Chapter 10 #2
The blonde finished speaking to Angel and rose, murmuring, “Excuse me,” before slipping out of the alcove.
Angel rejoined the conversation, but a discordant note of awareness brushed against Locke’s magic, jarring the prowling power that had remained on wary alert ever since they breached the illusion barrier.
Trusting Isa to fend off Angel’s verbal swipes, he tuned in to the advancing threat.
The strange current of energy buzzed against his senses, like the leading edge of a breaking storm.
Locke tilted his head toward the alcove’s opening just as two people filled it. One was a bouncer, and the other was Beto Montenegro.
The bouncer wasted no time. “Sir, sorry to interrupt—”
“Herrera,” Beto said, rounding the bouncer to move up the steps. “We need to talk.” His flat gaze swept over the other occupants and paused on Healy with a short nod of acknowledgment before going back to Angel. “Now.”
Locke noted Isa’s minute stiffening, but his magic demanded he keep his attention on Angel.
The air around the club owner darkened as Angel’s charm evaporated, his lips thinning, his eyes hardening. He slowly waved his drink at the table at large. “I’m busy at the moment.”
Beto didn’t back down. “Get unbusy.”
An oppressive weight filled the alcove as Angel set his drink on the table, got to his feet, straightened his cuffs, and murmured to Healy, “Excuse me.” He turned to a watching Isa. “I had hoped to speak to you further, but it seems business has other plans. Perhaps I will see you when I’m done.”
“Unfortunately, I think it’s time to call it a night.”
Angel’s smile was sardonic. “Of course. Well, then, until we met again, chiquita.” With that, he turned to Beto. “Shall we take this in my office?”
A muscle worked in Beto’s jaw, but he spun on his heel and stormed down the steps. Angel followed, his bouncer at his back. The men made their way to the elevator and disappeared inside.
Isa set her drink on the table and got to her feet. She turned to the other couple. “It’s been lovely, but as I told Angel, it’s time for us to call it a night.”
Polite goodbyes were exchanged, then Locke was following Isa down the steps and along the wide walkway, his hand once again resting against the warm skin at her spine.
He stood with her as the elevator slid back down from an upper level and the doors glided open.
They stepped inside. Once behind the closed doors, Isa surprised Locke by turning into him, sliding her hands up his chest, and linking them behind his neck.
Her move pressed her soft curves against him, igniting an inconvenient response.
But that didn’t stop him from gently gripping her hips and tugging her close.
Awareness flared in her eyes, leaving small gold sparks behind. Her lush lips parted as a delicate shiver ran through her and color swept over her cheeks, her delicious scents curling around them. “Play along,” she murmured.
Oh, he was more than happy to follow that order. He spun them around and crowded her against the back wall, giving in to the hunger that had waited not so patiently to play. He wanted to growl at her small, excited gasp but managed to refrain.
He dipped his head until mere inches separated them. “What are you up to?”
Her gaze drifted to his mouth then came back up. The gold glints in her eyes were brighter and hotter, and her tongue darted out to touch her top lip. “I want to check something out, and with Angel holed up in his office, now works.”
He took in the determined glint under her desire and recognized it for what it was—a need to best the monster. “You like to live dangerously.”
Those fascinating lips curved into wicked temptation. “So do you.”
Since actions spoke louder than words, he took her mouth in a kiss.
Despite the need clawing through him, he kept it gentle, brushing his lips against hers once then twice before she let him in.
The minute the sweet and spicy taste of her exploded against his tongue, his hunger went white-hot.
It was the wrong damn time and definitely the wrong damn place, but he couldn’t have stopped even if he’d wanted to.
He swallowed her soft moan, his hands tightening as she pressed closer, her grip on the nape of his neck pulling him down as she kissed him back.
Feeling the elevator slow, he somehow managed to catch hold of his badly frayed control and ease back. The prick of her nails against his neck made him smile as he slid his lips from hers to whisper next to her ear, “Later, wildcat.”
He wanted to laugh when she stiffened and unwound her arms from his neck so she could push against his chest. Heeding her silent request, he pulled back as the elevator stopped and the doors opened on a soft ding. “Lead on, my lady.”
She shot him a glare before smoothing it away and stepping beyond him. He caught her hand in his and let her lead. In the short time they’d been upstairs, the crowd had grown. Under the flashing lights, Isa wove her way through the bodies.
As they worked their way to the darker edges of the floor, Locke flexed his magic, slowly cloaking their presence from watching eyes.
Magic settled over him like a second skin, and with a thought, he expanded it to encompass Isa.
A form of magical camouflage integral to Hounds, bolstered by his natural air mage abilities, utilized the deep shadows and made it easy to blend in.
So long as she continued to hold his hand and stay close, maintaining the masking would remain instinctual.
Clearly, Isa had a destination in mind, because she moved resolutely toward the staircase.
For a moment, he wondered if she was going to head back up, but then she turned toward a door partially obscured by the stairs.
When she came to a stop, she tugged her hand free and grasped the knob.
A small red flare indicated a lock charm.
“Dammit,” she hissed.
Standing behind her, he put his hands on her hips and nudged her aside so he could examine the charm. His magic prowled forward and nosed the charm, drawing in the magical scents of its caster.
Flat. Tasteless. Generic. Cheap. So much for investing in security.
He gave a derisive snort and unraveled the charm quickly, using the stored magic in the silver signet ring on his right hand. When the red light flashed to a steady green, he twisted the knob and pushed the door open to expose more darkness.
Isa blinked at him. “How—”
“Bastard never reprogramed the lock.” He stood sideways and motioned her forward. “Go.”
She shook her head and slipped inside.