bracelets jingled as he held Lionel up in front of him with one hand. “But even I wouldn’t hurt a kitten. What was his name again?”

  “Lionel,” Max said flatly. “And support him better, or I’m taking him back.”

  Lock handed the kitten back to Max. “Fine. I’m bored with him anyway.” Though, his eyes continued to watch Lionel. “So anything new around here since I’ve been gone?” He lightly elbowed Max. “How are things going with Jackie? If you’re done with her, I might want to—”

  Max moved in a second, handing Lionel back to Harley as he stepped in front of Lock, caging him in with a hand on either side of the counter.

  “Don’t speak her name with that filthy mouth,” Max growled.

  Lock looked up at him lazily, though the look in his sunset-orange eyes was sharp. “Oh? More than a one-night stand? Has the legendary human hater found a mate?” He snorted. “Interesting, considering you see even most shifters as beneath you.”

  Max slammed his hands on the counter again. “It doesn’t matter what she is to me, she is nothing to you, you piece of literal dog shit.”

  “Careful,” Lock said quietly. “You need me, and I don’t take kindly to being threatened.”

  “You shouldn’t have talked about his mate.” Benny cut in. “I mean, come on, Lock. There are limits.”

  “So he’s allowed to walk around insulting people and acting like he’s too good for everyone, and I’m not even allowed to make a joke once in a while?”

  Benny sighed. “Given how many people you’ve slept with around here, it’s no joke.”

  Harley let out a bitter laugh. “Half the women in here have gone out with you.”

  Lock slanted her a glare. “That doesn’t mean I’ve fucked them. Maybe I just like to talk to them a lot. Maybe I’m looking for something in particular. Maybe I have my own reasons for starting this club.”

  “Benny started it.” Harley corrected him, folding her arms. “Not you.”

  “With my help,” Lock said. He shoved Max away from him, and Max stepped back, fairly certain at this point that Lock had gotten the message. “And be careful. Remember you need me to run it. How would you deal with some of the things that come up? A shifter tells the wrong person what he is… you need me.”

  Harley looked at him with a sneer. “Yeah, a necessary evil.”

  Lock put a hand over his heart as he moved over to Harley. “I’m wounded. How could you—”

  Benny got between them again. “You’ve got circles under your eyes. You need sleep. I don’t know what you’re up to when you disappear lately, but you need to rest up if you’re going to help at the club. Speaking of which, are you coming in tonight?”

  Lock cocked his head, making one of his earrings catch the light and twinkle. His full lips pulled up in a smirk. “Knowing Max will be bringing his lady to the club? I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “It’s his night off,” Benny said. “He can do whatever he wants.”

  Lock grinned, studying Max. Then he scented the air with that perfect, straight nose. “Hm. You smell different. Let me know if you’re going to tell your mate tonight. Who knows when I might take off again?”

  Then, with a tip of his head, he was gone, striding into the back, probably to the office that was for his use only.

  Max badly wished to see what was inside, but Lock kept a lot of things cryptic on purpose.

  Perhaps it was better not to know.

  “Well,” Benny said, slapping his knee. “I guess we know what we’re dealing with tonight.”

  “I still don’t know why you went into business
with that asshole.” Harley frowned.

  “There’s a lot more to Lock than you see on the outside,” Benny said contemplatively. “He’s been through a lot. Seen things only we can imagine. And if he has goals we don’t understand that just happen to line up with helping us, then so be it. I’ve learned it’s better to not ask sometimes.”

  But as Max glared at the door Lock had disappeared through, he wondered.

  Chapter 18

  When Lock didn’t come in for his scheduled shift later that night, Max told himself not to make a big deal out of it.

  Lock would probably be in later.

  “I’m sorry, but we might need you on the door tonight,” Benny said, walking over to where Max was sitting at the counter as they got ready to open the bar.

  The line outside was already forming, the lights were dimmed, and the music was on. Harley was behind the bar, all ready to start serving.

  But Lock was nowhere in sight.

