by R. E. Butler
“Of course. I’m sure she’ll find her truemate in good time, as will you, Galen. In the meantime, we’ll see you Friday night.”
“I’ll be there.”
They shook hands with the alpha wolf and left the hotel. As they got into the SUV, Alaric said, “That went better than I expected. I thought he might beg us to fight once more for him.”
“Me too,” Slade said.
Alaric said, “I want to pick up something to wear to the club tonight. Aubrey said there was a men’s store in town. Do you want me to drop you guys off at the hotel?”
Slade looked down at his worn jeans and tight T-shirt. He hadn’t thought about dressing nicely, but it was his and his mate’s first official date. He’d like to do it right, and that started with dressing the part.
“I’m in. What do people wear to vampire-owned clubs, anyway?”
“Aubrey suggested dress slacks and a dress shirt. She said that male patrons wear everything from expensive suits to jeans, but because we would be on Caleb’s private floor, we should dress nicely.”
“Sounds good,” Slade said.
“You can drop me off. I’ll go tonight, but I’ve got a pair of khakis and a button down I can throw on. I’d rather be training than shopping.”
After dropping off their youngest brother, Slade and Alaric headed to the men’s store. While they looked through the dress clothes, they discussed the hotel’s security and how to ensure that both their mates and their sister were safe while they worked.
Lifting a forest green shirt from the rack, Slade said, “I don’t want Gretchen working once she’s carrying my cub. I want to be the sole supporter of our family.”
“I feel the same way. Aubrey said she’d consider working from our room when she’s pregnant but that she didn’t want to quit entirely. Maybe once she actually is pregnant, she’ll change her mind. She said I’m being a Neanderthal because I want her barefoot and pregnant, chained to the stove in the kitchen.”
Slade chuckled. “She’s a little dramatic, I take it?”
“Just a bit.”
They spent an hour in the store, taking the opportunity to expand their wardrobe for their new jobs as well as for times when they took their mates out for a good time. The hotel security guards wore plain black suits with white dress shirts and black ties. After paying for their clothing, they returned to the hotel. On the first floor of the hotel, next to the gift shop, was a florist.
“Wait a sec. I want to get some flowers for Gretchen,” Slade said, handing his packages to one of the bellhops who hurried toward them when they walked in with their purchases.
“Good idea.”
Slade found a human woman behind the counter. She smiled and said, “The boss is out of town, so I only have whatever is in the cases. I’m not very good at putting arrangements together.”
“It’s okay. I just wanted a bouquet for my mate.”
“Oh, that I can definitely do.” She moved from her stool behind the counter and led them to one of three refrigerated cases containing flower bouquets and arrangements.
“Are you Aubrey’s and Gretchen’s new mates? I heard through the staff grapevine that we had some new people moving in. I’m Jocelyn.” She extended her hand, and both shook it after introducing themselves.
Slade chose pink roses for Gretchen, and Alaric picked white lilies for Aubrey. They thanked Jocelyn for her help and left, leading the bellhops to the elevator and up to their new homes on the fourteenth floor.
“I like this hotel a hell of a lot better than sharing that cramped camper with you three,” Slade said.
“Hell yes. I didn’t mind fighting for Jonathon, but I’m glad to be done with it. Having a regular job and starting a family has been a dream of mine for a long time.”
“Me too.”
Reaching the door to his and Gretchen’s room, he nodded at his brother and used the thumbprint ID to unlock the door. He instructed the bellhop to put the bags on the couch and handed him a tip on his way out the door.
Then he texted his mate.
I’ve got a special present for you.
She texted back.
By special present, do you mean your dick?
He laughed at his mate’s sassy comment.
I didn’t, but I do now. From now on, we’ll call my dick your special present. It’ll be our code.
I’ll be right there. For my special present.
She ended her text with a winking smiley face.
Standing in the center of the living room with the flowers, he waited for his sweetheart so he could give her the flowers. And her special present.
Chapter 7
Gretchen took Slade’s hand and slid from the second row of the SUV. Alaric and Aubrey were in the front seats, and Galen and Lia were in the third row. Lia complained about trying to climb out of the third row without flashing her panties to everyone.
Caleb’s club, Heat, was packed. Gretchen had been a few times since she started working for him at the hotel. She and Aubrey had come together and danced and flirted with the bartenders to get free drinks.
“Is it always this busy?” Lia asked as she tugged on the hem of her short dress.
“Pretty much,” Aubrey said. “A lot of members of the kiss live and work here. Underneath the club are daytime resting chambers. Caleb likes to live in the penthouse, but he does have a nice chamber here. Gretchen and I stayed in it one night when we’d had too much to drink and couldn’t find a cab.”
