When A Lioness Snarls (A Lion's Pride Book 5) (6 page)

Luna found him fascinating to watch, his face intense, his hand in firm control of the shifter, the slight clench of the muscle in his thigh each time he had to work the clutch.

“So, what do you think we’ll find in this club?” she asked.

“No idea. After you left, I managed to find another couple from the pack who visited it before.”

“What did they say?”

“They say there’s nothing odd about the place other than the fact it caters to those looking to add a little spice to their sex life. Apparently it’s a hybrid joint catering to humans and shifters. So be careful about exposing your feline side.”

“What, no showing of my claws? No getting down and furry on the dance floor?”

He shot her a look.
The look
. It didn’t work, and she didn’t need him telling her how to behave. “What else do we know?”

“Did you not study up on the place?” he asked.

She propped her feet on the dash, ignoring the fact that her short skirt slid up and that she probably flashed a trucker as they zipped past him. “Studying is for people like you. I’m just along as the muscle.” Best to get that out of the way now.

“The muscle needs to get her dirty feet off my dash.”

“You’re worried about my feet?”

“Move them.”

“If you insist.” She shifted sideways and plopped them into his lap. “Better?”

His lips tightened, possibly in pain. The heels might have jabbed a little harder than necessary at his rebuke.

“So, what else have you found out?” she asked when he didn’t say a word.

“I found out that you’re even more annoying in close quarters.”

That would have stung more if she’d not noted the bulge in his pants. And, yes, she’d looked.

Jeoff might want to dislike her, but a certain part of him felt differently, and that was the only part that really mattered in a guy. Except for his tongue…

“It’s a wonder you ever get laid with that kind of attitude,” she grumbled. “Unless…” She peered at him, not daring to think it, but she totally dared to say it. “Are you a virgin, wolfie? Is that why you’re so shy?”

The car swerved, a little closer to the curb than it should have.

“Me? A virgin?” The words sputtered with incredulity. “Not even close.”

“So you’re a slut?”

“How about we stick to the lead we’re following? Do you know anything at all about where we’re going tonight?”

Of course she did, but having him summarize it might have revealed things she missed. Since he insisted, she recited the facts. “Rainforest Menagerie opened just over a month ago. According to searches, it’s owned by one Gaston Charlemagne. No idea who he is. He didn’t approach the pride, and no one has gotten close enough to him to check if he’s human or not. We’ve done some background checks but come up empty-pawed. We show him emigrating here from France, but beyond that, he’s an enigma. Our overseas connections have nothing for us.”

“And he set up his business right in the heart of the city. On that basis alone, I would think, if he was one of us, then we’d know by now.”

Would they? Luna couldn’t help but think of the clever person eating asparagus to mask their scent and the guy they chased through the woods. A guy who moved faster on two feet than a human should, but who didn’t smell like a shifter.
However, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t some kind of shapeshifter.
Someone determined to hide who they were could do so, especially with the ease of getting scents online.

“What else did you find out about this place? The folks I spoke to confirmed it caters mostly to couples, but allows a certain ratio of single gals in. As to the clientele itself, there was human and shifter alike. Feline and Lycan mostly, but Barry said he spotted a bear with a human date when he went with his wife. Apparently, they flew in to party at the club.”

“People are traveling in just to check out this place?” Exactly what kind of
extras
did this club offer?

“In the short time the place has been open, it’s achieved quite the reputation.”

“And they let just any couple in?”

“I guess we’re going to find out because we’re here.”

The street outside the club was crowded, very crowded. Cars lined both sides of the street, meaning Jeoff had to park several blocks away, illegally she might add.

“Someone is going to tow your ass,” she said, pointing at the hydrant.

“No they won’t.” He flashed her a smile as he leaned toward her, close enough that his masculine scent swirled around in a heady mix. She could see herself reflected in his eyes as he reached between the seats to grab something.

Talk about giving a girl false hope.

He slapped an On Duty sign in the window.

“I need one of those.”

“Don’t you dare think of stealing mine,” he growled.

She grinned. “Would I do such a thing?”

