by Jodi Vaughn
“Officially, no.” Meadow lowered her voice.
“What does that mean?” Catty frowned.
“It means if you’re smart, you’ll drop all the questions.” Meadow looked around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation. “Talking about this, especially here, is pretty stupid. You’re asking for trouble. And I, for one, make it a point not to go looking for trouble.” She gave her a pointed look before striding away on her black stilettos.
Catty slumped down in her chair. Meadow was insinuating that someone in the club had something to do with Jill’s death.
But it didn’t make sense. Jill had been gone from the club for almost a week. If they wanted retribution for her leaving the club, then they would have killed her the day she left. Not days later.
“Catty, you’re on in ten minutes,” Celine squawked out over the buzzing of the room.
She nodded and stood. Her legs wobbled, and she grabbed her chair to steady herself. She sucked in a deep breath.
She was leaving. On her own. Or in a pine box. Either way, she was leaving.
***
Lucien finished off his fifth beer. With his werewolf metabolism, he didn’t even have a buzz.
He glanced at the time. Almost midnight. It would be packed at the Triple X. Which meant more eyes on his Catty.
His Catty? He rubbed his hand through his hair and shook his head. He was living in a dream. They were never going to work. She deserved to be with a male who wasn’t damaged. She deserved better than him. Not to mention how she would feel about him when she found out he’d lied about not being a Guardian. She’d never forgive him.
But it sure as hell felt right when he’d been inside her body. She felt like his.
He rolled his shoulder, where he’d been stabbed. The wound had long healed, and not even a scar remained.
He shoved away from the bar and stood. He tossed a couple of twenties on the counter for the bartender and made his way through the crowd to the front door. It was busier now than when he’d first arrived, and the noise of all the humans were grating on his nerves. There would be even more people at the Triple X.
He stifled a growl thinking about all the male eyes that would be on Catty. Possessiveness swamped his body until he was humming with anger. The urge to shift had never felt so strong in his life.
He forced his way through the crowd and out into the street. It was thick with people and he’d never felt so claustrophobic in his life. All he wanted was some fresh air.
He opened the front door of the Triple X and stepped inside. He cringed as the scent of cigarette and cigar smoke curled around him. The cool air was escaping out the front door, making the odor of sweat and body odor overwhelming.
“Hey sweetheart, you looking for a lap dance?” A tall brunette ran her hand across his bicep and up to his neck.
He grabbed her hand and scowled. “I’m not interested.”
Irritation flashed across her eyes before she recovered and pasted on a sultry smile. “Well, there are other things I can do for you. For the right price, of course.”
He took a step back. Was this something all the girls did? Was this part of the service? Had Catty done this?
He shook his head and walked away. The brunette called him a dick under her breath.
The music changed from an upbeat fast pop song to a slow seductive song. He scanned the crowd, looking at every blonde in skimpy clothes and trying to find the one stripper he needed to see. Some of the girls barely looked legal, while others looked like zombies with no life left in them at all.
Spying an empty seat next to the stage, he eased onto the bar stool and ordered a beer from a waitress. He glanced at the redhead dancing on the stage, but she didn’t hold his attention for long.
His gaze scanned the crowd, but he didn’t see Catty. Maybe she’d already left for the night.
The waitress appeared with his beer and he handed her some cash before turning his attention back to the stage.
His nostrils flared. Electricity seemed to skid across his skin.
Catty.
He could smell her, but he couldn’t see her. He turned away from the stage, looking into the crowd for her familiar face.
“Want to stick something in?”
His body heated at the smooth sound of her voice behind him. He slowly turned back to the stage.
His mouth dropped.
Catty was on stage in front of him on her knees. Dressed in a red lacy bra and panties, she hooked her thumb in the side of her underwear and tugged. His body tightened and heated. Her scent washed over him and all he could think about was taking her right here, right now, on the stage.
She smiled as she watched him fumble with his cash. He gave up and stuck the whole damn wad in her thong.
“It’s okay, Lucien. I’ll give your money back after I get off work.” She smirked and stood.
He might have been embarrassed, but he was too busy trying to keep his erection under control.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her as she grabbed the pole and swung around. Wrapping her legs around the steel, she climbed up. Her toned legs corded under the movement, and when she was high enough she held on with her arms while stretching her legs out perpendicular to the floor.
The men applauded and whistled.
All he could think about was how her legs could feel around his back as he pounded himself inside her body, their bodies slick with sweat.
She let her gaze wander over to him as she maneuvered her body around the pole. She circled the pole in a graceful movement and slid down.
Keeping her eyes on him, she wandered over to an older man and offered her hip to him. He slipped a five-dollar bill inside and whispered something to her. She smiled but said nothing. Some younger guys called out to her, but she stayed away. As he watched her work, he noticed she didn’t target the guys with a lot of money and attention. She usually danced for the quieter guys or older men.
Did she find them, in a way, safer than the younger men?
