Mia walked into the club after a quick briefing in the parking lot. Work it till it’s dead—a phrase she now understood—was the agenda. Although Nancy’s earlier attempt at humor meant they would work Mia in the dress until she’s dead, as opposed to the case. The real term meant when the crime is still fresh, they’d work non-stop, without sleep, until they hit a dead end and exhausted all their leads. The vampires would work from Sector 13 during the daylight, and Mia would work with Gonela. She had to admit, the adrenaline coursing through her veins had become an addiction. If any job was suited for her, it was this one. She tried to shelve her emotions about Cole and her destiny as she walked into the club. All the agents were inside somewhere trying to find a murderer and a blood dealer. Mia froze just inside the door.
The smell hit her first, a mixture of iron, alcohol, and sex. The club was packed. Several barely-dressed women were dancing on what appeared to be a portable dance floor. Two were in cages hanging from the ceiling. Three were swirling around stripper poles. If she’d known nothing about paranormal creatures, the place would seem very normal. Well, as normal as a fetish club could be. There were hallways toward the back and a stairwell in the far right corner. She lifted her gaze, noting a small window on the second level. Someone important most likely sat in there, and could be looking at her now. She inhaled and stepped forward. I can do this.
Mia walked to the couches in the middle of the room. High-top tables surrounded them and she slid onto a vinyl stool, tugging her dress down as it rode up her thighs. Her focus was off, and she needed to collect her thoughts. She spotted Russo off to the right in the far corner. His forearm rested against the wall at a right angle, as he hovered over a female with his hand resting on her hip. It seemed he had no problem getting into character, although he didn’t have to pretend this was his scene as she did. The crack of a whip drew her attention to the back of the club, just under the little window, where a man in leather pants unhooked a woman from chains protruding from the wall. By the appearance of the patrons inside the club, the entire bar was fetish but not exclusively whips and chains stuff. Taking a deep breath, she slid off the stool and searched the room for someone to question.
Her gaze found Cole at the end of the club near the wall with chains. She drank him in, and her heartbeat accelerated. She’d had an image of what he’d look like when he said he was getting dressed for the club: Leather pants and maybe a matching vest, open to reveal his masculine chest. Stereotypical playwear for a place like this, so she’d read. What he wore was the furthest from her imagination and he looked entirely edible. The way his presence filled a room was impressive and Mia was still getting used to it. From afar, she watched women pause and look at him as if they couldn’t resist. He was a chick magnet. Dressed in tailored gray slacks and a black, button-down shirt, rolled at the sleeves, he uncoiled a whip. Cole didn’t have to search for anyone to talk to, they were flocking to him. His eyes focused on the instrument in his hand as he toyed with it. When she watched a woman lick her lips and fall to her knees in front of him, Mia couldn’t help the jealousy that spiked her heart rate. Briefly, he flicked his gaze to hers, and she knew he felt it. Rolling everything up, she tucked her emotions inside and took her lead from Cole. She flipped her hair from her neck and walked a walk of seduction. After five steps, a hand wrapped around her forearm and pulled until her back touched the wall.
“Hi.” She flattened her palms against the wall close to her thighs. A quick scan revealed his non-darkened vampire status.
“You’re new here.”
“Not really. Just haven’t been here in a while.” She kept her gaze locked to his. He was young, and hungry. There was something else off, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
“You get high?” he asked, flicking his gaze from the little window back to Mia.
“Yeah.” She smiled shyly and batted her lashes. Was he high? The normal vibrancy in a vampire’s aura was dimmed in his. Maybe that was it? He grabbed a lock of her hair and twirled it around his finger.
“What do you do…? I mean, to get high?”
“What are you looking for?” She lifted a brow as he licked his lips and turned her slightly. His gaze flicked down to the dip in her dress, and his expression wavered before he placed his hand on her back. His fangs slid out quick. Mia gasped at the unexpected action. She looked up to where Cole had stood, and he was gone. She swallowed, and peered over her shoulder. “There’s no feeding on the main floor.”
“Who’s gonna stop me, sweet thing?”
“I am.” Cole pulled the man’s hand from Mia’s back and pushed him against the wall next to her. “Don’t make a sound or I’ll end you.”
“What the hell, man.”
“Not only can’t you follow club rules, you ignored another vampire’s mark.” Cole’s glare was deadly.
“What mark?”
“Come on now, do I have to snap your neck?” Cole leaned in to them as if they were having a private conversation.
“All right. I’m sorry. I thought it was one of those tramp stamp tattoos.”
“No, apparently it’s a vamp stamp,” Mia said, trying to pull away from Cole’s hold on her wrist, but the more she moved the tighter his grip became.
