Logan's Acadian Wolves

Chapter Eight

As Wynter flew into Logan’s home like a bat out of hell, it occurred to her that she had no idea where she was going. She’d been so angry, jealous if she admitted it, she had to get away from Logan and his touchy feely woman. With his kiss still seared on her lips and adrenaline pumping, she finally came to a halt when she reached the foyer. She placed her fingers to her forehead and took a deep breath, trying to understand what had just happened. Why did she feel that after one kiss with Logan she now wanted to rip the face off of that strange woman as if she were a rabid animal? Where was she even going?

Glancing at her surroundings, she was stunned at the understated elegance of Logan’s home. Wynter noted that someone had taken great care to restore the meticulously kept rooms. Ornate crown molding covered every facet of the ceilings. The cream-colored paint complemented the taupe walls and cherry hardwood floors. A round marble table held a large vase of Asiatic lilies mixed with large pussy willow branches. The enticing scent of the flowers permeated the air. As she caught a glimpse of the living room, she admired the intricately patterned oriental carpets and period piece antique seating. It was a far contrast to the contemporary great room into which she’d first entered the house.

Her eyes swept up the magnificent curved mahogany staircase, and it occurred to her that Logan’s bedroom was upstairs. Even though she’d never forget the way Logan had held her that night, and of course the awkward exchange she’d had with Dimitri, she’d hardly taken the time to look at where she’d been. Unable to recollect the décor, she wondered if she’d ever see his room again. After her aggressive exhibition in the courtyard, she wasn’t sure what he’d do next.

Wynter’s face heated, recollecting their intimate tryst in the pool. She’d felt animalistic, unable to get enough of him. As he walked away and touched that strange woman, she was angry. But it had felt more than that. It felt as if she needed to stake her claim, let the others know he was hers. She’d never been the jealous type but then again, she’d never met a man like Logan. It was silly, she knew. In no universe was he hers nor did she belong to him. She reasoned it must be the changes to her body’s chemistry. If the change to her cellular structure could intensify her senses, it was entirely reasonable that her emotions were heightened as well.

Fiona’s voice pulled her from her deep contemplation, bringing her back to the fact that she’d been standing immobile, like a statue, in the vestibule.

“Wynter, hold on,” Fiona told her, somewhat amused at her behavior. She placed a comforting hand on Wynter’s shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” she assured the young woman.

“Well, I’ve got to say that I’ve never seen anything so hot. I mean, damn, girl. Possessive much?” she laughed.

“I don’t know what you mean. I just…I guess I’m not exactly myself yet,” Wynter admitted sheepishly, embarrassed about her behavior in the courtyard.

“Well, Luci won’t be crossing your path anytime soon, I can tell you that. Come on, now.” Fiona started up the staircase. “Nice place, huh?”

Yes it was. She wondered how Fiona knew Logan’s mansion so well. Another one of his women, she supposed. Resigned that she still needed Logan’s protection, Wynter obediently followed Fiona.

“Yes, it’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Wynter replied. She could literally feel the history oozing from the walls and wondered who’d lived in the home over the years and how old it was.

“He’s been renovating it for a long time. But since he became Alpha, he sped up the work.”

Fiona opened a heavy wooden door. “Here we go. You’re here in the ‘Rose Room’. Logan’s down the hall just in case you get lonely.” She winked. “This is his favorite guest room, you know. I think it says, ‘feminine but rich’.”

Wynter marveled at the rose-colored walls trimmed in metallic gold crown molding. A day bed with curled gold framing topped with cream-colored pillows took center stage. A lovely cream coverlet adorned with pink and red roses brought life to the piece. A dainty crystal chandelier dangled above.

“It’s something, isn’t it?” Fiona asked, opening large closet doors. “So, here we go. While you guys were out, I stocked the dresser and closet here with a few clothes. Dimitri said the clothes this morning fit so I bought more things…shoes, all that good stuff.”

“You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble. I won’t be here long,” Wynter insisted, fully anticipating that she’d be leaving soon.

“Logan wants you to be comfortable, and besides, you are going out tonight,” she reminded her.

Wynter bit her lip, now mortified by what she’d said at the pool. Hoping she’d spend the remainder of her time alone, waiting for Jax, she’d forgotten that Logan said they were going to meet someone later.

“Yes, I suppose I am.” Wynter turned toward Fiona who was getting ready to leave.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine,” Fiona stated confidently.

