Ultimate Paranormal Romance, 15 in 1! (BWWM Paranormal Boxed Set)

by R S Holloway

  Michele just stared at the guy, incredulously.

  “Yes.” Rory whispered – and Michele's jaw dropped. What?

  Lucas chuckled and winked again. “I thought so.”

  His friend punched his arm, hard. “Knock it off.” There was a note of seriousness to the man's tone, a look of warning in his eyes.

  Lucas threw up his hands defensively and chuckled. “All right, all right.” He slumped back into his seat and propped his feet up again.

  “I'm sorry.” the other guy offered. “He won't bother you anymore.”

  Michele smiled uncertainly, still stunned by Rory's answer to Lucas. She and Rory faced forward again, her eyes glued to his face. There was a slight pinch of confusion to his brow. She leaned close and spoke low. “What the hell was that?” she hissed. “Why did you say you wanted to go have a drink with him?”

  “Huh?” Rory looked at her, his brow tightening. “What're you talking about? I didn't.”

  “Uh, yeah, you did.” Michele insisted. She cast a quick glance back at Lucas. His arms were tucked up behind his head and he was staring at her, a wry smile on his lips.

  *****

  When the movie ended and the credits began to roll up the huge screen, the overhead lights came on. Michele and Rory scooted out into the main aisle with the rest of the movie crowd. She glanced quick at Lucas and his friend who remained seated as the flow of people poured out through the doors.

  Lucas' intense gaze followed Rory – who was careful to ignore him. With the lights on, Michele grabbed a quick, yet thorough, look at Lucas' friend. The man's short sleeve shirt revealed very defined biceps and forearms, and he stared back at Michele with gray eyes that turned silver when the light caught them just right. He smiled and nodded. Michele smiled quick and turned away, moving towards the doors with everyone else.

  Outside, the evening air was warm with a slight breeze. She and Rory stepped over in front of the dark, empty ticket booth to get out of the flow of people. “Do you want to grab something to eat somewhere?” Michele asked.

  Rory leaned against the booth, still looking a little flustered from Lucas' attention. He shrugged, “Yeah...I guess-”

  “So we meet again.” Lucas appeared suddenly, dropping against the edge of the booth.

  Rory yelped and jumped.

  “Jumpy.” Lucas grinned.

  “What do you want?” Rory asked quietly. He'd never been big on confrontation and wasn't handling Lucas' advances all that well.

  Lucas leaned closer to the booth, arm above his head and resting against the wooden frame. “I want what you want.”

  Michele glanced around. Where the hell was his friend to rein him in?

  “I want you...to leave me alone.” Rory mumbled, avoiding the guy's eyes.

  “Nah, that's not what you want.” Lucas reached out and touched a fingertip to Rory's chin, lifting his face, drawing his stare. He leaned in a little closer, “You want to go to the club with me...have a drink...dance-” He grunted suddenly as he was shoved hard, and stumbled away as his friend appeared, shaking his head.

  “Again, my apologies.” he said. “He clearly needs a leash.” The man's eyes delved into hers, as if he were seeing a part of her soul.

  “I'm...Michele.” her hand was thrust out before she knew what she was doing.

  “Gavin.” He clasp her hand, his fingers tightening just enough to let her know how nice it was to meet her.

  She swallowed thick then glanced at Rory. “This is...Rory.”

  Gavin smiled and shook his hand. “Well, it's a pleasure meeting you both.” he sighed and cast a sidelong look at Lucas who stood a few feet away, head ducked but eyes still lingering on Rory. “Wish you could say the same. Again, I'm sorry for my friend flirting with your boyfriend.”

  “Oh.” Michele looked quick at Rory then back to Gavin. “He isn't my boyfriend. We're just friends.”

  Gavin nodded and smiled. “I see.” He backed away. “Well, it was nice meeting you. Have a good night.”

  You're seriously going to let this gorgeous guy – who obviously likes you – just walk away?

  “Uh...” Michele called after him, Gavin stopped and turned back. “Are you...really going to a club?”