“Yes.” How well he already knew her. Before he stepped out of the car, he said, “I assume you can handle a little walk.”

In these heels
? “I’ll make it.”

She never even made it to the sidewalk. Standing on the grate, more like stuck in it, her heel held prisoner by the metal, she wondered why she’d let those damned felines dress her like a girl.

Probably because I am a girl.

Hear her rowr!

However, she should have drawn the line at the shoes. Usually, the places she visited didn’t mind if she wore torn jeans, a T-shirt insulting a group of people, most often blondes like herself, and running shoes—or shit kickers if she thought she might have to give someone the boot.

But for tonight’s excursion, she’d wanted to look pretty…for Jeoff.

Cough. Gag. Gasp. The realization had her wheezing, enough that when Jeoff made it around the car, he put an arm around her. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Fine. Just fine except for the fact that she liked a stupid dog and wanted to impress him. The shame of it. “Just got my foot caught.”

“You just couldn’t wait for me to give you a hand.” Jeoff peered down at her dilemma and then back at her with a shake of his head.

“I am perfectly capable of opening a car door and getting out myself.”

“Apparently not.” His mocking gaze went to her foot. She yanked it free, took a step, and found both her heels wedged in the stupid grate.

Her low growl of annoyance made him chuckle. “This is your fault.”

“How do you figure that? I’m not the one wearing the most asinine footwear.”

“You parked here on purpose.”

“Yes, I did, so you would get stuck because that’s the kind of guy I am.”

The mocking didn’t help, but rather intensified the heat of her glare.

“Let me give you a hand.” He proffered it, but she, being a rather proud lioness, eschewed it. She would get free herself, thank you very much.

The first heel came free with relative ease. The second, not so much.

A yank of it caused a rather discernible cracking sound. The shoe came free, the heel did too, and it fell with a mocking splash somewhere below the grate.

Acting as nonchalant as possible—a cat trait that came in quite handy—she stepped onto the sidewalk with only a small, lopsided wobble. Would anyone notice?

Click
.
Clunk
.

“Give me your foot,” he ordered.

“No.”

“Give it.”

“Still no. I’m fine.”
Click
.
Thunk
. She took a pair of lurching steps.

“Stubborn. So fucking stubborn.” Said on a sigh.

In between one breath and the next, she found herself tossed over his shoulder, head down, ass up, fists clenched and pummeling.

“Put me down.”

“In a second. Hold still while I get these off and your other shoes on you.”

She stilled. “What other shoes?”

“The ones in my pockets. Someone slipped them in when I wasn’t looking back at the condo.”

“Let me see.”

“You’ll see them once they’re on your feet.”

Since he seemed determined, she let him swap her footwear. Anything was better than those damned heels. She should have told Melly to wear them.

The strappy sandals were removed and replaced with—she peeked at her feet in astonishment as he set her upright again. “Flip flops?” Fancy ones with rhinestones.

“Apparently your friends predicted we might have issues.”

That would be Reba. At least she’d chosen sandals that could pass as sexy eveningwear. They weren’t, however, meant for the mud on the sidewalk from an empty lot under construction. Before she could detour in the street, she found herself airborne again and carried princess style. The novelty proved entertaining. Usually, when she was getting forcibly removed, it was thrown over a shoulder by Leo or one of the other guys in the pride with her kicking and screaming invectives.

But Jeoff was treating her as if she were dainty.

Dainty! Thankfully, none of her crew lurked in the vicinity to point and laugh.

Since he seemed determined, she took advantage and nestled her nose against his neck for a sniff.

“What are you doing?” There was that hint of exasperation she loved to achieve.

“Smelling you.”

“For what?”

“Just in case you get lost.”

“Why would I get lost?”

“You’re a dog. It happens all the time. Or don’t you pay attention to the posters on the poles outside?”

“There are just as many feline ones, I’ll have you know.”

She nipped him. Hard.

We should scratch him too. Leave a mark.

“Ow, what was that for?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“Lions,” he grumbled instead of replying. Once they reached a clear section on the sidewalk, he didn’t immediately set her down.

