Tracey H. Kitts - Lilith Mercury 1 - Red (31 page)

Hurricane Alistair had just made its way into the Gulf of Mexico and could take a turn for the coast of Texas, or the panhandle of Florida. Maybe it was the weather, or maybe it was just the thought of seeing Marco’s reaction, but I decided to wear something particularly provocative. As Kat would say, I felt like letting my freak flag fly. I decided on a long, low fitting black skirt with nearly hip high slits. There were contoured silver PVC sections along the top which reflected the light. The matching top was just as wild. It was made of a stretchy material with detachable sleeves. These sleeves were held in place by reflective suspenders with metal garters. One wide silver PVC stripe across the top of each shoulder matched the skirt nicely.

There was a strip of flesh visible from the top of my shoulder to just above my elbow. The only material on that part of my arms was the suspenders. It looked as if I RED

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had attached a pair of long, old fashioned black gloves to my sleeves. To complete this ensemble, I added a pair of platform boots with five large buckles up the side. I laughed as I thought what Kat’s reaction might have been. This went beyond vendetta. The last addition to my outfit was a pair of boy short style black lace underwear. If I did have to kick someone’s ass that night, I saw no sense in flashing whoever might be around.

I left through the sunroom out back past the kitchen. Most people call those glass covered areas a Florida room. But, seeing as how the house was in Florida, technically they were all Florida rooms. Point being, the term just sounded stupid to me, so I called it a sunroom.

I’d finished taping up all the windows and closing the shutters earlier in the day.

There was really nothing left for me to do except sit around, and that did not appeal to me. As I made my way to the detached garage behind the house I noticed the sky. It looked dark and sinister with the promise of violence. Although it was evening, you could still see the rolling clouds through flashes of lightning.

This was definitely one of the dumbest things I’d done in a long time. I couldn’t really explain what had made me want to go to the club that night, even to myself. I was a disgrace to The Hunters, deliberately cavorting with werewolves. I could never let it be known that I’d had so many opportunities to kill Marco and I’d never even scratched him.

Of course killing him at that point would have meant facing the wrath of the Wizard Council, which was something I didn’t want to do. Still, I had no business in my line of work going to hang out at his club. As I got into the car I thought of how Alfred would react if he knew and felt guilty, but not enough to stay at home.

It was already evening and I didn’t bring an overnight bag. I was planning to drive back in the wee hours of the morning. The drive there wasn’t so bad. Eventually, I turned off the radio and took a CD down from my visor. Weather reports only reminded me how stupid I was for being on the road. Of course, I wasn’t the only one. Hurricane Alistair was a category four storm and many low lying areas and beach fronts were being evacuated. And there I was like a crack addict off to get my fix.

Since our last conversation, I had given some thought to what Marco had said. I had been a little more cautious just in case someone tried to attack me, but there was no sign yet of jealous female werewolves.

As far as the rest of our conversation, I still couldn’t go there. To say no outright would cut off our strange relationship. But to say yes would mean more consequences than I wanted to face. My father would most likely disown me. If it came down to that, Marco would have to understand. I wouldn’t give up my father for any man.

* * * *

When I pulled into the parking lot a few hours later I noticed there were fewer cars than usual, and no waiting line out front. Don’t get me wrong, there were still people out, just significantly less than usual.

As I approached the door I noticed Marco coming toward me. He was wearing the same black leather pants he’d worn the first time I’d seen him at the club. The matching shirt stretched revealingly over every line and curve of his impressive physique.

“I didn’t expect to see you out tonight, Red.”

“Admit it, you’re glad to see me,” I teased.

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“Always.” He flashed me that wolfish grin and my heart wasn’t the only thing that fluttered.

Marco looked me up and down and I could have sworn I heard him growl. The sound was soft, barely audible, but it was there. The urge to tackle him in the parking lot nearly overpowered me. The magnitude of my stupidity really began to sink in. What did I think would happen when I saw him? The last time I’d been around Marco I’d crawled on my stomach through the rain just to watch him walk away.

