Alpha Mine (The Alpha Council Chronicles) (7 page)

Since he’d done so by mentioning one of Katrina’s favorite past times, she decided to go with it and smiled. “You paying?”

“Yeah. My treat. I’ll go get my stash of cash, and we’ll get out of here.”

While Kat sat on the couch waiting for Marcus to return, her thoughts drifted to the vampire upstairs. She admitted to herself she liked him. A lot. But did he have any feelings for her?

As she had sat sandwiched between the two males, their thighs touching, she was all too aware of the two powerful, gorgeous bodies that flanked her. She and Stephan had been flirting for weeks, but neither of them seemed to have the courage to take things to the next level by admitting their attraction. And though she had no idea why, Marcus had barely shown her any affection since Stephan returned. She supposed Marcus kept his distance out of respect for his sire, but all she knew for sure was the pair of them left her feeling unsatisfied and achy.

Marcus told her Stephan wanted her to stick around, but did he truly want her to stay or was he tolerating her because of Marcus? She decided to make it her mission to find out if the sexy vampire had any feelings for her.

As she and Marcus exited the penthouse, she committed herself to one mission—find out if Stephan liked her. She just hoped it wouldn’t prove to be mission impossible.

Chapter 8

Andrea awoke to the music of another one of her favorite bands, Smashmouth. She stretched her arms over her head and turned to look at the male she loved. Gage lay beside her, propped on his elbow. Love and lust darkened his eyes.

“Good evening, darling,” she said in a sultry whisper. Gage responded by capturing her lips in a fierce kiss. Their tongues danced back and forth, and the heat from their kiss rushed through Andrea’s blood. Her stomach cinched as her excitement rose, but she pushed her desire aside ruthlessly. She had something she needed to talk about, and if she didn’t pull back now, talking would be the last thing they would end up doing.

Andrea broke their kiss, pulling her head back to lick her kiss swollen lips. Gage tracked the movement of her pink tongue as it darted across her full lips.

“Gage, I have a surprise for you.”

“What is it, my dear?” His voice sounded thick with lust.

Andrea’s smile reached her eyes. “I’m with child. We’re going to have a baby.”

“It cannot be. Are you sure?” Gage whispered, disbelief suffocating his voice.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’ve been to the doctor, and he confirmed it. I’m six weeks along.”

“I-I can’t believe it. This is such a miracle!” he gushed, squeezing her tightly against him. He laid his cheek on top of her head. “After three hundred years, we are blessed with a child! We have waited so long, I had lost all hope.”

Andrea thought about all the times they’d discussed having a family. How sad they were when each year passed with no baby. Now they were finally going to have a little one to love and cherish. Gage raised his head, his eyes held a joyful twinkle. “Is it a boy or a girl?”

“Yes.” Andrea nodded her head and laughed.

“Of course, it’s too early to know. I can’t believe I am finally going to be a father!” Gage squeezed her tighter still, obviously forgetting his own strength so lost in his happiness.

“Um Gage, you’re squishing the baby.” His chest muffled Andrea’s voice.

Gage immediately released her. “I’m sorry. I lost my head.” He ran the back of his hand down her cheek in a soft caress. “I have never been happier in my entire life. Thank you!”

Andrea leaned up and gave him a small kiss. “I’m happy too, my love.”

Gage hopped out of bed and began getting dressed. “I know, let’s celebrate. We’ll go to dinner, and I’ll get tickets to your favorite show.” His fingers deftly worked the buttons of his shirt as he spoke. “You know, the one at Reaper’s.”

“Desire?” Andrea supplied the name of the show, propping herself up on her elbows to ogle her lover as he dressed. Corded muscles played under his pale skin, his blond hair caressed his forehead when he bent to don his trousers. Andrea appreciated the way his clothes hugged his toned body, and she sighed in appreciation.

“That’s the one. Here, let me help you up.” He scooped his mate into his arms.

Andrea giggled. “I’m pregnant, not ill. I can get out of bed all by myself.”

“Make no mistake, my dear, I will be over-protective of you every minute until our baby is born healthy.”

