The Lion and the Lamb

by Jenika Snow

  It had been weeks since he had gone to Leo’s club, and Slade hadn’t bothered going back to The Lion and the Lamb, but he certainly intended to, especially now that he knew the luscious female worked there. He hadn’t sensed Leo’s lion had mated with her yet, but he had no doubt in his mind that Leo had done so since.

  The possessiveness that poured off his enemy had been thick enough to strangle him, and the scent that surrounded her had been strong. Of course, no human would have been able to detect it, and even though he hadn’t fucked that sweet little ass of hers, Leo’s scent had clung to her.

  It was a subtle warning, meant to stave off other males, but to Slade, it meant a challenge. He wanted to see the female again, wanted to touch every fucking inch of her. True, he could have any female he wanted, but having the one Leo claimed was a far better pick.

  He turned and looked at his right-hand man, Collin. There were only a few who worked for Slade who knew of his shifting abilities, and all of those were shifters as well. Collin, a lion shifter, the same as Slade, had come from the same pride.

  When Slade decided to take root in Vegas, he had instantly butted heads with Leo. Whereas Leo started a legal shop, Slade had gone the less traditional route. He might own a “legal” club and a strip club as well, but his girls did a little extra work on the side for him. They made sure each and every one of the horny bastards who stopped at Stripped got their happy ending.

  Prostitution was such an ugly word for what his girls did, so instead, he liked to think of it as a business transaction of mutual understanding. Yeah, the men paid for his girls’ services, but what good business didn’t make money?

  “You really gunning for Leo’s girl?” Collin tapped his fingers on his thigh. Any other male who questioned his motives would have found themselves castrated, but he and Collin had been through a lot of shit, and therefore Slade let a lot slide with him.

  “I think she’d make a good addition to Stripped, and also as a permanent fixture in my bed.” He had a lot of plans, ones that included starting his own personal pack, and Leo’s sweet piece of tail was going to help him accomplish that.

  13

  Tatum let herself think about what she and Kiki talked about. She didn’t work tonight, but she wanted to see Leo for more than one reason. He needed to know where her head was at, and she needed to find out the same with him. If he wasn’t into her with the same intensity as she was for him, then she wanted to know up front. What if their night together was just that—one night?

  No, she didn’t want to think about it, because now that she let herself contemplate more with him, the idea that she meant nothing more than a piece of ass had a sick sense of dread settling inside her.

  It was going on ten at night, and she could have just sent him a text asking him to talk to her, but she knew what she had to say needed to be done in person. Deciding she would just go to the club to talk to Leo, Tatum grabbed her purse and keys and headed out. That damn SUV sat parked across the street again, but she was smart enough not to go over there, as it sat where the light didn’t quite reach it.

  She quickly got into her car and headed to the club. It was time to come clean.

  “She left the house. I think she’s onto the detail as well. I’ve noticed she’s been looking at the car every time she leaves.”

  Shit. Leo leaned back in his chair and ran a hand over his eyes. He really wasn’t surprised. Tatum was a smart girl, and nothing got by her. “Keep on her ass but stay back. Just make sure she’s okay.” He hung up and tossed his cell across his desk. He had a fucking headache and was tired as hell. All day, he had tried to get Tatum to spend some time with him. She declined at every turn, and he started to worry that her skittish nature would keep a wall between them. Ever since their night together, it felt like she avoided him. He didn’t like it, wasn’t used to it, and all it did was make him want her more.

  Too many times to count, he had grabbed his keys, on the verge of going to her and demanding they talk about what happened between them. He had no doubts she felt the same desire he had—hell, he’d seen it on her face, smelled the sweet aroma come off her when he buried his cock deep inside her. His little mate was stubborn, but she wanted him, and he just needed to show her that.

  A knock on his door had him dropping his hand and staring at the thick metal. “Yeah?”

  The door pushed open, and Sugar stood on the other side. The mini skirt and belly shirt she wore was meant to entice, but he felt nothing stir below his belt. He couldn’t even get hard anymore unless it was with Tatum.

  “Can I talk to you, Leo?”

  He motioned for her to enter. She closed the door and took a seat in front of his desk. Her dirty-blonde hair was teased in what reminded him of the eighties. The thick layer of makeup she wore seemed to make her appear a hell of a lot older than her mere twenty-two years.

  “What is it, Sugar?” He rubbed his eyes again and tried to relieve the pounding ache that settled behind his orbs.

  “I actually wanted to talk about the new girl.”

  Leo leaned back in his seat and stared at her. He didn’t let any of his emotions show, not until he knew where this conversation was going. “Yeah? What about?” Hand resting on his desk, Leo strummed his fingers over the top of it. He smelled her nervousness and arousal.

  “I just don’t think she’s a good fit for The Lion and the Lamb.”

  Lifting a brow, he spoke calmly. “And why’s that? She do something against club policy?”

  “No, well, no….” She looked around the room, and her nervousness became a tangy scent in his nose. “She just… she just doesn’t really fit the look. Know what I mean?”

