First and Only: Ember Lane (Book #1)

by Kelly Goode

  ‘I won’t.’

  Sasha surveyed me coolly.

  ‘Come on then, Little Miss Innocent. Let’s get this party started.’

  38

  Working behind the bar wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d imagined. The customers were in a good mood, chatting and flirting with me while I prepared their drinks. I listened out for any incriminating conversations as Sasha suggested, but it soon became clear that if anyone was involved in shadier dealings, they were drinking in the private rooms.

  During a rare quiet period, I turned my attention to the stage. Sasha was an amazing dancer. Even I was slightly turned on watching her twist around a pole. The men went wild with each piece of clothing she discarded. As her routine ended, she offered them a few air kisses and jumped down from her podium.

  ‘Get me a bottle of water,’ Sasha demanded as she opened the hatch and retreated to safety behind my side of the wooden bar.

  I did as requested, watching her wipe a bead of sweat from her forehead, perfectly at ease in just a blue furry thong. I tried not to stare at her breasts, or compare them to my own lesser assets.

  ‘You did great up there,’ I said, nodding towards the podium.

  Sasha shrugged and lifted the water bottle to her lips but before she could take a sip, her face drained of all colour.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  She looked ill, as if she might vomit at any moment. Her face was sickly pale and I noticed her hand trembled as she held the water bottle.

  ‘It’s him,’ she hissed.

  I shivered, as the air around me seemed to drop by a few degrees in temperature. The fine hairs on my arms prickled with awareness as a man strode by. He was tall with long dark hair, tied back from his pale face. He wore a navy trouser suit with a white shirt. He’d left the top button unfastened, maybe in an attempt to appear casual, but the way he carried himself was anything but casual.

  This man was used to power.

  ‘Who is he?’

  ‘That’s my target. My individual part of the mission. He’s the owner and probably the only man in this place who doesn’t want to fuck me. Cold-hearted bastard called Darrick.’

  As if the man had heard Sasha speak his name, he stopped walking and turned to face the bar. As our eyes met, it felt as if the air left my lungs under the intensity of his pale blue eyes.

  ‘He’s a vampire, right?’ I whispered, struggling to catch my breath again.

  She nodded.

  ‘I think he heard you.’

  ‘Ah, shit. I keep forgetting about his enhanced hearing.’

  True enough, Darrick came towards us. Sasha subconsciously folded her arms across her chest, which made him laugh.

  ‘No need to hide your modesty, little succubus. I’ve seen it all before remember… I have not, however, seen you in my club.’

  I tried to remain impassive despite his gaze feeling as if he was undressing me.

  ‘This is Ember…my friend,’ Sasha said almost begrudgingly. ‘She’s covering the bar for Rochelle as she was arrested last night. Something about drugs….’

  Something about having drugs planted on her so that I could assume her role was the accurate explanation, and I just hoped the vampire couldn’t read my mind.

  ‘Well thank you for coming to our rescue, Ember.’

  Darrick said my name as if it was a fine wine he wished to taste. I remembered Harvey telling me I needed to work on my poker face and I hoped I was playing my part correctly.

  ‘My pleasure,’ I replied. ‘Can I get you something to drink, sir?’

  The vampire laughed again.

  ‘Unless you are offering me your neck, Ember, I don’t require a beverage this evening.’

  Sasha looked at me as if I’d said the most foolish thing in the world, and I suppose I had. You didn’t offer a vampire a drink without accepting the consequences. I was just grateful he’d seen the humour in the situation and not said yes.

  ‘Sorry,’ I mumbled, feeling my face flame with embarrassment.

  Darrick smiled kindly at me before offering Sasha a contemptuous stare.

  ‘Get back on the podium, succubus. You have work to do.’

  ‘But I haven’t even had a break yet. My feet are killing me,’ Sasha whined.

  ‘So dance barefoot, I don’t care. There are men out there who have paid to see some flesh, so go, now.’

