by Emily Bex
Once out of the car, he kissed her hard on the lips then smiled at her. "Bel, I have messed up your lipstick. Hold still while I fix it."
He took her evening clutch and removed the tube of bright red lipstick and began to apply it expertly to her lips. “There, bel rosso, you look beautiful. Are you ready?"
30
As he fixed her lipstick, she was taking in the exterior of the nondescript building, painted black with a Gothic sign that read ‘Under the Coffin’. The young people who were waiting to get in were clad in leather and covered in tattoos and facial piercings. This wasn’t a club Kate would have ever frequented and her dress made her stand out like a sore thumb.
He smiled into her eyes and grabbed her hand as he led her to the side door. He could feel her nervousness. He was well known here, no need for him to stand in any damn line. "This is the private side entrance. I used to come here a lot, bel. They know me."
He rapped out several quick taps on the heavy door as it opened and one of the gorillas that protected the place smiled and beckoned them inside. Shade saw him take a whiff of bel as she walked by and then nodded to him. She reeked of his blood to other vampires, but it wouldn’t stop many of them from approaching him. She was still mortal and new to feeding from him and wouldn’t be seen as a threat.
He sensed her intimidation as the noise level just about knocked them against the walls. The music was deafening, designed to drown the vampire’s dark soul, and feed their lusting hunger.
Kate felt the music as the door was opened. The DJ was playing Disturbed’s “Down with the Sickness” at ear-blasting levels, producing that loud pulsing beat she could feel inside her chest. The interior was dimly lit in red lights, and the crowd inside seemed to pulse and throb with the music. She was already feeling overwhelmed with the atmosphere. This seemed so unlike anything she’d associate him with, after seeing him at all the cocktail parties and events for the social elite that Rissa threw. There were no men in business suits here. Leather and Goth clubwear were the dress code, and it was unlike anything she’d ever seen. Her heart rate picked up as she backed into him, having second thoughts about entering. This crowd looked like they were one minute away from bedlam.
She gripped his hand. "Don't let go, Shade!"
"Bel, you will not be out of my sight. I will lead us to our booth. You need to get some alcohol in you and it will calm your nerves."
As he kissed her neck, he led her through the crowd, weaving his way through the swarm of people, keeping her close. The room was dimly lit, but the activity inside the private booths was plain to see. There were vamps and mortals, all seeking that incredible high of sexual bliss from an immortal feeding. Shade kept moving in the direction of his booth when he saw the female approaching. She had her sights dead set on him and the smile and sway of her hips told him all he needed to know.
Katrina was one of the managers here, an immortal, and before he could steer out of her path, Katrina approached him. She stood almost as tall as Shade, and she completely ignored Kate. She slid her arms around his neck and whispered softly in his ear, “It’s been too long, master.”
Shade disengaged from her and ignored her reference to their past as he introduced her to Kate. "Katrina. Good to see you. Please let me introduce you to my mate, Katherine."
Kate had seen the woman as she laid eyes on Shade and made a beeline for him, sliding up to him and leaning in close. Shade was introducing her, and the woman never took her eyes off him. Kate moved in closer to Shade, forcing the woman to look at her. Kate was bordering on fear and anger; fear at the woman's size and beauty, anger at her aggressiveness with Shade, and her own sense of helplessness as to how to push back against these immortals.
"Perhaps you didn't hear him,” Kate shouted over the music. "He said I was his mate."
Shade wasn’t expecting to have to defend his choice right out of the gate, but he was amused at Kate’s feistiness. Watching as Katrina smiled down at bel, his arms went around her like a steel cage. Shade gave Katrina a look and she understood instantly he’d not take her playfulness.
Katrina backed off. “Well Master Medici, a mortal mate isn’t exactly what I expected from you. And you picked a redhead—how precious.” Katrina licked her lips. “You should have given me advance notice you were coming. Luckily, your booth is empty, and I suggest you keep her close. Even though she reeks of you, most will not care.”
