send
the bravest soul running. “You calling me an ass, Wheeler?”
Conversation halted. All heads swiveled to Dominic, then the
men stared at their drinks. Power rippled in the air, a subtle tendril that
stirred the molecules, thickened the tension. The smell of beer and liquor and
stale cologne faded, overtaken by a very male scent of pine forest, rainwater
and testosterone.
Dominic’s scent. The other men seemed to shrink within
themselves. If they had tails, they’d be lowered.
Alex’s fingers curled around her glass.
Blood draining from his face, Wheeler shook his head. “I’m
sorry man. Just kidding. Sorry. You’re no ass. I’m the ass, Dominic.”
Grunting, Dominic tossed a few bills by his half-drained glass,
nodded to the bartender. With the slow, stalking grace of a predator, he
approached. He gave Wheeler a cold stare, then his gaze fell upon Alex. His
nostrils flared and his eyes widened. A lazy smile played on his firm mouth.
That smile, so sexy and inviting…
The hurt young girl she’d once been resurfaced. She saw
herself, searching out the window for her lover, who’d promised to return. And
never had.
You have a job to do.
Alex was a good actress. She lowered her lashes and summoned
her sexiest smile. “Leaving so soon, stranger? Don’t want to stay and see what’s
on the table?”
He cocked his head, his eyes very blue, like lasers. “Is that
an offer, sweetheart?”
She shrugged. “I don’t think you’re up to the challenge.”
He said nothing, but studied her a moment. Then he leaped
forward with the savage speed of his kind, pulled her off the stool and into his
arms.
The kiss was absorbing, maddening, a fusing of lips. He tasted
of cold beer and hot desire. Lazily his tongue swept into her mouth, tasting her
with possessive intent. Her lower belly clenched hard as her nipples tightened.
It was the kiss of a man who wanted to lay a woman down and mount her. The kiss
of an incubus, who knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it.
In the corner, the jukebox played “Hot Blooded.” Alex’s mind
swirled with a shocked vortex of pleasure. Celibate for the past ten years, she
felt her body slowly kick from dormant to sexually charged. She slid her arms
around his neck, leaned into him and kissed him back. His beard bristle abraded
her cheeks. Beneath the layers of clothing, his body was hard with thick muscle.
A low growl rumbled from his throat as he stroked a thumb over her pulse,
feeling her heart shift from normal into overdrive.
He released her abruptly, amusement gleaming in those eyes.
Except now they weren’t ice-cold, but flaming. He wanted her.
And for a sheer moment, she desperately wanted him back. The
deep throbbing between her legs increased. Oh damn, this was not good. She
conjured images certain to tamp down the sexual pull, and to her relief, felt
the arousal vanish as if someone doused her with icy water.
Touching the brim of his hat, he nodded. “Evening, miss.”
The door slammed behind him.
It was just a kiss, but her body had burned from his touch.
Alex touched her mouth, her pulse racing.
“Hey, lady, I can show you a good time, too.”
Wheeler gave her the eye. Interest flaring on their faces, the
other men watched. First she had to throw off the wolves, so to speak. Alex gave
a smile she didn’t feel. “Someone want to play a slow tune? I feel like
dancing.”
Stools pushed back, boots scrambled to the jukebox. Quarters
and dollars were fumbled. Alex let the glamour drop to show her real face. The
men turned around, faces eager. Several gasps sounded, followed by looks of pure
horror.
Always, they stared. And then the whispers began.
“Damn, look at her face,” one said. “Looks like the ass end of
my truck.”
“Holy crap,” Wheeler said. “Thought she was hot. Must have been
the liquor.” He fumbled for a cell phone and dialed. “Hey, it’s me. You should
see the freak show at the bar….”
Alex felt the familiar twist of
the bravest soul running. “You calling me an ass, Wheeler?”
Conversation halted. All heads swiveled to Dominic, then the
men stared at their drinks. Power rippled in the air, a subtle tendril that
stirred the molecules, thickened the tension. The smell of beer and liquor and
stale cologne faded, overtaken by a very male scent of pine forest, rainwater
and testosterone.
Dominic’s scent. The other men seemed to shrink within
themselves. If they had tails, they’d be lowered.
Alex’s fingers curled around her glass.
Blood draining from his face, Wheeler shook his head. “I’m
sorry man. Just kidding. Sorry. You’re no ass. I’m the ass, Dominic.”
Grunting, Dominic tossed a few bills by his half-drained glass,
nodded to the bartender. With the slow, stalking grace of a predator, he
approached. He gave Wheeler a cold stare, then his gaze fell upon Alex. His
nostrils flared and his eyes widened. A lazy smile played on his firm mouth.
That smile, so sexy and inviting…
The hurt young girl she’d once been resurfaced. She saw
herself, searching out the window for her lover, who’d promised to return. And
never had.
You have a job to do.
Alex was a good actress. She lowered her lashes and summoned
her sexiest smile. “Leaving so soon, stranger? Don’t want to stay and see what’s
on the table?”
He cocked his head, his eyes very blue, like lasers. “Is that
an offer, sweetheart?”
She shrugged. “I don’t think you’re up to the challenge.”
He said nothing, but studied her a moment. Then he leaped
forward with the savage speed of his kind, pulled her off the stool and into his
arms.
The kiss was absorbing, maddening, a fusing of lips. He tasted
of cold beer and hot desire. Lazily his tongue swept into her mouth, tasting her
with possessive intent. Her lower belly clenched hard as her nipples tightened.
It was the kiss of a man who wanted to lay a woman down and mount her. The kiss
of an incubus, who knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it.
In the corner, the jukebox played “Hot Blooded.” Alex’s mind
swirled with a shocked vortex of pleasure. Celibate for the past ten years, she
felt her body slowly kick from dormant to sexually charged. She slid her arms
around his neck, leaned into him and kissed him back. His beard bristle abraded
her cheeks. Beneath the layers of clothing, his body was hard with thick muscle.
A low growl rumbled from his throat as he stroked a thumb over her pulse,
feeling her heart shift from normal into overdrive.
He released her abruptly, amusement gleaming in those eyes.
Except now they weren’t ice-cold, but flaming. He wanted her.
And for a sheer moment, she desperately wanted him back. The
deep throbbing between her legs increased. Oh damn, this was not good. She
conjured images certain to tamp down the sexual pull, and to her relief, felt
the arousal vanish as if someone doused her with icy water.
Touching the brim of his hat, he nodded. “Evening, miss.”
The door slammed behind him.
It was just a kiss, but her body had burned from his touch.
Alex touched her mouth, her pulse racing.
“Hey, lady, I can show you a good time, too.”
Wheeler gave her the eye. Interest flaring on their faces, the
other men watched. First she had to throw off the wolves, so to speak. Alex gave
a smile she didn’t feel. “Someone want to play a slow tune? I feel like
dancing.”
Stools pushed back, boots scrambled to the jukebox. Quarters
and dollars were fumbled. Alex let the glamour drop to show her real face. The
men turned around, faces eager. Several gasps sounded, followed by looks of pure
horror.
Always, they stared. And then the whispers began.
“Damn, look at her face,” one said. “Looks like the ass end of
my truck.”
“Holy crap,” Wheeler said. “Thought she was hot. Must have been
the liquor.” He fumbled for a cell phone and dialed. “Hey, it’s me. You should
see the freak show at the bar….”
Alex felt the familiar twist of
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