Page 16 of Hers to Claim

A server came over with a drink for her, a handsome blond man wearing a leather harness and incredibly snug leather pants. He looked vaguely familiar, but Mari couldn’t put her finger on where she’d met him. “Thanks,” she said with a smile.

When he didn’t move off, she glanced over toward him again. “I thought you might come find me after your father died,” he said, his blue eyes sad.

“Excuse me?” He really did look familiar, but his name escaped her entirely. Where did she know him from?

“Wow, really?” The blond’s expression twisted into hurt. “I didn’t think I was that forgettable.”

“Fuck,” Cisco said, standing up. “Dante, you’re on our tab tonight and we need a room.” His tone didn’t leave any room for argument.

How did Cisco know him?

Dante tilted his head with a question he kept to himself. It took him a moment to find his voice. “Of course.” He turned on one bare foot and stalked away.

“What in the fuck is going on?” They had barely discussed bringing anyone else in, and now Cisco was ordering them aroom with a complete stranger. She was as adventurous as the next sex witch, but she liked to be involved in the decision at the very least.

“You’re going to have to trust me, Mari. This isn’t a discussion we want to have out here.” He looked her way, his eyes pleading. “I fucked up. I’m going to fix it, but we need to be somewhere private.”

“You didn’t even ask him if he wanted to. That’s not like you.”

Cisco looked offended. “That isnotwhat this is about.”

“Well, he certainly thinks it is. You just said we were hiring him for the night.”

Cisco growled. “Hells, of course he does.”

Dante came back after a few minutes.

Standing, Cisco held out his hand to Mari. She took his offered hand and let him help her up. “This isn’t a playdate.” Cisco glanced toward Dante. “We’ve got something we need to talk about and I don’t want to do it out here.”

Dante’s eyebrows rose. “Am I not your type?” His voice carried a hint of amusement.

Cisco paused to appraise him slowly. “You’re absolutely my type and maybe another night I’ll show you exactly how much, but seriously, not about that.”

Dante grinned, showing off his dimples. “Okay, I’ll try not to be offended. What’s this about then?”

Cisco wrapped an arm around Mari and turned toward the elevator. “What floor are we on?” Cisco asked, changing the subject.

“Fine.” Dante exhaled. “She put us on three.”

Hyssop greeted them when they arrived at the glowing neon “This Way to Subspace” sign. They could have been Willow’s twin but for a slight difference in the way they wore their hair. “Nice to see you both again.” They lifted their arm with a flourishin the direction of the elevator. “Head on in.” They twirled their hand and said something in a language Mari didn’t recognize.

When the doors opened, their room was beyond, decorated in deep red with plush fabrics and comfortable furnishings.

“Send Rio up when he’s done upstairs,” Cisco instructed.

Hyssop nodded. “Enjoy,” they said with a smile right before the group stepped through the portal.

Magic shimmered against Mari’s skin as she passed from the main floor into the private room. She hadn’t been in one of these before, and she wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

Cisco passed his hand through his hair, unsettling his curls. He went to the bar immediately, pouring each of them averyhealthy drink. “Everybody grab one. You’re going to need it.”

“Oh, this is a fancy bourbon problem.” She glanced at Dante with a small grin. “That can’t be good.” Accepting the glass he offered her, she took a sip, letting the aroma fill her head for a moment before swallowing.

Dante looked between them. “I’m not supposed to while I’m on shift.”

“Trust me.” Cisco pushed the last glass his way before lifting his own and taking a big gulp. He gestured for them to sit.

“Seriously, what’s going on, Cisco?” Mari asked as they all moved toward the seating area. She took a single chair, and Dante sat across from her on a loveseat. “You’re starting to make me nervous.”

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