rooms.
Most club rules stated that heavy petting and groping were tolerated in the public area, but for more serious activities, guests were encouraged to find a private room in back. For those who wanted something a little different, theme parties were available-for a price.
The owner of the bar hadn't scrimped on giving the place atmosphere. Everything-flooring, furniture, walls and lights-was done in black or red. Panels of lush red drapes hanging on the walls helped foster a feeling of decadence. Strategically placed colored lights gave off a soft glow, making it possible to see without destroying the illusion of intimacy.
Lexi and Mai got their drinks and wove through the crowd, openly checking out the men they passed.
Mai, a natural extrovert, struck up a flirtatious conversation with a group of three males. Two of them were vampires, but Lexi wasn't sure about the third. He had a definite vitality that seemed more than human. When he smiled, Lexi found herself smiling back.
"My name's Josh. I haven't seen you here before," he said to her.
"No," she agreed. "I'm Lexi. This is my first time."
"Your first time to the Crypt? Or your first time?"
She smiled. "First time to the Crypt," she clarified.
"She prefers Blood Club," Mai interrupted.
The man smiled appreciatively. Ricco's Blood Club had a reputation for being a little rougher than most clubs. Lexi didn't think the rep was deserved, but then she was a wolf by nature. Besides, five minutes of heavy breathing and groping wasn't her idea of sex.
A flash of something caught her eye, and she turned. She could see nothing but the usual crush of people, so she looked back to Josh. Ten minutes later, she thought she caught the flash of something familiar once again out of the corner of her eye, and she turned to scan the room.
There, across the bar, still dressed in his long black duster and black pants, was Darius. As if he'd felt her staring, he turned and their gazes met.
The intensity of his look shot straight through her, causing her pulse to race and her body to hum with awareness. It was more than just his good looks that made him so irresistibly attractive. His whole demeanor spoke of male confidence and determination. This was a man who knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to go after it. He would let nothing stand in his way. And right now, as he moved toward her, his expression made it clear what he wanted: her.
Annoyed by his arrogance, she forced herself to turn away. She was about to tell Mai it was time to go, when her friend stood on tiptoe to speak in her ear. "I'm going with Roger here"; she indicated the better looking of the two vampires. Before Lexi could stop her, Mai and Roger took off into the crowd, leaving her with the other vampire and Josh.
The hairs along the back of her neck tingled as Darius came closer, and Lexi suddenly became very interested in making conversation with Josh.
"You come here a lot?" she asked him.
He shrugged. "I've been here a couple of times," he admitted. "But now that I've met you, I'll have to make a point to come more often." He gestured to her glass. "Can I get you a refill?"
Before she could answer, he'd taken her empty glass from her and handed it to the vampire, who disappeared into the crowd. Somehow Josh had gained possession of her hand and lightly caressed it, which was very distracting.
Every fiber of her awareness tingled, and she didn't need to turn around to know that Darius was right behind her. He was standing so close, she could feel the heat of his body warm her back. She continued to ignore him, giving Josh a smile that was a little too bright and friendly.
"Leave us," Darius growled, placing his hands possessively on her shoulders.
Josh's smile faded, and he didn't look as confident as he had a few seconds earlier. "Wait just a damn minute," he started, but the rest of his sentence died in his throat when Darius gently but firmly moved Lexi to one side so he could take a step
Most club rules stated that heavy petting and groping were tolerated in the public area, but for more serious activities, guests were encouraged to find a private room in back. For those who wanted something a little different, theme parties were available-for a price.
The owner of the bar hadn't scrimped on giving the place atmosphere. Everything-flooring, furniture, walls and lights-was done in black or red. Panels of lush red drapes hanging on the walls helped foster a feeling of decadence. Strategically placed colored lights gave off a soft glow, making it possible to see without destroying the illusion of intimacy.
Lexi and Mai got their drinks and wove through the crowd, openly checking out the men they passed.
Mai, a natural extrovert, struck up a flirtatious conversation with a group of three males. Two of them were vampires, but Lexi wasn't sure about the third. He had a definite vitality that seemed more than human. When he smiled, Lexi found herself smiling back.
"My name's Josh. I haven't seen you here before," he said to her.
"No," she agreed. "I'm Lexi. This is my first time."
"Your first time to the Crypt? Or your first time?"
She smiled. "First time to the Crypt," she clarified.
"She prefers Blood Club," Mai interrupted.
The man smiled appreciatively. Ricco's Blood Club had a reputation for being a little rougher than most clubs. Lexi didn't think the rep was deserved, but then she was a wolf by nature. Besides, five minutes of heavy breathing and groping wasn't her idea of sex.
A flash of something caught her eye, and she turned. She could see nothing but the usual crush of people, so she looked back to Josh. Ten minutes later, she thought she caught the flash of something familiar once again out of the corner of her eye, and she turned to scan the room.
There, across the bar, still dressed in his long black duster and black pants, was Darius. As if he'd felt her staring, he turned and their gazes met.
The intensity of his look shot straight through her, causing her pulse to race and her body to hum with awareness. It was more than just his good looks that made him so irresistibly attractive. His whole demeanor spoke of male confidence and determination. This was a man who knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to go after it. He would let nothing stand in his way. And right now, as he moved toward her, his expression made it clear what he wanted: her.
Annoyed by his arrogance, she forced herself to turn away. She was about to tell Mai it was time to go, when her friend stood on tiptoe to speak in her ear. "I'm going with Roger here"; she indicated the better looking of the two vampires. Before Lexi could stop her, Mai and Roger took off into the crowd, leaving her with the other vampire and Josh.
The hairs along the back of her neck tingled as Darius came closer, and Lexi suddenly became very interested in making conversation with Josh.
"You come here a lot?" she asked him.
He shrugged. "I've been here a couple of times," he admitted. "But now that I've met you, I'll have to make a point to come more often." He gestured to her glass. "Can I get you a refill?"
Before she could answer, he'd taken her empty glass from her and handed it to the vampire, who disappeared into the crowd. Somehow Josh had gained possession of her hand and lightly caressed it, which was very distracting.
Every fiber of her awareness tingled, and she didn't need to turn around to know that Darius was right behind her. He was standing so close, she could feel the heat of his body warm her back. She continued to ignore him, giving Josh a smile that was a little too bright and friendly.
"Leave us," Darius growled, placing his hands possessively on her shoulders.
Josh's smile faded, and he didn't look as confident as he had a few seconds earlier. "Wait just a damn minute," he started, but the rest of his sentence died in his throat when Darius gently but firmly moved Lexi to one side so he could take a step
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