“Okay, she belongs to you. Sorry, but the way she was dishing out the sweetness, I didn’t think she belonged to anyone.” The young vamp squirmed.
“Dishing out the sweetness?” Cole asked, with his brow raised and his gaze narrowed at Mia. “You may go.” He released the vamp, but held Mia tight.
“What?” She stared at his silence. “Oh come on. You’re not actually mad about this?”
He eyed her with a controlled anger.
“You’re too much. I have a job to do, Mr. Control Freak.” She pulled her hand from his grip and turned, but he halted her movement and pinned her to the wall. “Are you serious?”
“As a stake in the heart.”
“After you were over there with one of your pets? I know she knew you, I could tell.” She poked him in the chest.
“I wouldn’t do that in here. You may force us into a situation you may not like.”
“Move. I need to do my job.”
“Is dishing out the sweetness part of your job?”
“You are too much. What happened to”—she deepened her voice—“‘There are things we’ll have to do, situations we’ll have to be in for work. They mean nothing.’” Her fingers pushed at his chest and this time, he moved back. “You can’t have it both ways.”
Okay she had him there. He was overreacting.
“Master Cole, so nice to see you.” An older man came to stand beside them. “It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has.” Cole extended his hand, and it took him a minute to recognize the face. “How are you, Samuel?”
“Fine.” Sam’s gaze trailed to Mia and back to Cole. “Your sub seems to be giving you a problem. We can’t have that.”
“No, we can’t.”
“Excellent, follow me.”
Cole lowered his gaze when the man turned his back to him and stepped forward, leading them toward the back of the club. Shit. Mia was not going to like this. He placed a palm at her back and pushed her forward. “That situation you may not like, well, it’s here.” He spoke next to her ear. “Stay calm.” He knew for her, that was easier said than done, and the energy buzzing underneath his palm was proof of it. What would Samuel choose for her punishment? Cole searched the room until he spotted Russo. A quick jab into his psyche caused Russo to turn and meet his gaze.
Russo smirked and nodded as Cole slid an image into his mind.
Figures Russo would find the situation amusing. If Mia even flinched wrong, their cover was blown. As far as the people that had recognized him so far knew, they thought he was here to get back into the scene.
“I’m not liking this…” Mia whispered as they reached the back wall. He watched her gaze flick from one object to the next, and then her color drained as she stared at the big X.
“This will do. If I recall, it’s one of your favorites?” Samuel smiled, sweeping his hand in front of him, inviting them forward.
“Thank you.” Cole pushed Mia toward the St. Andrew’s cross. He watched her wide eyes flick from the ankle restraints to the wrist restraints. Her jaw tightened, and she stared at him haughtily. His fingers twitched with need to stroke her flesh, and he gave in to the urge, running the back of his hand across her cheek. Cole smiled weakly in a feeble attempt to calm her.
“I’d think you’d be salivating over this. Why do you look unhappy? I thought you were into this being a dominant and all?”
He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. Sliding his fingers across her skin, he cupped her neck and stroked his thumb across the line of her jaw. Cole stepped closer until her heat surrounded him. Leaning down he kissed the lobe of her ear and whispered, “I’m dominant by nature, my love. I don’t need the title of sir or master to prove it.” He pulled back and searched her face. He realized in that moment what this scene—this club—was about, to him. He’d played the role before, going through the motions, but it had always been just a game—a way to release stress. He’d never cared if he had a woman’s trust because if it were left up to them, they’d shackle themselves to the cross and hold a whip between their teeth waiting for his command. But Mia… he needed—wanted—her trust. For her to give over the power to control her, took an integrated decision from her mind, body, and soul. A decision that didn’t come lightly for her. Cole presented his hand palm up, staring into her beautiful gaze. “Do you trust me, Mia?” When she placed her wrist in his grasp without delay, he exhaled a breath he hadn’t known he’d held, or needed. Warmth replaced anxiety as he worked diligently to buckle her second hand to the cross. His eyes slid to Samuel, who stood off to the side. “Mia, can you move the latch on your cuffs? I left them loose.” At his whispered question, she peered up and tested both with her mind. Her smile was the answer he’d hoped for. A scream off in the distance pulled Samuel to attention.
“If you’ll excuse me,” the man said, rushing off toward the commotion.
“Of course.” Cole nodded, and waited for him to move out of sight. “Jesus, Russo really needs to work on his timing.” He quickly worked the left cuff open.
“You set up a distraction?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.”
“Is that regret in your tone, my love? I could spank you—”
“No!”
“I hate to break up your kink here, lovers, but Russo needs help.” Nancy grabbed the cuff on Mia’s right wrist and started working it open. “I got her, Cole. You go.”