When Lightning Strikes

by Sedona Venez

  He silently cursed as he thought of the million ways he’d like to find out how bad she really was. Light was tormenting him. Whether it was intentional or not, she was tormenting him. And until he was buried deep inside her, there would be no peace for him. “You really need to stop calling me Wolfie.”

  I COULD FEEL THE HEAT of Ryker’s stare as we pulled up to Redemption. His physical magnetism was palpable. I calmed my breathing as I glanced over at him. He had turned toward me and was sitting, patiently watching me. Shit, no man should exude so much sex appeal. His jet-black hair kissed his collar. His rich beard added a hint of roughness to his lean, hard face. He wore tailored black slacks and a black shirt showed the outline of his hard muscles. Ryker was dark, hard, deadly, and absolutely yummy. And he was trouble. Right now, all I could think about was how beautiful he would be completely nude. My body pulsed with need and I could resist my attraction to him for only so long. Months of denial, without sex, was coming back to bite me on the ass. Now my defenses were down.

  “Having second thoughts, darling?” His green eyes flashed. There was humor but steel underneath as he watched me as if he knew how close I was to laying myself at his feet and calling him “Sir.”

  I lifted my chin. “None.”

  He was enjoying my struggle. “It’s your call, darling. Let me know when you’re ready to submit.” He was all but laughing at me as his eyes glinted. Breaking contact with me, he opened the car. “Let’s do it,” he ordered, getting out of the vehicle, pulling me out as Rip and Jackal followed out of the car.

  I stared curiously at the people walking up to the entrance blocked by several huge security guards. A well-toned young man dressed in a well-cut suit greeted us with a cool smile. “Welcome, Alfero,” he announced, stepping out of the way as one of the guards opened the door. I didn’t flinch when Ryker wrapped a protective arm around me, tucking me into his side. He was so big; I felt tiny next to him. He led me through the entry and into a huge room crowded with people. The heavy pounding of the music reverberated throughout the dimly lit room, setting the mood for the anything goes vibe.

  My eyes widened as I looked around. The expensively designed restaurant was transformed into a club on the entire first floor. Rich fabric draped across the ceiling. Victorian styled birdcages with naked women dancing were tucked into the corners of the room. I almost giggled at the coy provocative aura of some of the women swinging back and forth as they sat on their perch like birds. I was like a kid in a candy shop, mesmerized by more women hanging from ropes attached to the ceiling, twisting like a washing machine before they intertwined and twisted like helicopter blades with each other.

  I checked out the room. My gaze stopped at a couple in the corner. The huge man pulled a skimpily clad woman to him. He tangled his hands in her hair and tipped her head back to take her lips. He kissed her thoroughly before pulling back with canines glinting. I blinked, watching with fascination as he kissed her neck and bit down. The woman's eyes glazed over with ecstasy.

  “This place is fucking amazing,” I whispered under my breath.

  The outer perimeter of the dance floor had several booths with high backs and wide sides facing away from the dance floor, obstructing the view and chance of any voyeurs. Suddenly, some of the booths swung to face the dance floor giving me full view of the guests attired in extremely provocative clothing, from latex to corsets and skintight leather. My curiosity was piqued when I saw one man dressed only in tight leather pants, kneeling beside a woman who wore a latex dress. His canines glinted as he bit the woman’s extended wrist.

  Damn, watching the sexual acts was getting me overheated. The scent of sex permeated the air around us. My nipples hardened. A couple brushed past, the woman leading a man with a leash strung to a collar around his neck.

  Ryker looked at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes before nodding over to the booths. “The guests control the booths, allowing us to watch.” Amusement sparkled in his eyes as he pulled me close, running a finger down my cheek. “Are you rethinking your stance on public play?” he asked with a sensual tinge to his voice.

  Something inside me tightened at his words. “Depends on my motivation.” I reached up, dragging my fingers through his hair. “Do you want to be my motivation, Alpha?”

  The live band kicked off a sultry rock song. Undulating bodies filled the dance floor, writhing and grinding to the music. Ryker slipped his fingers under the edge of my dress, caressing my ass. His eyes were intent on my face, as if he could read my reactions. My head fell against his chest.