  “No, I don’t know what the fuck you mean.” The image of Tatum’s lush curves, bountiful breasts, and snug pussy slammed into his head. His cock instantly got hard, and his body temperature soared. He closed his eyes and swallowed. Who knew that once a lion found its mate, all common sense and self-control flew out the window?

  He felt the lightest touch across his chest and snapped his eyes open. Sugar was right in front of him, her breasts inches from his face. She leaned forward and brushed her lips across the collar of his shirt. The fact that she moved quick enough he hadn’t even noticed showed exactly where his mind was.

  His thoughts were a jumble, and if one waif of a female could make a move on him without him even realizing, he needed to pull his head out of his ass and get back in the game. Shit like that could end up getting people killed.

  She started trailing her hand down his abdomen, but before she could get to his erection, which was most definitely not for her, he grabbed her wrist in a gentle yet secure hold.

  “What are you doing, Faye?” He rarely used the girls’ real names, but this particular instance called for the stern approach. It seemed as of late she became more insistent with her attraction to him, despite the fact that he had reinforced he wasn’t interested.

  It wasn’t because she worked for him, but more so there was the scent of desperation that lingered around her. She also wasn’t the type of woman who he found attractive. He had caught her glaring at Tatum on more than one occasion, and the putrid stench of her jealousy came out like a crack of a whip.

  “I just think you should reconsider your policy.” She gave her hand a tug and tried to continue her downward path. “I see the way you look at her, Leo.” She placed her ass on his desk and thrust out her chest. The fucker behind his fly had yet to relent, and he noticed the way her eyes widened when she glanced down at the bulge.

  “You can’t tell me you don’t want me when that monster is about to rip through your slacks.” Her other hand rested on the desk beside her leg, and before she could touch him with it, he had it in his grasp.

  “I’ll tell you once again, Faye, because it seems you’ve forgotten since the last time I said I wasn’t interested.” He leaned in close enough that she could get a good look in his eyes. “There won’t ever be anything between the two of us. Even if
you didn’t work for me, you’re not my type.” The change that came over her face wasn’t subtle. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips thinned.

  “So you’d fuck a fat bitch over this?” She ripped her hands free and stood. Her hands moved up and down, as if she were showing him what she thought he might be missing.

  When he stood, it was slow and deliberate. His anger clawed right at the surface, and he could feel the change trying to take over. He would never harm a female, but the low rumble that left him was a subtle warning that she pushed him to a dangerous point.

  It was instinct to defend the woman he had grown to care for, the female who was his. When someone hurt her, verbally or otherwise, his lion wanted to cause harm. It was his human side that kept it in check.

  “You’d do well to watch your tongue when speaking about Tatum.”

  She crossed her arms under her breasts, and he knew she didn’t do it just to appear pouty. She still tried to entice him. Her indignation was at the same level as her need to try to tempt him.

  Both had no effect on him.

  Taking a step toward him, she looked up at him and popped out her bottom lip. The act reminded him of a petulant five-year-old child.

  “I’ve worked for you for three years, Leo. At every turn, you’ve turned me down, yet this bitch is here for a couple fuckin’ months, and you’re all over that shit? Why her and not me?” Her voice rose as her anger, frustration, arousal, and even hurt swam in the air. “What does she have that I don’t?” He really didn’t want to hurt anyone, especially one of his female employees, but enough was enough.

  “I’m only going to tell you this once, Faye. If you value your job, then you won’t insult Tatum again.” He spoke low and conveyed exactly how serious he was through his words. “My personal life is none of your fucking business.” He took another step toward her. Her neck craned back, and he had to give her credit, because she held her ground and refused to be intimidated.

  “I’ll add this though.” He flashed his teeth at her. Her eyes flared with fire right back at him. “What she has is class. She would never insult a fellow employee, or another person for that matter, just because her jealousy got the better of her.”

  A terse moment passed where they did nothing but stare at each other. He was frustrated and annoyed over plenty of things, Slade being one of them. He didn’t need his employees giving him a hard time over stuff that didn’t concern them.

  Faye’s nostrils flared before she turned and stalked out of his office. He sat back down in his chair and leaned his head against the back of it. A sigh escaped him when he loosened his tie and undid the first few buttons of his shirt. If things didn’t start looking up, he was liable to shift in front of a roomful of humans, then the shit really would hit the fan.

  14

  Tatum waved to Stan, the bouncer for the night, and made her way through the already packed club. It was barely a few hours after opening for the night, yet the house was full.

  There appeared to be a bachelor party going on in the upper level and some kind of “business meeting” on the main floor. Men in suits lounged in the leather chairs surrounding a table that one of the girls danced on. She made her way toward Leo’s office.

  As his door came into view, it opened, and Tatum’s steps faltered when she watched Sugar come out. Her cheeks were tinted red, and a small frown covered her made-up face. She glanced up, and her expression changed instantly. A wicked smile curved her too red lips. Sugar lifted her finger and wiped the corner of her mouth and proceeded to adjust her breasts under the barely-there tee.

  “Hey.” Tatum tried to be polite regardless of the fact that the bartender had been anything but.

  “He’s all yours. He should be nice and relaxed.”