His approving smile at my appearance was all I’d hoped for.

“I hate to disappoint you, Red, but we closed early tonight.” Lightning cracked over our heads as he finished. “Because of the weather.”

“Then who are all these people?” I gestured at the cars in the parking lot.

“Part of the pack is having a hurricane party.”

I looked at him skeptically. “If you wanted me to leave, all you had to do was say so.”

“You’re welcome to join us.” He reached for me, but I stepped back.

“No thanks. I don’t belong here. I shouldn’t have come.”

As I turned to leave he stepped closer to me, stopping just short of physical contact.

“But still you’re here.”

“Not for long.” I kept walking.

“Wait,” he called.

When Marco caught up with me, I was already at my car.

“Look, I’m sorry if I was rude … I don’t deal well with rejection.”

For some reason I was angry with him. I’m not sure what I expected, showing up like that with a hurricane on the way, but it wasn’t this. I hadn’t come to argue.

“I didn’t come here to discuss your personal problems, Marco.”

“Then why did you come?”

I wasn’t sure what to say, so I told the truth, “I don’t know.”

“Damn it, Red. Can’t you admit you just wanted to see me?”

Without a word, I reached for the car door and he stopped me, placing his hand on my wrist.

“I can’t let you leave in this weather.”

I just looked at him blankly.

“Haven’t you heard? Alistair’s just hit the coast of Florida. It will be here by morning.”

No, I hadn’t heard. Maybe I shouldn’t have turned off the radio.

“So, what am I supposed to do, get a hotel room?”

“Why don’t you stay with me?” It wasn’t a question.

“You expect me to spend the night in a club full of drunken werewolves?”

“And most of tomorrow.” He smiled. “At least until the storm passes over.”

“Shit,” I said with feeling.

“Come on, Red. I’m the only one who bites, and I’ll be on my best behavior.”

I couldn’t help laughing at the wicked grin on his face at just the mention of biting me.

RED

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“You’re a bastard.”

Marco turned me to face him by the wrist that he still held.

“Come on,” he repeated. “The weather’s getting worse.”

He was right, but I dug my heels into the gravel, forcing him to drag me a few steps.

“Don’t be like this.” He stopped and turned back to me.

“But you said that some of your pack hated me.” I gestured at my tight clothes.

“There’s obviously no concealed weapons here. I’m not prepared to take on,” I glanced around again, counting cars, “fifty or so angry werewolves.”

“Not all of the pack is here,” he said reasonably. “Besides, the ones who don’t like you don’t often come to the club.”

He tried to walk to the door again and I snatched my wrist loose.

“But, I don’t belong at a small, intimate gathering with your pack.”

Marco took a step closer to me and placed his hands on my shoulders. He was warm and his touch burned into me, but the full moon was still over a week away.

“You belong wherever I am,” he spoke softly and his rough sexy voice raised the fine hairs on my arms.

After a few moments he seemed to take my silence as an agreement to stay.

“Besides, Luther’s here.” He smiled.

I had to admit it would be nice to have a chance to catch up with Luther. I wondered what he’d been doing for the last ten years. Besides being a werewolf, I wanted to know what else had changed about the boy I used to know.

Marco opened the door for me and I stepped inside. The music thumped as usual to a variety of songs with sexual overtones. In place of the normal flashes of strobe lights, the building was lit by large hurricane lanterns. I licked my lips as I watched the horde of werewolves gyrating on the dance floor. Though I’d never known any lycans on a personal level before, I’d begun to notice that they were a touchy feely group. They didn’t grope people. They just seemed to like to brush against them.

Before I could join them, Luther danced over holding two large drinks. He was wearing solid white. The tight vinyl pants were flattering to his long legs. The matching shirt looked like a white version of the one that Marco wore. It hugged his every curve.

Yes, Luther was hot, but when he smiled at me I still saw my childhood friend behind those icy blue eyes. His long white blond hair was braided neatly down his back, strongly resembling a whip.

