Vampire Trouble by Sara Humphreys Page A

showed up at the table, obviously sent there by Rat, and each one draped herself over a pack member. Two women, one vamp and one of the human familiars, pushed Maya aside and crawled into Horace’s lap. With the girls distracting Horace and his gang, Maya grabbed Shane by the hand and pulled him to the back of the club. She pushed open the door that said “Dancers Only,” and without a word, she dragged him through the girls’ dressing room and out another door that led them into a dark, narrow hallway.
    There was barely enough space for the two of them to stand side by side, and the only light was from the bright-red exit sign above the door to the alley. Shane couldn’t help but notice it cast a glow over Maya, making her hair look like it was on fire. In that tiny, red leather dress and with the tinges of fire in her hair, she looked like the little devil that she was.
    â€œAre you crazy?” Maya asked with her hands on her hips.
    â€œI was going to ask you the same question.”
    â€œMe?” Maya scoffed. “I’m just doing my job.”
    Shane leaned closer so that their faces were only a few inches apart. “So am I.”
    â€œNo, you’re not.” She poked him in the chest with one finger and met his challenge. “You practically started a big, fat fight with Horace in the middle of the bar, which is not like you. You’re acting like some kind of overprotective boyfriend or something.”
    Shane’s mouth set in a grim line and shame washed over him because Maya was right. He showed a remarkable lack of self-control and almost broke the truce with the wolves. His gaze skittered over Maya’s face and he realized how much trouble he was actually in. This woman had managed to turn his entire existence upside down, and for the first time in centuries, Shane was unsure of himself.
    â€œHe should not have touched you like that.” Shane’s voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone.
    â€œOh please, it’s not the first time some guy in the bar has grabbed my ass, and in case you suffer from short-term memory loss,” she said in a quivering voice, “I’ve had worse.” Her chin jutted forward defiantly. “I can handle myself now. I’m not some stupid, sniveling human girl who doesn’t know any better.”
    â€œI have no doubt of that.” Shane placed both hands on the wall, one on either side of Maya, caging her in. “But I can assure you that no man, vampire or human, will be touching you that way ever again.” He inched closer, his lips a breath away from hers. “Except for me. Whether you are willing to acknowledge it or not, I’m your bloodmate, Maya, and the meaning of that goes far beyond ‘boyfriend.’”
    â€œI’m well aware of what that would mean, Shane.” Her voice shook, but her expression remained resolute. “It means you own me for the rest of my immortal existence.”
    Shane blinked as though she’d slapped him in the face.
    â€œIs that what you think?” he whispered. “No, youngling. That is nowhere near what it means to be bloodmates.”
    â€œThen what does it mean?” Maya folded her arms over her breasts defensively.
    â€œThis.” Shane placed a gentle kiss at the corner of her mouth. “And this,” he murmured, brushing his lips over hers briefly. He remained there, his lips achingly close to hers, and the need to touch her clawed at his gut with brutal insistence. “My one priority for the rest of my existence will be to see to your happiness…and pleasure .”
    â€œI don’t know which end is up with you,” Maya whispered. Desire bloomed between them. Maya’s lips parted and her hands slipped inside his jacket, settling on his waist. “One minute I want to slap you…and the next…” Maya tugged his hips against hers and moaned softly when his growing erection pressed enticingly