[Dark Hunter-Were Hunter 2] - Night Play

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Maybe he would be different.

  Or maybe he'll be worse.

  She wouldn't know unless she took a chance.

  Breathing in deeply, she took the dress from his hands. Bride McTierney had never been a timid woman. Occasionally she'd been stupid, such as when she'd let Taylor use her, but never cowardly.

  Bride met life head-on and she wasn't going to be afraid with Vane. "Six o'clock," she repeated.

  "I'll see you shortly," Vane said. He bent down and laid an extremely chaste kiss on her cheek.

  Even so, it warmed her every bit as much as a fullblown caress. Bride watched as he made his way out of her store.

  Outside, he actually paused to look back at her and smile before he put his sunglasses on.

  Hissing at the splendid sight of him, she watched as he started the bike, then rode it off the sidewalk, into the street.

  "Oh please, Vane," she whispered under her breath. "Don't break my heart, too."

  Bride took the dress to the dressing room and did her best not to remember how fine Vane had looked naked in here. How good he had felt inside her. The look of supreme satisfaction on his face as he rocked her gently in his arms.

  She hung the dress up and went to find accessories for it. She didn't know where he was going to take her, but she was going to look her best if it killed her.

  Vane made his way back to the doll store where he'd left Ash.

  He had a date.

  With Bride.

  Panic was already setting in. What on earth did humans do on a date besides have sex?

  He'd seen humans in the bar interact with each other, but those encounters had been similar to what wolves did. Someone would come in, look around, find the partner they wanted to claim, and take them home to screw them. Dev had told him from the very first night that that wasn't the way the human world normally worked. That some things at Sanctuary were different.

  The other, more subdued humans who came in were already dating or married to each other. They usually seemed to be having a good time… unless they were fighting. But Vane had never paid very much attention to them.

  He didn't know anything about trying to make a human actually "like" him. He'd spent the last four hundred years of his life either killing those who threatened his siblings or trying to scare the rest away.

  What would make Bride fall in love with him enough so that she would agree to be his mate?

  After parking his bike on a side street, he went back to Liza's for some help.

  Vane hesitated as he entered the front room where two women were browsing the doll collection while talking to Liza. One of the women was an exact copy of Tabitha, except she didn't have the scar on her face.

  She must be Kyrian Hunter's wife, Amanda. Vane had crossed paths with the ex-Dark-Hunter from time to time, but had never met his wife. Marissa was in Amanda's arms, playing with her mother's hair. The other woman, a short brunette, he knew well. She was Dr. Grace Alexander, the human psychologist who kept telling him nothing would help his brother until Fang was ready to be helped. Grace held her son in her arms while Amanda stopped mid-sentence.

  All three women turned to stare at Vane, who hesitated just inside the door.

  "He's in back still," Liza said, as if she knew who he was looking for.

  "Thanks."

  He heard Liza explain who and what he was to Amanda as he headed toward the back room.

  Vane passed through the curtains to find the demon gone and Kyrian, Nick Gautier, and Julian Alexander talking to Ash.

  He knew Nick from the number of times the young human had come into Sanctuary to see his mother, Cherise. Nick was strange, but since he served the Dark-Hunters and they loved his mother, the bears treated him like another one of their cubs. Kyrian was slightly taller than Julian, with blond hair that was a shade darker. Even though they were mostly human, the two men possessed enough authority and skill that Vane respected them.

  "What's up, wolf?" Ash asked as he reclined against a worktable that was littered with doll parts and fabrics. Ash had his butt resting on it, with his legs stretched out before him and his hands braced on either side of his long, lean body.

  Nick, Julian, and Kyrian stood in a semicircle between him and Ash.

  Vane hesitated. He didn't relish the idea of a public consultation, but since two of the men were married to modern-day women and Nick was known to date a lot, maybe they could help him out.

  "I need dating advice. Fast."

  Ash arched a single brow at that. "I'm useless. I've never been on one."

  The three human men turned to gape at him.

  "What?" Ash asked them defensively.

  Nick started laughing. "Oh man, this is priceless. Don't tell me the great Acheron is a virgin?"

