Eternal Pleasure (16 page)

Kelly answered for him. “We’re stopping by our apartment to pick up Q, and then we’re hitting Jude’s club to see what he has for us. Finally, we’re meeting the alpha of a werewolf pack. Maybe he can help Neva.”

Spin took the time to meet Neva’s gaze. “Sorry I ignored
you. Must be tough to go through the change alone. Hope this guy can help you.”

Ty was impressed. Spin granted Neva human dignity instead of treating her like an oversized dog. Maybe the Spinosaurus did have more style and charm than a T. rex.

He thought about that once they were on their way back to the apartment. Ty again had the seat next to Kelly. A brief glaring match with Spin had warned Mr. Style and Charm not to try to claim it.

Winning those kinds of minor skirmishes wasn’t enough, though. Ty understood that claiming Kelly’s respect would be a lot tougher than claiming the seat. Oh, she trusted him to protect her, and she’d enjoyed his body last night. But he’d have to step away from his primal past and into her civilized present for respect to grow. And, yeah, he was admitting it. He wanted some of those things that brute force couldn’t get him. He’d start by trying to sit on his aggressive instincts.

As Kelly pulled into the apartment parking lot, she glanced at all of them. “Stay here. I won’t be long. I’ll just make a quick change and then get Q.”

“Why change? You look great.” Ty couldn’t conceive of her ever not looking great.

Kelly smiled her appreciation. “It’s a girl thing. We’re hitting a club. I want to dazzle.”

Ty wasn’t sure he liked the idea of her dazzling anyone except him. But he made a real effort to beat down his jealousy.

Spin put in his two cents. “Hey, I’m all for dazzling, but remember we’re meeting an alpha wolf. Don’t want to stir up the old savage heart.”

Kelly tried to keep from laughing. “Uh, guys, look in a mirror. I think you have the savage-heart market cornered.” She
climbed from the SUV before either of them could answer her. It felt good to get in the last word for a change.

She guessed there was just so much fear a person could absorb, because she wasn’t thinking about the wolves. Instead, Kelly was actually looking forward to the club visit. It’d be a brief chance to act normal again.
Act
was the operative word, because normal wasn’t in her present vocabulary.

After letting Q know they’d arrived, she stopped in her apartment long enough to make a quick change. Not much to choose from, but she slipped into some silky black pants and a sexy purple top with a deep vee plunge that teased and taunted. Kelly didn’t for a minute try to fool herself about where she was aiming that teasing. She added some dangly earrings and a pair of shoes with heels way too high for running. Maybe no running would take place tonight. A girl could hope.

Satisfied, she refreshed her lip color, swept a little shadow across her eyelids, grabbed a jacket to replace the bloody one still hanging back in the condo, and headed down to join the others.

A woman would always feel like a woman around the Eleven. As Kelly settled into the driver’s seat, she could sense an explosive blend of testosterone and sexual energy bouncing off every surface.

She hadn’t put on her coat, and she handed it to Ty to hold. Okay, she’d purposely left it off to impress. So sue her. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she chanced a quick glance at Ty.

He met her gaze, and something so sensual gleamed in his eyes that she wanted to park the car and climb all over him. She took a deep breath and looked away. Wow. Just wow.

She thought about him all the way to Montrose and Eternal Pleasure. It took more time to find the club than she’d expected. That was because it was tucked into the top floor of a small two-story building. An antique shop took up the first floor. And the sign with the club’s name was so tiny, Kelly missed the place the first few times she drove past.

Jude had chosen a great spot for his club, though. The Montrose area had a unique flavor with its eclectic mix of boutiques, restaurants, and small galleries. But the area’s residents had no idea exactly how unique their neighborhood really was.

She got lucky. Someone pulled out of a parking spot right in front of the club.

Ty climbed out and looked around. He turned to Spin. “Maybe you should take Neva for a walk. Keep your eyes open for anything suspicious while you’re at it.”

Kelly glanced at the werewolf. “It’s funny, but ever since she calmed down, Neva hasn’t acted like I’d expect a werewolf to act. No violent rages, no bloodlust. What’s with that?” Kelly spoke to Neva. “Too bad you can’t talk.”

Neva looked frustrated that she couldn’t express herself.

