Collared for a Night (Crimson Romance) (27 page)

This sparring was very much a dance, and exactly the type she was prepared to engage in with this woman. Mia’s eyes dropped, as though she were assessing Diana for the first time. Diana refrained from stepping forward and coming toe-to-toe with Mia. Tempting as Mia was as prey, she held back, unmoving.

“Don’t try those middle-school tricks on me. I’m a professional and I’ll eat you up in one bite. Not a threat. A promise. I don’t care if you think Shawn’s interested in you. He’s not. Do you know how many times he’s come to Vegas with a different woman on his arm? Ask him. I see him every year. That’s right. Oh, he didn’t disclose that small detail? Did he tell you we traded emails about this event? I know that you know who I am. Shawn’s a man who doesn’t just walk away. You know that’s the truth. Do you think he’d let his cousin just take what was his and then play nice? I left Shawn because he wanted too much. His nature is to consume, overpower, overshadow, and I’ve got my own dreams. He wants me. I’ve had to teach him that I can stand on my own two legs. Not four. I’m not some animal he can mount and bite and own.” She smiled a wicked grin, her gaze lowering and focusing on Diana’s neck.

Diana refused to react, keeping herself from reaching up and touching the places where Shawn had indeed marked her. Puncture marks, fresh and healed, ran up and down her body, but especially along her neck and shoulder. It was pointless to try and hide what he’d done. With her hair partially covering her neck, she wasn’t concerned about anyone’s reaction. It was what it was — his marks, and now she wore his ring. She hadn’t gone to an underground club and had her ass publically spanked while some stud banger man-handled her.

Mia scoffed, “I don’t wear any shifter’s mark. I’m Shawn’s ultimate climb. His Mount Kilimanjaro. You’re a well-worn trail. Exercise. Nothing more.”

Shawn came around the corner; it had only been a minute that he’d been gone, but the poison darts thrown had landed. Her training allowed her to remain in place, but her mind wasn’t so easily appeased. Every word Mia uttered succinctly countered what Shawn had told her. Two sides of a coin, and she was in the middle.

Mia’s amused smiled widened in self-satisfaction. Shawn’s gaze snapped together with hers. She stared back, unable to smile.

A crowd entered behind Shawn, more Matrix staff and a client. Max Keton, one of Matrix’s bigger accounts. Felicity, Matrix’s retail design department’s head, had entered the area and brightly announced, “Shawn, look who I found at the blackjack table.”

Shawn released Diana from his gaze to attend to his client. “Max, good to see you.”

“I’m the official party crasher.” The man held out his hand to Shawn.

Clasping Max’s hand, Shawn shook it vigorously. “Nonsense. The more, the merrier. Besides, you know the ground rules: any party in Vegas is an open invitation.”

Max laughed, slapping Shawn’s back. “I’m learning.” Felicity pulled Max away, entering the main dining area, and the other people in their entourage from the outer area followed.

Shawn crossed in back of Max, coming at Diana with a force that made her step back. The door opened again, and the man who entered had to be the tallest man Diana had ever seen. Basketball proportions. Shawn’s lack of affect in his reaction to the man’s arrival shouted that this was not someone who was welcome here.

Mia held out her arms. “Frazier, dearest. Finally.”

“Apologies.” Frazier grimaced as he took his place alongside Mia. “I settled the arrangements for later.”

Mia flashed Frazier a brilliant smile and curled her fingers around his arm. “I’m pleased, then.”

Diana’s vertebrae reacted as though snapped in place, bringing her to full attention. Mia commanded Frazier in the same way that Shawn liked to get her attention. A simple, direct command. Maybe they weren’t opposite sides of a coin, but one and the same. Two heads that butted. Mia was right, Shawn didn’t let things go. She’d been a fool to think he’d casually let this type of problem dissolve.

The inhalation from Frazier was audible. “Shawn, it’s been too long. I hear congratulations are in order.” He held out a bottle of expensive champagne. “I’m glad to hear things are going well for you.” The man seemed genuine. There was an awkward pause.

“I’m Diana.” She stepped forward, employing all the feline grace she could muster in denying Mia the chance to own the evening. “Frazier, it’s so nice of you to join us. Thank you for the champagne.” Shawn’s fingers pressed into the skin at the back of Diana’s hip. He patted the curve of her waist.