Shade watched as she spun on her heels to lead them to his booth. He wrapped his arm around Kate and followed Katrina to the private booths that were held for masters. As he and Kate slipped into the booth, Shade was shaking his head when Katrina blew him a kiss as she returned to her duties.
"Relax please. I know you are overwhelmed, but this is only one aspect of immortal life, Kate. They can openly feed here, not hide who they are. Someone will come for our drink order shortly."
Kate was seething and flashed her eyes at Shade. “Precious? Did that bitch just call me precious?” Her blood was boiling. If this was a preview of the night's events, it was going to be one long night.
He smiled at her. "Is that jealousy I see, bel? Made you forget how vulnerable you felt though, si? This is no game, Kate. It is dangerous here, but the fastest way to spread the word that we are mated is to come to a place like this. These clubs are all over the world, each culture a little different. Alec told me about this place decades ago, he comes here sometimes, without Rissa, I am sure.”
She slid closer to him in the booth, taking note of couples, and threesomes, and foursomes in booths across from them. Some were feeding, and some having sex, making little effort to disguise their activity. Shannon always called her goody-two-shoes, but she had no idea that people would “perform” like this in public and it was clearly a performance. She looked away from the activity in the booths and tried to concentrate on his words.
"Alec...he’s not faithful to her, is he?"
"No. But I am not Alec. I brought you here so you would understand the dark side of being an immortal, the lengths I had to go through to feed. This is how I lived previously, but it ends here.”
She knew Shade was different, he’d always made her feel like the center of his attention, but then again, when had she had to compete for his attention? She knew tonight wasn’t the night to retreat into her shell, even though Shade may have no interest in them, these women, and a few of these men, clearly had an interest in him. She slid her hand up his thigh, her hand gliding over the soft leather that conformed to his shape, leaned into him as she lifted her face to his, kissing him with open mouth, and feeling him respond, their tongues probing slowly and seductively.
Shade could feel she had resolved to make her presence known, to claim him. He could protect her from anyone here, but he wanted her to have a backbone and not cower at this freak show. He felt a hand slide up his back...Cazzo, Tatiana! Damn, why do women have to appear at the worst times. Breaking the kiss, he saw Kate’s eyes lock with the female standing behind him. Shade shifted in the booth as he looked over at their waitress and another one of his conquest.
"Tatt, took you long enough."
“It’s busy as fuck in here, Shade. I have your Midnight. Just need to know if you’ll also be ordering your usual.”
She sat the glass of Midnight down in front of him and reached to run her hand through his hair. Shade grabbed her wrist before she touched him, lowering her hand. "Tatt, this is my mate, Katherine. Kate, this is Tatiana, she’ll be serving us this evening, drinks only. What is your poison, mi amore?"
He watched the two cats begin to size each other. What the fucking hell was he thinking bringing bel here?
Kate could tell from her intimate touch along Shade's back and the way she made eye contact with him that he’d been with her. Is there anyone in this fucking club who hasn’t fucked my vampire? She saw him grab her hand before she could run her fingers through his hair. She had long black hair, dressed in leather, a very Goth look with facial piercings. Really? He’
d been attracted to her? Shade asked what she'd like to drink. Kate locked eyes with the bitch. She knew this was a contest.
"A shot of Mescal...and be sure to include the worm."
Shade choked on his Midnight as he heard Kate’s drink order but composed himself as he addressed Tatt. "You heard my mate. Mescal!" He shook his head as Tatt walked away in a huff. Looking at bel, he chuckled. "You never cease to amaze me, mi amore. Mescal?”
“I have a confession.”
"Is that so? Well, if we are sharing confessions, my ass won’t be leaving here for one long fucking time. But tell me yours."
“I've never had Mescal before, and tequila makes me bat-shit crazy. But I wasn't going to order a girly drink in front of that bitch.”
Throwing back his head, he laughed loud enough to be heard above the fray. Picking up his glass, he swirled the Midnight around and downed it in one gulp. "In that case, maybe I should order a bottle of Midnight, si? I need to keep up with you!"
Tatt whizzed by and slid the drink to Kate and a whole bottle of Midnight to him, without another word.