“Hey, I just want to thank you for everything. I know I was really sick last night. You guys helped me, and I know you didn’t have to. Thank you.”

Wynter didn’t even know these people and they were helping her. True, she’d been trying desperately to help their race, but they had no idea what she’d done or who she was. Still, they’d been treating her with respect and kindness despite the fact she’d been less than candid. But instead of throwing her back on the street, they’d fed her, clothed her, saw to her medical needs.

Fiona smiled. “Really, it’s no problem. We all need help now and then.” She turned to walk away and then hesitated. “By the way, not sure if Logan got a chance to tell you, but my sister Dana, the doc who saw you last night, she got stuck at the hospital today. I know she ran some tests, but before you ask, I don’t know anything. She’ll probably be over in the morning or call later tonight.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate it. People…they just don’t…they just don’t do these things,” she said as if she were deep in thought.

As Fiona waved goodbye, Wynter considered what Jax had done for her. Saved her from a life of foster care. He could have turned his back on her at any time, but never did. Maybe it was wolves and their undying loyalty? Her parents had been loyal to him, and he’d, in turn, been loyal to them by taking her in, protecting her.

She wanted so badly to tell Logan everything she knew, but it was Jax who deserved her allegiance. When she talked to him on the phone, Jax had barely made mention of her work. He only wanted to know if she’d been all right and that Logan was treating her well. If he’d asked about what had happened over the past two months, she’d have told him everything, despite the fact Logan was listening. She supposed doing so would have been fair game. But to tell Logan, to disclose everything she and Jax had worked for without his permission, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. Lust or not, Logan was most likely a temporary distraction in her otherwise boring life.

Despite all of her exceedingly rational thoughts, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. After watching the way he’d touched Goth Chick, hugging her, allowing her to continue to touch him, right after he’d been so incredibly intimate with her, it cut her in two. She couldn’t make sense out of her feelings, because never in her life had she felt such an intense attraction to a man. Even if she were able to comprehend the biological ramifications of her changes, she couldn’t deny a loss of control when it came to how she felt about the Alpha. It appeared as though the tendrils of their incipient connection were evolving in tandem, weaving and strengthening with each second they spent together. And for Wynter, the experience threw her solely into unchartered waters.

After a long shower, Wynter steadied her emotions, committed to getting through the evening with Logan without incident. But as she descended the staircase, butterflies began to dance in her belly, as she nervously anticipated Logan’s reaction to her earlier behavior. Alphas could be unpredictable, and she wasn’t certain how he’d address her interruption of his conversation with Goth Chick. It was bad enough that she’d been aggressive, obstructing his view of a pack member. But it was the kiss she’d planted on him that had her really worried. It had been a possessive, ‘get your hands the fuck away from my man’ kiss. She knew her intention wouldn’t be lost on Logan and fully expected he’d call her out on what she’d done.

Her emerging wolf clawed at her mind, and she wasn’t sure she wanted the message to be lost on him. No, clearly her wolf was staking some kind of a claim. Unfortunately, the human, and logical part of her, seemed to be taking a vacation. Torn between holding on to the threads of her humanity or letting go altogether, giving into her untamed cravings, she couldn’t decide if what she’d done was wrong or just a natural part of who she was becoming.

So when Wynter reached the landing of the stairs, she deliberately kept her eyes low in submission. She stole a fleeting glance at Logan, who looked fabulously handsome and with his usual air of danger. His wet hair was neatly combed, and he smelled deliciously spicy and masculine. He was casually dressed in a crisp white dress shirt with rolled up sleeves, and dark dress slacks. She swore her panties grew wet within seconds of being in his presence. It was ridiculous, she knew. Like a teenage girl with a crush on the quarterback, she tried desperately to hide her arousal. But no matter how hard she attempted to shove the carnal thoughts into the deep recesses of her brain, she couldn’t seem to control the visceral reaction to the man.

Logan watched intently as Wynter carefully but gracefully navigated the steps. Altogether stunning, Wynter wore a little black dress that tightly hugged her curves. Off-shoulder sleeves accentuated her newly tanned arms, and formed a perfect v into the valley between her breasts, revealing the swell of her cleavage. Resplendent and sexy, she blushed upon his gaze. Her pack experience became apparent as his submissive little wolf looked away. Logan smiled; she simply had no idea how beautiful she really was.