“Frazier, you’re the last person I’d bet would show up here.” Shawn stared at his cousin’s extended hand, shaking his head. “Don’t push your luck.” He reached out and briefly shook Frazier’s hand. It wouldn’t do for Shawn to do much more, or less, considering they were in front of the doorway, in full view of a room full of staff and clients. Mia had played her hand well. Diana wasn’t about to be the one in this foursome to act foolish. No, she’d pick her time and place, and then she’d take care of Mia. The woman met her gaze with the same smirk she’d worn earlier, and the silent challenge grated upon Diana’s nerves worse than a slap to her face.

Shawn’s jaw muscles bunched, moving rhythmically. He spoke in a voice that crept into the space, his tone low and smooth.

“You both are here. Make no mistake, I’ll have you hauled out of here by your posterior ends if you so much as blink in the wrong direction. You — ” His eyes flicked over to Mia, then flashed back to his cousin, as he squarely faced Frazier, “Keep her under control. You brought her here, you should take responsibility for her. Otherwise, I’ll throw you both out of here. With pleasure.”

Shawn took hold of Diana and walked away from them. She didn’t have a chance to do more than keep up with his steps, not that she wanted to trade barbs with Mia or Frazier. “What will they do?” she asked.

“Suck up to someone. Tristen and Fin are positioned to escort them from the premises on my word. I’d rather see what they’re up to than lay back and wait.”

She stopped walking. “I thought that’s what you taught me. Why so much
do as I say, not as I do?
I’m confused, and you’re not making this any easier.”

“Some rules are broken to level the playing field. With those two, playing fair is how people get blindsided. Best to keep one’s enemies in the same room than allow them the opportunity to come at one from behind. You just need to be aware that anything that comes out of Mia’s face is a blatant attempt to sabotage you, me, and us. Be
very
aware of that, and don’t let her twist your thoughts.”

She leaned closer to him. “One question. Do you come to Vegas each year?” She couldn’t ask him if he’d seen Mia on those occasions.

“Yes. I’ve clients here. You know that. If it weren’t for this kerfuffle, we’d have come here annually for business. I also have other annual stops. Nothing unethical, just business. What the hell did Mia say?”

“Only that you visited the city every year … and you traded emails before we arrived.”

“It’s true. We did. I told her to step back. I refused her offer. She’s looking for financing, and we’ve already discussed this. You see, you’re letting her get to you. Just stop, Diana, and ask yourself, why would I want anything to do with the woman my cousin is sleeping with? I couldn’t possibly care less about her. I never felt what I feel with you. She was a business partner and I thought, why not do something that would please my parents and free me from having to think about family obligations? Nothing more. We’ve been over this.”

“I don’t know what to think. You both have good stories.”

Perfect
stories. It was as though they both knew what to say, had prepared their arguments, and delivered each side perfectly. Her heart told her one thing while her mind considered other issues. She was at war within herself. Again.

“I don’t want to argue with you. Not tonight. Not ever. Baby, put aside her stupidity and let’s enjoy this evening.”

Diana gazed around the room, spotting Mia shaking hands with some of Shawn’s clients. She’d be damned if she’d give Mia the satisfaction of ruining their evening.

“I’m here to enjoy our evening together.” She laced her fingers with his.

They’d dined seated with Matrix clients and now danced, Shawn holding her closely, hardly moving to the music, and she nestled in his arms. This was the first time they’d appeared in public as a couple, and just as she expected, not an eye was batted except by Mia. The little conversation she overheard didn’t ruffle her feathers. Mia must have been adept at reading body language, and Shawn’s staff was loyal to a fault.

At least they were better at brushing off whatever Mia had prepared. From across the room, Frazier and Mia sat alone at a table, having scared off the other people who originally had been seated there. It was getting late, and several people had come and said goodbye. They wouldn’t stay much longer, and Shawn waited until their clients had departed before suggesting that they dance one last dance before exiting.

All she had to do was get past tomorrow night and she’d be home free. With Shawn’s arms around her, everything he said made sense.

“Are you ready to split?”

“Yes. My feet are ready to be free of these shoes.”

“I’ve been invited for a game of poker. Private. Men only. I’ll drop you at the hotel.”