  Sasha glared at him but seemed to know better than to argue. She rearranged her long blonde hair and then stormed out from behind the bar, picking up a feather boa on her way back to the podium.

  I went back to polishing glasses, uncomfortable with the way Darrick continued to stare at me.

  ‘Do you dance like Sasha, Ember?’

  ‘No,’ I said firmly.

  ‘Would you like to?’

  I shook my head. ‘No.’

  ‘Dancers make so much more money than the bar staff.’

  ‘I’m not here for the money,’ I said, which I knew was the wrong thing as his pale blue eyes immediately narrowed.

  ‘Everyone is here for the money. What other reason could there be?’

  ‘I’m just helping my friend,’ I replied.

  Darrick leaned closer and even though there was a solid slab of wood between the two of us, it felt as if he was touching me. Something cold ruffled my hair before settling on the back of my neck.

  ‘Dance for me, Ember.’

  I shook my head. ‘I can’t dance.’

  ‘Sure you can.’

  He was working some vampire juju on me. I could actually feel him influencing my thoughts. Tricking my brain into accepting that his request was my own suggestion.

  ‘I can’t dance,’ I repeated, trying to win the battle of wills but it was useless. My hands were already opening the latch on the bar and my feet were already in motion, taking me towards the changing rooms.

  Shit, I was really going to get up on that damn podium.

  And the vampire’s powers were so compelling; that there wasn’t anything I could do to stop myself.

  39

  Carter didn’t frequent places like this, but he needed to keep an eye on Ember and the best way to do that was in civilian clothes, amidst a group of rowdy men on a stag-do. He could feel how worked up the intoxicated men were. Copious amounts of female flesh had a tendency to do that.

  Carter could almost taste their anticipation as they knocked back beer after beer. He sipped his own with more caution and cringed at the chorus of wolf whistles as the next girl took her place on the podium above him.

  Carter had just taken a mouthful of beer when the girl was illuminated by a soft red spotlight, giving the impression she was on fire. She wasn’t wearing much, just a red lace dress. Her long red hair fell over her creamy white shoulders, and he spluttered as the liquid blocked his throat.

  It was Ember.

  The music started with a single drumbeat that had her rotating once, twice, three times around the pole. She had her eyes closed as she manoeuvred in time with the beat, swaying her hips suggestively as she circled the podium.

  She gripped the pole with both hands and tilted backwards, allowing the red strands to cascade down her back. One of the guys, most probably the groom-to-be from the state of him, made a grab for her, but Carter held him back.

  ‘You don’t want to get into trouble before your wedding, mate,’ he said firmly. ‘Security won’t tolerate any touching, and I’m sure your bride won’t appreciate bailing you out of jail.’

  The man shrugged in response and went back to drinking his beer. All other eyes, Carter’s included, were fixated on the redhead before them.

  The drumbeat quickened in time with her spins, and on the next turn, she hooked her leg around the pole. The muscles in her slim thighs responded, tensing as they took her weight. She held herself there for a few seconds before allowing herself to slide down the pole. As her bum touched the ground, she arched her back and bucked, clasping her thighs around the metal.

  The red light became
a powerful white spotlight, which shone through the lace dress she wore, bearing her completely. The sight of her breasts was enough to send a pulse to Carter’s groin, and he shifted to accommodate the tightening in his trousers.

  He watched in morbid fascination as Ember moved around the podium on all fours, keeping her arse high in the air exposing the smallest sliver of red cloth covering her pussy.

  Carter wanted to rip that piece of material away with his teeth.

  She stopped level with him and seemed to hesitate as she recognised him. Her cheeks flushed as she held his stare, but her eyes appeared glassy as if she was intoxicated.

  Carter knew he should move away from the podium, in case he compromised her cover, but the rush of testosterone was clouding the rational part of his brain.

  He continued to stare into her large green eyes, the urge to kiss her more acute than anything he’d ever experienced before. She licked her heavily glossed red lips, and his cock swelled again.

