Page 25 of Venice Heat (Urban Heat 2)

“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.

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