She knelt before him, careful not to touch him. He could see the desire in her eyes. He wanted to reach out and brush the hair out of her eyes. But he knew the rules and didn’t want to get her in trouble at work. He certainly didn’t want to get kicked out.
“What time do you get off?” he whispered.
“When we close.”
“I’ll wait for you and walk you home.”
Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second. “Don’t do that.” Her music ended and the next girl was walking up on stage. She hurried and stepped out onto the floor.
He stood and made his way over to her. “Why not?”
She looked around, her face pale. “I’ll get in trouble if I leave with a customer.”
Somehow, after what he’d seen tonight, he truly doubted that. “Okay. I’ll wait outside for you, then.”
“No.” She lowered her voice as an older woman with a clipboard and a cigarette hanging out of her mouth walked by.
“Catty, it’s too dangerous to walk home by yourself at two in the morning.”
“I’ve been doing it ever since I moved here.” She arched her eyebrow.
“And I’m here now, so you don’t have to anymore.”
“And how long is that, Lucien? You’re here on business. You don’t plan on staying.” She looked away.
“You’re not either.”
She glanced up at him and sadness flickered through her eyes.
“What is it?” He could smell the fear coming off her in waves, mixed with desperation.
“Nothing.” She shook her head and glanced around the room, fear dancing in her eyes against the lights in the room.
“Are you in danger, Catty?” He touched her elbow. “Tell me. I can help you.”
“Hey, no touching unless you are planning on paying for a lap dance.” The older woman with a clipboard stepped up to them and pulled his hand away. He fought back a growl.
“I’m willing to pay,” Lucien answ
ered.
“Really?” The woman’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, I’m afraid Catty doesn’t usually do lap dances. So you might have to be generous, if you know what I mean, to even tempt her.” The woman sneered.
“I’m willing to pay whatever.”
“Catty?” The woman narrowed her eyes and waited for an answer.
“I’ll do it.” Catty held his gaze.
“Just so we’re clear…” The woman stepped closer. The scent of cigarette smoke and bad breath made him hold his breath. “The Triple X allows lap dances in the special rooms. She can touch you all she wants, but you can’t touch her. That’s extra.”
“Understood.”
“Follow me,” The woman led the way to the far side of the wall of the club. There were no stages or seating areas here. Only a line of rooms along the wall.
He glanced in the occupied rooms. The doors were clear glass and even though they were closed, he could still see a lot of what was going on inside.
A brunette dressed only in a G-string straddled her customer and was rubbing her tits in his face. In another room, a redhead was bent over at the waist and was shaking her butt in a bald guy’s face while he grabbed her ass cheeks.
The older woman stepped into a room with a loveseat and a side table.
“I’ll need the money. It’s a hundred dollars for fifteen minutes.” The woman held out her hand.
“But—” Catty protested, but the older woman sent her a glare and she didn’t say any more.
“Fine.” He dug in his wallet and pulled out two hundred dollars. “I want privacy. If you know what I mean.”
“You got it.” The woman smiled and stuck the cash in the pocket of her slacks before leaving them alone. He knew right then the owner of the club would never see a dime. The older woman was stealing from the club.
Catty rounded on him and crossed he arm. “You overpaid. A lap dance is only fifty dollars for fifteen minutes.”
“I would have paid more.”
She stared back at him and crossed her arms. The silence between them as heavy and deafening as new-fallen snow.
“Why are you doing this?” Her voice sounded small and unsure.
“I want to be with you. Alone.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Her eyes softened. Her expression changed, shifted into desire and want and need. She stepped up to him and pressed her palm to his chest. His heart stumbled in his chest at the heat of her touch.
“Catty.”
“Shush. Sit.” She gave him a shove. He obeyed and eased down onto the couch.
She walked over to the wall to the built-in radio. She glanced at him and smiled before she pushed some buttons. A slow, sultry rock song spilled out from the speakers.
“Catty…”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “No talking.”
She stood and started to move and sway to the music. His body tightened as she moved with a fluidity he’d never seen. She knelt in front of him and spread his legs with the palms of her hands. She ran her hands up along the inside of his thighs and stopped inches from his crotch.
She trailed her hands down to his knees and slowly stood. Carefully, she straddled him and pressed her face to his neck.
“Be careful what you say. The walls have ears,” she whispered near his ear.
He rested his hands on her ass as she pulled back to look into his eyes.
He nodded his understanding. He mouthed Are you okay?
For now. She answered back.
She pressed her palms to his chest and leaned her head back, undulating to the music.
“How many lap dances have you given?” he asked.
“You’re my first.”
Pride swelled in his chest.
“Good.”
“You like what you see so far?” she purred as she looked at him.
“Yes.”
Her hands trailed down his chest to his crotch.
“You can’t come back in here, Lucien. Big Mike, the owner of the club, broke into my apartment and was questioning me about you. They know I’ve been with you. You don’t want to mess with him. He’s dangerous.”
