The Hunter (Orion the Hunter) (13 page)

He jumped to his feet and dragged his hand through his hair.  “But we aren’t done.”

Oh, I think we are.

He took a step towards me, almost closing the gap between our bodies.  His eyes were wide, black and stormy.  I could see the tension in his face - his jaw muscles clenched and I was sure he was gritting his teeth.  “We need to sort this out.  I can’t stay away from you.  God knows I’ve tried.”

“Then you will have to just try harder.” I said quietly then I turned on my heel to leave.

He caught my wrist and spun me around to face him.  “Have dinner with me tonight; we can continue our conversation then.”  It wasn’t a question. It was a command.

Oh so you think that you can control me now?  That’s not going to happen.

I looked into his eye and then forced my eyes to travel down his body and back up again, oh so slowly.  I was immensely satisfied to see his eyes were stormier than ever and I could see a vein pulsing in his neck.  “I have plans tonight.  I will be socializing and I guarantee that I will get hot and sweaty and I will probably be fucked, hard, until I lose all control and scream for mercy.  Hopefully, several times.”  With that, I shook off his grip and walked calmly from the room.

As I closed the door behind me, the sound of glass smashing caught my attention. 
Oh temper, temper Mr Hunter.

I marched through reception, shooting a lascivious smile at the receptionist and was delighted when the elevator doors opened as I approached and Daniel exited.  “Daniel,” I nodded before entering the car and waiting for the doors to close.  When they did, I sank against the wall and exhaled slowly. 
Now that didn’t go the way I planned but at least I can put him out of my mind for good.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I cried as I entered the salon and saw Angel’s annoyed expression.  “Something came up that took longer than expected but I am here now.  Let’s get beautiful!”

She tried to stay cross with me but failed miserably.  She told me not to be late again before launching into a monologue of how excited Chad was that the band were going to play a bigger venue tonight.  I was aware of her animated chatter but I found that I couldn’t concentrate.   I only realized how unsettled and unfocused I was when Tyler, my stylist, began to squeal and jump up and down, clapping his hands.  Belatedly, I realized that I had unwittingly agreed to having my black hair streaked with blue - something that Tyler had been attempting to persuade me to do for months. 
Oh god! 
I didn’t have the energy to face him down and tell him that I hadn’t been listening and that I didn’t want to have blue hair so I just went with it
.  Damn the brandy - I knew not to drink spirits in the afternoon, especially on an empty stomach!  But I knew that it wasn’t just down to the alcohol.  I realized with some irritation that Lucas Hunter was still managing to affect me, even though I thought that I exorcised that phantom this afternoon.  Damn him to hell!

A little later than planned, thanks to the extra time needed in the hair salon, we were ready to leave the apartment for the club in Brooklyn.  I took one last look in the mirror, still trying to adjust to the electric blue that streaked my long black hair.  I had chosen black skinny jeans, a royal blue bustier, that exposed my toned midriff, and matching blue pumps.  I had opted for smoky grey eye shadow and black kohl with lots of mascara.  My lips were painted a very deep shade of red.  I knew I looked good and I was debating relaxing my man ban, perhaps just for one night.  An energetic one night stand was probably what I needed.  I felt very tense and there is nothing quite mind blowing sex to relieve stress. 

Angel was a vision in white.  She wore skinny jeans and a low cut chiffon top that floated around her midriff.  Her pale blond hair shone from the salon treatment and it formed a halo around her head.  She had gone for the natural look with subtly applied make up.  I looked at us both in the mirror.  We couldn’t be more different if we tried.

We arrived at the club to find the guys finishing up their final sound check.  They were pumped at playing a larger venue.  Some of their existing fans were already in the bar and that helped to steady the guys’ nerves.  We gave them a wave and we were rewarded with huge grins. 

I wondered over to the jukebox to look at the choice of music that was available until the band played later.  Immediately, two good looking guys appeared by my side.  One offered to buy me a drink and immediately the other one tried to strike up a conversation about music.  I politely gave them both the brush off and made my selection. 
Yes, having people hit on you is annoying but rational people don’t avoid all contact with the opposite sex to prevent it happening.  Hmm, who said that Lucas Hunter was a rational human being?

Angel had bought our drinks and found a table near the stage.  The band came over and Chad picked Angel up and sat her on his knee.  Travis asked if I wanted to sit on his lap then winked at me and made rude gestures showing what he would like to do if I did.  I smiled then ignored him.  Scott asked how I was and how my business was going and we chatted amicably for a few minutes.  Ethan drank his beer as he scanned the room, no doubt checking out every attractive female in the vicinity.

The bar soon filled up.  It was going to be a busy night.  Chad began fretting about what might happen if the crowd didn’t like them.  Angel did her best to reassure him.  Travis just grinned and called him a pussy.  I laughed and enjoyed the easy natured banter.  It was just what I needed after the day I’d had.  I realized that I hadn’t had much to eat during the day.  There hadn’t been much time to get ready when we finally got back from the salon.  I had eaten a stuffed vine leaf when we returned to the apartment but now, with the drinks flowing as easily as the conversation, I knew it wouldn’t take much to get drunk.  Drinking in the afternoon hadn’t helped, I thought ruefully.

The band took to the stage and it was clear pretty quickly what the crowd thought of them.  The cheers were deafening when they finished playing their first number.  Pretty soon, the place was heaving - it was more like being at a rock concert than a bar in Brooklyn.  All of the tables were taken, some people were dancing and others were bouncing up and down in front of the stage.  The atmosphere was electric.  Angel and I looked at each other and grinned.  “Let’s join in,” she said excitedly. 

