“Okay, look. Youprobably don’t fit in here.” I had no time for the securityshifter’s bullshittery.
“Tonight?” He lookeddown at himself, running his hands self-consciously over the blackmaterial.
Never.
“No, that outfit isall right. Kinda cool, actually, for the retro geeks who lovedPrincess Bride.It’s just—”
“Oh. You think I’mtoo straight.”
“Ah—” I was fastrunning out of options and ways to get rid of the dude. Glancing upat the single key for room three, the room I fucking hated withevery fiber of my being, I grabbed the glinting metal, steeledmyself, and threw him a tight smile. “Right. You’re coming withme.”
“Whoa, honey. I liketo choose my partners.”
His use of theplural gave me pause. Maybe he fit better than I thought. Still,the sexy side of Fray was only one half of who and what the shifterclub represented, andthatbit was the part I worriedabout.
“I’m trying to keepyou safe,” I grumbled, scooting off my stool. My boots hit thefloor with a heavy thud, but I didn't miss his gaze track over myfishnets or the short lace and green leather miniskirt that matchedmy tats.
“Safe from what?” Helaughed. Actually laughed.
Fucking numpty.
“From all themonsters in the club.” I flashed him my teeth in a bared grin.
His smiledisappeared as he sobered and assessed me with new eyes. “Allright.”
“That’s it?” Irolled my eyes and grabbed his hand, charging through the alreadycrowded space. “This way.”
“As you wish.” Hishand curled around mine in a firm, comfortable grip, but he didn’tslow me down or try to pull me up.
Fighting the urge toroll my eyes or fangirl at his quote—I wasn’t sure which camefirst—I wound my way around patrons already well into the swing ofa Halloween party almost guaranteed to become a general fuckfest inthe next hour or less.
Maybe getting himoff the main floor should be a rush job, instead.
Catching Killian,the floor manager’s eye, I waved the key in the air with the numberclearly visible in his direction and jerked my head backward.
Killian nodded andhalf-froze when he saw the non-furry that followed me. His browdipped in a deepVthat suited his mix of gray and darkhair. The club manager often paired his waistcoats and three-piecesuits to his mood, and tonight, black covered him head-to-toe,highlighted with a hint of silver.
He mouthed, “Whatthe actual fuck is he doing in here?” as I passed.
I shook my head,conscious of the tall man at my back, letting my befuddledexpression speak for itself.
Killian’s eyes werethoughtful as he watched me. Trying not to think too hard, I shookoff a seed of doubt as I hit the stairs at a run, trotting downthem and bringing my baggage along with me. Had I been wrong todrag him downstairs?
My stray human saidhe had a penchant for kink, so nothing in a bare dungeon room withsome sex furniture should scare him, right?
No more than it doesme.
I hated room threefor the things done to me there a long time ago, before I startedworking for Rafe, when the shifter community didn’t have achampion. Back then I’d been the little freak bat girl, all gothand hiding.
Now, I still had noidea about myself or what I wanted. Stability, maybe. Boringdomesticity and a happy home, seeing as I’d never had onebefore.
Okay, so a happyhome with me on a leash and a master I wanted to crawl for. Howfucked up my head had become was a testament to the fact the lacycollar I’d given Rafe for safe keeping hadn’t been seen in over ayear.
“This one’s us.” Islipped the key in the lock, fighting back the urge to puke.
It turned easilyunder my hand. I’d be inside for less than five minutes before Icould lock him in—who is he? I don’t even know his name—myMan in Black, for now, and head back upstairs.
One of the boyscould come and unlock the door when we’d identified a safe escaperoute to get our pet human back to the street level unaccosted byall things with puppy dog tails that went bump in the night.
