Venice Heat (11 page)

Shae sat on the bed lotioning her skin while Eiji made dinner. When he returned to the bedroom, they ate together in silence. She made no comment to the fact that neither of them had put on clothes, but since her wayward body simmered on low heat as if it intended to blaze up at any second, she thought he might accommodate her later.

Sometime after twelve it happened, and Eiji pulled her onto his lap, facing away from him. The bed squeaked on its springs for the rest of the night, and no sound punctuated the air in the room other than her and Eiji’s moans for hours on end.

* * * *

“Do you mind? I have some business to take care of. I will come back.”

Shae pounced on the excuse. She pushed Eiji toward the door. “Of course not. You can’t just neglect yourself worrying about me.” Even touching him the way she did, heat radiated through his shirt, and while it didn’t set off the storm of lust from a week ago, she wanted him nearby. Her sexual drive had been back to normal for a while. She had bouts of sickness and weakness, but mostly she stood on an even keel. Despite that, every time she opened her eyes, her first thought was of Eiji. That couldn’t be. She needed a break from him, wanted to get him out of the house because she’d been too dependent. “I’ll be here.”

He took a few steps toward the door, but hesitated. “Do you feel…”

Her throat dried. “Feel what?”

Dark eyes burrowed into hers as if he could read her soul. She turned her gaze away, hoping one of the abilities of the wolf shifters wasn’t mind reading. He seemed at a loss on how to explain what he meant, or it could be he didn’t want to bring it up. If that were the case, they were in agreement. The weirdness that sometimes arose inside worried her, but she also wondered if it wasn’t just her crazy mind playing tricks on her. Every day, she still told herself this was some kind of elaborate joke or a dream that had gone on too long. Nothing extreme had happened beyond getting sick, and that just could have been infection from Darryl’s psycho ass biting her.

“I’m fine, Eiji. Like I said, you don’t have to worry about me. Go on. I want to be alone, and you’ve been getting on my nerves lately.”

His brows rose, and she almost laughed. She refused to take back her words, and after he studied her a bit longer, he turned and left, the door clicking behind him.

Shae blew out a breath in relief and walked to the bedroom. She sat down on the side of the bed and glanced at the TV. No, the programs there didn’t hold her. She liked to keep moving and having fun. Locked in the house all this time had worn on her emotional state, but thinking about going out scared her too. If Darryl had turned her agoraphobic, she’d kill him twice.

An odd thought popped into her head, or more like an odd desire. She suppressed it and picked up her cell phone. Her dad’s number on speed dial, she phoned him and waited with a somersaulting stomach.

“Shae, dear,” came her dad’s deep tones over the line.

Rapt fear overtook her. What had she been thinking? If she wasn’t human…

“I’m sorry I’ve missed your calls, honey, but as I said, I was arranging for someone trustworthy to reboot our systems. I think I found him. In fact, you can come home within the week. It looks like we recovered a small bit of data for a portion of Asia.”

She had been tapping her fingers on the bedside table, but at his words, she stilled. “A-Asia?”

“Yes! That’s the brilliance of our new boy. I shouldn’t call him boy, but to me, you know…”

He rambled on. She thought about her mother and the new information Eiji had shared with her. Questioning her dad on the phone wasn’t how she preferred to do it. She wanted to look into his eyes and demand to know the truth, but going home now could not happen. The niggling desire grew by several degrees.

“Dad, seriously, I haven’t been here a month, and I haven’t taken off for years. You can spare me a little longer, right?”

“Is something wrong, honey? You don’t sound the same.”

She clenched her teeth. “No, why would anything be wrong? I’m soaking up the sun, partying like there’s no tomorrow, and well, the guys aren’t half bad out here.”

“Oh, Shae, when will you settle down? I’ve told you I want grandchildren.”

An image of puppies popped into her head, and she almost sobbed. “I know, Dad. I’m just—”

“I know. Sowing your oats. Don’t wait too long. You’re over thirty now.”

“Gee, thanks for pointing that out.”

Her mother had always loved kids and had pushed for their father to have more after Shiya, but Dad had refused, given their dangerous work. As far as she knew, it was the only thing they had seriously disagreed on.

“Daddy, I know you’re not turning me down for some rest, are you?”

“Don’t you try to manipulate me, young lady,” he snapped.

She sighed. “I will be on the road by morning.”