  “I was supposed to hang with Jackie,” Max said begrudgingly, folding his arms. “I can’t do that if I’m watching the door.”

  “We’ll watch out for her,” Harley said. “That is unless you’re willing to go find Lock.”

  “No,” Max said. He looked at Benny. “You watch the door. I’ll work the floor tonight.”

  “Are you sure?” Benny raised an eyebrow. “You going to be nice for once? I can’t have you just prowling around growling at customers.”

  “I’ll be nice.”

  “Okay,” Benny said. “If you promise to behave yourself and do your job instead of only staying with Jackie.”

  “Speak of the devil,” Harley said as they saw Jackie appear at the back door, waving through the small window.

  Harley went to open the door, but Max was there quicker.

  No sooner was the door open than he was pulling Jackie into his arms, smelling her hair, feeling at home with her.

  Just being with her pushed the rest of the world a safe distance away.

  “Okay then.” Harley smiled, linking arms with Tasha. “We’ll just leave those two alone.” They walked over to Benny and started talking animatedly.

  “I have to work tonight, but I’ll be inside the bar,” Max said in a low voice as he pulled Jackie to a nearby table to explain everything. He pulled out a chair for her and then sat across from her, looking into her perfect brown eyes.

  Her long lashes fluttered as she blinked in surprise. “I thought you weren’t working?”

  Max grunted. “Lock was supposed to be on the door, but he didn’t show up.”

  “Is that normal?”

  That nervous feeling from before tickled Max’s stomach again. “No. He usually shows up, which is surprising, considering who he is.”

  If Lock didn’t show up, how was Max supposed to tell Jackie about what he was?

  Jackie was wearing a black blazer over a white silk tank and dark skinny jeans. Her hair was pulled back from her face, which was enhanced with perfect light makeup. A bit of highlight on her high cheeks, her lips dashed in red.

  “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” She grinned up at him. “I guess I’ll still see you a bit tonight, though?”

  “Yes,” Max said, hoping the hours passed quickly until he could take her home to be alone. His mind was full of thoughts of the night before, how it had felt to hold her, to make her come apart in his arms.

  How much he wanted to do it again. How much he wanted to go even further—but couldn’t without Lock.

  He bit his cheek so hard it bled a little, and he winced.

  “You okay?” Jackie asked, leaning forward to study him. “You aren’t… regretting what we did last night?”

  “Hell no,” Max said, running a hand through his hair, which was loose today.

  “Because I’d really like to keep going from where we left off,” Jackie said, glancing at him shyly. “If you’re up for it.” She reached out boldly, drawing her hand down his chest, watching for his reaction.

  “I… um.” He stared at her, almost forgetting how words worked as he luxuriated in her touch.

  “Hey, you two,” Benny said, interrupting them. “We’re about to open. You’ll have to save that for after hours.” He winked at the two of them, then walked back to the bar to talk with the others.

  Max stood, reaching out a hand for his mate. When Jackie took it, he knew it didn’t matter if Lock was back tonight.

  He could restrain himself with her. Have fun with her tonight while waiting to mate her if Lock returned later.

  Max was a lion, after all, a loyal and proud creature.

  It shouldn’t really be that hard.

  That night at Club Crimson, Jackie felt freer than ever before. Happy, content. Like things were finally going right for once.

  She moved to the music, her body feeling extra alive after everything she’d done with Max the night before.

  Just thinking about being with him again when the club closed made her body move more sensually. But unlike the other night, no one was bothering her. She was free to dance with Harley and Tasha while Max worked the bar.

  Harley occasionally went over to help Max out, but it wasn’t the busiest night.

  Jackie wasn’t sure what had happened to cause the men to stay away from her, but it was nice to just enjoy the music, the darkness, the flashing lights, the smiles of her friends, and her occasional glances at the man who was growing to take up all of her heart.

  It had even been easier to put up with her IT work, knowing she would get to see Max at the end of the day.

  She was infatuated; that was for certain. But was there more? She hoped so.

