The Dark Horse was pumping. It was almost unbelievable that it was the same establishment they’d frequented just last week. Natasha had to wiggle her way to the bar. She would be perfectly safe in amongst this crowd. Anyway, she didn’t plan on staying long. She was disappointed that Titan hadn’t come out with her. That was the plan really, to go out with him. Have a bit of fun ‒ together.

She looked around the place. Was it just her imagination or were there a ton of women there tonight? They were dressed to the nines. High heels, tiny dresses and even tinier skirts. The cleavage being flashed around the room was obscene. It looked like The Dark Horse was the place to be on a Saturday night. Then again, if she really looked, there were quite a few gorgeous guys as well. There were quite a few big guys, built guys, they had bronzed skin and rugged good looks. Maybe a bunch of farm boys out on the prowl. They sure looked like they did physical labor day in and day out to account for those physiques. It was that or a bunch of MMA fighters or WWE wrestlers were having a convention … In Sweetwater? Not likely.

Simon’s eyes lit up as he caught sight of her. “Special Agent …”

“I’m off duty. Give a girl a break.” She looked around, pretending to check if anyone heard him. “Call me Natasha.”

“Good to see you again, Natasha,” Simon had to shout to be heard above the noise.

“You too. Is it always this packed at the weekend?”

“It’s Saturday,” he said by way of explanation.

“Oh, I see.” Weren’t Fridays normally the busiest day of the week? She wasn’t sure on account of not getting out much.

“What can I get you?” He wiped the bar with a dish cloth.

“I’ll have a martini, three olives please.” She smiled.

Simon winked. “Coming right up.” A couple of minutes later, he placed the drink in front of her. “Say, are you here alone?”

She nodded, pulling a twenty out of her purse. “Yeah, I’m in town on business, so there was no one who was able to join me. I don’t have any friends in town.” Which was true. Titan was so not her friend. He was her boss. Why was she even thinking of him? Mister Grumpy-guts.

Simon nodded. “You’ve come to the right place,” he grinned. “The Dark Horse is the pick-up hot spot in Sweetwater.”

Oops! She’d made a big mistake coming here then. Despite teasing Titan, she was not looking to hook up with anyone. It was the last thing on her mind. If she was going to hook up with anyone, and she didn’t want to, but, if she did, Titan would be her first choice. But, yeah, since he was a vampire, her boss and a sorry case, she couldn’t go down that road. No! No hook-ups for her.

As if on cue, one of those hunky, rough-around-the-edges farm boys sidled up to her. He looked really young, just old enough to be shaving but not old enough for her. Again, not that she was looking or anything because she wasn’t. Things were complicated enough for her at the moment.

Titan.

Why was she thinking of him? Again? Still? Why? Maybe because it was clear that they were both attracted to one another. There was enough electricity between them to power a small village. More than one small village. She’d never been this horny in her whole entire life, yet looking at this really cute guy left her cold. What was wrong with her?

“I’ll get that.” The cute guy looked down at her drink, then he moved into her personal space. She had to crane her head to maintain eye contact. Heck, here was a human who was almost as tall as Titan. This was the part where her lady bits began to tingle or butterflies began to flutter.

She held her breath … Nothing! Not a damned thing. “I can pay for my own drink, thank you.” She turned so that her belly was against the bar counter and handed Simon the twenty.

“I like a female who can take care of herself.” His voice was also deep and raspy. It didn’t cause shivers to race up her spine like a certain vampire’s voice did though.

Then she thought about what the guy had said. What was it with guys calling women females lately? At least Titan had an excuse. He was a vampire. What was this guy’s excuse? She rolled her eyes and Simon laughed. Then she took a big sip of her martini and decided that life wasn’t so bad after all. That maybe it was even good. That maybe everything would work out in the end. She took another sip and sighed. She needed to get rid of the cute guy though, so that she could have her much-needed martini in peace.

“I’m Dane,” he finally blurted. Farm Boy held out his hand towards her.

Natasha sighed, she twisted her body ever so slightly towards him and gave a tiny nod, shaking the guy’s hand with her free hand. There was no way in hell she was putting down her drink. Not for love or money. “I’m Natasha, I’m not here to hook up,” for lack of a better word, “or anything. I’m here to unwind and have a drink.” She held up her martini.