“Would the lady care for a drink?” he asked.

I took the glass he offered with a smile.

“That’s a hurricane,” he explained needlessly. “But, be careful, it’s really just a lot of rum and a little food coloring.” He winked.

I pushed the pineapple and orange slices from the rim down into the glass and stirred them around before eating the pineapple. After I took a sip he asked, “Would you like to dance?”

Before I could accept, he turned to Marco, “With your permission,” he added.

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Marco nodded with a smile, but I was confused. It must have shown because Marco then explained, “Since I’ve asked you to be my mate, a lesser wolf must ask permission to dance with you before I do.”

I didn’t like being treated like a piece of meat. But, to have pointed that out would have undermined Marco’s authority. Since I was in a room filled with his loyal supporters, that wouldn’t have been a good thing. Luther didn’t seem to take offense at being called a lesser wolf, and since it looked as if I would have to stay the night I just wanted to keep the peace. I offered Luther my hand with a smile and he led me onto the floor.

Club Red’s first floor is a huge open room with tables scattered around the walls.

The dance floor is slightly lower than the rest. Two steps down and you were there. The wolves moved in close around us, but honestly didn’t seem to care about me being there.

The dance floor was just that full.

As we moved, nearly elbow to elbow with the rest of the wolf pack, there were moments when I started to think of Luther as more than just a friend. Every time I found myself watching the way his hips flexed when he moved, he would speak to me and ruin the illusion. He was gorgeous, but he was still just Luther.

Luther and I had worked up a good sweat by the time we made our way back to where we’d left our drinks.

“So, are you staying the night?” he asked.

“It looks that way.” I gulped down nearly half of my drink and was prepared for him to comment further on the prospect of me staying with Marco. However, he made no assumptions.

“Good, maybe we can catch up some.”

Luther sat down at a table near the door and asked, “Where’s your friend?”

“She didn’t come.” I didn’t feel like explaining that I had no idea where Kat was and felt slightly miffed about being abandoned for that Charles fellow.

During the next hour or so, I found out that Luther was divorced. Actually, his ex-wife was the one who’d attacked and turned him. He’d accidentally killed her in the struggle.

“That was when I met Marco. He took me under his wing, showed me the ropes.”

“So, you think he’s a nice guy?” I asked.

Luther looked very serious as he replied, “Lilith, that man kept me from killing myself.” Luther’s expression said clearly that he would not tolerate me bad mouthing Marco.

“When I first met Marco, he was a Hunter,” I explained. “The next thing I know, he’s the enemy. And now … I don’t know what he is.”

His expression softened. “I understand.”

Just then, the DJ had finally had too much to drink and began to play oldies.

People began backing off the dance floor, some with a mumbled, “What the hell?” But, one of our favorite songs started to play, Luther and I both laughed and ran to the floor.

We proceeded to pull off a combination of some really terrible disco moves and head banging. Ok, so maybe neither one of us had grown up completely. Who cared? It was fun.

RED

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As I saw Marco coming back downstairs the power went out. A collective howl rose from the crowd and someone yelled, “Party!” It was the drunk DJ who then stumbled and fell from behind the platform he was on. I didn’t even want to know how much alcohol it took to get a werewolf that drunk and stupid.

“That’s gonna leave a mark,” Marco said from behind me and I jumped.

The lights flickered back on and he smiled. “Why don’t we go upstairs?”

Luther took that as his cue and quickly excused himself to help the drunken werewolf with a murmured, “Vodka is a many splendored thing.”

“Aren’t you supposed to go to the lowest level of a building during a storm like this?”

“This building is very well reinforced and has been through several hurricanes,”

he said. “Besides, I want to get a bath before the power goes out completely.”

“Where are you going to take a bath, standing on the fire escape in the rain?” I asked sarcastically.

“That sounds like fun,” he drawled. “But why don’t we go to my apartment?”

again, he didn’t exactly ask a question.

“You have an apartment upstairs?”