Naomi and Tyler (Plenty of Shift Book 2) (4 page)

T
he first person
he noticed was Miri, the woman who ran the dating agency—the one who’d set him up for tomorrow’s date. It was odd seeing her here; she must have had some sort of affiliation with the hospital.

She stood by the bar, talking to a woman in a blue dress, whose back was turned towards him. His eyes went immediately to her hourglass shape: a narrow waist, leading to a set of hips that sent blood sprinting to the place between his legs. High heeled, black leather shoes that only seemed to accentuate that perfect, round ass of hers.

He reprimanded himself silently.
What are you doing man? You have a date with a lovely woman tomorrow.

And then she turned his way as though looking for him, and for an instant their eyes met.

It seemed that he no longer had to wait.

“
G
od
, this is going to be a long night,” Naomi said, her right elbow leaning against the bar. “I suspect that I’ll be in this position for several hours.”

“You and me both, sister,” said Miri. “Malcolm’s already been swept away by important people who want to talk his ear off about the hospital. I probably won’t see him again till midnight.”

“I’ll be your date,” said Naomi. “No offense—but I really hope tomorrow’s date sees more action.”

“None taken. I do too. Remember—I want you to write me a testimonial about my sheer awesomeness to promote Plenty of Shift. I don’t suppose I’ll get it if you don’t get some sweet lion love.”

“True. No lion love means that I’ll give you one star and call you a devious bitch.”

“Fair enough.” Miri let out a laugh, before slamming her mouth shut. Her eyes seemed to lock on something—or someone—behind Naomi. “Holy shit.”

“What? Is my dress undone? Did someone turn into a lemming?”

“He’s here.”

“Who’s here?”

“Tyler. It would seem that your date might come early, after all.”

Naomi turned her head to see what Miri was talking about. There, fewer than six feet away, stood the man himself. He wore a well-cut tuxedo that enhanced his broad shoulders and narrow waist. One hand was tucked into a pants pocket, the other scratching his stubble pensively as he studied her.

A flood of endorphins moved through her. Just seeing the guy was a drug, it seemed; enough to unleash a chemical cocktail inside her. The small creature that lay in wait purred at the sight of him. Now here was someone she’d love to sink her teeth into.

“This is unexpected,” he said as he stepped forward. “Hello, Miri. Hello—Naomi.”

“Tyler himself.”

The man leaned in, placing a kiss on her left cheek.

“I thought you were working tonight,” said Naomi. She wasn’t yet sure if she should be angry about the possible lie.

“I am working.” His head turned towards the Sovereign, who was still surrounded by several young women. “Protecting his lordship from an onslaught of horny young ladies who might lick him to death.”

“Poor guy,” said Naomi. “So I guess that means I don’t get to keep you for myself.”

“Not for long, no,” he said. There it was—that smile that she’d seen in Miri’s place. The one that could power a small village with its electricity.

“That’s too bad.” She leaned her left elbow on the bar, hopeful that her right hip was forming a pleasing curve and glad to have double-checked her face when she’d arrived, for stray lashes or smeared lipstick. Miri may or may not have been standing behind her. But for the moment she was forgotten.

“It is too bad,” he said, moving closer. “Had I known that we would see each other tonight, I would have dressed better.”

Naomi laughed. “You do look very good in a tux,” she said.
Though I’d love to see you out of it.
“I take it you didn’t ride your motorcycle over here in that flightless aquatic bird suit.”

“No. I had to ride in a vehicle with a roof and doors, like the common folk.”

“So that means that you’ll be going home the same way?”

“Possibly. It depends on what the Sovereign wants.”

“Of course. I suppose you’re on duty until he’s tucked into bed.”

Tyler turned back to his boss. “Entirely possible that he’ll be tucked into someone else’s bed tonight, in which case I’m off the hook.”

“Well, Tyler, if you find yourself unhooked, maybe you and I should split cab fare later. You could come by my place for a nightcap.” Naomi slapped herself internally for the forwardness of the suggestion. She must seem like an absolute slut. But the truth was that she couldn’t imagine sending him home.