She squirmed in his grip. “I can walk, you know.”

“I do know, but if I’m carrying you, then you are less likely to get in trouble.”

“I’ll have you know I do not get in trouble that often.”

“I heard about the brawl at the Lion’s Pride Steakhouse.”

“That bitch totally deserved the drink I poured on her head. She made the waitress, who happens to be my cousin three times removed, cry.” Nobody messed with Luna’s family.

“And the night you spent in police lockup for disturbing the peace?”

“You heard about that?” She smiled. “Not my fault we live in a repressed society. All Joan and I were trying to see was if that expression ‘nipples that could cut glass’ was real. It was chilly that day. And we were both sporting some awesome beamers. Stupid prudes called the cops. Indecent exposure my ass.”

As they got closer to the club, the distant thump of music vibrating in the air, he finally set her down. Linking her arm in Jeoff’s, they managed to look very couple-y as they strolled toward the club, just another dirty couple looking for action.

Located down in the warehouse district, two and three-story buildings, big and squat and dark, loomed. Most of them appeared closed this time of night, and if it weren’t for the club, it would probably be deserted. The predator in her noted the shadows and possibly spots for ambush. Awareness was the most important route to survival.

Since Jeoff didn’t seem inclined to talk, she did. “Place looked busy. I saw a line as we drove by.” She’d also noticed much sluttier outfits than hers.

“Afraid we won’t be one of the cool kids let in to the place?”

“Oh, they’ll let me in.”

Except the guy didn’t seem too inclined initially. He looked down at Luna, literally down from his like seven-foot height. Built like a mega beast, yet he didn’t smell like a shifter. His cologne—which closely resembled pine-fresh air freshener for the car—practically burned the nose, and this guy, one step above simians, thought he should prevent her entry.

“No I.D. No entry.” The big dude crossed his arms and sneered down at her.

Since when was I.D. a requirement to get into a club? Luna never brought any with her. Shifters tended not to in case they went for a run. Only an idiot left their personal effects lying around for someone to steal.

Jeoff came to her rescue. “I assure you, she’s over the age of majority.”

“Usually, I might take offense at someone calling me old, but this one time, I’m gonna allow it,” she muttered. He could thank her for the magnanimity later.

“Maybe she is. But maybe she isn’t,” rumbled the bouncer. “I’ve seen sixteen-year-olds who look older than her. Sorry. No go.”

Since Jeoff seemed determined to argue with the guy some more—because that was soooooo working—Luna bypassed him and resorted to her usual
modus
operandi
.

Snaring the big bouncer’s shirt in two fists, she gave it a tough yank, drew him down to her level, and kept him there.

“Listen up, big boy.” She whispered the words, spoken softly, gently, but she knew the expression in her eyes was anything but. “You are going to stop pissing me off right now and let me in this club. You want to let me in this club. Because, if you don’t, I got a crew of kitties capable of treating you to a hissy fit that will leave permanent marks on your back and ruin you for all other women.”

“How are you so strong?” he asked.

She tugged him closer. “You don’t want to know.”

“She’s right, you don’t,” Jeoff added. “Trust me on that.”

“Now, are you going to stop pissing me off and let me in?” she asked.

Eyes wide, the bouncer nodded. It could have had to do with the pinprick of her claws. Or the wad of cash Jeoff slipped the guy.

“Thanks, bud.” Jeoff kept his hand firmly in the middle of her back and pushed her toward the doors.

“I had that under control.”

“You can’t threaten everyone we need to talk to.”

“I wasn’t threatening. Just making a promise.”

“From now on, let me handle the talking.”

“I can see what kind of relationship this is going to be,” she grumbled.

“A short-lived one if you don’t behave. I don’t suppose there is any point in telling you to behave.”

“Depends, will you spank me if I don’t?”

“Would it matter?”

She blinked at him. “Of course it would. If you promise to paddle my ass if I’m bad, then I will do my damnedest to misbehave. But I’m beginning to think you’re all talk, no action.”