On the Prowl (6 page)

“Wait here, I’ll be right back.” He left the table, strode to the coat check. From a distance Justin could have sworn she was mumbling to herself, but as soon as she saw him approaching, she stilled. He slipped the heavy black cloak around her shoulders and put on his own coat before offering his arm to her again.

She looked up at him warily, her brows knit in a tight furrow of suspicion. He hadn’t realized until this moment that he hadn’t asked which coat was hers but had simply retrieved the one his investigator’s mind logically picked out—an ankle-length black cloak with fox fur around the large hood that said “class” loud and clear. He knew exactly what she was thinking. Softly, he said, “Baby, I’ve watched you from the moment you walked in the door. You’re the only woman here classy enough to wear something like this.” He fingered the thick, soft material at the neck and secured the clasp, grazing her soft cheek with the backs of his fingers.

* * * * *

Arm in arm, they stepped out of the dining room and made their way out of the mansion. Claim tickets in hand, the valets were immediately off to retrieve their vehicles, leaving Delaine and Justin alone under the cloud-covered moonlight.

To Justin, the four seconds it had taken the attendants to turn their backs and move off into the night was four seconds too long. As soon as they were out of sight, he gently pulled Delaine to him, just close enough for the front of her cloak to whisper against the smooth leather of his jacket. He leaned forward, his voice a deliberate and seductive whisper.

“I’ve wanted to get you alone all evening,” he breathed into the soft down of her hair.

Usually ready with a smart-assed reply, Delaine’s throat closed up and every thought flew right out of her head. Her hands lifted to touch his shoulders all on their own while she fought with the rest of her body to keep from rubbing up against him. He moved closer, blatantly inhaling the scent of her skin as his lips gently explored the soft contours of her face. The kiss that wasn’t quite a kiss had her practically melting. Damn, it was so erotic, she barely felt the chill in the air as her body warmed from her scalp down to her pinky toes. She wanted him. Badly.

Justin gently rubbed his nose against hers. His nostrils flared as he inhaled her natural scent. She smelled like allspice and ginger. Spicy, sweet. He liked it. He rubbed his lips against her cheek, brushed over her mouth and nibbled along her jawbone. She wore hardly any makeup, skin so baby smooth he could stand there and rub his cheek against hers until she tired of him doing so.

He worried her diamond stud with his teeth. After endless moments of bathing in the sensual fog that was Delaine, he managed to string together a few words against the tempting lobe of her dainty little ears. “May I kiss you?” he whispered against her skin.

Unable to gather enough air to speak, Delaine mouthed the word yes, almost desperate to feel his mouth moving against hers. Her head screamed, Hurry up and kiss me already! She couldn’t tell if it was her, Sapa or the both of them. Strung so tight, her whole body hummed with the effort it took to stand there and look like a woman halfway in control of herself.

By the time he finally got around to it, she was ready to grab him by the collar, rise up on her tiptoes and lay one on him. She’d never had this kind of physical reaction to a man. Neither had Sapa, so beside herself, if she purred any louder in Delaine’s mind, she was sure even Justin would be able to hear it. Oh lord, she almost hoped he would say something stupid to ruin the moment. Give her an excuse to shut down and bow out. All this stomach fluttering was just too much.

Justin played it out for as long as he could, but now he couldn’t wait another second to claim her lips. He slanted his mouth tenderly over hers but couldn’t hold it there. It just wasn’t enough. Pulling her body flush against his, he deepened the kiss like they were in a private room with nowhere to go but to bed. When she began to move her mouth under his, his arms tightened around her until she was wrapped completely within the cocoon of his large body. He groaned brokenly when she eagerly opened for him, allowing him full access to her lovely mouth. He tasted, teased and then plunged deeply, entangling his tongue with hers. She was delicious, like apples and fine wine. Her ready response made his thighs flex and stomach clench wildly with need. She made him feel…untamed.

A quiet uh-hem caught his attention. The valets had arrived with their cars. Damn, already? Broke the kiss on a sigh but couldn’t resist another taste or two. His mouth kicked up into a half grin when she smiled up at him, lips parted, and slightly dazed.

Justin stepped back, admired the sleek machine idling at the curb and caught Delaine’s unabashedly smug expression. She drove a black on black Jaguar convertible. Exactly like his. Yep, the woman had class.

He pulled open her door and settled her behind the wheel. “Follow me, beauty,” his sensual whisper a promise of things to come.

Chapter Four

Delaine followed Justin to a jazz club about a mile from the Duke Mansion. The four-minute drive gave her too much time to contemplate her ridiculous physical reaction to the man. What was it about him that made her want to jump him? How did a man she’d just met turn her on more with a look than her ex-husband ever had with his whole body? This just wasn’t like her.

Thankful for the few minutes she’d had to get herself together, she managed a small smile when Justin appeared and opened her car door for her. He ushered her into the club with his hand at the small of her back. She couldn’t help tensing at the intimate contact. His fingers burned through her coat, sending an uncontrollable tingle up her spine. Damned traitorous body.

The place was large and tastefully decorated with dark leathers and leopard print chairs. They sat in an intimate corner at a table just large enough for two. Mauve linen tablecloths, the subtle scent of fresh cut flowers and candles set the perfect atmosphere for lovers.

They listened to the band do covers of some of her favorite jazz songs. In the middle of a smooth Anita Baker set, the hackles on the back of Delaine’s neck stood at attention. She felt the lioness rise to prowl back and forth for a moment before speaking calmly but firmly to her charge.

*
There is an enemy is in this place
.*

‘Who is it?’ Delaine queried along the link that secured their bond.

*
The one you hunt
.*

Baker was here? Of all places for the man to be on a Friday night, he had to be at the same club she was. Double damn.