"Drink up, bel. There is a worm just waiting for consumption."
Kate picked up the shot glass and slammed it back before she could think about the fact she was swallowing a worm. It felt like liquid fire as it poured down her throat and hit her empty stomach. She slammed the empty shot glass back on the table and turned it upside down as she saw Tatt watching her from the other side of the room. Kate flashed her a look that would peel paint from the walls. Tequila gave her liquid courage, but as Shannon would always remind her, not in a good way. She felt the alcohol enter her system in three...two...one.
"Tatt!" Kate shouted at her across the room. "Another round here."
Shade knew if she had more than two, he’d be carrying her out of here over his shoulder. "Bel, take it easy, my little minx. If you are not used to drinking that stuff, it will make you legless. Since there is no menu, the menu rather walks among the clientele, perhaps you should have something much more filling, si?"
Pulling her into his lap and sliding his hands under her tight dress, his thumbs massaged her inner thighs. "Hungry?"
She felt his hand slide under her dress and she wasn’t sure which had more heat, the feel of his hand between her legs or the alcohol burning in her stomach. But he was making her an offer to feed in public. Her head was already swimming with the straight shot of alcohol, but even without it, she’d take him up on his offer, hungry or not.
"For you, lover, I am insatiable."
“Claim me here, show them you are my mate and I belong to you."
Straddling him as her skirt slid up to her hips, she ran her hands through his hair, the dim red lights leaving his face in shadows, which only emphasized his bone structure, his high cheekbones and strong jaw, the dark heavy brows over his eyes, which looked pale in this light. She leaned in and licked his lips before sucking his bottom lip into her mouth, nipping at it, drawing blood, and hearing his low growl. She covered his mouth with hers and kissed him deeply, letting their tongues dart and explore.
He laid his head back against the high walls of the booth, and she held nothing back. All those who’d come before her faded in comparison. Her kisses were like fire. He felt her slide her hand between his legs, and through the leather, she gripped his cock. He was lost in her. Laying his head to the side, he gave her free rein to feed, signaling to everyone that he was taken. "Take what you need, mi amore..."
She felt the length of his cock as it expanded beneath the soft leather and laid her breasts against his chest as she placed her mouth to his neck and ran her tongue from his ear to his collarbone. She could feel the pulsing in his vein as his heartbeat quickened, and she bit hard into his skin, drinking deep, feeling his blood hit her tongue with more fire than the Mescal she’d swallowed earlier. Its impact on her was immediate, as she felt and tasted the sexual desire in his blood. She slid her hand up and down his steel-hard shaft as she slid her hips forward, the back of her hand now stroking her own sex as well, as she drank from him.
He could feel eyes on them, and he knew word was spreading, he was mated. Everyone wanted to see the mate of Shade Medici, the Warriors’ Warrior. Growling loudly, his fangs punched, and he cradled her head against his neck and through his half-closed eyes, watched the parade of freaks walking by, gawking in a slow procession, knowing they’d spread the word that the most eligible bachelor in the immortal world was mated.
Feeling bel draw deeper made him wild and he wanted desperately to fuck her long into the night, but he’d never share such intimacy with her in public. He pulled her arm from around his neck and sank his fangs deep into her wrist and drew her nectar into his system, feeling it explode inside him just as his cock did the same inside his leathers. He felt her body jerk as her orgasm shook her, and he held her close. "Ti amo, mi amore."
Kate dropped her head back, her scream of ecstasy lost in the pounding rhythm of the music, just as Tatt returned with the second shot of Mescal. She set the drink down on the table and slid it in Kate’s direction. Still gasping for breath, Kate looked at her over her shoulder. "Thanks, but I don't need it now. But you look like you could use a drink, so go ahead. This one's on me."
Shade slapped her ass as she got sassy with Tatt and laughed out loud. His hands slid through her shiny crimson hair as it swung softly down her back. "You are such a fiery vixen when you get riled up. I should buy you Mescal more often. Would you like to dance, or are you becoming legless between the worm in the glass and the worm in your hand?"
