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

Without a word the bartender, Josh, slid a glass to me with more than one shot. I thanked him and moved where I could watch everyone. A long swig of the strong whiskey was heavenly. I tried to abstain from booze at The Kiss, but tonight had pushed me past the point of caring. I needed this drink.

I was done. Whatever else happened tonight wasn’t my concern, and I wasn’t going to do a damn thing about it. The whole damned place could burn down for all I cared.

Jez sidled up to me with a knowing look. “Not worth the trouble, is it?”

“Not even close.”

The whiskey burned its way down my throat. A warm tingle started in my stomach and grew to encompass my whole body. That’s the stuff.

I glanced in Arys’ direction, annoyed at myself for the ugly envy that picked at me. It didn’t bother me that he flirted shamelessly with some random human female. It bothered me that he was letting her throw herself at him, knowing she was hoping to end up in one of those back rooms with him.

“She’s just food.” Jez followed my gaze to where Arys and his new fan were chatting up a storm. “You know that’s all he’s thinking. She’s drooling over his damn fine body, and he’s thinking about bleeding her.”

“I know. I think that’s the problem. I know how Arys works. I just don’t want to see him in action. Not in here.”

Everything about Arys screamed sex, so I didn’t blame any woman for drooling over him. I couldn’t even blame him for taking advantage of it; the man literally fed off it. Now, because of our bond, so did I. Still, I was a little raw from seeing Arys and his sire with a victim.

“I tried Kale again.” I steered the conversation in a new direction. I didn’t want to focus on Arys being … well … Arys. “He isn’t answering. I’m starting to think he’s avoiding me.”

“He hasn’t been answering my calls, either.” Jez shrugged. “I don’t want to over-analyze this, but I have a sick feeling in my gut.”

“You’re not the only one.”

“I’m going to take off. I think I’ll stop by the office and see if he’s there. Try not to lose your mind. In fact, maybe you should take off, too. You look like you’re ready to snap.”

I mustered a smile. “Thanks. I might just do that. Let me know if you talk to Kale.”

I watched Jez’ leopard-golden head disappear out the door. She was right. Why did I bother keeping watch here? It obviously didn’t stop people from getting killed, and it drove me crazy. There were other things I could be doing, should be doing, like hunting down the scum that were slaughtering innocents in cold blood.

I could feel Arys’ eyes on me. The sudden heavy weight that made me feel like I was in the spotlight. Stubbornly, I wanted to resist the urge to turn and meet his midnight gaze, but I couldn’t. I turned to find him standing near the bar alone. The girl with the pink hair was in the lineup for a drink, talking on her cell phone.

Arys crooked his finger and beckoned me over. The sly smile and sexy wink that accompanied the gesture made me weak in the knees. Damn him. Arrogant, deadly and oh so fine, I hated that I couldn’t resist him.

I sauntered over to him, ditching my empty glass at a nearby table on the way. “Being here makes me want to hurt people.”

“You’re speaking my language.” Arys slid an arm around my waist and pulled me close. “What about her?” He indicated the pink haired woman. “Me and you. She could be ours. Do you want her?”

I wasn’t surprised that he wanted her, but I was surprised that he wanted me to join him. Both vampire and werewolf power flowed through my veins, so tearing her throat out was in my nature.

Instead, I swallowed hard and shook my head.

“No. She’s all yours. I can’t stop you from killing, but I can’t let you do it here.”

He raised a dark brow as if he wasn’t sure if I was serious. “No problem. No killing here. Just as well. This place is for amateurs.” He reached to grasp a strand of my black-tipped blond hair, twirling it around his finger. “Hey, are you okay?”

I found genuine concern in his eyes, and I stroked a finger down the side of his face. “I’m fine, just ready for this night to be over.”

A soft kiss had me melting in his embrace. The silver ring in his bottom lip was cold against my tongue. His cologne teased me; everything about him set me on fire. After being involved for almost a year, every touch gave me butterflies as if it were the very first.

Dipping his finger below the waist of my jeans, Arys tugged on my g-string and murmured, “Are you absolutely sure you don’t want to tag team that one with me? Last chance.”

I laughed and slapped him playfully. “Cut it out.”

“But, she’s totally asking for it. How can you resist? How can you expect me to resist?”

“I don’t expect you to. Just use a little … discretion.”

His chuckle sent a shiver down my spine. He grabbed me tightly and nuzzled my neck, grazing my skin with his fangs. The jolt of energy that shot straight to my groin caused me to gasp.

“I can feel it inside you.” His whispered words came hot against my skin. “The pent-up aggression. The need to unleash and feed that hunger. Your wolf is frustrated.”

I sighed and leaned into him. He wasn’t wrong. I should know better than to let the wolf get frisky. It could affect Arys in a pretty ugly way due to our bond. “I’ll be fine. I just need to go home and relax.”