Logan had thought about Wynter’s kiss all evening. Even though he intended to play it off, refusing to bring it up at dinner, he had so not forgotten. In a display of dominance, Wynter had shown her alpha tendencies. The way she’d pushed Luci out of the way, then given him that branding kiss; it had amazed him and frightened him all at once. On the one hand, he’d enjoyed the hell out of her choosing him, and he desired her intensely. On the other, he wasn’t looking for a mate and didn’t want to hurt her. But hell, the way she’d responded to his touch in the pool was positively remarkable.

During dinner, Logan soon found himself enchanted by Wynter’s witty humor and intelligence. It was clear to him that she’d been well schooled even though she avoided talking about her career. He knew it was all directly connected to her secrets, the reason why she’d been in New Orleans. But the light conversation allowed him to get to know Wynter better, without her worrying about his expectations.

A look here and there, flirting and blushing, stirred his attraction to her. Although the sexual tension between them hung like a tight electrical wire in a storm just waiting to explode, he’d decided not to snap it during their meal. A glance every now and then to Dimitri told him that his beta was fully aware of their growing connection. The easy banter between him, her and Dimitri flowed naturally, feeling comfortable and easy. He wondered if he’d ever be able to share her like they’d done with other women, seriously doubting it.

Surprised by the easiness of their discussion and the non-mention of the incident by the pool, Wynter relaxed, getting to better know both Logan and Dimitri. Like Logan, his beta radiated a lethal sexiness that appeared to attract women like bees to honey. From the hostess to the waitress, women shamelessly flirted with both men. Controlling her jealousy wasn’t as easy as she hoped but Wynter managed to keep it together. While “Kitty”, the server, fawned over Logan, Wynter silently recited the periodic table. Gotta love science. It did help a little to take her mind off the very uncharacteristic need to throttle the waitress.

After the spectacular dinner with Logan and Dimitri, Wynter relaxed, forgetting where they were headed. However, upon their arrival at the vampire club, her heart raced as she exited the car. Even though both Logan and Dimitri reassured her that she’d be safe with them, seeds of doubt floated. What if one of her former guards frequented this place? What if Kade didn’t believe her? What if it was a trap? Trust me, he’d told her. She wanted so badly to listen to the cocksure Alpha’s words of assurance. Aware that she had no choice in the matter, Wynter wrapped her hand tightly around Logan’s arm, holding her breath as the doors opened.

By the time they got to Mordez, Logan’s cock was once again painfully hard. He silently cursed as he thought of a half dozen ways he’d like to pleasure the devilishly sweet woman whose bare legs brushed against his own the whole damn way from the restaurant to the club. As she reached for his arm and gave a nervous laugh, he reasoned she had no idea what she was even doing to him.

Collecting his thoughts, he focused on the task at hand. By the end of the evening, he hoped to have the situation with the vampires sewn up neatly, although he knew from experience, things rarely went that easy. Putting on his game face, he swung a protective arm around Wynter and nodded to Dimitri. Time to roll.

The door to Mordez swung open, and Logan guided Wynter into the dark haven. An older gentleman dressed in a tuxedo immediately rushed over to them.

“Mister Reynaud, please come in. We’re so honored to have you visit us tonight,” he gushed.

Logan acknowledged him with a curt nod, keeping Wynter safely tucked against his side. Dimitri rounded up to her other side so she was effectively surrounded by the two large wolves.

“Will you be taking a seat in the theater, this evening? Charlotte is just about to take the stage. Or if you’d rather, the Cleretti room has recently imported the most wonderful, very rare Italian Barolo. You must try it. As for the other rooms,” he coughed and glanced to Wynter, sniffing the air. He gave Logan a knowing look before continuing, “Our private room. Their shows start much later. While I’d be happy to reserve your seating, considering your company, may I suggest that it may not be appropriate….for your guest.”

Wynter shivered; a chill settled over her skin as the man spoke to Logan as if she weren’t there. The way he looked at her, albeit for only a second, made her queasy. Vampires. Wynter remembered all too well the hungry look in their eyes and the flare of their nostrils right before the pain came. She cringed. He looked as though he was sizing her up like a glass of the wine he’d just mentioned.

“The theater is fine for now. We are meeting Kade Issacson later this evening. We’re a bit early, though,” Logan explained with not so much as a blink of an eye. “Please ensure our privacy.”