  When the current song finished, Jackie headed over to the bar for another drink, loving the way just a little bit of alcohol made the blood rush to her head, enlivening her further.

  Max was such a beautiful, giant man. Would the part of him below the belt be just as overwhelming?

  Harley was at the bar right now with Max, and she grinned at Jackie and Tasha as they came over.

  “Here. I call this the Nightmare Dragon,” Harley said, pushing a tall glass forward. It had red liquid with something black seeping from the top over it. “Secret recipe.”

  Jackie took a small sip and tasted a sour grape flavor over cherry. “Yummy.”

  “Don’t have too much of that,” Max said. “I’m not off work yet.” He looked around narrow-eyed at the other shifters. “I can’t watch the bar if I have to beat people left and right.”

  “No one’s bothering me,” Jackie said, taking a seat at the bar and playing with the stirring straw in her drink. “That’s nice, right?”

  Tasha slumped next to her. “I’m glad no one’s harassing you, but why are the men acting all standoffish? I came out to have fun.”

  Harley shared a look with Max, making Tasha suspicious.

  “What’s that? You two know something I don’t?”

  “Nothing,” Harley said. “It’s just… the club functions according to certain variables. Who knows what’s going on tonight?”

  Tasha glared at them irritably. “Feels like you two know.”

  Max shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Tasha, why don’t you head over to that group in the corner? Some of the guys there will give you a good time.”

  Tasha sat up, brightening slightly. “That okay?” She looked at Jackie, who nodded. “Great. I’ll see you soon.” She patted Jackie on the shoulder as she headed out into the pulsing, dark crowd.

  “She’s a hunter, that one,” Harley said, chuckling as she watched Tasha tap a tall man on the shoulder. The man turned around and eagerly pulled a happy Tasha out onto the floor.

  “Yeah,” Max said. “More of a typical human.”

  Jackie raised an eyebrow. “Typical what?”

  “You know.” Max waved a hand. “Just picking anyone who will do for the night. I like you because you’re not like that.”

  Jackie looked at Max in confusion, a little offended for her fri
end. “Why shouldn’t Tasha play the field? She’s not with anyone.”

  Max’s golden eyes widened like he knew he was caught. “I… You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t mind him,” Harley said. “He’s just grumpy and old-fashioned. And judgmental. He called Lock a piece of dog shit today.”

  “He did?” Jackie said. “What did Lock say to deserve that?”

  Max grunted. “I’d rather not talk about it. Suffice it to say, he deserved it.”

  “Lock’s an odd one,” Harley said. “Not sure I’d go so far as to call him dog shit.”

  “Can we not talk about him?” Max asked irritably. He was wearing a green sweater tonight, rolled up to his forearms, that brought out the beautiful tanned tones of his skin and contrasted with his gorgeous multicolored hair.

  “All right, I’ve had enough of your scowling.” She pushed him out from behind the bar. “Go hang out with your lady. I can watch things for a while.”

  Jackie was feeling warm from the alcohol again. As Max guided her to a table and sat with her, she couldn’t help wondering why he had exploded on Lock. “So the reason you called him dog shit, did it have to do with me?”

  Max’s beautiful golden eyes avoided her. Then he nodded. “Yes.”

  “What did he say?”

  Max kept his gaze sideways, showing her his beautiful profile with all of its hard angles. “He implied that if I was done with you, he would… I didn’t let him finish.”

  Jackie flushed, flattered that Max would go to those lengths to defend her. “I’m certain he was joking.”

  “Maybe,” Max said. “But that doesn’t matter to me. I’m serious about you. Even the thought of someone trying to get close to you enrages me. He should know that.”

  “Um, I would guess he does.” Jackie relaxed slightly. There was something nice about knowing Max wouldn’t ever let anything happen to her while he was around.

  She’d never really had a man that wanted to protect her, and it was kind of nice.

  “Just in case, you really shouldn’t trust him,” Max said. “You don’t know who he is.”