Meanwhile, Tyler struggled to contain himself and calm his body. His hand, still tucked firmly into his pocket, felt a sudden surge of movement, his cock swelling at the thought of “her place.” This woman was going to create an embarrassing scene when he found that the tuxedo pants weren’t cut to accommodate a giant hard-on.

“I’d like that,” he said. He leaned in once again, inhaling her scent as he caught the bartender’s eye. “Scotch neat, please.”

“Scotch, is it? You really are my kind of man,” Naomi said as he pulled back away.

“I’d have bought you a drink except that you seem already to have been working on one,” he said, gesturing to the glass on the bar.

“I’ll be working on them all night. Let’s call it research. I’m going to write about a lonely alcoholic writer who hates galas.”

“Well, at least I know it’s not an autobiography.”

“Oh, no?”

“No. You can’t possibly be lonely—I’m here, remember? And you can’t hate galas. Because you met me at this one.” He flashed her that sexy smile again. “As for the alcoholism, I’m afraid I can’t help you with that. Except that I can offer to distract you while I steal your glass away and offer you a new addiction.”

“Something tells me that you could cure me of all sort of ailments.”

“I’d certainly like to try.
There have been occasions when I have felt as if a thick curtain had fallen on all interest and romance.
This is not such an occasion. I find a good deal of interest—and romance—in the air.”

“Dickens,” said Naomi. “You’re quoting Great Expectations, you sly dog.”

“
Lion.
And very good. I’m impressed.”

“I saw it—in your saddle bag, when you came for your interview with Miri.”

“So, you were spying on me as I bared my soul to her.”

“I was. Does that bother you?”

“The idea of you watching me do
anything
is very appealing to me,” he said, leaning in. “I welcome any and all of it.”

“Likewise, Tyler, the lion with the lush mane. Though I have to challenge you: you didn’t bare your soul, or anything else. I think there’s a lot of soul in you that stays hidden behind closed doors.”

For a moment it seemed that his jaw clenched before his smile re-emerged. “If you and I get along as well as I think we might, I’ll open the door a crack for you. How’s that?”

“I couldn’t ask for more. Though no doubt I will. Now, go guard that body.”

“I’ll do my duty. But I suspect that I’ll be watching
you
all night. If I’m to guard any body, my lion and I would like it to be yours.” With that he began to turn away before pausing for a moment. “Naomi,” he said.

“Yes?”

“Meet me back here in an hour, would you?”

N
aomi found Miri wandering
, having left her and Tyler deliberately alone.

“So?” said the matchmaker. “How did
that
go?”

At first Naomi didn’t speak. Then she let out a few guttural syllables that sounded a little like, “Weh—I—it—” followed by, “He’s amazing and I want him to put babies in me.”

“That well, huh?”

“I wanted to peel him like an orange and suck all the juice out of him.”

“So it seems that you chose wisely.”

“It seems that
you
chose wisely for me.”

“Good. Be careful with him, though.”

“You think, like I do, that something’s hurt him in life—more than the usual.” Naomi’s eyes searched the room for him, and caught the image of him standing over Lucas’s shoulder, his own eyes scanning the sea of gala-goers.

“I think whatever it is that injured him has scarred him deeply, and that he’s terrified to show weakness. But I think he’d like to.”

“I think you’re right. But I’ll have to work to earn his trust. He’s all charm, sexiness and charisma. That’s great for a night or even ten, but I don’t want to fall for a man who’s got more baggage than a cruise ship.”

“So talk to him. Get him one on one and find out what he’s all about.”

“I will. If I disappear, forgive me.”

“If you disappear, I’ll know I’ve done my job right. It’s all fine.”

Naomi sipped at a glass of champagne, her eyes moving about the room filled with well dressed, mostly wealthy supporters of the hospital. Most were dressed in expensive-looking clothing, the women in the kinds of dresses that would only ever been worn once before being relegated to the backs of closets.

The shifters were easy to discern from the crowd. Like Tyler, they looked a little out of place in their fancy duds, better suited to denim and leather.

“It’s so interesting looking at these wealthy people,” she said. “I always wonder what they wear to sit on the couch on a Saturday afternoon.”

“Probably silk and sequins.”

After a moment, Naomi paused, taking in a familiar face across the room. “Hey, Miri—is that Quinn?”