  “No, darling. I need to see those beautiful eyes.” He grabbed the back of my hair, tilting my face to look at him before bringing his mouth down on mine. His lips were unyielding, clever, teasing a response from me. A stinging nip of his canines made me open my mouth, and he plunged in, his tongue stroking mine. My clit clenched, and everything inside me shattered with his kiss. My hands curled around his muscular forearms as a searing need burned between my legs.

  He had me wrapped around his finger and he knew it. He took my wrists and put my arms around his neck. Nudging my legs apart, he moved between them. Hand on my ass, he slid me closer until my sex rubbed against his thick erection. He took the kiss deeper, his grip relentless. I trembled all over. My hands dug into his wide shoulders tightly, leaving nail marks on his skin.

  He pulled back. “Is that enough motivation?” he asked with a husky voice.

  “Definitely,” I whispered. I wanted him more than my next breath. This was about to go down. Right here, right now. And I didn’t give a shit about the repercussions. Cupping my cheek, he sucked on my lower lip, drawing it into his mouth, his tongue gliding across it. And when he released me, a wicked smile told me he wanted me in no uncertain terms.

  Someone coughed, gently breaking our intimate moment. We both looked over, perplexed to see a lean, muscular man looking at us.

  “Alfero, welcome. I’m Jacque, Mistress Vivica’s assistant,” he murmured. “She would greet you herself, but she’s indisposed.” He nodded over to a booth with two somber-looking men standing guard. My eyes widened at the sight of a blond woman draped over Vivica while Vivica sucked blood from the woman’s wrist. Vivica looked up, showing us her canines in a sexy smile.

  Ryker acknowledged her with a curt nod while tucking me safely against his side. Rip and Soar flanked us, so three large and dangerous wolves effectively surrounded me.

  “Vivica reserved a private booth for you, of course.” Jacque stole a glance at me before turning away. “Please, this way.”

  I felt the change in Ryker’s attitude as we made our way through the crowd of half-naked gyrating bodies. It was cold and deadly. If there was a doubt in my mind of the dangerous beast he truly was, it was quickly erased. Even Soar and Rip’s lips were drawn tight in serious expressions projecting their menacing dominance.

  Spotting Reason, I stopped, squeezing Ryker’s arm. “I see Reason. I’ll meet you over at our booth.”

  Ryker simply nodded at Jackal. “Take care of her.” Jackal nodded back before following me across the dance floor.

  “Hey, sweetie.” I embraced Reason in a tight hug. Jackal came up behind me, no doubt keeping watch. I pulled back with a raised brow. “The stuff going on here is kinky, even for me.”

  “What can I say? My aunt loves to do it up kinky style,” Reason ranted with a devilish grin.

  My eyes widened at a naked woman strapped to a wooden X on the wall. The sight of the woman tied there fascinated me, her legs open and breasts hanging free. I shook my head and stared at Reason. “Aunt?”

  She shrugged. “Not related, but she’s been father’s close friend for so long that she’s come to be part of my dysfunctional family.”

  I winked at her. “So she’s the freaky aunt?”

  “What can I say…? Freakiness runs in the family.” Reason flashed her exposed canines at Jackal. “Hey, Jackal.” She smiled flirtatiously. “Would you like to take a walk on the vampire side and fin
d out how freaky I can be?”

  Jackal snorted. “Not on your life, vampire.”

  Reason looked him up and down with interest. “You know what they say… Once you go vampire, you never go back.”

  “I don’t care what they say, sweetie. It ain’t happening,” he commented. Reason blew a kiss at him before tossing her long auburn hair over her shoulders.

  I laughed, loving Reason’s attempt at foreplay. “Is there something I’m missing between you two love birds?”

  “He’s playing hard to get,” Reason whispered loudly. “Don’t think I haven’t seen you checking out my ass.” She stared at him impishly while shaking her hips and bottom in a twisting manner.

  “Twerk it!” I high-fived Reason, then smiled at Jackal. “Now where else would you see a hybrid vampire twerking but here, in this den of sin?”

  Jackal shook his head, lips curling up into a smile.

  Reason bit her lip. “Ah, there it is, that sexy smile that drives me crazy.”