“Yes sir. Your needs are our utmost priority,” he assured the Alpha. Stealing a glance at Wynter, he licked his lips but quickly turned away. “Please, this way.”

Wynter noted the darkened lobby and thought that if they were looking to scare people from entering, keeping it exclusive, they certainly did a good job with that. The flare of candles provided little illumination onto the stone encased foyer. A soft lull of Dixieland jazz poured into the small space and she detected the faint smell of mold. She supposed the club owners were going for a quaint antique décor, congruent with the city’s history. However, in her opinion, the vibe was nothing short of creepy. She looked to the older maître d’ who’d been speaking to Logan, and caught a glimpse of his pointed canines. He winked at her right before he pushed a black curtain aside. Clutching at Logan a bit tighter, she bravely stood her ground.

Both Logan and Dimitri appeared taller to her, their attitude cold and deadly. Their lips were drawn tight in serious expressions that projected dominance. Far removed from her easygoing dinner date, a dangerous creature had replaced Logan. As a wolf, this was his true nature. Wynter took note of Logan’s demeanor, promising never to forget exactly what and who he was.

Emerging from the claustrophobic passageway, Wynter was amazed at the luxurious room in which they’d arrived. Reminiscent of a nineteen-forties tiered dinner theater, the area looked capable of holding at least fifty patrons, all comfortably seated in rows of clam-shelled, semicircular booths classically upholstered in red crushed velvet. The light from the small votive candles on the tables reflected off the blackened plaster walls. The darkened stage eerily sat empty awaiting its starlet.

As Wynter slid onto the seat, she breathed in relief as Logan and Dimitri flanked her. They towered over her small frame, and she felt safe nestled between them. Utterly fascinated that a place like this existed, her eyes roamed overhead to the massive crystal chandelier that precariously hung from the oval ceiling. The booths were arranged on a curve so that every person had a good view of the stage. Wynter glanced over to the patrons seated nearest to them who were laughing and drinking. In their element, they looked almost human until she caught a glint of a fang.

Logan must have discerned her discomfort, because he placed his hand on her thigh and gently squeezed. She looked up to him, noticing that his face had softened. God, this man was killing her inside. Protective and deadly to loving in sixty seconds, every facet of him intrigued her, making her want him even more.

“You okay, Wynter?” Logan asked softly.

“Um, yeah, thanks,” she uttered not realizing she’d been holding her breath. As she spoke, her gaze traveled to a pair of lovers. While she couldn’t see faces, she could clearly see the tracks of blood running down the woman’s backless dress.

“You’re shaking. Look at me,” Logan instructed, watching how she naturally complied. “You’re safe. You are not in a lab. I promise you, nothing will happen to you here that you don’t want to happen.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she replied indignantly. Was he implying she wanted to be bitten?

“Look around you, sweetheart. This place is a dark playground where people live out their fantasies. This one just happens to be run by the vamps. But wolves have them too. We come to watch and be seen, to play and be played with. The vamps, they come for the blood. And the shifters, witches and humans all come for different reasons. Some want a walk on the wild side, some want to be bitten, some want sex. Places like this serve a need,” Logan told her matter-of-factly. “In Philadelphia, Tristan runs an upscale club. Similar to this one. I’d say his is more urban in nature, but its function is nearly the same.”

“You come to these places often?” Please say no. Please say no. She couldn’t believe what he was telling her. Why would he purposely hang out with vampires?

“I used to help run one in Philadelphia, but here, this is too dark for my tastes.” Logan briefly stopped talking when a waitress came to their table. Without saying a word, she efficiently poured glasses of champagne. Setting the bottle in an ice bucket, she quickly scampered away. Logan handed Wynter her glass and continued. “As I was saying, this club can be quite dangerous if you don’t know what you are getting into. Of course like Tristan’s club, I expect there’s tight security. That being said, it doesn’t mean that people don’t get hurt.”

Logan didn’t want to scare his little wolf. He simply wished to provide her with knowledge of what existed in his world. Neither evil nor good, the city could be utilized for both, depending on one’s intentions. The veil separating the planes of supernaturals and humans was extraordinarily thin in the Big Easy. It was easy to get in trouble if one didn’t know what they were doing. Deciding to shift the focus, he changed topics. He knew of one subject that would definitely take her mind off vampires.

“So, Wynter, care to explain what happened at the pool today?” He glanced over to Dimitri who gave a small grin, and then back at her.