It was only eleven-thirty and this was Vegas. What was she going to do, demand that he babysit her? She longed to get into bed, and the prospect of an early night didn’t seem at all bad. “Truth to tell, I’m tired. I’ll work on my speech. How long do these games go on?”

“A couple of hours. Nothing too serious. But this is what’s done in Vegas — schmooze over cards.” He swung her around, pivoting on the dance floor before he dipped her back, almost touching her head to the floor. “Tell me you’ll wait up for me, baby.”

He brought her upright, slowly cupping her head, looking her straight in the eye, and making her reconsider an early night. “Of course I’ll wait up,” she murmured as her voice shook.

“That’s my girl. I’ll be back early.”

“I’m not envious. Cigars, cards, and plenty of schmooze. Have at it.”

He patted her rear end, making her gasp in surprise. They left after saying their last goodbyes to the few remaining staff. She sat under Shawn’s arm, cuddling against the warmth of his body in the backseat of the car, and she toyed with the words that spun around her mind, aching to tell Shawn how much she loved everything about him.

“I enjoyed tonight. So much,” she said as the car pulled up in front of the hotel.

“Santo, give me a moment. I’ll be back shortly.”

Shawn escorted her upstairs, kissing her heatedly at the doorway to the loft, and rubbing his knuckles across her cheek and jaw. “You’re beautiful. I love you. While you’re thinking of work, think of a date. I want to marry you soon.”

“I love a pushy man.” Her heartbeat thundered as she fought to keep a placid expression plastered on her face.

“Just wait and see how pushy I can be.”

She closed the door, her body responding to him down to her racing pulse and coiling belly. Mating for life with a man that made her head reel; she was ready, and wondered what type of wedding he’d want. With so many clients, it would be an enormous event with a guest list of five or six hundred people, at least. And what a mix. Matrix, the Downtown Den, his other businesses and the council. No, the guest list would easily top a thousand. Those events were never easy to do, or to survive.

Removing her shoes, she wondered if a small chapel wedding was even possible. A small, intimate wedding sounded divine.

She was about to shed her dress when a slow, laborious knock sounded at the door. She smiled and called out, “Did you forget your key?”

The prospect of one more kiss from Shawn had her moving to meet him at the door.

“Come here and let me show you what I’ve got planned for later.” Swinging open the door, she stared at the faces of Mia and Frazier. A blinding chill overcame her senses. She tried to slam the door in their smug faces, but Frazier was too quick. He stuck his foot in the jamb and his massive body laid into the door, moving it as though she were nothing more than static cling lint. He pushed in, and Mia followed in his wake.

“Yes, you were saying something about your plans?” Mia slinked by Diana, going into the living room. She walked down the hall, stopping in front of the bedroom. “All alone?”

“What do you want?” Diana asked, already imagining nothing good. “Shawn will be back in a couple of minutes.”

“That’s not what we heard. We know you’re alone and will be for hours. Shawn’s on his way to a poker game of sorts. One which we’ve arranged as a special treat. Now that Shawn has plans for the Vegas justice council, we thought it an apropos welcome. How rich! An eye for an eye.”

“That’s not what the council is about,” Diana retorted.

“But wait, that isn’t what Shawn espouses. Or is it? Where you’re concerned, he seems to forget that he can’t simply issue threats. Like all other shifters, if he has a problem, it must go through the council. Not have his lackeys go around and tell our clients to stop doing business with us.”

“You’re the ones who have lost your own accounts. You’re blaming him for your own issues.”

“Not exactly. Ever since he arrived in town, we’ve seen a record number of our accounts close. That’s not coincidence, it’s Shawn acting as though he were above the law. And now this seems fitting; since he seems to believe he can do as he wants, then we can act freely as well. I also don’t think the actual game will last long. Not to worry, though. We’ve got special times planned for you as well. And your lover won’t have to miss a thing. We plan on webcamming this event for a whole lot of viewers’ pleasures.”

The feeling of blood draining from her face kept her desperately attuned to them. “What do you want?” Diana repeated her question, buying time.

“Why, you, silly. And we mean to have you … in every way possible. By the time Frazier’s done with you … not even a dog will come near you.” Mia patted Frazier’s meaty arm.

Diana noticed the case Frazier had been carrying as he swung it up onto the table and the latches clicked open. He glanced over to her, then nodded his head to Mia. “Get her ready.” His stony voice came out in a bark. “Prepare her the way I like.”