“No, you will not.” His tone softened. “Sakura is coming home. She will take anything that might come up. Honey, you come home when you’re ready. I don’t like you girls overworking yourselves.”

Why did it sound like his idea that she take some more time? “Okay, Dad, thanks.”

“What was it you called me about before?”

She licked her lips and eyed the dresses hanging in the closet. “Nothing. Just wanted to hear your voice. I’ll call you later, okay? I love you.”

“I love you too, honey. Bye.”

He ended the connection. Shae stood up and walked to the closet. She sifted through the clothes she had hanging there and found the shortest dress, with a neckline that plunged almost to her navel, and tossed it on the bed. Afterward, she jumped into the shower. Twenty minutes later, she doused her erogenous zones with a scent that had burned her nostrils days ago. Tonight, it enticed. She did her makeup, curled her hair, and dressed. The five-inch strappy heels in place on her feet, she headed out of the house and slid behind the wheel of her car and headed into the night.

The club she drew up to was one she hadn’t been to before, but after parking her car, she headed inside, confident of what she intended to do. She crossed to the bar and ordered a drink while surveying the crowd. Once she had it in hand, she took a sip and headed out to the dance floor. In the center, she drank some more and began swaying her hips to the rhythm of the music. Like bees to honey, the men swarmed around her, crowding closer, grinning and calling out to her. Even while the music blared at ridiculous decibels, she heard every word. They offered to buy her a drink, asked for a dance, begged to take her home. Still, she moved.

She shut her eyes and raised her arms in the air. Rough hands landed on her hips, and a hot body zipped in close behind. Another joined him from the front. Whoever these two men were didn’t matter because they were replaced in seconds, dragged away by two new men. Shae downed the last of her drink and opened her eyes to choose a man. She handed him the glass with widened eyes and a pout. He disappeared. When he returned with another drink, she thanked him with a smile and took a sip. Clubbing 101 said don’t take drinks from people one didn’t know. She had taken the gift without a qualm, and just to tease all the guys at once, she stuck out her tongue and licked the rim of the glass, a slow circle, made to tantalize. Growls of lust and curses dropped from lips all around.

Shae played this game for a good half hour, and then the crowd parted—or rather, they were shoved aside. She stopped dancing and watched as Darryl’s men thrust their way through the men surrounding her. Those who resisted found themselves on the floor after a fist to the face. She figured bouncers would appear at any second, but none showed up. Then Darryl stood before her. He didn’t touch her, but he grinned as if she should be happy to see him.

“Hey, baby girl. How’s it going?”

She closed the space between them and brought her hands up to his chest. As if they’d cued each other, they began to sway to the music at the same time. She stretched up on her toes, and he bent to accommodate her, planted a featherlight kiss on her lips, and nuzzled along her neck. His deep breath told her he breathed her scent in, and she did the same. His was as familiar to her as if the two of them were one.

“You’re looking hot as hell tonight,” he whispered in her ear.

“Thanks.” Pleasure permeated her system. She ran flattened palms up to his shoulders and linked her hands behind his head. He brought his arms around her waist and crushed her to him. His rough hold hurt a little, but she accepted it. Song after song played, but they never broke their slow rhythm. Shae kept her eyes closed most of the time, but when she opened them, it was to look into the angry face of a woman she recognized as one of the girlfriends of the others, maybe Travon.

Shae scoped her. Slender and black, she wore her hair long, almost to her waist, and her dress was so tight it must have cut off circulation in spots. Despite that, she looked good, if skanky, and anyone could see she had a problem with Shae.

“Why is she giving me the stink eye?” Shae commented.

Darryl leaned back. His hand had been steadily moving lower toward her ass, but when she spoke, he stopped and looked down at her. He followed the direction of her gaze and chuckled. “That’s Charlene. Don’t worry about her. She’s Travon’s girl. Jealous of how sexy you look tonight, I guess, but she’ll respect you when you take your place as my queen.”

Shae flinched at the use of the word and the position, but she didn’t say anything.

One of the other girls grabbed Charlene’s arm. “Come on. Let’s hit the ladies’ room real quick. You look like you could use a break.”

Darryl grinned, still amused, and Travon strolled over to him. When they started talking, Darryl led her from the dance floor, and Shae stood at his side looking around. She sighed. “Hey, I’m going to go to the ladies’ room too, okay?”