He cupped her cheek and held her gaze. Anger flared in his gut and spilled out into his chest. “Did he hurt you?”
She frowned and shook her head. “It’s you I’m worried about,” she whispered near his ear.
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” He pressed his lips to the shell of her ear and inhaled her scent.
She moaned and tried to push away. “You are making it hard to concentrate on dancing.”
“I was hard the second I saw you on that fucking stage.” He pulled back to look at her. “What has you so scared?” he asked quietly.
She sighed. “One of the strippers who quit a week ago was found dead, out by the docks.”
“Was it drugs?”
She leaned back and scowled.
He pulled her into his chest and held her tight. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean how it sounded.”
“Her throat was cut.”
His blood ran cold. He tightened his hold around her waist.
“Are you okay?”
“Shush.” She leaned closer and continued to move her body to the music. Slowly she trailed her hands over his body, making his body respond with such a vengeance it shook him.
“Put your hands over your head,” she murmured.
He frowned.
“Just do it.” She leaned back and ground down on his crotch.
He hissed as he sucked in a breath in pleasure. If she kept this up, he was going to ruin his jeans.
He raised his hands and placed them behind his head.
She leaned in closer. “Be careful about what you say.”
She held his gaze before sliding down his body. She stood and turned around, settling herself in his lap and spreading her legs. She laid her head on his shoulder and pressed her bottom into his lap.
“Why have you never given a lap dance before?” he whispered in her ear.
She looked into his eyes while moving her body slowly to the music.
“I’ve never wanted to be close to someone before.”
“Until now?” His heart lurched in his chest.
“Until now,” she admitted.
She grabbed his hands and dragged them down her breasts. His fingers itched to tug the lacy material away from her nipples and touch her, skin to skin. Slowly she guided her hands down her ribcage and across her smooth, flat stomach. She stopped when she reached the top of her G-string.
“I paid more so I can touch you, Catty.” His voice was ragged as he sucked in a breath. His body was on fire with no relief in sight.
“Let me turn around,” she moaned.
She stood and turned around and straddled him again. As she moved to the music, she slid her hand around to her back and unhooked her bra.
His body pulsed with lust.
Slowly she slid her bra off her shoulders. He reached for her. She leaned in to his touch, pressing her breasts into the palm of his hand.
“I want you,” he whispered.
“Not here. It’s too risky.” She dropped her head to his neck and nipped him.
He groaned. He plucked her tight nipples between his fingers until she was breathing heavily and sliding up and down his lap. He could feel the heat of her core, and he knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“Five minutes,” the older woman called out as she passed by the door.
“Fuck,” he cursed.
“Not this time, baby.” She smiled as she bent to kiss his neck.
“When I get you alone, you’re going to be naked for an incredibly long time. Don’t plan on getting any sleep for hours.” He cupped her head as he spoke.
“Sounds good to me.” She flicked her tongue across her lips.
“I want you to be careful when you leave tonight. I’ll wait for you outside.”
“No. You can’t. I’m sure they’ll have people watch
ing to see if I am taking anyone to my place.”
“I’m not letting you walk home alone,” he whispered in her ear.
“Meet me at my place. I’ve got another hour yet before I can leave.”
“Fine.” He didn’t like it, nor was he going to let her walk home alone. He’d do what he did best. He’d keep to the shadows and watch her to make sure she was okay. She’d never know he was behind her.
***
“Something doesn’t feel right.” Granny sat up in her hotel room and glanced over at Haley. Her soon-to-be granddaughter-in-law was still sleeping peacefully in the next bed after a long day of shopping for a wedding and seeing the sights of New Orleans. They were supposed to leave in the morning, but the thought of departing right now didn’t sit right with her. Not after seeing Lucien.
She’d been surprised to run into him this morning and despite his attempts, she could sense he wasn’t telling her everything about what he was doing in the Crescent City.
He was supposed to be riding the Pig Trail. Barrett never mentioned anything about Lucien coming all the way to New Orleans. Usually when the other Guardians crossed state lines, the other Guardians knew about it.
Unease settled in her gut.
She might be an old woman, but her instincts were never wrong. Lucien was in some trouble.
She reached for the brochure on the night stand and flipped through the pages. She needed a good reason to extend their visit. A reason Haley would agree to.
She smiled when her finger landed on the page of plantation home tours having a bridal expo. She ought to be able to talk Haley into going to get some ideas for her own wedding.
That would give her a reason to stay another day and give her a chance to do some investigating on her own.
Then she’d get to the bottom of whatever was going on.
***
“You scared me to death.” Catty pressed a hand to her fast-beating heart and sucked in a breath when she saw Lucien step out from the shadows of her apartment building.
“Sorry.” A slow smile slid across his face.
Her anger was quickly forgotten when his eyes darkened. Her stomach warmed, and her heart flipped in her chest.
She was such a goner when it came to him.
He opened the door and she hurried inside. He pressed her against the dark corner, and his mouth descended on her in a fiery heat.