Spin opened the door so Neva could jump out, then slipped on her makeshift leash. “This is so cool. I’ll feel like the biggest badass on the block walking a werewolf.” He paused to think about that. “Oh, right, I’m already the biggest badass.” He stared at Ty and Q, daring them to claim the badass crown.

Ty ignored Spin as he headed toward the outside stairs that led up to the club. Kelly followed him, and Q brought up the rear. She was breathing hard by the time she re ached the second floor, but it wasn’t because of exertion. Talk about an adrenaline rush. She was with two hot and
dangerous men and about to meet with the city’s head vampire. An excitement high like this could trigger a nosebleed.

Kelly heard the music before Ty opened the door. A woman was singing something slow and so erotic it took her breath away. Images pushed and shoved to be the first to trail across her memory. A naked Ty looking out the window, his smooth back tapering down to the most perfect ass she’d ever seen. Ty pressing her to the balcony wall, his cock hard against her stomach, his eyes…She shook her head. Later. She’d indulge her memories when she had the time to do it right.

As Ty pulled open the door, Kelly felt Q tense behind her. Some of her euphoria faded. Danger came with this kind of excitement. Could you become addicted to the constant pulse-pounding uncertainty of what would happen in the next few minutes? Would life seem boring once she settled back into her normal routine?

Pushing that thought aside, along with all its potential for emotional disaster, she stepped into Eternal Pleasure and its low throb of sensual music.

Sensory impressions swirled around her—shadowed interior, dim atmospheric lighting, rich fabrics, expensive scents, and a sense of silent watchers just out of sight. The quiet murmur of conversation died as the three of them stood just inside the door.

Kelly shivered. This didn’t feel like a normal club. No loud music, no noisy drunks, just the feel of all those eyes. Oh boy.

But there was sex. Wow, was there sex. The female singer stood on a small stage and crooned about the pleasure a man brought to a woman. With dark hair that tumbled over her bare shoulders and down her back, large dark eyes
that almost glowed, and a mouth that even Kelly recognized as a dangerous weapon, she put the “c” in carnal. Her body was all lush curves. Kelly knew this for sure because only a few strategic spots were covered. Kelly felt her own sex appeal oozing out of her even as she stared.

From a woman’s point of view, though, the singer wasn’t the main attraction. Three men with hard, muscled bodies and gorgeous faces wound themselves around the woman, demonstrating for those unable to visualize the creative ways to bring a woman to orgasm. Wearing only G-strings, they looked really…persuasive.

Kelly stole a quick glance at Ty and Q. Yep, they were totally into all that sexual excess. As her gaze slid back to what the men were doing, she noticed the piano player and the bar almost hidden behind the stage.

And then Jude was there. He materialized out of the shadows, his appearance just as impressive as the first time she’d seen him. Tonight he was in pirate mode—black pants, high boots, billowing white shirt open to his navel, dark hair pulled back and fastened at the base of his neck, and gold earrings. No eye patch.

“Does the sensuality shock you?” His smile was merely a sly lifting of his sexy lips.

“Nope.” Kelly had no compunction about lying.

Ty dragged his gaze from the singer. “I like it.”

She frowned. Of course he liked it—he was male. But jealousy was an insidious thing. Not admirable, but almost impossible to dislodge.

Ty nodded toward Q. “I don’t think you were ever officially introduced to Q.”

Q never took his attention from the singer. “Jude.”

“And this is Kelly.”

She smiled her approval at Ty. He hadn’t snarled at
Jude when he introduced her. Tough for him. Of course, she still felt a shimmer of terror. She was probably reacting to the grumbling of his inner beast. Or maybe this time she was reacting to the strange vibes she was getting from Jude’s club.

The vampire’s gaze glided over her, pausing where her neckline plunged. He took the plunge with her and didn’t come up for air until Ty shifted closer.

“I remember. You had a strong opinion about my riding skills.” Jude’s smile widened.

“She had
no
opinion about your riding skills.” Ty had evidently reached the limit of his tolerance for sexual banter.

“Uh, I’m here, and I get to answer questions directed at me.” Kelly tried to hold on to her temper, tried to remember where Ty had come from and why he acted the way he did. She bit her lip to keep from making any more snarky comments.

Then she glanced into his eyes. They were dark with frustration. He exhaled and ran his fingers through his hair. Kelly clenched her hands into fists to keep from reaching up to touch the tangled strands.

