The Wicked Kiss (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #2)(66)

I experienced a flash of disappointment when Jez asked a passing waitress to bring us drinks. I wanted to feast my eyes on Shaz again. Seeing him from a distance was an absolute tease. In the back of my mind, I could think about nothing but touching his rock hard body.

We paused on the edge of the dance floor to wait for the waitress to return. The crowd on the dance floor appeared to be having a great time. I was eager to join in.

“Do you think Kale will show up?” Jez asked as she openly admired a tall brunette in a Roman goddess costume. “I invited him.”

I glanced over to where Kylarai was shooting pool with Zak and Julian. From where I stood, I could see bruises marring Julian’s skin. It brought a smile to my face.

“I kind of hope he doesn’t. That wouldn’t go over very well.” I sipped my drink and glared at the lesser wolf, the one that dared to think he could ever be Alpha anything.

When I looked back at my cat-eyed companion, she was giving me a knowing look.

“She doesn’t know he kissed you.”

“She doesn’t need to. They’re not together anymore. And, that was personal.”

She clearly didn’t believe that’s all there was to it. “If you say so.”

I had to avoid the temptation to step on her toe as the waitress walked up with our drinks. Jez passed her a twenty, and she put up a hand in refusal.

“I have strict orders from the bar not to let you two pay for anything. I will happily take a tip though.” She beamed and giggled, despite looking uncomfortable dressed as a French maid.

Jez gave her the twenty anyway, making her promise to keep an eye out for us. “Free drinks all night,” she quipped to me. “You must be giving it to that wolf good.”

Her comment warmed my cheeks, and a fire started in my stomach. “Trust me, I am waiting very impatiently to do just that.”

Her musical laughter peeled out like ringing bells. “Come on, let’s hit the dance floor. I have energy to burn.”

Jez was naturally graceful and seemed to move like a willow tree caught in a breeze.

Dancing in heels didn’t feel as natural to me as she made it appear. I felt eyes on me and looked up to find a dark-haired pirate giving me the eye. His attention was flattering, but I was grateful when he danced on by. I didn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea.

The waitress made good on her promise and came back to us. Despite my higher tolerance, I found myself to be getting quite tipsy. I had to cut back before I did something to embarrass myself in these boots.

After three or four songs passed, my foot developed a cramp, and I begged Jez to use her additional height to find us a table. Miraculously, a couple vacated one nearby almost as soon as we started looking.

I sat down with a sigh of relief after shoving all of the empties to one side. I could see most of the club from where we sat. The stage was in front of us but against the opposite wall. Diagonally to the left was the bar in the center of the room, the staircase behind it and the pool tables to the direct left. The entry and those passing in and out to smoke were between both sides of the room.

Shaz’ hair was visible from a distance but the constant line up at the bar prevented me from getting a good look. I wondered how many girls had already tried to slip him their number.

Jez dug into her tiny purse and pulled out a lipstick and a compact mirror. “This place is really hopping. If Kale doesn’t show up, I’m going to kick his ass. He always misses out.”

I watched her reapply her perfect lipstick without the slightest smudge. No fair. “I just hope he doesn’t go to the Kiss. That place is going to ruin him.”

“No shit. I’ve been telling him for ages to just kill something already and stop torturing himself with that dive.”

We chattered on, watching the activity of those around us. I wasn’t surprised when a fight broke out on the other side of the bar between two drunken fools dressed like Batman and Captain Jack Sparrow. I shook my head at their human foolishness, glad they weren’t my responsibility.

Like usual, Shaz reached them before the bouncers did. It didn’t take him long to separate them. I watched closely, my heart beating out a tense rhythm. No sooner had the bouncers taken over than he beamed a grin my way and headed over.

Jez kicked me lightly under the table and said, “That’s my cue to go chat up that beautiful brunette dressed as Cinderella. I’ll catch up with you later.” With a wink, she bumped her glass against mine in a “cheers” motion and sauntered off.

Shaz’ scent filled my lungs as he approached. I could have breathed it in all night in absolute splendor. He closed the distance between us, kissing the end of my nose lightly.

“Give me fifteen minutes, and then meet me by the staircase.”

Before I could reply, he had jogged back to the busy bar. I watched him go, in those butt hugging, leather pants, with a goofy smiled plastered on my face.

Rather than make myself a lone target for the single guys, I figured I would mosey on over to the staircase to wait for Shaz. I was halfway there, carefully picking my way through the crowd when I felt him. My dark vampire had arrived.

Chapter Fourteen

I turned to the front entry, waiting expectantly. Everything that made me more than human was on full alert as that cool, dark power approached.

When Arys emerged from the sea of people lingering near the door, my heart paused and dropped into my feet. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to get so lucky, but as his blue eyes fell on me, I didn’t care. The tingle that swept me with a warm glow woke the power curled up within my core.