Page 109 of A Trial By Blood

“Like how I haven’t been able to stop thinking about your lips wrapped around my cock, or the way it looked when it was covered in blood, filling your tight little pussy last night over that desk?”

I swallowed, my mouth getting dry as hell and my panties the complete opposite. I cleared my throat and wriggled in my seat. “Yes, like that.”

He stared at me for a second, then he grinned, flashing me his white teeth and sharp fangs, and my heart nearly exploded in my chest. “I’ll be sure to do that more often, then.”

He turned back to the road while I reeled beside him at the sheer beauty of that smile. The first real smile he’d ever given me. “You do that,” I finally managed.

“We’re here,” he said a couple of minutes later and parked the car.

“Right, let’s do this.”

He turned to me. “You stay plastered to my side at all times. We don’t separate for any reason, understand?”

We were back to overprotective, bossy Ronan. “I sure do.”

“Good.” He got out and strode around the car, opening my door.

I got out and looked up at the old brick hotel in front of us. This place had been the place for rich and influential people back in the day. Now it was owned by the bad guys. None of them human, and all were the type of beings who preferred the shadows to the daylight.

The building was a little rundown now, but it still had its charm. Ronan took my hand as we headed up the stairs, walking in through the front door. We got in the elevator and he hit the button for the penthouse suite.

“Try not to make eye contact with anyone, okay? We’re not dealing with humans. They’re monsters. If you make eye contact and they decide they want you, they won’t take no for an answer. It’ll end in bloodshed,” he said and gripped my hand tighter.

My nerves were insane now, my heart thundering in my chest.

“Rose,” he said, taking my jaw and turning me to face him. “I can hear your heart racing, and they will as well. You need to calm down, petal.”

That was easier said than done. “I’m not sure I can.”

“You have to,” he said, his voice hard. “Breathe, Rose.”

I dragged in a breath and slowly released it, then another. It wasn’t working. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open directly into the club. Several heads turned our way. My pulse jumped. Shit.

Ronan cursed under his breath, stepped through the doors, then spun me and kissed me hard and deep. I stiffened, then leaned into him, relaxing into the kiss. He pulled back, pressing his lips to mine, once, twice more, his lips moving to my ear. “Let them think your heart’s beating like that for me.”

When he looked down at me, I smiled up at him. “It is now.”

His eyes darkened, but Ronan was in full-on protector mode. Something came over him, something dark and dangerous. The vibes coming off him lifted goose bumps all over me. He took in the room for a moment, then curled an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side, and led me farther into the room as if he belonged there. The vibration of the ward was a constant. These guys were serious about security.

The place was dimly lit, decorated in sapphire, silver, and black. It had an old-world feel, like stepping back in time. A piano player played in the corner. There were tables scattered throughout the room. People milled around in groups, talking and laughing, while others sat in the darker edges of the room, no doubt wheeling and dealing or whatever it was that the bad guys did. Ronan led me to a small table deeper into the room. He moved to the seat that would have his back facing the wall. I was about to sit beside him, but he stopped me, tugging me to him as he sat, and lifted me onto his lap.

He wasn’t joking about keeping me plastered to his side. His arms came around me, one resting on my thigh, the other on my belly. A waitress came over for our order, and Ronan ordered bourbon for himself and a glass of wine for me. I glanced around the room. Several people glanced our way but most didn’t pay us any mind.

The elevator doors opened and a tall male walked in. He was headed straight for the bar, and the intestine-eating, reptile shifter looked as if he belonged there. “Clay St. James.”

“I see him,” Ronan said, his body stiffening beneath me.

“Why do you think he’s here? This seems a rather big coincidence.”

“It does.” Ronan’s grip tightened on me.

Our drinks arrived, and I pretended to sip mine while I monster-watched discreetly.

Clay stood against the bar, tall and handsome. Several females were watching him or trying to catch his eye, but he didn’t seem to notice. He appeared to be nursing his drink, trying to appear relaxed, but the stiffness of his shoulders said otherwise.

I leaned into Ronan. “Should we go and talk to him?”

“Not yet.”