What is this asshole they speak of?Bralix wondered, but althoughhehad a translator symbiote, she wouldn’t understand him if he asked.
She leaned closer, patting her own chest, just below her throat. “I’m Samulin,” she shouted over the music. “And you are?”
Bralix paused. He couldn’t remember introducing himself to a human pet before Phyrax’s mate, but humoured her. “Bralix.”
She tilted her head. “I haven’t heard that name before,” she said. “It’s Russian?
“Russian?” He repeated, twisting his syllables around the foreign word.
“So youareRussian?”
Bralix shook his head and pointed at his chest. “Bralix.”
“That is so cool!” She smiled broadly. “I’ve never met a Russian before.”
Neither have I,Bralix thought.
“Look, can I buy you a drink?” Samulin asked. “To say thank you.”
Bralix shrugged.
“I have to admit, I do have an ulterior motive,” she confessed as she hailed the male behind the bar with a raised hand. “With you here, the other assholes are unlikely to bother me.” Turning her attention to the male behind the bar, Samulin smiled and lifted her nearly empty glass. “Hi, Colin; can I please have another ginger ale?” She glanced at Bralix. “And a vodka for my friend.”
CHAPTER TWO
She couldn’t remember ever feeling so comfortable with a total stranger. Not only did he not give off creepy vibes, but his mere presence was a deterrent to the other creeps. She’d been considering calling it a night when Devlin had sidled up to her—and then self-preservation had whispered to her that if she left right then, Devlin would probably follow her home, trying his best to talk himself into her pants for old times’ sake.
But she couldn’t stay in the bar forever. At some point she had to return to reality and her apartment. Except—she’d finally found a reason to stay; she’d always had a thing for the strong, silent type.
She leaned in toward him. “I don’t want to leave; but I really should.”
He cocked his head at her curiously, as if considering her words.
“I had a really great time tonight.” Samulin stood, gathering her purse and her jacket. She hesitated, then glanced up at him shyly.Nothing ventured; nothing gained.“I only live a few blocks from here.”
He tilted his head a little more.
Oh, good grief. Hint, hint…
She stared at him meaningfully, then grunted in exasperation. “This in an invitation to my apartment,” she said slowly, miming a house with a roof.
His expression cleared and he nodded, then followed her out of the club.
When they reached the pavement outside, she put a hand on his shoulder for balance, then removed first one shoe, then the other. She dangled the shoes from two of her fingers and held them up for him to see. “I have a weakness for fuck-me heels—too bad they kill my feet.” When he looked baffled, she just snaked an arm around his elbow and steered him left toward her apartment. “Why am I even telling you? It’s not like you understand a word I’m saying.”
All the way home—all of three blocks—she debated the wisdom of inviting a stranger to her home. One-night-stands were not something she did. She didn’t do casual, but Devlin was gone, and her self-esteem could really do with a reminder that not all men were controlling jerks. Besides, this guy hadn’t given off any creepy vibes at all.
Finally, when they stood in front of her apartment door, she turned the key in the lock and turned back to Bralix. He was studying her intently, and she dared to take his hand.
She led him into her apartment, bumping the door shut behind her with a hip to latch shut by itself; she flinched when the door slammed shut with a bang instead of a gentle click. She hoped the neighbours didn’t complain.
She palmed the light switch beside the door, then turned back to Bralix and brazenly slipped one arm around his waist, the other hand cupping his cheek and slipping around to his nape. His hair was close-cropped and sleek under her fingers. Something flashed in those bright green eyes, and before she could over-think it, she pulled him down for a kiss.
She felt a moment of daring, kissing a stranger. She was taking what she wanted for a change, but a moment later he’d recovered from the surprise and whisked control out of her hands.
He backed her up against her front door, crashing into it with a dull thud, then captured her hands and gripped them above her head in one of his. His hips pinned hers to the door, and his left hand went up to her throat in the sexiest, most delicious hand necklace that dissolved her resolve to give up Doms forever.
His left thumb gently caressed the tender flesh behind the hinge of her jaw as his bright green eyes made her knees weak with their intensity.