The guy smiled and out popped a couple of dimples. “That’s perfectly fine.” He held up both hands. Really big hands. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to try to change your mind about that.” So sweet and carefree. He looked kind and honest. He didn’t look like he had a stitch of baggage. There were zero worry lines on his face. His eyes were bright and shone with happy abandon. There was no pain and darkness haunting their depths. He didn’t interest her one little bit.

She smiled at the poor guy. “You would be wasting your time.”

He shrugged his really broad shoulders. “It’s my time to waste.” Dane’s gaze dropped to her mouth and then lower. “I wouldn’t consider even a half a second in your company as wasted.”

Smooth. She wasn’t impressed and the fact that his eyes remained glued to her chest impressed her even less. She knew that Titan was attracted to her but he didn’t give her lingering looks. Heated? Sure. But, did he all out undress her with his eyeballs? Never. He was too respectful. Too … nice. Calling Titan nice was laughable and yet, he was nice. He was fundamentally good. She just wished he could see himself in the same light. She wished he would open up to her. Tell her all of those deep, dark secrets. Unburden himself … And then what? Shit! She really shouldn’t go there. Unfortunately, she didn’t think she would be able to help herself.

Natasha smiled at the poor guy. It wouldn’t look flirty or hot and heavy. He would probably be able to read pity and maybe a touch of fatigue. “You really are wasting your time,” she tried one last time. The plan was to find a quiet spot somewhere at the back, to drink her martini in peace, and then she could go back to the apartment. Hopefully Titan would be asleep by the time she got back.

The guy certainly didn’t give up easily. He hooked his thumbs in his jeans, giving her a look that most women would find adorable. “I really am patient and—”

“You heard the female, dog.” A low rasp she would recognize anywhere. Bring out a good dose of shivers; they raced up her spine. The sound took the air from her lungs and had adrenaline coursing through her veins. It caused butterflies to go wild inside her belly.

Natasha turned around, holding tightly to her glass. Titan looked pissed off. His muscles were bunched and his hands were locked into fists at his side. Those beautiful pale blue eyes blazed with an intensity that shocked her and excited her.

Dane sniffed the air, his nostrils flaring. “Who the fuck invited you?” he snarled, not sounding so friendly anymore. Not sounding entirely human either. Had she missed something?

“I don’t need an invitation from the likes of you,” Titan snarled back. “Last time I checked this was neutral territory.” It looked like they knew one another. Or of one another.

“Titan.” Another burly guy stepped up to the two men just as they were about to go at it. The guy’s voice was filled with shock.

Titan looked to the side. His whole stance relaxed … just a smidgen. “Enzo?” his voice was still deep.

“Good to see you.” The newcomer was a really big, dark-haired man with vivid green eyes.

Titan stepped away from Dane. “You too.” He smiled for about a half a second and they grasped each other at the wrist. It was a strange way to greet someone. Really weird. These guys couldn’t be human. What the hell were they? Vampires? It didn’t seem to fit either.

“You should mark your female better.” The new guy glanced at her, there was humor laced in his voice and his eyes shone with it as well.

“Natasha and I are not … We’re working together on something.”

“Great!” Dane rubbed his hands together. “Then you won’t mind if—”

“Fuck off!” Titan growled, his whole stance became rigid and aggressive. “The female said to leave her alone.” His eyes glowed a little, making them the most beautiful blue she had even seen.

“No.” Farm Boy didn’t look so sure of himself anymore. “I believe the female said she wasn’t interested. There’s a difference.”

“Not from where I’m standing.” Every muscle bulged and roped under the black t-shirt. Those blue jeans looked amazing on him.

The rugged, green-eyed guy stepped between them. He put a hand on Dane’s stomach. “Leave it alone.” Then he sniggered. “Titan’s got it from here.” Enzo glanced Titan’s way and the big vampire nodded. Titan still had his eyes fixed on Farm Boy. Titan and Enzo were evenly matched. Although Dane was just as tall, he wasn’t as broad.

“Whatever.” Dane turned and walked away.

“What are you drinking?” Enzo asked. “Can I get you a beer?”

“Sure.” Titan’s gaze shifted to her.