  The guy next to him slipped some money into her knickers, breaking the moment. Carter thought he saw the briefest look of humiliation on her face, but she recovered quickly and got to her feet, winding her way back round the pole. She finished her dance as she had started, by circling and thrusting against the metal.

  As soon as the music stopped, she sprang off the stage, sidestepping any advances from the men who wanted to talk to her. Carter thought about following her, but the voice in his ear brought him back to reality.

  ‘What’s the update, Red Leader?’

  Carter moved away from the group and lightly touched his earpiece.

  ‘No sign of the target, sir. I’ll keep circulating.’

  ‘Affirmative.’

  Carter rubbed his hands over his face. The truth was he wouldn’t have seen the vampire he was searching for if he’d stood right next to him.

  The only person he’d been paying attention to was Ember, and he’d seen more of her than was good for him.

  40

  I took my rightful place behind the bar, scraping my red hair back and securing it with a band at the base of my neck.

  Only an hour left until closing.

  I rolled my shoulders, surprised at how physically demanding dancing around a pole was. The inside of my thighs were raw from friction burns, and my hands were tender from gripping the metal so tightly.

  Damn that vampire for turning me into his puppet.

  I suppose I should be grateful that I hadn’t felt compelled to take all my clothes off. My jeans and low-cut t-shirt seemed respectful after that lace dress I’d cavorted in.

  The memory of Carter standing amongst the drunken men in the audience made my stomach twist. From the look in his blue eyes, I couldn’t tell if he was angry or excited by what he’d seen. I gave the area a cursory glance to see if he was lurking anywhere but couldn’t see him.

  I was about to start wiping down the bar when I felt someone bump into me. I turned to face Harvey, who was carrying a crate of beer. As it was a tight squeeze behind the bar, I twisted to one side to give him more room. Even though we were supposed to pretend we didn’t know each other, I couldn’t resist reaching out and lightly touching his shoulder.

  ‘Hey,’ I said quietly.

  Harvey blanked me as he placed the crate on the floor, giving me a perfect view of his firm arse in snug blue jeans.

  An arse I’d dug my fingernails into as I’d climaxed.

  ‘Is something wrong?’ I asked, wincing as he slammed the bottles of beer carelessly onto the shelf as he restocked the refrigerator unit.

  Harvey grunted and stood up quicker than I anticipated, catching me off guard. I stepped backwards as he advanced towards me. My stomach fluttered as I remembered how he’d moved like that before he’d kissed me.

  Harvey didn’t look like he wanted to kiss me now. He looked furious. His eyes were like black pieces of glass inside his face.

  ‘What’s up with you?’ I asked, following him as he went back for another crate.

  ‘Don’t test me, Red,’ he replied, his voice clipped with anger. ‘I’m not in the mood.’

  ‘Not in the mood for what?’

  He looked as if he was going to say something but then changed his mind, shaking his head instead.

  ‘I think it’s better if you stay away from me tonight.’

  That sounded like a veiled threat, and I wasn’t about to let him talk to me like that.

  ‘Better for whom?’ I asked frostily.

  ‘Better for the team,’ he replied, picking up another crate and walking back behind the bar.

  I followed him not willing to give up on the argument. His behaviour had nothing to do with the team. This was personal, and I decided to call him out on it.

  ‘That’s bullshit. Since when have you cared about the team?’

  Harvey snorted. ‘You know what is bullshit? You hopping up on that podium like a pro.’

  I clenched my hands into fists so tightly that my fingernails cut into my sore palms.

  ‘That’s unfair,’ I said. ‘I had no choice.’

  ‘No choice but to dance like a slut?’

  I recoiled as if he’d punched me. His cruel words made my head spin.

  ‘How dare you speak to me like that,’ I said, my voice stuttering with anger.

  ‘I’ll speak to you any way I want to, Red. I bet Carter enjoyed explaining that individual part of the mission to you,’ Harvey continued. ‘Tell me, have you been practicing your routine for him this week?’