We moved towards the stage, squeezing through the crowd that was moving almost as one.  Hands were in the air and the band’s existing fan base was singing along to each track, clearly energized by the positive reaction from the crowd.  As we neared the stage, Angel gasped when she saw the attention the band was getting from some of the female fans.  Travis was encouraging a pouting blonde to lift up her top and flash her breasts.  Several young women were reaching up trying to grasp Ethan’s hand whenever he came to the front of the stage.

I looked at Angel’s horrified expression and laughed.  Chad and Scott weren’t exactly reveling in all of the attention - in fact, they looked quite uncomfortable.  I pointed this out to her and she relaxed.  We were soon carried along with the movement of the crowd, jumping up and down as there was no room to dance.  The temperature in the bar rocketed and after a while, I signaled to Angel that I would go and get us some beers.  I pushed my way back through the revelers and was dismayed to see that the queue for the bar was about five people deep.  The three bar staff looked totally harassed. 
Oh great!
  I needn’t have worried.  A handsome blonde guy who was three people in front of me asked me what I wanted.  I asked for two beers and he passed them back.  I blew him a kiss in thanks. 

I told Angel to drink it slowly because of the queue at the bar.  “Wow,” she shouted.  “Hopefully, the band will be asked back if they are this popular.  They will be stoked!”

We bounced and drank and sang and cheered until we were exhausted.  Towards the end of their set, they began to play their ballads and the crowd began to sway rather than jump.  The bar was crammed by his time and we were shoulder to shoulder.  I was grateful for the change of pace as I could feel the effects of the alcohol in my system.  I felt a hand on my lower back and turned instinctively.  I came face to the face with the blonde who had bought our drinks.  “Dance?” he said loudly to be heard about the music, holding out his hands.  He was attractive in a pretty boy sort of way - more boy band than rock band.  Not my usual type but hey, it was only a dance.

We began to slow dance and he quickly pulled me into him and I felt one of his hands slide down to my behind.  The smell of his cologne was quite overpowering and made me feel slightly nauseous. There was more room to dance now as less people had stayed by the stage for the slower numbers.  I knew that I had had too much to drink because I was finding it difficult to concentrate fully.

I realized that his other hand had traveled up to my face and he was now cupping my cheek. 
He is going to kiss me! Do I really want him to?  What about my man ban? 
Part of me craved some physical attention after the emotional day that I’d had but I knew that I didn’t really feel attracted to the guy whose head was slowly angling down towards mine.  I watched his eyes close and his lips part in slow motion. 
No, I don’t want this.  I would rather go home alone.
I pulled back my head saying “No” firmly but he just grinned and held me tighter.  His head immediately swooped down and his intentions were clear.  I again said “No” firmly and then put my hands on his chest to push him away but I must have shoved him pretty hard because he went reeling backwards.  I stood still in confusion when I heard him shout.  However, the reason for his shouting soon became clear.

Lucas was stood about six feet away from me, holding the blonde guy by the scruff of the neck. 
Oh shit!  What is he doing here? 
I sobered up quickly and took two determined steps towards them.  I opened my mouth to protest and then stopped abruptly when I saw his face.  Cold fury gripped his features as he glowered at me.  I noticed that he was still wearing the same clothes that he was wearing earlier in the day.  He shook his head briefly and then effortlessly pushed the blonde guy away to the side.  I just stood there, frozen to the spot, horrified at the unwelcome interruption but afraid of the dangerous energy that seemed to be emanating from Lucas.  The people around us could feel it too I realized as they gave us a wide berth. 

I closed my mouth but glared at him, determined for him to see how angry I was too.  His eyes narrowed and he quickly closed the gap between us, grabbed my arm and dragged me away from the stage and towards the bar.  I tried to pull away but his grip tightened.  He pulled me behind the bar and out into a corridor.  He barged through a door into a deserted office.  He pushed me roughly down onto a chair and stood over me, raking his hands through his hair before planting them on his hips. 

I took a deep breath but resumed my angry glare.  When my heart began to slow and my head cleared.  I hissed quietly, “Just what the hell do you think you are doing?”

“He was going to kiss you,” he shot back, his black, raging eyes boring in to mine.

“So what if he had?  It has got nothing to do with you!”

His face contorted as he struggled to remain calm.  “Of course it has!” he said quietly.

“Really?” I spat back sarcastically.  “Can you explain to me what business it is of yours who I choose to kiss … or fuck for that matter?”

“Issy, I am warning you.  Don’t push me.”  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Are you insane?  You cannot dictate to me what I can and can’t do, or who I can and can’t do it with and you certainly are not in a position to give me a warning.”  The adrenaline was beginning to subside now but I still felt affronted.  “I meant what I said.  We should stay the hell away from each other.”

“I told you that I can’t.”

“And I told you to try harder.”

“I did.  It obviously didn‘t work.”

I sighed in frustration.  “What are you doing here, Lucas?  I wouldn’t have thought that this was your scene.  What with your abhorrence of socializing.” 
How did he even know I was here?  Did he follow me?

“I was here on business,” he said simply.

“Nothing that I do is any of your business.” I groaned, suddenly feeling tired of this whole situation. 

“I own this club, Issy.  The manager called and asked for assistance because it got incredibly busy unexpectedly and he was short staffed and worried that we only had one bouncer on duty, just in case anything kicked off.”