Wynter nearly choked on her champagne. What the hell? Where did that come from? Had he been waiting all night to take her off guard? Logan was entirely too confident. Two could play at that game, she thought. Forgetting the ‘no game’ rule he’d insisted on, she dived right into her answer, which answered his question with a question.

“Whatever do you mean, Alpha?” She batted her eyelashes at him then smiled at Dimitri.

“Come now, you seemed quite bothered with me, running hot and well, hotter. And that kiss…by the side of the pool…in front of everyone. Hmm?”

“Oh, do you mean the kiss you gave me in the pool? That one? I do believe everyone saw that one. Or was it the kiss you gave the other woman who came to the pool? You know, the one you gave her while still exhibiting the,” she paused, pretending to give it great thought and then pinned him with a stare. “How should I say it? The one you gave her, wearing the tented towel that I gave you?”

More champagne please…now. Wynter swore her blood pressure rose twenty points just thinking of the incident. A few hours ago she’d told herself to play it cool, but her plan didn’t seem to be working out the way she’d imagined it.

Dimitri laughed out loud at her response. His Alpha was going to have his hands full, all right.

Logan smiled. He supposed he should have thought better of kissing Luci with an erection the size of Mount Everest. But in truth, it’d just been a peck hello on the cheek.

“Is my little wolf jealous? You seemed quite, how should I say it? Angry with me,” he mused, taking a sip of his drink.

“Nothing to be jealous of. This…this thing between us,” she flushed with embarrassment, “it’s just…it’s just a chemical reaction brought on by whatever they gave me….what they’ve turned me into.”

“A wolf. You can say it.”

“Fine. Yes, it’s that wolf thing. I’m sure it’ll pass. Besides, I have no claims to you.” She looked away and stared into her bubbling glass.

“Agreed. You don’t have a claim on me. We’ve just met, after all. Besides, you haven’t even shifted yet,” he goaded in an effort to test her reaction to his agreement that he wasn’t hers. A surge of delight touched his heart as her eyes flashed in anger. Perhaps she didn’t believe her own words? She really didn’t like it when he repeated them.

“And you have no claims to me either,” she quipped, quickly recovering. “I don’t belong to you.”

Why that hurt, he couldn’t say. It was the irrefutable truth. And that was the crux of his problem. Part of him wanted her, not just in bed, but wanted her to belong to him and with his pack.

“So you honestly believe everything that happened today at the pool was just a side effect of your transition to wolf? Hormones? Is that what you’re saying?” he pressed.

“Who was she anyway?” Wynter completely ignored his question. She had to know if there was someone else in his life. “The girl at the pool? Is she your girlfriend?”

“Luci?”

“Yes. You know, the woman rubbing all over you, drooling like a St. Bernard in heat.” Oh great, she’d just reduced herself to name calling. Whatever. She had one foot in; she might as well jump in all the way.

Logan laughed. Boy, she really was jealous. And why did he seem to enjoy that so much?

“Luci. She was Marcel’s girlfriend,” he explained, trying to choose his words carefully. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t like the rest of the explanation. “I allowed her to live with me in Marcel’s bayou mansion. You know, while I was busy establishing my role.”

Wynter deliberately closed and opened her eyes, taking time to process what he’d just said. He did not just say what I think he said.

“So you are living with her?” Just perfect. I really am an idiot.

“No, I said she was living with me…as in past tense. And it was only because she already lived in the mansion, and I didn’t want to kick her to the curb.”

“A humanitarian? Bet it was difficult,” she drawled.

“Well with Kat there, I…”

“Who is Kat?” This just kept getting better.

“She’s Tristan’s sister. But it wasn’t like…” He wanted to say that it wasn’t anything close to what he’d felt for her, but bit his tongue. “It wasn’t like you think, Wynter.” Logan’s eyes saddened and his voice wavered slightly as the emotions of Marcel’s death unexpectedly rushed over him. It had only been a couple of months and it was still hard to comprehend that he was dead.

“Marcel. He was my friend, my mentor. And my Alpha at one time. A few months ago, he was killed. It was difficult for everyone, but Katrina and I…we were just trying to get by. I promised him.”

“Promised him what?”

“I’d take over for him.” Logan emptied what was left in his glass and set it down. This was not at all what he planned on discussing with Wynter tonight. This conversation was finished.