  Ash gave him a droll look. "Yeah, Nick. I'm lily-white."

  "How did you get through life without a date?" Kyrian asked Ash.

  "It wasn't an issue back then," Ash said curtly.

  "Yeah, well, it's a serious issue to me," Vane said, nearing them. "Julian, how did you meet your wife?"

  Julian shrugged. "My brother the sex god cursed me into a book for two thousand years. Grace got drunk on her birthday and summoned me out of it."

  Vane rolled his eyes. "That's useless. Kyrian? What about you?"

  "I woke up handcuffed to Amanda."

  Vane could work with that. "So I need to get a set of handcuffs?"

  "Not on a first date," Ash said with a smirk. "You'll scare her to death if you handcuff her."

  Kyrian scoffed. "It worked for me on a first date."

  Ash gave him a bored stare. "And so did having an insane Daimon out to kill the two of you. But I don't think Vane wants to go that route."

  "So what do you wolves do to date?" Nick asked.

  "We don't date," Vane said. "When a woman is in season, we fight for her and then she picks who mounts her."

  Nick gaped. "Are you kidding? You don't have to buy her dinner? You mean you don't even have to talk to her?" He turned to Acheron. "Dayam, Ash, make me a wolf."

  "You wouldn't like being a wolf, Nick," Ash said. "You'd have to eat raw meat and sleep outside."

  Nick shrugged. "That sounds Like a typical Mardi Gras to me."

  "What else?" Vane asked them, interrupting Nick's recitation of his Mardi Gras habits. "What did you guys do when you were human?"

  Kyrian thought about it before he answered. "Well, in our day," he said, glancing at Julian, "we took women to chariot races and plays."

  "Oh jeez," Nick said. "You guys are pathetic. Chariot race, my ass." He stepped forward and draped an arm around Vane's shoulders. "All right, listen to me, wolf. You get some cool clothes and impress her with a lot of cash. You need to take her somewhere good to eat. There's a place down on Chartres where you can get a two-for-one dinner—"

  "Nicky!"

  They all turned to look at Amanda, who stood between the curtains, glaring at them.

  "What?" Nick asked.

  "Don't you dare tell him how to date." Amanda came over and handed her daughter to Kyrian. "Have you ever noticed that Mr. Suave here seldom dates a woman twice? There's a reason for that."

  Grace clucked her tongue at the men as she joined them. "I swear, we should make all of them take a rudimentary dating course. It's a wonder any of you got married."

  Julian offered his wife a devilish grin. "I didn't hear you complain when—"

  She covered his mouth with her hand, then placed her son in his arms. "You two go home before you get into any more trouble."

  "And you," Amanda said to Ash, "are old enough and wise enough to know better."

  "I didn't do anything," Ash said, but there was a gleam in his silvery eyes that belied his denial.

  "Yeah, right." Amanda shooed him toward the door.

  Ash sauntered out as if greatly amused by the women.

  Nick started out after him, but Amanda grabbed his arm.

  "You wait here."

  "Why?" Nick as
ked.

  Amanda pulled a set of car keys out of his shirt pocket. "Because you are going to loan Vane your car tonight."

  "Like hell. Since when can a wolf drive a Jag?"

  Grace looked at Vane. "Can you drive?"

  "Yes."

  "It's settled, then," Grace said. She turned back to Nick. "Take the Jag to the car wash and for heaven's sake clean the McDonald's Happy Meal boxes out of it."

  "Hey," Nick said, his face offended. "That's a low blow. Those boxes are collectibles."

  Grace ignored him. "What time is your date?" she asked Vane.

  "Six."

  Amanda handed the keys to Nick. "Okay, Nick, have the car at the house by five-thirty."

  "But, but—"

  "No buts, just do it."

  They forced Nick out the door, then turned to face Vane with hands on their hips.

  It was a good thing Vane wasn't a goose. Even so, he felt thoroughly cooked when two women looked at him like that. He had a distinct feeling he was in for it.

  "All right. You want to date a human?" Amanda asked.

  He nodded.