*
Excuse yourself, Suta Winyan. Take us to the ladies room
.*

“You all right, Delaine? You look a little peaked,” Justin asked, concern etched across his smooth brow. His fingers sought hers from across the table and stroked the back of her hand.

“Oh sure, I’m fine. Justin, would you please excuse me a moment? I need to run to the ladies room.” Heat crept into her cheeks on a blush when he stood up with her and kissed the back of her hand. Such a gentleman, drop-dead gorgeous, tall, nicely built… Sapa prodded her out of her reverie and she hurried off with sure, solid steps.

Delaine stood in a typically long line for the bathroom. The lioness prowled restlessly until she could duck into the first available stall, lock it quickly and close her eyes. She blocked out the sounds of the club, pushed the saxophones and deep bass far away. The smooth, sultry voice of the lead singer floating through the speakers in the ceiling faded into the background.

Delaine summoned her companion with a thought. ‘Please assist me, Sapa.’ The lioness sprang forth and a vision began.

Through her spirit’s eye, Delaine saw a short blonde woman sitting in her very own living room pleading for Delaine’s help. Then the vision flashed to another woman sitting in a chair. Her hands were tied tight behind her back and a large canvas bag was over her head. This woman appeared to be in a large dark room that was completely empty. In the background, Baker’s face drifted in and out, a maniacal gleam in his jewel-green eyes. Then the vision winked out and Sapa was back in Delaine’s mind, growling low in her throat.

‘Thank you for your foresight, Sapa, but what does it mean?’

*
It was not revealed to me, but you will know when the time comes. I will be with you, my Suta. Now go, enjoy the rest of your evening. The one you hunt departed while we waited in the long ladies room line
.*

The vision showed Baker was involved in something sinister, but she’d already known that. The identity of the women and their part in this play was a mystery. These women had to be important. Sapa only shared these kinds of visions if there was danger. At least one good thing had come out of her little trip to the restroom—Justin hadn’t been in the vision.

* * * * *

Justin stood as he watched Delaine make her way back to their table. He held out her chair and was gifted with a brilliant smile. She seemed to have a bit more bounce in her step. That must have been one hell of a special trip to the ladies room, he thought.

“I ordered a drink for you. Hope you don’t mind,” he said, flashing a smile of his own.

“No worries. Thanks.” But her expression was distant, far-off. He caught a glimpse of the wheels turning in her head and knew he’d given her too much time to think about something other than him. For some reason, jealousy rose up in his chest at whatever or whoever had her attention. Probably not good, but he wanted her focused on him and him alone. He reached across the table, took her hand again and looked directly into her beautiful root beer colored, almond shaped eyes.

“I love the shape of your eyes, the way they tilt up at the sides. You look…exotic.” She looked at him like she didn’t believe him, but he was genuinely interested. “Let me guess. You’re mixed with Indian, perhaps?”

“Actually, I am,” she said, impressed he’d totally hit the mark. Most people thought she was part Asian or Mexican or something, then took one look at her long, kinky, curly hair and were completely confused. “I’m black and Native American. My family on my mother’s side is Blackfeet and Lakota Sioux. And a little bit of Choctaw mixed in, though I’m not sure how since that tribe is so far south of the others.”

“That’s pretty cool. We have a little bit of Cheyenne in our family, but it’s so far removed I couldn’t begin to tell you anything about it. What about you?”

“Well, I have an older brother who actually speaks Lakota fluently. I only know a few words,” she said, deciding how much to reveal about herself. Just because she felt she could trust him didn’t change the fact that they’d just met. “My kids and I powwow every summer with our adopted family. In fact, my daughter and I are both pretty good fancy shawl dancers and my son is a serious grass dancer. Won first place last year at the Annual Golden Powwow.”

“Golden?”

“Yeah,” she said slowly, a bit of unintentional “duh” in her tone, “as in Golden, Colorado. It’s a town. You know, where they make Coors beer.” She laughed when he wrinkled up his nose and made a disgusted sound at the thought of actually drinking Coors beer. “So you’re a beer snob? Say it ain’t so!”

His hand flew to his heart in a dramatic gesture. “I’m afraid it’s much worse than that, beauty. If it comes in a can that doesn’t say Coke, it doesn’t get anywhere near these lips.”

His lopsided grin appeared, and the butterflies in her stomach came out to play again. The damned things should have been exhausted by now. Did butterflies take naps?

“So what does get near those lips?” she teased and propped her elbow on the table. She rested her palm in her chin and regarded him boldly. Whoa! Since when did she know how to flirt? Goodness, how many times was she going to surprise herself tonight?

*
Perhaps this man brings it naturally out of you?
*

‘Shhh, Sapa.’ She’d never heard the big cat sound so saucy. ‘You’re going to make me laugh out loud, then he’ll think I’m crazy,’ she growled silently, trying to keep her expression steady.

“So you want to know what gets near these lips?” he asked, giving her own question back to her. “Only the best, I assure you.”

Their drinks arrived and Delaine burst out laughing. The man had ordered Shirley Temple drinks for both of them, and hers had an extra cherry!

The best? Definitely!

* * * * *

Justin heard himself talk her into a slow dance. He took her in his arms and immediately regretted it. Barely managing to behave, his fingers itched to slip low on her back and tease the luscious curve at the top of her ass. Arms wrapped securely around her firm body, his nose buried itself in the top of her soft curly chignon, careful not to disturb the elegant style. Nudging her chin up with his nose, he urged her to lift her head so he could kiss her then kiss her some more. Mmm, she tasted and felt so good. And when she gave him delicious slow slips of her tongue and little nips of her teeth, he got so hard he could have played nine innings with his dick. Damn, if he didn’t get her off the dance floor soon, he’d come in his pants.