As she dressed in a little black number with a rhinestone belt, she looked at her profile in the ornately carved full-length mirror which stood in the corner of their bedroom. Soon her belly would no longer be flat, but swollen with their child. She could sense her child’s presence within her, knew it was strong for now.

Unfortunately, vampire pregnancies were a difficult thing. Miscarriages were common. If the baby carried to term, sometimes both the baby and mother died in childbirth. This baby was a miracle and a curse at the same time. She protectively covered her stomach with both hands. She would do whatever it took to see this child born, even if it meant giving up her life.

Their eyes met in the mirror.

You won’t have to give up your life.
Gage’s voice sounded heavy with emotion in her mind.
I’ll protect you and our baby fiercely! I promise you, my love, we’ll have our miracle
.

He crossed the room, coming behind his mate and encircled her in his arms. She settled back against him with a sigh.
I know you will keep us safe. I have complete faith in you.

****

Katrina joined Marcus and Stephan on the terrace. It overlooked the strip, giving the trio a beautiful view of the neon forest before them. They watched the cars crawl by, the brake lights blinking like lights on a Christmas tree. The city was alive, the pulse of the strip keeping time with the blinking lights.

Stephan took a drink of his actual Bloody Mary and admired the view, but not the city. He only had eyes for Kat this evening. The short, black miniskirt she wore made of glossy vinyl that reflected the neon from the strip created a psychedelic pattern of swirls and lines as her hips swished back and forth when she meandered around the terrace. A red silk shirt and black stiletto heels completed her ensemble and sent need slamming hard into Stephan. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, which he hoped was most likely the reaction she had hoped to elicit from him.

Marcus voiced what Stephan did not. “Wow Kat, you look amazing!” Marcus swept her into his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. A growl of warning escaped from Stephan’s throat.

Back off Marcus, she’s mine.
He sent his mental warning directly through their mindlink, immediately wishing he had censored it.

She’s mine? Where had that come from? She wasn’t his. They hadn’t even gone out on a date. Sure they had been living together for weeks, but that didn’t count. Staying in separate rooms, they were nothing more than roommates, but the way he felt tonight made Stephan determined to change that. Those two little words, she’s mine, changed everything. His brain finally registered what his body had been trying to tell him since the first night they met, he wanted her. He wanted her near, wanted to be inside of her body and mind. Standing on the terrace, he knew he had to have her.

And he would.

The kind of male used to having what he wanted, he didn’t let anyone or anything get in his way. Being a warrior, he knew how to fight for what he desired. The only problem was he couldn’t fight to have Kat; he would have to win her, and tonight was as good a night to start as any.

“If you two will excuse me, I need to make a phone call.” Marcus slipped silently off the balcony leaving the couple alone, closing the sliding glass door with a snick behind him.

“Marcus is correct, you do look wonderful.” Stephan stepped closer to Katrina and tucked a stray golden curl behind her ear. He felt her shiver under his touch.

“Thank you.” Kat smiled up at him. “You look pretty good yourself.”

Stephan swept his long arm down his smoke gray dress shirt and matching designer slacks. “Thank you. I’m glad you like what you see.”

“Very much!” She murmured low as if she hoped he wouldn’t hear. Of course with his preternatural hearing, Stephan easily caught what she said.

He leaned into her, barely a breath’s space between them, to capture her eyes with his dark sensual gaze. “I’d like to take you out sometime.”

Kat swallowed hard, and in a breathy voice she replied, “I’d like that.”

“How about tonight?”

“I have to go to work.” Kat stared up at him with doe eyes. He wanted to get lost in those eyes forever and forget about the real world for a while, but she had to go soon.

Stephan quickly looked at his watch then back into Kat’s eyes. He could hear her heart beat faster and smiled, showing a hint of fang that he knew she found sexy. “Will you allow me to drive you to work?”

He would love to take her to work, for many reasons, not just because it would allow them a little more time together, but because a male wanted to do things for his female, protect her, care for her.

When she agreed, his heart soared in triumph, knowing he was on his way to making her his.

Chapter 9

Katrina donned her leather and lace costume and completed her make up routine in record time. As she sat at her makeup station humming to herself, Dana asked, “What’s with you tonight? You’re glowing.”