  I smiled at her. The fun Reason was back with a vengeance, or maybe years of being celibate was finally catching up with her. Being cock deprived for a year could make anyone stir crazy. I’d never seen her so… giddy. I arched a brow, which could only mean one thing. She was really into Jackal. Shit, I didn’t blame her. He was swoon-worthy gorgeous, but clearly, he wasn’t into vampires.

  “One minute, Jackal.” I pulled her farther away from his hearing. Reason grabbed my hips and swayed to the heavy beat of the music. “Ah, Reason, you’re making me nervous.” Reason stopped dancing, giving me a playful pout. “Are you really going after Jackal?”

  She waved at someone before staring at me. “No. I was fucking with him. He’s hot and all, but I don’t need to work that hard to get laid.” She twirled her hair, staring at him. “But the sex with him would no doubt be fucking amazing.”

  “Say no to shifters, okay?” I grabbed her hand, diverting her stare away from Jackal. Clearly the men of the Alfero pack were sending everyone I knew, including me, into some crazy lustful ‘I want to fuck a shifter today!’ frenzy.

  “Really? You’re casting judgment on me?” Reason rolled her eyes. “And don’t think I didn’t see you dry-humping Ryker in the middle of the dance floor.”

  “It wasn’t dry-humping. It was foreplay,” I commented when something caught my eye. Ryker was holding court like a rock star as women gyrated suggestively, giving him his own private strip show. As if he felt my glare, he turned and winked at me cockily.

  “So how is it going with the Alpha?” Reason whispered in my ear.

  Reluctantly, I broke eye contact with him, staring at her. “Horrible.” I sighed heavily. “The man is a walking vibrator.”

  “Have you thought that he could be the one?”

  I scoffed. “Oh, he’s the one all right. The one capable of making me lose my damn mind.”

  “I’m serious.”

  I shrugged. “So am I. I gave up on that dream months ago. There is no “Bringer of Death” who’s going to save the day.” Like a moth to a flame, my eyes drifted back to Ryker and a woman who had finagled herself into Ryker’s booth, all the while flashing her canines and fake boobs in his face. Ryker stared at her with disinterest, but before I knew what I was doing, I walked away from Reason and through the sea of patrons like a woman on a mission. My steps faltered at the sight of a naked woman facing against a wall, hanging from shackled wrists. A tall, muscular man stood behind her with a look of pure joy on his face. With a whooshing sound, he smacked the woman’s ass.

  Holy shit! I shook my head and walked away, pushing at people as I bulldozed through the crowd to Ryker.

  “I’m your girl, baby!” the woman told Ryker, with an intensely sensual look.

  “Sorry, girlie. I belong to him,” I blurted like a nut. “I mean, this one is mine. So up you go and get to stepping.” I gestured for her to rise and exit left.

  The woman gave me a hard stare, and even though she had the appearance of a woman who wanted to bite, chew, stab, and choke me, I didn’t flinch.

  The woman ignored me and stared at Ryker. “So… does she belong to you, shifter?”

  Ryker’s eyes narrowed on me before pulling me onto his lap. He stroked the underside of my breast, his thumb rubbing the nipple. I felt the flare of heat between my legs, but I was having none of it. “Oh no you don’t.” I yanked on his hand with no success.

  “Now, don’t be rude. The vampire asked a question. Do you belong to me?” he murmured.

  I froze, realizing his words of possession excited me. I wanted so badly to belong to him.

  “Let’s see, shall we?” he commented.

  With a peeved sigh, I tilted my head up.

  Grabbing the back of my head, he brushed my lips teasingly, like he was discovering me for the first time. He took the kiss deeper, opening my lips with his own, coaxing me into responding. Under his slow assault, my mouth softened. Still deeper, he invaded my mouth, taking sweet possession. My fingers tightened around his hand, so he tightened his fingers around my breast. Heat kissed my pussy, and when he sucked my tongue into his mouth, I moaned, feeling dizzy from lust. He brushed another kiss over my mouth before saying, “Yes. She does belong to me.”

  He stared at me with an unwavering intensity as I licked my lips, still tasting him all over them. “Damn. That was a fucking good kiss, Alpha.”

  The woman looked at us, perturbed. “Lucky her,” she spouted before sliding out of the booth and walking away.