He waved his hand, not paying her any mind. “Yeah, whatever.”

She left his side and headed toward the back of the club to a door with the word “Ladies” over the top. When she pushed through, she found Charlene and the other woman doing their makeup at the sink. Although the tiny room bulged at the seams with women, the two shifters had been given the space they needed.

Charlene rolled her eyes and touched up her lipstick. “Why are you in here? Come to show us how special you are?”

The other woman grabbed her arm. “Don’t start, Charlene. You know Darryl won’t like it.”

“What, she think she all that. You can tell by looking at her.”

Shae held her hands out to the sides. “Go ahead and look, girlfriend. I’m used to women hating on this.”

“Bitch!”

Charlene lunged at her, but the other woman shouted, this time not touching Charlene. “Stop! I said back the hell off!”

The resentful gaze tossed at the other girl surprised Shae, but Charlene obeyed. Shae wondered if there was some kind of hierarchy involved with wolf packs. The other woman must have a higher position than Charlene, and from the looks of it, Charlene didn’t appreciate it. She glared at Shae as if it were her fault.

“Don’t think because all those guys were pushing up on you that you got it going on, ’cause you don’t. That was Darryl.”

Shae was about to dismiss her words, but paused at the mention of Darryl. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Charlene glanced at the other woman, and they both smiled. Charlene approached her. “Maybe you always come out half naked and drink whatever’s put into your hand. Maybe you don’t have a problem with how Darryl turned you against your will. Oh, yeah, we knew his plan. He doesn’t do anything without talking to his boys about it.”

Cold dread started at the base of Shae’s skull.

When she said nothing, Charlene continued. “Then again, maybe the legendary Keiths aren’t as badass as everyone hears they are. I know that bullshit about the women being beautiful isn’t.”

“Fuck you,” Shae snapped, but without much heat. Thoughts swirled in her mind. If nothing else, the skank was right about her not behaving the way she usually did. She loved going out, and sometimes she bought dresses that were way beyond what she’d put on in public. They were for her and her man to enjoy at home. Tonight she’d slipped into one without a qualm and left the house to come to the club.

“It’s all coming together for you, ain’t it?” Charlene laughed. “Darryl made you, and he can make you do anything he wants. He can even get you to spread your legs right here in front of everybody and fuck you, and you’ll love every minute of it.”

“That’s a lie!” Shae stumbled away from the gloating expressions on their faces. Eiji had said she had a choice. She could be Darryl’s mate or his. He didn’t mention anything else except that Darryl could force himself on her and make her his mate. But that meant rape, didn’t it?

Shae spun on her heel and walked out of the bathroom. She stopped, fear tightening her chest. If she went back over near Darryl, would it happen again? Would she just let that fool touch her wherever he wanted, however much he wanted? Bile threatened to rise up in her throat, and her hands shook. She edged around the room, away from Darryl, knowing at any time he could pick up her scent and know she wasn’t in the bathroom. Her knees quivered. She darted her gaze everywhere, unable to focus on who stood in front of her. When a few men smiled, she just bit off a cry. This was too much. Never in her life had she ever felt so naked, and it had nothing to do with her clothes.

She made it to the exit and burst through the door. Cool night air ruffled her hair, smelling of the ocean. She breathed deep and stumbled away from the club’s entrance.

Someone grasped her arm. “Ma’am, are you okay? Do you need me to call you a taxi?”

She shook off the hold. “I’m fine.”

“I don’t think—”

“Leave me the hell alone!” She punched him so hard he went flying backward off his feet. He landed wrong on the ground, and the distinctive snap of a bone breaking reached her over several people’s gasps.

Shae slapped a hand over her mouth.
Oh no! I’m so sorry.
She fled, not even knowing where she was going. After a block, she yanked off her shoes and continued on. If she cut her feet, she didn’t know it. Numb and confused, she kept moving. When she couldn’t see, she realized she had been crying. That was another new one too. After some time, she looked at the street sign and saw Dell Avenue. This was one she recognized. A canal ran across this road. Sure enough, she came to the small bridge and turned into a narrow walk with heavy tree coverage over it. Beside her the canal streamed, softly rippling in the dim lighting. A row of manicured bushes separated the walk from the water, and at intervals were docks where people had moored small boats. She had no idea whether this was their backyards and if she was trespassing, but at the moment, she didn’t care.