  Gavin rubbed a hand over his mouth, started to answer, when Lucas leaned heavily on his shoulder and smiled at Michele. “We are...wanna come with?”

  “I, uh...” Michele glanced at Rory who seemed in a slight daze, then looked at Gavin questioningly.

  “You're more than welcome to join us.” Gavin nodded, smiling.

  “Rory...” she asked slowly. “Do you...want to go to the club?”

  He nodded slowly. “Yeah.” he murmured.

  Michele looked at him uncertainly. What was wrong with him? Her gaze turned to Gavin and she nodded, “We'll go.”

  “Awesome.” Lucas dragged the word out, his lips twisting as his eyes fell heavily on Rory once more. He smirked, “I'll walk with your friend.”

  *****

  The club was small, not too crowded. Gavin and Lucas were clearly regulars as per all the hey's and hello's. Gavin stopped at the bar and a good looking bartender walked over, a smile cutting across his handsome features. “Gavin. Hey.” they high-fived each other casually. “What's doing, man?” His gaze swept over Michele. “Ah, I see.”

  Michele's cheeks warmed at the implication. Gavin shook his head. “Be nice, Matthew.”

  The bartender just chuckled and glanced at Lucas – who was hovering around Rory who, in turn, seemed oddly complacent about it. Matthew leaned on the bar and spoke low to Gavin, grinning. “So who's Lucas' latest victim?” Placing emphasis on victim.

  “Not a victim.” Gavin assured, though Michele sensed it was for her benefit. “Can you give us four beers?”

  Matthew cast Lucas and Rory another look, smirked and nodded as he pushed off the bar, then grabbed four bottles of Coors Light and slid them across to Gavin. “So, you going to introduce me to your new friends?”

  “Was hoping to avoid it, but...” Gavin grinned. “Since you brought it up...this is Michele and Rory.”

  “Charmed, I'm sure.” Matthew smiled wryly and thrust his hand across the bar to Michele. She accepted it tentatively and simply nodded, offering an uncertain smile.

  Lucas leaned in and swiped two of the beers. “We'll grab us a table.” He slung his arm across Rory's shoulders and walked the guy through the small crowd to a table at the far side of the room. Michele watched them, brow pinched. What in the hell was going on with Rory tonight? Why was he just falling in line with whatever Lucas suggested?

  “You all right?” Gavin asked, startling her from her thoughts.

  “Uh...yeah.” she nodded and took the beer he handed her.

  “Come on.” he smiled warmly and touched her elbow, directing her towards the table Lucas had picked out.

  “So,” Lucas shucked off his leather jacket and tossed it across a stool. “Anyone want to dance?” He passed the question around, but his eyes rested on Rory. His lips twisted. “You want to dance, don't you?”

  Uncertainty shadowed Rory's face.

  “Leave him alone.” Gavin said. “He doesn't want to dance with you.”

  “Ah sure he does.” he looked at Rory and held his eyes. “Don't you?”

  Rory swallowed thickly – then nodded. “Yeah.”

  “What?” Michele stared at him, floored.

  Shrugging, Rory looked at her. “What? It's just...a dance.”

  A dance with a guy. She shook her head. “Yeah...but...”

  “No worries, m'lady.” Lucas winked. “I'll take good care of him.”

  She stared in shock as he led Rory towards the dance floor. Gavin groaned, “Lucas.”

  Lucas waved him off. An upbeat song was playing and the two just sort of fell in with the crowd where it didn't seem anyone was really dancing with a partner. Michele finally pulled her eyes from her friend and looked at Gavin. “So...you're a regular here?”

  “You co
uld say that.”

  “I've never seen you around.” she took a drink of beer then licked her lips, noting the way his eyes followed her tongue. “Do you live here?”

  “On the outskirts.” he murmured then shifted his attention from her mouth to her eyes. “I don't get out and about much during the day. Long...work hours.”

  She nodded, then smiled. “A creature of the night, huh?”

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  S L Hartley.

  www.SLHartley.com

  Out Now: 'First Born'; A vampire romance story with a twist... Click here to get it!