The buzzing sensations continued. I glanced over Jules’ shoulder, scanning the crowd as I’d done at least ten times in ten minutes.
“Are you okay? You look as if you’re expecting someone.”
Laughing, I shifted my gaze toward Jules, hoping to reassure him. “Not at all. Just glancing at the crowd.”
“You can’t lie to me, girlfriend. You’re hoping that sexy Russian shows up. I know you.” Jules was pointing a finger in my direction, the little twirl bringing another laugh.
I threw my arms up in retreat. “What if I am?”
“Then I say go for it. You’re like a little nun. You need to get out and par-tay. You know what I mean.” He did a little bump with his man, which caused Golden to woof. I’d been very cautiousover the years, rarely going to clubs. Tonight was a little freeing even though I had no doubt I was being watched.
“I know. I’m fine. I’m just a little tired from the long day.” I squeezed his arm.
“You’re not leaving, are you?”
“No, just going to the ladies’ room.” While I knew my behavior was risky, I couldn’t help finding out for certain. My heart skipped several beats as I moved to the stairs, willing my little fur baby not to try to pull away. I scanned the crowd, longing to see the powerful Russian, yet I realized I was facing a ridiculous pipe dream.
When all I could see were sweaty faces in the crowd, joyous intoxication taking an obvious toll, I suddenly felt very out of place. I’d wanted so much to fit in, to free myself of the fears and anxieties that had followed me through every year of my life, but this club wasn’t going to be where that happened.
Kazimir hadn’t come for me because he was dead.
I’d heard the gunshots.
I’d awakened, realizing he’d left me. His scent had lingered and in rushing toward the window, I’d seen a half dozen guards racing away from the house.
I’d gone outside, ignoring the alarm blaring from breaching the security. That’s when I’d heard the shots.
Pop! Pop!
I winced as the memory crashed into the forefront of my mind.
The same sadness I’d felt one too many times suddenly became too overwhelming. I was stuck in the middle of hundreds ofpeople I didn’t know, a crushing blow of suffocation causing another wave of panic.
I could see the man’s face from years before, his evil smile and the sound of his laughter echoing in my ears the same way it had when he’d discovered me under my bed. The same claustrophobic nightmares after he’d been caught and killed formed ice in my veins. And for a few seconds, I couldn’t see anything in front of me but a wave of foggy shadows.
I’d been fifteen years old, the bastard managing to drag me from my hiding place, my screams dying in my throat.
Even now, I could feel his hot breath dancing across my skin the way it had after he’d clamped his sweaty hand across my mouth and nose. He’d threatened to kill me if I uttered a word. Then he’d touched me and…
A single castrated whimper left my throat even as the vision faded.
But the hot breath remained, surfacing across the side of my neck and cheek.
Everything around me faded into the distance, all time coming to a solid standstill.
As I pressed my fingers against my lips, a masculine scent floated around me. No, it wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be.
I didn’t dare move for fear that I was hallucinating. The scent was exactly what I’d detected in my apartment, the strong scent of desirable musk wrapped around a hint of citrus and an earthy fragrance that created a series of goosebumps.
The single growl from my sweet girl was little more than a deep rumble, but I heard it. Enough that my grip on her leashtightened. She didn’t go wild, nor did she try to pull away. But her tail very slowly whapped against my leg, the low-slung sound shifting to a clearly, more high-pitched whine.
“Calma, bambina. Calma.”
Telling her easy and that she was a baby girl seemed to calm her. Meanwhile, her Mommy dog was beside herself, fearful that my instincts were wrong.
My body swayed, the little pitter-patter of my heart drowning out the echoes of fear. Very slowly I tipped my head over my shoulder, unable to see anything, but in a strange yet wondrous set of circumstances, the entire crowd around me had faded into nothing but shapes.
The spiraling electricity was enough to cause a loss of breath.