Kat smiled. “I just feel really good, like everything is right with the world.”

Cathy slid her a suspicious glance. “It’s Stephan isn’t it? Something happen?”

Dana sat straighter in her chair and placed her brush on her makeup station. “Oh tell! I want to hear all about tall, dark, and handsome.”

Kat laughed. “There’s nothing to tell, he just brought me to work.”

“Must have been quite a ride, you are on cloud nine,” Cathy commented, applying an overly generous amount of rouge to her cheeks.

“It was an ordinary ride.” Katrina gave a carefree shrug before giving her friend a mischievous look. “But he did ask me out.”

“Ooooooh! That explains the humming. Where are you going?”

“He said it was a surprise, but we’re going tomorrow night.”

Before they could question her further, the stage manager did his stage call, and they scampered onto the stage. They stood frozen in their beginning positions, Kat front and center, as the curtain parted. The music started, and the women began their seductive dance. Kat felt particularly light on her feet. She had to struggle to keep her mind on the choreography and not on Stephan. As she danced, she imagined him in the audience and danced only for him.

****

On the arm of her mate, Andrea entered Reapers, noting the decor. The club, designed to showcase the show, discreetly housed a large bar in the back manned by four bartenders doing flips and tricks with the liquor bottles. The floor had three levels, the top two of which supported a series of tables and chairs positioned in half moon shapes toward the stage. The bottom level contained high backed semicircular private VIP booths where couples could sit on padded benches and view the show in virtual privacy corralled by tables with long white tableclothes. Big burly bouncers, most of whom her senses told her were vampires, patrolled along the walls, waiting to step in when needed.

At the front of the room, the spotlighted stage stood front and center with its blood-red curtains pulled back and the club’s beautiful dancers on display. The women cascaded in threes down a set of stairs onto the stage, swaying their hips, their red stiletto thigh-high boots clicking with each unified step. Their dance elicited from the customers exactly what was promised by the name of the show, desire. It filled the room, settling over Andrea as they made their way to a private booth.

The dancers twirled and swept their bodies in suggestive ways while the stage lights glistened off the shiny leather costumes, accenting their best assets. Each dancer wore a fire engine red smile designed to illicit thoughts of steamy wanton nights.

As Andrea and Gage watched the show, the mood of the crowd mixed with the swaying and gyrating hips on the stage in a titillating combination. The blonde in the middle looked particularly beautiful. Her hair glistening in the bright lights, she moved with a grace that drew the eye. Andrea could feel Gage’s lust rise as his gaze followed the woman.

Feeling practically naughty, Andrea moved her hand under the table onto Gage’s thigh. She squeezed as she leaned into him. “See the one in the middle with the long blonde hair and the large chest?”

“Yes,” Gage rasped as Andrea’s long fingers began making their way up his thigh.

“Isn’t she pretty?” She brushed her finger tips over the bulge in his pants.

“Yes.” Apparently that was the most complicated statement he could make with her fingers dancing over his pants.

“I want you to think of us with her as I do this.” She moved her hand up to the fastenings on his slacks. With nimble fingers, she undid the hook and slid down the zipper, freeing his erection from the offensive material. She took him into her hand and stroked him with one long caress from the bottom to the tip, causing him to suck a deep breath.

“Do you like that?” she asked, knowing the answer before the question even left her lips.

“Yes,” he breathed.

“Can you say anything besides, yes?” She stroked him harder as his eyes tracked the sultry movements of the blonde on stage.

“Not. Right. Now.”

Andrea smiled.

****

Marcus sat outside his club, waiting in Stephan’s sleek silver Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Roadster with the top down. Looking exhausted, Kat sank into the ash-gray leather passenger seat, letting it cradle her tired muscles.

“You ready to go home?” asked Marcus, trying not to notice how long her legs looked peeking out from under the black mini she had changed into. He turned the key and brought all twelve cylinders to life, starting their short trip home.

“Yeah. I’m tired.” Kat laid her head back, a sigh escaping her lips before she closed her eyes. The wind whipped her hair behind her in golden waves when they pulled away from a stop light.