Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
Carina couldn’t believe Karla had talked her into coming to THE new nightclub in town. The striking exterior grabbed the attention of everyone who passed. When the name had appeared etched in glowing red gothic font, Karla had vowed to attend the opening night festivities.
This was so not Carina’s scene. She would never have waited in line for hours. Once inside though, she’d vibrated with excitement. The atmosphere was electric.
Carried away by the energy of the room, Carina had repeated the somehow addictive words with the crowd. She rubbed the glowing moon on her skin. Why did this feel like more than a simple bar entry stamp? The decoration seemed to tug her farther inside. She had to be imagining it, right?
In the vast nightclub area, Carina paused to scan the room.
Tables and chairs filled one section. A huge bar stretched along the entire side of the club with multiple bartenders tossing bottles as they mixed drinks and flirted with the patrons.
Her body moved automatically to the throbbing music.
Dancers gyrated on the raised platform that filled the rear section of Nightfall. What should they do first?
“Stop thinking. Dance with me!” Karla towed her through the bar crowd to the dance floor.
Carina scooted past Karla as she shimmied on the edge of the glowing dance floor.
She preferred not to be on display, giving Karla the prime position on the outer edge.
The music wove into Carina, distracting her from the presence of others.
Her hips swayed instinctively as she raised her hands over her head.
One song followed the next. Unable to resist the allure of the striking beat, Carina abandoned herself to the music.
Several songs later, a handsome blond man inserted himself between Carina and Karla. His gaze roamed over Carina’s body, making her instantly self-conscious. Her movements became awkward as she stiffened. Why did guys think it was okay to check someone out this aggressively?
“Hey, babe. Let me buy you a drink,” the man said.
“No, thank you. I’m dancing with my friend,” she answered tersely, trying to shift around him.
He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the crowd surrounding the dance floor. “It’s time for a drink. You must be thirsty after those moves.”
“Let me go,” she requested, struggling to free her arm from his tight grip.
“Hey, asshole! She said no!” Karla yelled, coming to Carina’s defense and attracting the attention of those around them. She wrapped her arms around Carina’s waist and anchored her in place.
Carina turned to appeal to her friend. “Help me get this guy’s hand off me.”
Before either could act, the tugging on Carina’s wrist evaporated. The two women stumbled backward, and the onlookers steadied them. Whirling around to glare at the culprit, Carina froze.
A security guy muscled the handsy jerk away. In his place stood a striking man in a snug Nightfall polo. His deep brown hair pulled back tightly from his face made his features appear as if chiseled from stone. Handsome wasn’t a good enough word for him.
Her gaze traced his impressive form. He could snap her in half without breathing hard. Power radiated from him. Carina shivered at the visceral response he evoked inside her. She recognized him instantly as a predator.
“Whoa,” Karla said from behind her.
Whoa, indeed. Carina’s heart pounded, but she couldn’t tell if her rapid pulse was from fright or arousal. The two emotions swirled together inside her. A surge of slickness dampened her panties. The immense man inhaled deeply. His dark eyes flashed with a red glow.
He couldn’t smell the excitement he’d inspired in her, could he?
“Damn, I’d jump on that man all night long.” Karla’s whisper reached Carina’s ears.
Without thinking, Carina whirled on her friend. Her fingers curled into weapons as anger and jealousy flooded her system.
“Carina? Are you all right? You look like you’re ready to fight me,” Karla said, lifting her forearm to ward off any potential attack.
A powerful hand closed gently around her shoulder. Instantly, Carina’s anger evaporated as the stranger drew her attention from Karla back to himself. “All is well, Carina.”
Unable to stop herself, Carina stepped toward the handsome stranger. His hand wrapped around her back, urging her closer. She didn’t understand what drew her to him. This attraction both thrilled and scared her—like he was a drug she craved.
Carina lifted a hand toward his face, rising on her tiptoes to trace the hard edge of his jawline.
His hand wrapped around hers, pressing her skin to his, before he drew her closer.
Carina didn’t passively let him hug her.
She yielded to the overwhelming need building inside her and climbed him like a rabid monkey to bury her face in his neck.
Rubbing her skin against his, she instinctively transferred her scent onto the massive man to claim him.
“Yours, Carina. I am yours.”
At his promise, the link between them solidified. Carina didn’t understand anything that was happening, but that confusion didn’t matter to her. Nothing was important except for him. She sighed with contentment and relaxed against him.
He boosted her higher with a powerful forearm under her bottom, holding her short mini dress over her thong. His crisp arm hair tickled the bare skin he concealed. Hearing the music and the crowd noise, Carina struggled to control her need to rub her pussy against the hard abs pressed to her core.
“What are you doing, Carina? Are you okay?” Karla asked in concern. Her voice grew more strident. “Wait! How do you know her name? Carina, get away from him. Something’s going on. Did you drug her?”
The man nodded at a female security guard nearby and glanced pointedly at Karla. The woman moved in to reassure Karla and escort her after Marcus as he carried Carina through the crowd.
“She’s fine. No drugs. Our head of security would protect her with his life. Follow them, and he can explain what’s happening,” the guard told Karla. When she glanced behind them, Carina saw Karla chasing them. Her friend wasn’t letting Marcus out of her sight.
“Wait. I need to talk to her.”
Marcus paused and allowed Karla to catch up with them.
“Follow me, please. There is a private place to talk,” Marcus explained.