  My heart raced. Shit. What the hell did I do? I tried to scramble off his lap, but he placed a hand on my thigh and gently squeezed. I looked up at him, noticing his face had softened. God, this man was killing me inside. Every facet of him intrigued me, worried me, and made me want him even more.

  I grabbed his glass of scotch, taking a nervous sip. My mind was racing on a strategy to exit left before I got myself further down the rabbit hole.

  Ryker glanced over at Jackal and Rip, then back at me. “So, darling, what are you going to do now? Slink off and pretend this never happened?”

  I nearly choked on the scotch. What the hell? “Whatever do you mean, Wolfie?” I batted my eyelashes at him. “I saw vamp girl bothering you, and I came to help. It was community service.”

  “Community service, huh?” Ryker inquired in an authoritative tone.

  “Exactly.” I felt my voice escalate.

  Ryker wrapped a hand around my wrist. His eyes locked on mine in a heated stare before his fell to my lips. Damn, why did I want this man so badly? Our connection was broken by someone clearing their throat. It was the man who greeted us at the door. “Mr. Orlov is ready to meet with you.”

  I glanced over at the man, trying to pull my hand away, but Ryker guided my palm onto his thigh. My eyes snapped back to him. “We’ll be there in a minute,” he responded without breaking our eye contact. I swallowed anxiously when I felt the soft slide of our connection grounding me to him. It was as if my physical touch against his thigh ramped up our strange connection. This was dangerous. All I could think about was him and how my feelings for him were spiralling out of control.

  Is this physical attraction or something else?

  I couldn’t tell anymore, and it scared the living shit out of me. My thoughts were interrupted by Rip’s voice. “Uh, Ryker. We really should go if we want this meeting to happen.”

  Ryker pushed me to my feet, wrapping an arm around me as my knees buckled. He ran his hand down my ass, squeezing each cheek before slowly pulling down my dress.

  “To be continued,” he murmured, still stroking my ass.

  My back stiffened as I tried to move away. “There is no ‘to be continued.’”

  Without saying another word, he efficiently ushered me through the club and into the darkened lobby. The farther we walked, the more the lighting changed, growing ominous. At the end of the passageway was a fire exit and to our right were open double doors leading into a dimly lit room. My eyes instantly went to Vivica, who
was whispering urgently to Orlov but stopped with eyes snapping toward us with interest. Two men nearby flanked her sides, closing ranks.

  Orlov looked at Ryker frigidly before bowing his head slightly, never taking his eyes off mine. “How lovely to see you again, Light.” He offered me his hand.

  I smiled. Oskar Orlov, Reason’s father, was as debonair as usual. His perfectly styled hair accentuated his handsome good looks and lithe muscular body. I stepped forward to take his hand. Ryker wrapped an arm around me, tucking me into his side. I shot him an annoyed glare. “What?”

  Ryker gave me a stern look. “No,” he dictated. Jackal and Rip moved protectively behind me.

  I stared at him, knowing I had a couple of choices. Make a scene or respect his authority in front of Orlov and Vivica. I knew how important the power structure was among Others, so I opted to give him a pass in the presence of company. The minute we stepped out of this room, I was going to set some things straight with the Alpha.

  Orlov turned a hard stare on Ryker. “It seems Alpha does not trust me with you.”

  A tired sigh escaped my lips. Any minute now, they were going to whip out their penises and start marking their territory.

  Heads snapped toward the door when Reason burst into the room like the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels. Orlov looked at her with warm eyes, opening his arms. “Ah, there’s my little girl.”

  Reason stepped into his arms. “Cut it out. I’m not little. I’m twenty-three.”

  He smiled indulgently. “A mere baby for a vampire, yes?”

  Reason pulled back, frowning at him. “Never mind that, Dad. Why did you tell Stefan I was coming here tonight?”

  Orlov frowned, baring his canines. “Because it’s time to get familiar with your future consort.”

  Reason snorted. “Which is never going to happen. So you can stop meddling in my love life, Father.”

  Vivica cleared her throat loudly. “Orlov? Please, not this again. She refuses to accept him, so leave it alone.” She smiled at Reason. “How about a little acknowledgement of your aunt?” She moved forward and the two men held her back, looking at Ryker, Rip, and Jackal menacingly. “Stop it.” She swatted them. “What’s wrong with you? You know Ryker.”