Blonde & Blue (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #4)(22)

“I wish you had told me.”

“Be careful with the demons, Alexa, and you will be fine. You can hold your own. But, think things through before you do anything he asks. Maybe even reconsider what you do. Maybe it’s time to get out.”

I glanced around for the closest waitress. When I caught her eye, I held up two fingers. A double shot of whiskey couldn’t possibly arrive fast enough.

Shaz took the chance to jump in. “What’s the point of all this, the whole organized supernatural hit squad? Seems like there’s little rhyme or reason to their hit list.”

“I’ve always been under the impression that we avoid exposure by wiping out the bottom feeders and rabid newborns.” I shrugged and gave my hair a toss. “It’s becoming painfully clear that everything I think I know is something else entirely.”

Arys reached for my hand, and electricity crackled when our fingers touched. Shaz winced like he’d felt it, and I looked hard at him.

“The point is maintaining control of humanity by keeping them in the dark.” Arys said it with a casual tone that didn’t fit the subject. “The Western world prefers to turn a blind eye to most unsavory things. It’s easier here to keep a low profile than it is in many older countries where they won’t think twice about launching a witch hunt for anything and everything nonhuman. The real risk isn’t the newborn vamps and Weres on killing sprees; it’s the ones with serious power. Those are the ones that have the potential to blow the world as we know it wide open.”

Shaz beat me to it. Clearly we were thinking the same thing. He pinned Arys with a knowing look. “You and Alexa included. Right? You’re talking about those with the power to call demons, do magic, manipulate all forms of power. All of it.”

“Yes. Alexa and I included.” Arys wore that expression he got when Shaz or I came across as exceptionally naive and human.

“Powerful beings controlling others and destroying those that don’t play by the rules.” Shaz turned that over for a moment. “No different than human government. It makes sense though. I assume you’re talking big-time shit.”

“From witches who can read minds and vampires who glamour humans to demons and angels that know secrets pertaining to the end of the world itself.”

The waitress arrived with my whiskey, and I was so stunned by what Arys had just said that I almost forgot to tip her. I ordered two more. This was as good a time as any to enjoy the free drinks perk.

“Angels?” Shaz and I spoke in unison after the waitress left.

Arys looked amused. “This probably isn’t the best place to talk about it.”

That was too much for one night. I shot back the whiskey and waited for the satisfying burn that followed. No amount of alcohol could numb out my unease, but I was willing to try.

Shaz leaned in to press a warm kiss to my temple. “I’ll see you later. Let me know if you plan on hugging a bottle all night. I’ll drive you home.”

“Wait.” I grabbed his arm, and my wolf was instantly soothed by the contact. “Run with me later?”

His wolf responded strongly to me, making the jade green of his eyes start to bleed across the whites. “Definitely.”

He gave me a quick kiss and turned to head back to the front entry. I was almost itchy with the need to shed my skin and be wolf. Arys was watching me with a hungry expression.

“What?” I flashed him a playful smile.

“I want you. Right now. Here.” Fire smoldered in his eyes. Nobody could ever say Arys was predictable.

“You’re kidding.” The waitress interrupted me; I noticed she had brought me double what I’d ordered, in a glass on the rocks. Was I gaining a bad reputation here or something?

No sooner had she left than Arys pulled me into the dark corner behind the bar. I protested, shrieking when he made me spill whiskey down my cle**age.

“Arys!” My protest turned into a laugh when he pulled me against him and kissed my neck. He tugged at the hem of my skirt, and I slapped his hands away.

“Nobody can see us here. Even if they could, I wouldn’t care.” He sucked hard at the vein in my neck, and my knees went weak. “I need to mark you.”

Heat rushed to my groin. His sudden need sparked my own, and I didn’t protest when he pulled my skirt up from behind and jerked my panties to the side. A chair at an empty table was the only thing I could hold for stability. I almost dropped my drink in my attempt to set it down.

I expected my inhibitions to surface when he bent me over the chair. The soft touch of Arys at my entrance stole my breath. He thrust into me forcefully, and I gasped. It hurt a little, and I loved it. With one hand on my hip he held tight to me. His thrusts were achingly slow but rough so that I felt the impact deep within. Every slick stroke left me more hungry than sated.

Surreally, the rest of the club operated as normal while we united in violent, physical passion in the shadows. Arys leaned down over me to whisper in my ear.

“It didn’t take much to convince you, did it little wolf?”

Finding that sweet spot on my neck, Arys bit deep. My cry was swallowed up by the loud music. I came almost immediately. Electricity surged in my veins as Arys pounded harder into me. Every delicious wave of bliss was just as good as the last. He sucked at the bloody punctures, and my stomach clenched.

His release was sudden and intense inside me. His soft moans in my ear sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn’t resist him, obviously. It was impossible to say no to him.