“I keep forgetting. Instincts are out, control is in. I can’t be what I was before. I guess the rules just aren’t sinking in yet.” He met her gaze. “But I’m trying.”

Wait for it
.

“For you.”

Yes
. His last two words had been a low murmur, but she’d heard them. He’d admitted he was trying to change for
her
. That was worth celebrating. “Why don’t we sit down so everyone can stop staring?”

Jude nodded and led them to a table in a darkened corner. “Can I get you something to drink?”

Q and Ty asked for water. Good. The thought of going to war with two drunken dinosaurs was pretty scary. “I’d love a Diet Coke.”

While Jude went to get their drinks, Ty slowly scanned the room. Then he stared at Q. “You think?”

Q nodded.

She was left out of their communication. “What?”

“Everyone in this place is a vampire.” His tone didn’t exactly say,
Run for your life
, but it definitely hinted they might be wise to cover their necks.

Jude returned with the drinks. “I wondered how long it’d be until you realized this was a vampire club.” He sounded amused.

“You heard that?” Kelly calculated how far away from the table Jude had been when Ty spoke. Nope, he shouldn’t have been able to hear what Ty said.

“We have enhanced senses.” Jude’s expression said it was a miracle that humanity was still around with such poor survival skills.

After just a few days among nonhumans, she was beginning to think he was right. “So no humans come in here?” She scoped out the vampires at the nearest table. A woman waved at her. Now where…Then she remembered. One of the bodyguards who had come with Jude when he visited Fin’s condo.

Jude shrugged. “They wander in now and then.”

Q snorted. “Question is, do they wander back out again?”

“Always.” Jude sat down between Ty and Q. He pointed at the menus on the table. “They can buy drinks and food. Everyone around them may look a little hungry, but they leave none the wiser.”

Kelly reached for a menu. “We were going to eat before we went on to our next meeting anyway. I think I’ll order
now.” She remembered Spin and Neva. “And I’ll need two to-go meals when we leave.”

Q and Ty looked wary. Kelly took a leap of faith that Jude wouldn’t serve them human hearts sautéed in blood. “I’ll take the lamb and…” Someone stop her. Too late. “Garlic mashed potatoes.”

Jude’s laughter was deep and sexy. “I love garlic. And since we’re shattering beloved stereotypes, crosses and holy water don’t bother me either. Sunlight’s a problem, though.”

Taking their cue from her, Q and Ty ordered the same thing.

While Jude called someone over to take the order, Kelly looked around the room again. A few vampires had left their tables to dance in front of the stage. They all moved with the same sinuous rhythm that screamed,
We are sexy
.

Her gaze drifted back to the vampires at the tables. They looked so normal, drinking and talking.
Drinking
. “What’re they drinking?”

“Not blood drained from the little old lady who runs the store downstairs.” He leaned back in his seat and studied her. “Although the temptation is always there.”

Kelly felt Ty tense beside her. “I wouldn’t be sitting here if I thought you couldn’t control temptation.”

Jude nodded. “We run our own blood banks. Volunteers are paid well.”

“You never drink from the source?” Q sounded disbelieving.

The vampire smiled at Q, a slow taunting expression that exposed impressive fangs. “Once in a while we allow ourselves a treat. But the donor is always willing, and we never take enough to kill.” He leaned toward Q. “Did you enjoy killing all those wolves the other night? Had lots of fun, didn’t you?”

Q couldn’t quite meet his gaze.

Jude leaned back, satisfied. “Except for Kelly, we’re all predators. But my people have suppressed their hunting instincts for the survival of the species. Vampires don’t reproduce often, so humans outnumber us ten thousand to one. Not good odds, even if you have strength and ferocity on your side.”

Kelly thought Jude was sounding a little unfriendly. “In other words, if you weren’t outnumbered, you’d be slaughtering humans?” Talk about being outnumbered…Hmm. She gauged how far they’d have to run to escape the roomful of vampires.

“Not in this time. Life is good in the here and now. We don’t need to kill to survive. And if blood from a blood bank isn’t as exciting as the hunt—” he shrugged—“we deal.”

The waiter arrived with their meals, and they put the conversation on hold for a while. Surprised, Kelly realized the lamb was fantastic. Or maybe it was just that she was starved.