Wynter saw the sadness in Logan’s eyes and recognized his pain all too well. The loss of someone you loved could never be erased or undone. True, the pain would lessen as time went on, but when you lost someone so close to you, a part of your heart and mind would never be the same. She gleaned that he hadn’t been Alpha for very long and wondered how he was coping. As a human spending much of her time observing Jax, she would never have known that Logan had just taken over his pack. He seemed such a natural leader. Yet, whatever he’d been doing over the past couple of months must’ve taken a great emotional and physical toll on him.

Even though there was a part of her that hated that he’d slept with other women, the rational part of her brain finally won out the battle. She swore it was that damn wolf making her so jealous. Of course, he had other women and in the moment, she didn’t care. She only wanted to take away his hurt, ease his suffering. Wynter reached to him, lovingly placing her hand on his cheek and looked deep into his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry for your loss. I know…I know how it feels. I promise it’ll get better someday.”

With her words, she wanted to break down and cry, opening up to him about her own parents, everything that had happened with Jax. She’d been so scared and lonely, lost to the world. But she couldn’t tell him. It would lead to other questions; ones she wasn’t ready to answer.

Logan wrapped his hands around her wrist, holding her hand to his face. His eyes locked on hers in a heated stare. Whatever anger she’d held about Luci and Kat had melted away. This woman, a virtual stranger, genuinely cared that he was hurting over Marcel’s death. Kindred souls, they both had experienced great loss at death’s hand. His heart constricted. He wished they could forget this Kade business and just go home and be alone. Logan’s eyes fell; he glanced at her soft, inviting lips. Why did he want this woman so badly?

Their connection was broken as a spotlight flooded the stage and a lilt of music filled the room. Wynter glanced up to the stage, and tried to pull her hand away, but he guided her palm onto his thigh. Logan didn’t want what they’d just shared to end. As if she grounded him, the physical touch of her palm, however slight, stoked the fire within his heart.

Wynter considered how precariously close to danger she was. While she’d initially been worried about the vampires, Logan changed the subject and now all she could think about was him and her own feelings that were spiraling out of control. She prayed that it really was just chemistry. Deep down, though, she suspected her feelings were real, and it scared the living daylights out of her.

Wynter’s thoughts were interrupted as the big band music boomed from surround sound speakers. A high-heeled burlesque dancer seductively pranced onto the stage. Quite beautiful, with voluptuous curves, the brunette slowly slipped one leg to the side then rolled her wrists; her graceful hands flowed like ribbons into the limelight. Flicking open her red ostrich feather fan, she concealed her body, with a wink. Sweeping it up and around, she continued to tease the audience by caressing the plumage up and over her body.

Playing and tantalizing, she flirted while skillfully removing her gloves, one by one. A man whistled as she threw them to patrons in the front row. Turning her back to the audience, she deftly removed her bra, never revealing her breasts. She swung the garment round and round, then flung it across the room. Though the feathers artfully brushed over her creamy pale skin, revealing little, her erotic display captivated the crowd. The dancer bent over, shaking her behind, and encouraged the audience’s catcalls.

Her mesmerizing hips rocked side to side, sexy and slow. As anticipation grew in expectation of the big reveal, Wynter glanced up to both Logan and Dimitri, who, astonishingly, weren’t watching the show. Rather, both men were intently watching her, and she blushed. Giving them both a small smile, she drew her attention back to the stage just in time to see the woman raise the fan clear over her head. Striking a pose, she proudly displayed her red sparkling pasties and perfectly matching panties for everyone to admire. The audience clapped wildly in appreciation, while she curtsied.

Wynter had never seen a woman strip before but found the experience both arousing and erotic. The artistic dancing seemed to have the same effect on the crowd as she noticed several couples begin to intimately touch and kiss in response. As the dancer pranced off stage, Wynter felt a tug on her wrist.

“Did you enjoy the show?” Logan inquired with a grin. Judging by her heartbeat, he knew she did.

“Yes. I’ve never been to a burlesque show before. She was amazing.” Wynter caught both Dimitri and Logan raising their eyebrows at each other. “What? Can’t I admire art?”

“I just find it interesting that you spent all that time around a pack and weren’t exposed to any nudity,” Logan commented. He couldn’t understand why Jax would keep her so secluded from his wolves.

“She didn’t seem to have a problem with it this afternoon,” Dimitri joked.

Wynter’s cheeks heated and Logan laughed.