Still straddling him, Kate leaned her forehead against his as she stroked him through those leather pants. "Forget the worm in the glass, lover. The worm in my hand is about all I can handle. And it seems to me every bitch in this place is in heat, so you better help me keep them at bay. But I'll dance with you. Can you keep up?"
"Only one way to find out, but if you do not remove your hand from my handle, the bitches are going to swarm when they see this monster.”
Laughing as she tried to imitate his growl, he lifted her off his lap and onto her feet, watching her shimmy her dress into shape and whip that flowing head of hair of hers.
Tatt had left the shot of tequila on the table despite Kate's offer. Kate grabbed the shot glass and threw it back, downing it all before slamming the glass back down. The tequila took her breath away and she shuddered, feeling the raw alcohol scorch her throat. "Lead the way."
"Woman!" He grabbed her hand, pulling her tight to his side and moved out on the floor. They could feel the floor vibrate as they got closer to the music. A thick haze of smoke hung in the air, reflecting the colorful lights flashing off and on across the ceiling. The steel beams above their heads held even more haunting hell. One bright beam of yellow light scoured across the floor and up and across the ceiling beams to show couples feeding, some danced and leaped from beam to beam, while others engaged in a few choice activities minus their clothing. As the search beam stole across the ceiling again, Kate gazed up and he could feel her raw emotions of shock. Before they could get to the dance floor, he heard someone calling his name. Turning, he saw Colin Vos, Master of Nevada, sitting in a booth with his mate as he beckoned Shade over with a fangy grin. Shade grabbed Kate’s hand and headed in their direction.
“Just a short visit, mi amore. Another master.”
Kate had the giggles now as tequila was making her head swim. He led her to another booth where he was introducing her to some master. It was hard to hear over the pounding music.
Walking into Colin's booth, his mate Elana smiled at Shade and then at Kate as Shade returned the smile. "Damn Colin, should have known you’d be here. This is my mate, Katherine." Shade pulled Kate closer to his side. "Kate, this is Colin Vos and his mate Elana. Colin is Master of Nevada and a regular visitor to the club. They are friends with Alec and Rissa as well, and Colin was gracious enough to show me a bit of California until I learned my way around."
Kate felt flustered as they
entered the booth. It looked as if they’d interrupted an intimate moment as Colin seemed to be getting ready to feed from his mate, or perhaps had just finished feeding. She felt like she’d stepped into someone's bedroom at an inopportune time, but clearly in their world, in this club, the intimacy was very publicly displayed. So, what was proper protocol? A handshake? Some secret vampire signal? The tequila made her giggle as she thought up some two-fingered claw sign with her hand that would indicate fangs, but thankfully she hadn’t had enough tequila to pull that one off yet, so she just replied with, "So nice to meet you."
Colin looked at Kate as he responded. “Mated? She is...mortal.” Colin stood up and gave Shade a fist bump as he cocked his head toward Kate and took her in. “Very beautiful female, but mated. Didn’t see that coming, brother. I’m sure you’ll hear from Council.”
Colin turned to Kate. “May I introduce you to my mate, Elana.”
Elana stood and seductively walked around Kate and Shade, stopping in front of Kate as she inhaled her scent then smiled. “So, you’re mortal. You probably know Larissa then. Do you want to stay and play?”
Elana reached out to touch Kate’s hair and before Shade could respond, Colin grabbed her wrist and yanked her back into his chest as he prepared for Shade’s reaction, knowing Elana had overstepped.
Shade growled and bared his fangs at her. “This is not Rissa, and I am not Alec. I do not share my mate.”
Kate felt Shade bristle beside her when Elana asked if they wanted to play, and she’s pretty sure Elana wasn’t referring to a game of cards. Was this couple into mate swapping? She’s relieved at Shade’s response, as his possessiveness kicked in, and she felt his arm tighten around her as he growled his response. Kate smiled back at Elana as she pulled at Shade’s hand, seeking to escape. "We were headed for the dance floor, but enjoy your evening."