Marcus immediately turned and walked away.
Behind his back, Carina rounded her fingers to form an okay sign to reassure Karla one more time before abandoning herself once again to the irresistible draw of Marcus’s body to hers.
The music grew quieter and then stopped as a door closed behind her.
She looked around to find herself in a small room with comfortable furniture.
“Little one. How incredible to find you on opening night,” Marcus whispered to her. He sat down in a high-backed velvet chair, setting her on one of his hard thighs. He tugged down her short skirt to shield her from exposure. “I do not share what is mine.”
His words thrilled her to the core as he claimed her. Carina didn’t understand what him calling her mine meant, but she loved his possessiveness. Karla had a different reaction.
“What the fuck is going on? She’s not yours,” Karla said, her voice rising with stress. “Come on, Carina. We need to get out of here.”
“No,” Carina refused bluntly, trying to memorize the man’s appearance. Vivid green eyes stared so deep inside of her, Carina felt like he could read her mind. Without planning to communicate without words, she thought back, Who are you?
His answer formed in her brain. I am Marcus.
“Karla, I’m okay. This is Marcus. We’ve met before.” Carina invented a story on the fly. “I haven’t seen him in ages.”
Lying will get you spanked, Little girl.
Carina’s brain seemed to short-circuit at his statement.
She could only stare at him. How could he know her secret punishment fantasies?
Her panties, already damp with her desire, suddenly felt soaked against her skin.
Could he feel it? She shifted on his lap, hoping not to leave a wet spot on his trousers.
Stay. We need to be close now.
Carina nodded, unable to deny him anything.
Karla cleared her throat, drawing Carina’s attention back to her. “I don’t believe you, Carina. Something weird is going on here.”
Karla had it right. An attraction beyond anything Carina had ever imagined drew her to the massive man.
Marcus’s words lingered in her brain. His warning didn’t scare her.
It had a very different effect on her. Carina squeezed her thighs together.
Raw need coursed through her. Her skin heated as her pulse raced.
His arm tightened around her waist, plastering her to him.
His thick shaft pressed against her. That can’t be real.
His low chuckle vibrated in her mind.
You can read my mind?
To some extent, Little mate. Let’s reassure your friend and then we can… talk.
His pause made her imagine better things they could do alone. Carina’s imagination went wild as she stroked her hand over his muscular shoulder. His shirt needed to come off—soon. His deep moan echoed in her brain, signaling he thoroughly agreed with her train of thought.
“Carina!” Karla’s voice rang with frustration.
“Sorry, Karla. I’m not drugged. Nor am I going crazy.” Carina could tell by Karla’s expression that her friend didn’t believe her.
Thinking on her feet, she invented more information to reassure Karla. “I introduced you to Marcus. I haven’t seen him in years. We dated a long time ago. He’s my one who got away.”
“And now he’s back?” Karla’s eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t he call you when he arrived in town?”
“We didn’t grow up in this city. I moved here after I graduated from college and got a job. Marcus didn’t realize I was in town.”
Karla turned her scrutiny onto Marcus. “What’s going to be different this time?”
“I am not a young fool,” Marcus said smoothly. “I’m sorry to interrupt your evening. This was completely unexpected.”
Glancing back and forth between them, Karla finally sighed. “Wow. This is wild. I bet you want to get reacquainted. I’ll go back out and dance. If you’re sure you’re safe with him, Carina?”
“I’ve never been more protected with anyone else,” Carina answered. She didn’t understand how she knew that with ironclad assurance, but she did.
“Allow me to buy you a drink. Give this to Titus. He’s the head bartender. You’ll recognize who that is instantly. He’s popular with the ladies,” Marcus told her and shifted slightly to pull a metal token from his pocket.
Karla walked forward slowly to take it from him. “That’s funny. It looks like a bat. Oh, I get it. Nightfall.”
Without hesitating, Karla addressed Carina bluntly. “I want to speak to you alone.”
“Why? Really, I’m fine, Karla. Go dance.”
“I’m not walking out of here without you,” Karla told her. “Girls’ manifesto. We arrive together. We leave together.”
“I like this friend of yours, Carina. This is a good plan,” Marcus decreed.
“But….” Carina protested.
You will remain with me until Karla is ready to go. Then, I will meet you at your apartment. I will need to stay until the building is clear.
She nodded and then caught Karla’s questioning expression when Carina agreed to something Karla couldn’t hear. Not wishing to explain and not sure she could, Carina covered her action by adding, “You’re right, Karla. I’ll head out with you. Want to message me when you’re heading out?”
“Sure. That works.” Karla’s face relaxed for the first time since that guy had bothered them. “We could meet at this door?”
“You’ll never get back here without a security escort. Talk to anyone in these Nightfall polo shirts. They’ll bring you to us,” Marcus told her.
“That’s you? A security guy?” Karla asked, staring him down.
“Yes.”
“Okay.” Karla turned to the female guard still standing in the room with them. “Can I alert you if that guy bothers me again?”
“He’s gone. But definitely notify a Nightfall employee if anyone puts their hands on you without your permission or makes you uncomfortable. I’m Saya. I’ll keep an eye on you.”
“Thanks.” With a meaningful look, Karla wiggled her phone at Carina.
“I’ll message if I need you,” Carina promised. As much as she appreciated her friend’s concern about her safety, Carina craved being alone with Marcus.
“Take notes. I’m going to want to know what happens,” Karla told her.