  Tatum stopped and looked at her. Sugar licked her lips and wore a wide grin that had Tatum’s stomach doing flips. She looked at the closed door then back at the blonde. The feeling of dread settled inside Tatum as scenario after scenario played like a movie reel in her head. They were dirty images that had her pulse racing, but not in a good way.

  She watched Sugar walk away, her hips kicking back and forth with such force Tatum was surprised she didn’t throw a joint out of alignment. Her heart slammed against her chest as she walked toward Leo’s door. What she wanted to do was push it open and catch him in the act of zipping up his pants. The thought hurt, but maybe it would help her brain get in the right direction. She wanted this, but she wasn’t about to be his pussy on the side. Courtesy won out in the end, and she knocked.

  “What?” That one word was a rough bark through the thick door. Tatum gripped the handle and pushed the heavy metal inward. He sat behind his desk, his arms behind his head and his eyes closed. He didn’t look at her as she shut the door, but she noticed his nostrils flared a second before his eyes snapped open and found her.

  “Tatum.” The way he said her name sounded like melted chocolate, and damn did she love chocolate. He straightened and pushed up from his seat. Even from the distance, she could see the smear of red lipstick on the collar of his shirt. Anger and jealousy slammed into her, and she tightened her lips.

  Heat consumed her, and she hated that he had this effect on her. It made her weak and vulnerable, and those feelings were no longer welcome inside her.

  “You’re upset.” It wasn’t a question, and she gave him credit for picking up on her instantaneous foul mood.

  Not bothering to respond, Tatum crossed her arms and thought on how she would handle this situation. Did she continue with the conversation she wanted to have with him, or did she say fuck it and leave? The fact that his tie was loose and lipstick painted his shirt might have been a testament that maybe her feelings only went one way. Leo was surrounded by beautiful women every single day.

  Did she actually think he would want anything more than a piece of ass from her? Wow, she had been a monumental fool to think otherwise. Shaking her head, she turned and gripped the handle.

  “I can’t do this.” Her voice was thick with emotion, and she hated herself for feeling anything but disgust for him. Things had gone too fast between them, and she had stupidly fallen for it all. Had she been so desperate that she wanted someone to hold her and see her for her?

  Before she could open the door and escape, a heavy hand wrapped around her wrist and stopped her from fleeing. His hot breath brushed along the back of her neck, and she closed her eyes, thankful he couldn’t see the reaction he caused inside her. Even though she knew he had done something sexual with Sugar, her traitorous body lit up like a firecracker at the simplest touch from him.

  “I can smell your anger and jealousy, Tatum. You’ll tell me why you feel this way.”

  He was so damn pushy and perceptive that it made her wish she wasn’t so transparent. “Sometimes the things you say are so damn strange.” He hadn’t moved away from her, and his body heat felt like she stood by a furnace.

  “Baby, you have no idea what strange is.” He pressed his body against hers, which had her front molding to the cold, hard door. His fingers teased her nape and pushed the hair away. Teeth scraped her flesh and gently bit down. Damn but she got wet at the feel.

  “Put your hands flat on the door, Tatum.” With his voice low and hard, she found herself doing exactly what he said. “That’s a good girl.” His hands gripped her waist, his fingers digging into her. In one quick motion, he popped out her ass so it became flush with his crotch. The hard length of him nestled between the seam of her ass, and she bit her lip to stem off the moan that threatened to spill. His hips thrust forward, pressing his erection into her bottom harder. “You’re going to tell me what I want to know, baby.”

  “You’re a pushy asshole.” There was no anger behind her words, just needy want that had her gritting her teeth in frustration. Tatum wanted her anger to be at the forefront, not her lust.

  His deep chuckle went straight to her clit, and she curled her fingers inward.

  “I’ve been called worse.” Teeth scraped
along the side of her throat, and her heart did a little patter behind her ribs. “Now, are we going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?” There was amusement in his voice, and that further irritated her.

  He thought this whole situation was funny. Reaching deep down inside her, Tatum pulled at her strength and pushed back. It was like a mountain nestled behind her for how much he moved.

  “Please, Leo.” What she pleaded for was up in the air at this point. A light kiss to her temple was the only response he gave her, but after a moment, he did move back. She turned around on unsteady legs and stared up at him. His presence was so pronounced that if she could have taken a step back, she would have. The sight of that red lipstick became a harsh reminder that she was in way over her head.

  Leo followed her gaze to his collar, and his teeth snapped shut and ground together. His eyes met hers. “Is that why you’re angry?” He didn’t need to emphasize what he meant. They both knew.

  She needed to go for it and not beat around the bush. Being honest and upfront at this point was the best course of action. At least, she hoped it was.

  “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, going on between me and any female.” His expression was fierce. “Do you understand me, Tatum? You are the only female I want. The. Only. One.” He said it with so much conviction she felt her eyes widen and any thought on the contrary leaving her. Maybe she was a fool, but this man had gotten under her skin in the best, or maybe it was the worst, of ways.

  “I want to know what you see when you look at me. Honestly.” She crossed her arms and feigned confidence she so didn’t have. His jaw worked, and she watched the muscles jump under the skin. For several long moments, neither said anything, yet she felt the tension in the room grow.