  I wanted to slap him but refrained. I wasn’t supposed to draw attention but if he kept this up much longer, I’d set him on fire and be done with it.

  ‘What’s got into you?’ I asked. ‘When I said I had no choice, I meant it.’

  Harvey didn’t give me the chance to explain about Darrick and his glamour trick. He leaned in so that his lips lightly brushed my earlobe.

  ‘How long did you leave it before letting Carter into your bed?’ he whispered. ‘One night? Two nights? Or did you just fuck him straight after I left your room?’

  I felt my hands heat up, and a small flame flickered up and down my arm. I shook my head, breathing deeply through my nose until I had my rage under control.

  I squared back my shoulders and faced the beautiful demon’s reproachful stare head-on.

  ‘If you must know, Harvey, I only made the mistake of sleeping with one jerk last week.’

  41

  Harvey felt his inner-demon roar, begging to be released. The beast inside him wanted to hurt this woman in the same why she had hurt him with a few careless words. He yearned to crush her bones. Feed on her flesh. Fuck her broken body.

  The dark thoughts clouded his brain like a drug. And like a drug-addict, he craved a nefarious conclusion.

  Harvey took a step back. He needed to gain control quickly or one moment of weakness would void his contract and send him back to the detainment unit.

  He hadn’t expected to react so violently to seeing Ember up on the podium. The surge of jealousy had hit him like an electric current, and he’d wanted to gouge out the eyes of every man who watched her dance.

  Harvey recognised the distress in the depths of Ember’s green eyes and longed to rewind the clock. To be back in her bedroom. Buried between her thighs. Life had been simple then. Life had felt good.

  But life was not good for people like him.

  ‘I need to get back to work,’ Harvey said, turning away from Ember.

  Thankfully, she didn’t try to follow him as he made his way through the club. He needed five minutes alone and figured some fresh air would clear his head.

  Harvey scowled as he found the exit blocked by a group of men. The same drunken mob who’d shouted vile things at Ember as she’d danced. He felt his fury swell again and tried to find another way out.

  Although he yearned for a way to release some tension, he’d told Marilyn he had his anger under control, and if he were fired for punching a customer, she’d know everything he’d said in
his sessions were lies.

  As if fate wanted to test him, a large guy staggered away from the group and into Harvey’s path, spilling his beer over both of them.

  ‘Watch where you’re fucking going, pal,’ the man slurred, his round face bright red with the exertion of carrying too much weight. His blue shirt was stained with dark sweat patches, and his body odour was pungent.

  ‘I’m not your pal,’ Harvey replied evenly.

  He tried to walk away, but the man had other ideas, grabbing him by the collar of his t-shirt.

  ‘Where do you think you’re going? You owe me another beer.’

  Harvey’s immediate reaction was to break free. He ducked low forcing the man to lose his grip.

  ‘Don’t touch me again,’ he warned but the man laughed.

  ‘Or what?’

  Trust him to encounter someone who was wound up for a fight when he couldn’t oblige.

  ‘Or you’ll be sorry,’ Harvey said under his breath.

  The fat man lunged for him, but he miscalculated the distance and landed hard on the floor. Harvey smirked as he watched him try once, twice, three times to get back to his feet.

  Eventually, the man called out to his friends for help but they were oblivious to his distress, too intoxicated to check on his welfare.

  ‘See you around…pal,’ Harvey sneered as he left him rolling around on his back like the insignificant beetle he was.

  42

  I picked up the empty glasses from the bar and after tipping the dregs down the sink, placed them with the others that were waiting to be washed. I was still fuming with Harvey, who had long since disappeared into the crowd. He’d treated me with such contempt for dancing on the podium without even listening to my explanation.

  Just because I’d conceded to our mutual attraction, didn’t mean he owned me or could tell me what to do. What happened to no emotions and no strings?

  ‘Jerk,’ I muttered under my breath then jumped when a customer tapped me on the shoulder.