Act cool! It’s no big deal. He looks jealous but he isn’t. He’s just looking out for you. Just being nice. “So, you changed your mind.” She tried not to grin. She shouldn’t be so darned happy to see him, but she was.

Titan looked away before locking eyes with her. They narrowed into her. “Someone has to keep an eye on you.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Like hell! That was a shifter … A shifter, for fuck sakes.”

Oh! Okay! “Are shifters bad news then?”

“Yes! They’re horny motherfuckers.”

What? He really was starting to sound jealous. It was one thing being attracted to someone, it was another thing entirely to start being jealous over them. Feelings normally had to be involved before someone became jealous. Did Titan have feelings for her? No, he didn’t. For a second there … Leave it alone, Natasha!

“Horny mother— That’s being a little harsh,” she said.

“Harsh my ass. They come into town looking for tail. They are horny! Trust me on that.”

“Maybe horny was what I was looking for,” she blurted.

Titan folded his arms and scowled so hard his face looked like it might crack. Enzo chuckled, Natasha could see his whole body shake. At least someone found it funny. That someone certainly wasn’t Titan. He closed the space between them. “What are you playing at?”

“I’m not playing at anything.” Shit! What was she playing at? Why was she here? Why was she so happy? Was it because Titan was here?

“We’re leaving.”

“No, we’re not.” She took a sip of her cocktail just as Enzo arrived with the beers.

“We’re going,” Titan said.

“No, we’re not,” Natasha smiled. Titan scowled and Enzo chuckled some more.

Oh shit! Flip! Another really big, bad-looking shifter-type gave her the once-over and started walking towards them. She took a small step towards Titan and looked away from the approaching shifter. Flip! She could still see him coming over from out of the corner of her eye. Oh no! Maybe he wasn’t coming over here. Her hopes were dashed when he stopped right in front of them.

“Is this female with you?” the guy asked as he arrived. He glanced Titan’s way before gaping at her. He was older than Dane. Not as tall as Titan, but just as built.

“Yes,” she said.

“No,” he said, at the same time.

They looked at one another. Titan looked pissed. There was a distinct tic in his jaw.

“No,” she said.

“Yes,” he said, again at the same time.

Enzo laughed, trying not to spill the beer. “They are together,” he spoke to the shifter.

The guy nodded. “I see. Let me know if things change.” He winked at her.

Titan growled low. The shifter smiled and walked away.

Titan put a hand to her lower back for a moment. His touch felt so good. Within a half a second he pulled away. “We really should go.” He leaned down, so that she could hear.

“One drink.” She held up a finger.

Titan growled softly. “I’m going to end up punching someone. This isn’t a good idea. Unless, of course, you want one of these males to pick you up.”

She tried not to smile. “No, that’s not what I want. I was joking earlier about the sock.”

“Here.” Enzo handed one of the beers to Titan. He was grinning like a mad thing. “I’m Enzo.” He held out his hand to her and she shook it.

“Natasha.”

Titan seemed to bristle. The tic in his jaw worsened. Enzo was enjoying himself immensely. He let go of her hand. “There’s a more open space to the back over,” Enzo pointed to a spot on the far side of the bar, “there, we can go and drink in peace.”

“Hey, you’re a cute one.” A lady in a teeny, tiny dress tottered over to Titan. It was fire-engine red, her hair was long and blonde. It curled softly around her face. Her lips matched her dress, as did her nails. The woman zoned in on Titan. “Love the beard!” she shouted above the music and chatter, closing the small distance left between them, like she was the rat and he the cheese. No, make that, like she was a starving rat with long rat-like claws. Blondie gripped his arm and pushed her chest against him. All-out squished her boobs up against him. No damned way!

Titan hated being touched. He detested it. She could see him tense up. He grit his teeth. May as well have taken nails to a board or chewed loudly in his ear. He tried to pull away but the woman took another step, craning her neck. “Where are you going, baby?”

His jaw was tense. “I’m not interested. I …”

Rat-lady put one hand on Titan’s chest and another on his ass. His ass. Holy moly but she was forward. Titan didn’t look happy. “No … I …” He put both his hands in the air.

“Hey!” Natasha yelled. The woman finally glanced her way. “Leave him alone.”

The woman gave her a dirty look. “I think he’s big enough to be able to take care of himself. There are more to go around so get your own.” She looked at Enzo.

