“Lael, come meet our newest resident.” Rook led her to the bar stool and waited while she adjusted. She leaned her cane against the bar but didn’t take off her sunglasses. “Would you like a drink?”
“Just some water please, I just ate the most orgasmic orange and could use the drink to wash it all down.”
Lael walked up as Koira finished her statement. Her eyebrows drawn up, Rook looked equally shocked by her words. “Here you go, sweetie, I enjoy water after a good orgasm, too.”
Koira laughed as she was handed a glass. “Can I ask a favor of you guys before Caeden comes back?”
Rook and Lael both nodded before realizing it was pointless. “Yes, of course,” Rook answered.
She leaned in and whispered, “Please tell me he is as hot as he sounds.”
“I think you and I are going to be fast friends, would you like to go, Rook, or me?” Lael leaned her elbows on the bar. He motioned for her to go ahead. “Sugar, he is so much hotter than he sounds. He’s tall, tanned, and muscled all over. His hair is a rich brown, almost the color of chocolate I would say, and big puppy dog brown eyes.” Rook rolled his eyes at her joke. “His lips are full and ready for kissing and don’t get me started on that ass. Trust me, sister, if you get a chance to take him for a spin, I highly suggest you do.”
“Oh my god, do women really talk about men this way?” Rook was shocked at her bluntness. “I was going to say he has cute dimples and laugh lines.”
“That’s nice but I think I like her description better.”
“Yeah, Rook, so lame.” Lael stuck her tongue out at him.
“Ssshhh, he’s coming back, start telling me about the club or something.” Koira took another sip of water and looked toward Lael expectantly.
Rook was impressed, she either sensed or smelled Caeden before Rook even caught his scent.
“I like working here, Mason’s pretty cool and I like talking with the customers.” Lael dried a glass as she talked nonchalantly.
“Koira, I’d like you to meet Mason, Barbara’s son.” Koira turned on the stool and held her hand out, waiting.
“My mom mentioned she had been at your new place. I hope you are enjoying our little town so far.” Mason’s large hand swallowed her much tinier one. “Caeden was telling me that you are a musician. I’ve been looking to add some new entertainment around here. If you’re up for it, I’d love to hear a song.”
“I didn’t know you were looking, I know lots of people.” Three exasperated faces swung toward Lael, she was the only one who hadn’t caught on.
“What do you think, want to do it?” Caeden was grinning from ear to ear.
“What have I got to lose, it’s not like I will see if anyone is appalled by my voice.” She slid from the stool and waited.
Caeden led her to the raised platform the piano was on and sat her down before returning to the bar.
“You know I don’t let women sing in here, it causes too many issues. If she starts a riot, I expect you to take care of it.” Mason leaned against the bar and waited patiently.
Every person in the bar quieted down and turned to watch. With her tiny frame, pale skin and long blond hair, she looked too good for this place and everyone inside knew it.
As soon as the music started, it was obvious she had skill. Her voice was unlike anything he had heard before. She was singing Unchained Melody, there was so much hope and pain in her voice it brought tears to his eyes. How could someone so young have so much depth, she took the breath from him? He wanted to believe it was the mating that was causing the reaction but one look around the room and he knew it was her. She was magic, weaving her spell around everyone.
As the last note rang out, chairs scraped the floor and shifters of all kinds were converging on the stage, all wanting to take claim of his woman.
“Shit, I warned you.” Mason shook himself out of the daze he was in and headed for the stage, Caeden and Rook right on his heels.
Caeden jumped on the stage and gently pulled her up while Mason and Rook pushed back on the crowd. Faces had started shifting, animal eyes were staring down Caeden. He led her off the stage, hoping she didn’t sense how dangerous their current predicament was.
“Hey honey, why be with a pup when you can be with a wolf?” Caeden swung toward the wolf who called out and flashed his own animal at him. A full minute ticked by before the arrogant asshole backed down.
When he first moved to town there were a few wolves who gave him a hard time for being a dog shifter. They were testing the pack mentality and wanted to see where he fit in. It didn’t take long for most of them to give up and leave him alone. The few that did give him a hard time, like Rook and Brogan from the station, did it purely out of friendship.
“Caeden, is everything alright? I feel closed in.” Rook and Mason made a path and led them to the door. Lael was waiting and handed the cane to Koira.
“It was nice meeting you, I hope we can hang out again some time.” Lael squeezed Koira’s shoulder before heading back to the bar. “Okay, boys, show’s over, come get a drink and tell me all your problems.”
“Koira, if you want I’d be happy to book you a few nights a week. We’ll have to get a ton of security in here but I think you will draw in a huge crowd.” Rook shook his head in agreement with Mason’s assessment. It was going to take every pack enforcer they had to keep the animals at bay.
“I’m not so sure if that’s a good idea anymore.” Caeden swung the door open hard enough that it hit the outer wall.
“Was it that bad? I thought it sounded in tune.” Koira’s look of disappointment ripped at Caeden’s already pounding heart.
He pulled her in front of him and cupped her face with both hands, “You have no idea how amazing you were. I’m just not sure the town can take a repeat performance. You’ll have every man in a ten-mile radius wanting you and I’m not sure I like that very much.” Screw it being less than twenty-four hours, he pulled her to him and kissed her with every ounce of emotion he had coursing through him. He always knew things were different with your mate but he wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of desire and love that flooded him. Her hands slid around his sides and locked behind his back as she sighed into his mouth. Sweet baby Jesus, why did he cross this line? How do you go back to normal life after something so life altering?
“I’m not going to apologize for doing that but I will say I’m sorry if you didn’t enjoy it.” Caeden’s forehead rested against hers as he tried to calm his raging hormones.
“I think you should apologize,” she took a long dramatic breath, “for stopping too soon.”
Caeden couldn’t hide his smile as he kissed her again. Relief flooded him that she was accepting his advances, mating was always easier when both parties wanted it from the start. He’d heard stories where one mate resisted for whatever reason and it usually drove both people mad with desire till they gave in.
“How about we get some lunch before I have to head into work?”
“No offense, because I really want to get to know you, but I am dying to meet Thumper so I want this lunch to go quickly.”
His animal was fighting to come out and give her what she wanted but he wasn’t ready to tell her he was a shifter. Most humans were good with his kind but he had been rejected by women before. Even if she was his mate, he wanted her to fall in love with the man first. “Let’s go get you some food then.”