  "Then come with us and listen well."

  Bride checked her watch. It was six on the nose and there was no sign of Vane.

  "He'll be here," she told herself as she checked her hair and makeup again in the mirror while trying not to see anything below her chin.

  If she did, she'd want to change clothes, and it had taken her a long time to get up the nerve to wear the low-cut, revealing dress Vane had liked. She opened the front door of her apartment only to find no sign of either Vane. Her wolf hadn't been back since he'd run off on her.

  She hoped that wasn't a bad sign.

  "Get a grip," she said to herself. She hadn't been this nervous in years.

  But then she hadn't been this crazy over a man…

  Ever.

  Someone beeped a horn in front of her gate.

  Bride frowned at the silver Jaguar that was idling there. Was that Vane's car? She grabbed her purse, locked the door, and crossed the courtyard to see a man in the driver's seat she didn't recognize.

  "Can I help you?" she asked as she drew near.

  Around her own age, the man was extremely good-looking, with about a day's growth of beard on his face. Dressed in a tacky blue Hawaiian shirt, he had dark brown hair and a charming grin.

  "Are you Bride?" he asked.

  "Yes."

  He got out of the car and pulled his sunglasses off to show her a set of beautiful blue eyes. "Nick Gautier," he said, holding his hand out to her. "I'm your chauffeur, sort of."

  "My chauffeur?"

  "Yeah, Vane got tied up, and they told me to get my butt over here and make sure you got to the restaurant on time with no waiting. He said he'd meet you there."

  Nick walked to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for her.

  Bride got in and adjusted her dress while Nick came around to the other side.

  "Do you work for Vane?" she asked as he slammed his door shut.

  Nick laughed out loud. "Nah. But I've learned not to argue with my boss's wife. She might look all nice and sweet, but she's a nasty thing when you get her riled. Amanda said for me to do this, so here I am not making her angry."

  He threw the car in reverse and almost gave her whiplash as he spun it around and stomped on the accelerator.

  Bride suddenly had second thoughts about being in the car with Nick. He was an odd man.

  Who couldn't drive.

  He drove them a few blocks over to Royal Street, which was now open for traffic, and pulled up in front of Brennan's Restaurant.

  Bride expected Nick to get out again and open the door for her, but he didn't.

  "He said he'd meet you inside as soon as he could."

  "Okay." She let herself out.

  Nick took off, tires squealing, the minute she was on the sidewalk.

  Okay… he must have had something else to do.

  Bride adjusted her beaded shawl around her bare shoulders and glanced about, hoping for a sign of Vane.

  There wasn't one.

  Gathering her failing courage, she opened the door and went inside. A young woman dressed in a white blouse and black skirt was at the maître d' stand. "May I help you?"

  "Um, yes. I was supposed to meet someone here for dinner. Vane Kattalakis."

  The girl looked over her ledger. "I'm sorry, we don't have a reservation for anyone by that name."

  Bride's heart sank. "Are you sure?"

  The woman turned the ledger to face her. "It's with alright?"

  Bride scanned the names. Her stomach tightened even more when she spotted a familiar name.

  Taylor Winthrop.

  She wanted to die right there in the foyer. Brennan's was her favorite restaurant and Taylor had refused to bring her here. He'd always said it was too pricey for him and that he couldn't see spending that kind of money on a single meal.

  What he'd meant was that he didn't want to spend it on her.

  She was a fool.

  "Thank you," Bride said, stepping away. She balled her hands up in her shawl as she debated what she should do.

  All of a sudden, she felt like she was fifteen again, waiting for her prom date to show.

  He never had.

  He'd found someone else to take and hadn't even bothered to tell her. She'd learned about it the next day from a friend. And when Tabitha had found out, she'd put liquid heat in the guy's jockstrap and a poison-ivy potion in his underwear.

  Bride loved Tabitha to this day for that.

  But there was no Tabitha here tonight to make it better. Surely Vane wouldn't be so cruel.

  Would he?

  Had this all been some kind of set-up?

  No. He'd be here.