Natasha walked up to the woman and gripped her by the hair. She didn’t yank her away from Titan. She clasped the woman’s locks just hard enough to ensure that the roots pulled. Rat-lady’s eyes widened and she gasped.

“Move away from him or you’ll be really sorry,” Natasha spoke calmly and clearly, looking Rat-lady straight in her beady eyes.

“Let go of me,” Rat-lady said, her eyes still impossibly wide. She pursed her glossed up lips. Natasha noted that her claws were still firmly on Titan. The ones on his ass included. Her blood boiled in her veins.

“Move away.” Natasha tightened her grip and rat-lady groaned. Yup, it would be hurting right about now.

“You can’t do this!” Rat-lady’s voice grew a tad shrill. Her hand still gripped Titan’s ass. Natasha felt like breaking each and every one of those fingers. This felt too much like a good dose of her own jealousy. She didn’t want to analyze it right now.

“I’m about to arrest you for indecent assault. It’s handcuffs or you can fuck off.” Like hell, if Rat-lady didn’t let go, she was going to beat this bitch to a pulp. There would be no arrests. Then again, maybe Natasha would end up being arrested for assault but she’d deal.

Rat-lady let Titan go.

Natasha held on tight. “Apologize.”

The woman moved her eyeballs in Natasha’s direction. “I’m—”

“No, not to me. Apologize to him.”

Rat-lady frowned but she looked straight ahead in Titan’s direction. “I’m sorry.”

Titan nodded once.

Natasha let go. The woman sprung away from her. “You’re crazy!” She rubbed the back of her head. “Really crazy.” Then she turned and walked away. Her ultra-high heels prevented her from going too fast.

Enzo chuckled under his breath. “It’s shifter night.” He paused. “You guys are in the middle of one big hook-up. I would suggest that you pretend to be together or leave.”

“Are they all like that?” Natasha asked. “The women?”

Enzo shrugged. “They’re here to hook up with us.” He tapped his chest. “So, yeah, I guess so.”

“And all the shifters are horny motherfuckers,” Titan growled.

“Yeah, we are,” Enzo grinned.

“Holy shit!” Natasha grinned as well. For just a moment she was tempted to try to get Titan to put an arm around her or something but she knew he wouldn’t be up for it. She downed her drink. “Let’s get out of here.”

Titan pushed out a breath. “Thank fuck! Goodbye, Wolf!”

“Goodbye, Blood Sucker. Female.” He nodded at Natasha as a way of saying farewell.

She was shocked when Titan hooked an arm around her waist and began to usher her from the room. The moment they stepped outside he released her. “The car is over there.”

He opened the door for her. About a thousand questions raced through her mind. They all had one answer and it scared the living shit out of her.

They drove back in silence. Then they took the elevator and walked down the hall in more silence. Her gut churned.

He swiped the card and stood back so that she could enter first. Then he closed the door, locking it and placing the chair in front of it.

He finally walked into the sitting area. “Maybe you’ll listen next time I recommend we stay home.” A smile toyed with the corners of his mouth.

“Maybe next time I’ll go somewhere else instead. Maybe next time you’ll go with me.”

He sighed. Titan turned to face her. “There can’t be a next time, Natasha.”

“Yes, there can.” The guy was stubborn and it irritated her that she liked him. Really, really liked him. “Titan I—”

“Thank you,” he blurted, cutting her off.

Shit! She’d been about to tell him her feelings. “What for?” She stuffed her hands into her jeans pocket.

“For having my back.”

“You’ve got my back too. We’re partners. That’s what partners do, right?”

He nodded. “I’m heading to bed.” He turned away and walked towards his bedroom.

Heading to bed. Yeah, right! More like running away ‒ again. For just a second she was tempted to let him go. “Wait.”

Titan kept on going. “I can’t. We can’t.” He walked into his room and closed the door.

Dammit! He was an asshole of note. Natasha stood outside his door for a minute. Her eyes tracked the grains in the wood.

“Go to bed,” she heard him growl from inside his room.

“No!” she yelled through the door. “I’m coming in.”

“Don’t,” was his muffled reply.

“Yes!” She gripped the handle. “Here goes nothing,” she whispered. Natasha yanked the door open and walked in.