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The decorative ring I used for protection squeezed too tight, too constricting. I yanked at it, pulling at the lock I never used anyway, as the whole thing was made for show. Right now, it didn’t feel that way.
James reached around, sweeping my hair back, and worked at the clasp. The open collar fell into my hands. I stared at it for a long moment, then reached out with shaking hands and placed it on the bartop.
James turned me on the spot, unspeaking,his face unreadable.
Do you have any idea what you’re doing?
Still a no, but for the first time I wasn’t confused.
I might not know what I was doing, but I was sure it was the right thing.
I broke James’s gaze and turned away from the bar, threading myway through the play areas and lounges to the offices.
Killian’s gaze heated my back the entire time I wound my way through the club.
This time, I didn’t run.
****
Bodies packed Fray wall to wall. I didn’t recognize most of the people I served throughoutthe night. James brushed by me every time we passed each other in our silent form of communication.
Are you okay?
I’m fine. Check the dick in the black polo.
Swap you for the tiger in the neon boob tube.
And on we went, tossing Yaeger shots to each other underhand, the vodka overhand. I mixed more cocktails than I had on any ladies night and got shouted enough birthday drinks to send myself spinning in an hour. The extra cash, I stored beneath the bench in a jar James and I split at the end of our shifts.
Every time we had a lullor the crowd let me have a glimpse of the club, my gaze sought the VIP area, or scanned the floor, ever searching for a glimpse of a three-piece suit or a pair of dark, hooded eyes and an intense gaze turned my way.
Each time Iwas disappointed.
Until afew minutes after midnight when an icy hand trailed its way along the bared sections of my spine, lingering at the waist of my dark blue jeans. Water dripped lower, seeking the crack of my ass to spear a shock straight through my already overheated pussy.
“I swear to God if that’s you, Killian, I’ll find something to shackle you with.” But when I turned around, the most I could make out of the shadow was something that might have been roo sized as it made its way through the crowd, giving me no clarity whatsoever.
For a man who’dbeen beaten like a wounded puppy hours beforehand, the man displayed some serious stamina. My own trauma dissipated with every glance at Rafe, who made himself unusually visible throughout the night.
By the time the club began to wind down, my feet ached and my voice rasped from singing in a horrific mimic to every song that filled the club. Karaoke queen I would never be, but it was my birthday, and I’d sing if I wanted. I slugged glass after glass of water while James and I leaned on each other for support.
“How’d you go, birthday girl?” Rafe leaned over the bar, spinning a shot of high-end whiskey between his fingers. I topped it up without checking what I poured. Fuck it, it was his bar.
“That wasfucking awesome. Thank you,” I murmured, leaning forward to kiss his cheek.
Rafe’s eyes flared wide. “You’re gonna get me in trouble with the missus,” he grumbled good naturedly.
I laughed, shimmying for the sake of it. The music still played, but much lower. I could hear myself talk without screaming over the beat, and my head began to filter in soft conversations around the bar. Rafe watched me over his shot, his forest-green eyes considering. I looked over his head but still couldn’t spot Killian’s hulking figure, a miracle in itself.
“Present time,” James shouted.
A silver box with a pink ribbon appeared in front of me. I took it, blushing already.
“You guys do not need to—” I stopped as I flicked open the lid.
Inside sat a hand-drawn tattoo stencilwith a gift voucher to a local shifter tattoo parlor stapled to the top. I flicked back the tattooist’s card, tracing my fingers over the eagle’s beak prominent at the top of the design. Beneath it sat a familiar pair of kangaroo ears and part of a boxing glove. A black swan peeked from behind a cheeky quokka face, and the lower section showed a dingo, more roos, a sugar glider, a python, and a bandicoot.
My eyes welled.