“No, my friend, she didn’t. And I must say that I very much like her that way.”

Wynter was about to protest and tell them both that it hadn’t been her idea to strip in the pool, when the maître d’ from earlier rushed over to Logan. He efficiently ushered their party out of the theater and into a different area of the club. Within minutes, they were seated. Their small circular table barely held enough room for their glasses but provided them with an excellent view of the room, including the bar and adjoining dance floor.

Scattered tables filled the lounge, leaving only a small area around the bar stools for standing room. Checkered stone floors and blackened walls adorned with gas lit lanterns reminded her yet again of the club’s dark nature. A long copper bar ran the length of a wall where men and woman waited for drinks. Several glass tubes filled with a dark red substance ran from the ceiling down into taps. Wine? Blood? She couldn’t tell without getting closer and there was no way in hell that was happening.

Sitting between Logan and Dimitri, she felt secure, but curious. “What’s with the tubes?” she whispered. “Please tell me it’s wine.”

Logan lowered his voice. “Blood. They serve it many ways. Live donors are usually preferred by the vamps, but this room is more of a waiting room so to speak. When donors are ready, they can go to private rooms. The disco also has semi-private areas. Feeding occurs everywhere here…even in public.”

Wynter’s eyes widened and her mouth tightened in surprise, and Dimitri jumped in to explain further.

“The people who come to these clubs…they enjoy it,” he told her.

“Enjoy being bitten? Here?” She’d heard it was true but had never really discussed it with anyone who could verify the rumors.

“It’s not like I’m into it, but hey, I don’t judge. Everybody’s looking for something. Humans, wolves, witches, vampires, they’re all here for a little kink. Public feeding. Public sex even. You’ve got voyeurs and exhibitionists and everyone in between,” Logan added. “I’m surprised you didn’t ever go to a club like this in New York. I mean, there’s no doubt this place is a little heavier than most clubs, but that’s only because the vampires run it.”

“Yeah, they don’t mind pushing the envelope of what’s unacceptable, which isn’t much. It’s kind of a free-for-all,” Dimitri pointed out. “I’m actually surprised Kade would come here. I didn’t think he was into all this, but what do I know?”

“I guess I was sheltered. But Jax, he’d never go somewhere like this.” Sure, she’d been sequestered from the nudity but never did she imagine that these clubs could be commonplace in Jax’s life or anyone else in his pack for that matter.

“Trust me, Wyn. Even the almighty Jax Chandler has been in a club like this. He’s the New York Alpha. He may not like to be bitten, but then again, you never know,” Logan sniffed. “But the sex? To see and be seen. Oh, he goes. And if you think he doesn’t…well then maybe you don’t know him as well as you think you do.”

Logan considered her reactions and comments about the club, and it occurred to him that even though she was an adult, she hadn’t been exposed to the supernatural culture at all. A whisper of innocence laced her words, and he couldn’t help but want to be the one to help her learn.

“Just because I live with Jax, that doesn’t mean he tells me everything.” Wynter played with her hands, reflecting on her ignorance. She knew she’d been kept in the dark. Her parents had insisted on it, and when they died, Jax continued the ruse. She felt like an idiot, living with an Alpha, yet inexperienced with the way of wolves. “He’s a wolf. I’m just a human. We’re both busy.”

“What do you mean, just a human?” Logan asked. It was going to be interesting when his little wolf shifted. It would finally be real to her.

Wynter was about to attempt to come up with a witty comeback to his question, but noticed both Logan and Dimitri go on alert, both putting their hands possessively on her thighs. As much as she wanted to reflect on how she felt about having two men touch her at once, and oddly, she really did, she was more curious about the spectacle across the room that had captivated the men’s interest. She squinted, attempting to see in the dimly lit room and wished whatever supernatural wolf powers she might be getting would apply to her eyes. It wasn’t too long before she saw a sight that very much held her attention.

A woman with long flowing black hair writhed on top of a man’s lap. His face was altogether buried in the woman’s neck and as she moved up and down, it became apparent that they were having sex. Her long flowing skirt covered any evidence of their coupling, but the telltale movement of her hips on his provided little question as to what they were doing. Surprisingly aroused by the sight, Wynter watched intently as the man and woman grunted in ecstasy. Blood ran down the woman’s neck, and the man slowly lifted his head. Wynter gasped as the vampire’s eyes snapped open and locked on hers.