Miri turned her head, her gaze following her friend’s. “The wolf shifter from the interview?” she asked. “Oh, man. Yes, it is.”

He was standing far off, talking in what seemed like an intimate manner with a young woman. After a moment, his hand went to her arm. He stroked it in a way that could either have been consoling or affectionate; it was hard to tell.

“She looks awfully young to be handled by a guy of his age,” Naomi said quietly. “Jeez, I’m glad I chose the lion.”

“And well you should be—though I don’t think he’s hitting on that girl. It’s like they’re friends or something,” said Miri. “Besides, I’d never set you up with a pervy guy.”

“True—if you did, I’d kill you.” Naomi’s eyes moved to the other side of the room, once again hunting for Tyler. “Either way, it’s none of my concern. Now where’s that lion of mine?”

A
n hour later
, having moved about the room slowly with Miri in a state of complete distraction, she excused herself and made her way back to the bar as promised. Miri had watched her go, excited for her friend. It seemed that she might find some real happiness in her life, and the matchmaker allowed herself a moment of self-congratulating before turning to search for her own mate.

As Naomi made a b-line for the bar, she wondered where Tyler had disappeared to. He was no doubt perusing the room for threats. But so far the evening was quiet, with only a few “Thanks for all your hard-earned cash” speeches thrown in. No Wolf Pack shenanigans, which was a welcome relief. Maybe all the extra security was doing the trick.

“A Manhattan,” she said to the bartender as she turned away from the crowds.

A moment later, a hand was on her waist. A large, warm, male hand, giving her a soft but firm squeeze.

“Punctual. I like that,” he said, his lips close to her ear as he stood behind her. His heat swept around her like a garment made of flowing silk, his lion’s scent palpable, even on her tongue.

“The last hour has felt very long,” she said.
It’s not the only thing that feels long, either,
she thought as he came into contact with her backside.

“Yes, it’s felt like a damned week. Listen—the boss has determined that he doesn’t need two guards tonight. Do you want to blow this joint?”

“You just asked me if I want to blow something. You should be careful.” She was still facing away from him, her face turned slightly to let him see her profile. She felt a quick jolt against her ass, his body pressing further into hers as he hardened against her.

“Dear God, woman. Don’t talk about blowing. I’ll have to take you right here on the bar. I’d lose my job. It would be worth it, but still…”

A quick flash of fantasy shot through Naomi’s mind: her dress, pulled up to her waist as he took her from behind, those hands of his gripping her hips, her wetness glistening over his flesh…

She turned to face him, but he didn’t back away. Their bodies were close together still, his hands gripping the edge of the bar on either side of her waist.

“I would kiss you right now,” he growled. “I thought about your face all day, from that one photo. But now I know that no photograph would ever do you justice. You look and smell like sex, from every conceivable location in this room. Since I set my eyes on you all I’ve wanted is you. Is that wrong to say with such honesty?”

“It’s never wrong to be honest,” she breathed, unable to speak further.

“Then let me say this: I want you. Somewhere. Tonight, or better still, now. I want you on top of me, under me, in a car, on a bed, against an alleyway wall. I don’t care. I want you. I can’t wait for tomorrow. And if you’re thinking this is a one-night stand deal, don’t. I will want you tomorrow morning, and afternoon, and night. And the next day will be the same. I know it in my bones, in my blood. Just tell me I can have you or I’m going to have to leave now, and never speak to you again.” He meant every word. Whether he could live up to what he was saying was, of course, another matter.

Naomi wondered if there was a single person or shifter in the huge room who didn’t know that between her legs her panties were sodden with arousal, her mind reeling in her head as she listened to his words. But this was more than mere arousal. This was need. He was a vaccine that would cure her of the ailment that had suddenly set itself on her; a fever setting in made up of desire and insatiable lust.

“Do you think a cab would drive in and pick us up right here? Because I don’t think I can make it to the front door,” she said, feeling as though her legs would give out under her. This half-lion had turned her into something approaching a liquid entity.

“You can make it, because I’m going out there, and I need you with me.” He took her by the hand and led her through the crowd. As they stepped out onto the street, a gust of cold air swept over her. No cabs darted down the busy street, though, and Tyler led her down the sidewalk, turning down an alleyway after about twenty feet.