Gretchen looked at her mate as his arm slid around her waist and drew her close. He looked so handsome. She’d already undressed him once after seeing him in his black slacks and dark green dress shirt. He lowered his head slowly, his eyes flashing to the gold of his beast for a moment, and kissed her.
“Can I have my special present again?” she whispered against his mouth.
He chuckled lasciviously. “I’m sure I can find a way to give it to you. Again and again.”
“It’s a good thing I’m not wearing panties or they’d be soaked,” she whispered.
“Gross,” Lia said, laughing. “You’re in the presence of shifters with good hearing.”
Gretchen’s cheeks flushed, and Slade snapped his teeth at his sister. “Don’t discourage her. I like my mate’s sexy talk.”
Galen said, “Let’s get inside so they can grope each other in privacy.”
“Now that’s my kind of good idea,” Slade said.
Following Alaric and Aubrey as they bypassed the long line of people waiting to get into Heat, Aubrey introduced the group to the bouncers. The big males, who weren’t nearly as big as her mate, were vampires. One unlocked the velvet rope and the other held open one of the huge carved wooden doors.
Slade held her close as they walked inside. Music and lights assaulted her senses, and her wolf’s hackles rose as she scented females all around them.
“I’m yours entirely,” Slade said into her ear. “No one will ever touch me – or you – again.”
“Good.”
He grinned. “You being possessive is sexy as fuck.”
Her wolf preened at the praise. A pretty brunette wearing what could only be described as a bikini top with a handkerchief as a skirt, smiled and greeted them. “Master Night is upstairs. He asked me to bring you up.”
Aubrey snorted delicately. “It always cracks me up to hear them call him Master.”
“Why?” Slade asked.
“Because he was such a shit when he was younger, and now he’s a powerful master vampire. When we look at him, we see the guy who used to throw us into the pool and jump out from closets to scare us when we were kids,” Gretchen said.
The brunette smiled politely and turned, the tiny skirt fluffing up and showing half her butt. Gretchen glanced at Slade, but he was scanning the area, and she knew he was making sure that they were safe. She loved how protective he was of her.
They walked behind the brunette, even though Gretchen and Aubrey knew their way, and entered the dance f
loor. Bodies writhed and moved to the music that was so loud Gretchen could feel it in her bones. Strobe lights and lasers painted the people – vampires, humans, shifters, and other supernatural creatures – as they danced to the beat.
Slade moved her between himself and the wall, his arm a tight band around her. A human woman Gretchen had seen with Caleb from time to time, strode toward them, her hips swaying exaggeratedly as she moved on sky-high heels. There was blood on her neck, and although she wore no marks, Gretchen knew that Caleb had fed from her recently. Being a regular snack for the master vampire was a badge of honor for the people who liked that sort of thing. Gretchen never wanted anyone’s teeth in her neck but her mate’s.
Lia snarled angrily, and Slade pushed Gretchen behind him, pressing her against the wall. Gretchen peeked around him and saw that Lia had grabbed the woman by the throat and was sniffing her.
“Where is he?” Lia growled the words.
The woman shrieked, clawing at Lia. “Get off me, you crazy bitch!”
Lia roared, making the woman’s eyes roll back in her head. Lia released her hold on the woman and let her drop to the floor. Grabbing her head, Lia screamed in anguish and went to her knees. Galen knelt next to her, but Lia pushed him away. She shifted more quickly than Gretchen had ever seen anyone shift. One moment she was a woman, and the next she was a huge tigress with long, curved fangs. With a warning growl, Lia raced toward the circular staircase that led up to Caleb’s private floor.
“Well, shit.” Alaric said from where he had pressed Aubrey against the wall to protect her, too.
“Tell me that didn’t just fucking happen,” Galen said as he roused the brunette and helped her to her feet.
“What happened?” Gretchen asked. Slade relaxed and let her away from the wall.
“She just found her truemate,” Slade said.
“But she didn’t pass out like you did,” Gretchen pointed out. She looked to the stairs where a beautiful saber-tooth tiger shifter stalked upward. Some of the patrons on the stairs lurched away, screaming, but others seemed unfazed. Gretchen figured the ones who didn’t care were supes, not at all surprised to see a shifter. Even a nearly extinct one.
“Maybe it’s different for females,” Alaric said. “Or she’s better at controlling her beast and not passing out than Slade.”
Slade flipped his brother off.
“What the hell!” Galen said, throwing his hands into the air. “I have a dream about pink and gold, and she finds her fucking mate in a club before I do. In what universe is that fair?”
“Who do you think her mate is?” Gretchen asked.
“Someone she scented on that woman,” Aubrey said. “Let’s go find out.”