  Her stomach in knots, she waited a full ten minutes before the door opened. Bride turned, hoping to see Vane. Instead, it was Taylor with a tall, black-haired woman. She wasn't overly pretty, but the woman had the body of a brick house.

  Taylor pulled up short the instant he saw her.

  Bride derived a small, evil bit of satisfaction to see that he had a black eye from his earlier encounter with Vane.

  He raked her with a sneer. "Meeting your parents here, Bride?"

  "No," she said. "I'm waiting for my date."

  He leaned over and whispered something in the woman's ear. She looked at Bride and laughed.

  At that moment, Bride felt so small that it was all she could do not to run from the restaurant. But she refused to give him the satisfaction.

  A male maître d' approached from the back of the restaurant. "May I help you, sir?"

  "Yes, we have a reservation for two for Taylor Winthrop. And make sure you give us a romantic, secluded table."

  The maître d' checked his name off the list and nodded. "It'll be just a few minutes, Mr. Winthrop."

  Taylor passed the man a tip. The maître d' turned to her. "May I help you, madam?"

  She felt her face heat up. "There was a mix-up with our reservations. I'm just waiting for my date to arrive."

  The man nodded again while Taylor laughed at her.

  "That's what happens when you date losers," he said to the woman with him.

  Bride's first instinct was to return the insult, but in truth she felt sorry for Taylor's trophy date. The poor woman had no idea what a snake she was dining with.

  She just hoped the woman never found out.

  Bride pulled her shawl up higher over her shoulders and felt three times more self-conscious. Of course, it didn't help that Taylor and his date kept looking over at her, whispering and then laughing.

  She wanted to die.

  Just as she was about to leave, the door finally opened and in came Vane.

  He was devastating. Dressed in a black Armani suit, he had left his black shirt open at the collar, showing off the powerful tendons of his tanned neck. The ebony color really brought out the green of his eyes. His dark, wavy hair hung loose, and his face was freshly
shaved.

  He'd never looked more dangerous. More appealing.

  Sexier.

  Bride heard Taylor's date suck her breath in sharply at the sight of him.

  She half-expected Vane to look at the woman. He didn't. He had eyes only for her.

  He made his way straight to her side, placing his large warm hands on her shoulders and kissing her lightly on the cheek. She melted instantly as she inhaled the masculine scent of him and his aftershave.

  It was all she could do not to purr.

  "Why are you waiting at the door?" he asked as he pulled back slightly.

  "We don't have reservations."

  Vane scowled at her. "I never have reservations. I don't need them." He took her hand and led her over to the counter.

  The maître d' appeared instantly. "Mr. Kattalakis," he said, smiling. "It's so good to see you again."

  "Hi, Henri," Vane said, placing his arm around Bride's waist. "Is my table ready?"

  The smile faded as Henri's gaze went to Bride. He turned instantly contrite. "Oh, I didn't realize she was your date. She said…" He turned to Bride. "Madam, please accept my deepest apologies that you were kept waiting. Was it Tiffany who left you standing here unseated? She's new, but I will have her instantly reprimanded for it."

  "It's okay," she said, smiling happily at Vane as her heart pounded with relief.

  "You sure?" Vane asked.

  "Yes. It wasn't her fault."

  Henri breathed a sigh of relief. "I will still have a word with her and this will never happen again. I promise you."

  The woman with Taylor huffed loudly. "Why do they get a table without waiting, Taylor? He's not on TV."

  Vane turned toward them with a penetrating glower that shut both of them up immediately.

  "Please follow me," Henri said. "We have your terrace table waiting."

  Bride looked over her shoulder at Vane as Henri led them through the restaurant. "How do you get such great service?"

  "It's good to be king," he said with a shrug as he tucked his hands in his pockets. "Money talks and a lot of money sings and dances."

  Yeah, but still…

  They were led to a corner table upstairs that overlooked the beautiful courtyard below. It had a breathtaking view of the flowering fauna. Henri held a chair out for Bride, who scooted into it.

  Vane pulled out his wallet and handed several hundred-dollar bills to Henri. "Do me a favor. That guy downstairs… Taylor. Give him the worst table in the house."