Lia had disappeared onto the private floor, causing a rush of panicked people to flood the stairs. Gretchen snorted inwardly at how easily humans were scared. If they knew anything about shifters, they’d know the beautiful tigress was on the prowl for her mate and not interested in making a snack out of anyone.
“That was interesting,” she whispered to Slade.
“She’ll be fine. I’m glad she found her mate.”
“Un-fucking-believable,” Galen groused. “I need a drink. Or ten.”
The second floor of the club, where Caleb hung out, was a wide open space with a private bar, guards at the top of the stairs, and plenty of comfortable seating. As the guards let them through to the floor, Gretchen chuckled as she saw Lia weaving her way in and out of the crowd of mostly shifters, who ignored her as they danced and drank.
“I see a private area over there,” Slade said. He tugged her away from his family. “We’ll see you later.”
“Don’t you want to meet Caleb and see what Lia is up to?” Alaric asked.
“My mate needs some attention. I haven’t tasted her in hours.”
Aubrey gave Gretchen a thumbs up as Alaric shook his head.
Slade led her to one of the empty lounges against the wall. Sheer black curtains gave the illusion of privacy. A waitress appeared. “Can I get you anything?”
“Nothing right now,” Slade said.
The leather lounge was curved and had a wide seat. As Gretchen sat down, scooting to the back of the lounge, Slade grabbed the sheer curtains and closed them. The music still pulsed from the dance floor, but the curtains made her feel as though they were in their own little world.
Slade knelt next to her and cupped her face, tilting it toward him. “Fuck you’re gorgeous.”
“You say the sweetest things.”
He growled softly. “I do. And about not wearing panties?”
“Yes?” She drawled the word.
“For future reference, I love that.”
She wiggled her brows. “Would you go commando for me?”
“Who says I’m not already?”
Reaching for his zipper, she smiled as he kissed her, devouring her in a deep kiss that seared her right to her soul.
It was going to be a very, very good night.
The End
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Contact the Author
Website: http://www.rebutlerauthor.com
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @rebutlerauthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/R.E.ButlerAuthorPage
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Also from R. E. Butler
Wiccan-Were-Bear Novella Series
A Curve of Claw
A Flash of Fang
A Price for a Princess
A Bond of Brothers
A Bead of Blood
A Twitch of Tail
A Promise on White Wings
A Slash of Savagery
Awaken a Wolf
The Wiccan-Were-Bear Series Volume One
The Wolf’s Mate Series
The Wolf’s Mate Book 1: Jason & Cadence
The Wolf’s Mate Book 2: Linus & The Angel
The Wolf’s Mate Book 3: Callie & The Cats
The Wolf’s Mate Book 4: Michael & Shyne
The Wolf’s Mate Book 5: Bo & Reika
The Wolf’s Mate Book 6: Logan & Jenna
The Wolf’s Mate Book 7: Lindy & The Wulfen
The Necklace Chronicles
The Tribe’s Bride
The Gigolo’s Bride
Ashland Pride Series
Seducing Samantha (Ashland Pride One)
Loving Lachlyn (Ashland Pride Two)
Marking Melody (Ashland Pride Three)
Redeeming Rue (Ashland Pride Four)
Saving Scarlett (Ashland Pride Five)
Hyena Heat Series
Every Night Forever (Hyena Heat One)
Every Dawn Forever (Hyena Heat Two)
Every Sunset Forever (Hyena Heat Three)
Every Blissful Moment (Hyena Heat Four)
Wilde Creek Series
Mate of Her Heart (Book One)
The Alpha’s Heart (Book Two)
The Protector’s Heart (Book Three)
The Omega’s Heart (Book Four)
Saber Chronicles Series
Alaric’s Perfect Mate (Book One)
Slade’s Feisty Mate (Book Two)
Caleb’s Tempting Mate (Book Three)
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~ Coming October 18, 2015 ~
Caleb’s Tempting Mate
Saber Chronicles Book Three
Lia Carmichael is thrilled two of her three brothers have found their truemates. As soon as her third brother finds his, she’ll get the mating dreams that are part of being a saber-tooth tiger shifter. Fate has other plans, when she goes to a club with her new family and scents her mate – on another woman! Hell hath no fury like a pissed off saber-tooth tiger shifter, and she’s one pissed off cat.
As vampire master of the city of Belle Terra, Caleb Night has seen just about everything. When a gorgeous saber-tooth tiger female finds him in his private club, he knows he’s staring into the golden eyes of his truemate. He never expected his truemate to be a shifter, but nothing makes him hotter than when she purrs.<
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When a master vampire and a saber-tooth tigress get together, expect lots of neck biting and purring.
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