Chapter Fifteen
Kat arrives home, walks Max, grabs a quick snack, and jumps into the misty spray of a hot shower. She feels spectacular tonight…as if she’s on top of the world and can do anything.
Racing was such a rush! The speed, danger, and of course, winning wasn’t at all bad, either.
For the first time in a long time, her mind is free of all the old sadness, the chains that bound her to a life and to a person she no longer wants to be.
“Hmmm, what’s that saying? Out with the old, in with the new…well it’s finally time for a new Katrina.”
Starting tonight, I’m going to reinvent myself. Take risks, act first and think later for a change. Have fun. Do whatever I want, whenever I want. It may mean stepping out of my comfort zone — a lot — but it’s worth it to figure out who the real me is.
At that moment, the phone starts ringing. It’s Bre. “Hey Kat…feeling up to a night out? I hear you have something to celebrate.”
“Definitely…I’m up for it.”
“Cool, we’ll hit The Pit. They have a great band tonight.”
“A great band and lots of alcohol works for me.”
“Okay, we’ll pick you up in an hour. Can you be ready by then?”
“I’ll be ready.”
Turning on some music, Kat dances over to her closet. She goes through each garment a hanger at a time. Pushing each piece of clothing aside until she comes across just the right one, she removes it from the closet and throws it on the bed. She repeats the process until she’s gone through the entire closet. By the time she’s ready to try them on, she has a large pile of outfits sitting in the middle of the bed.
The Pit is named for its owner’s affinity for racing. Decorated in a racetrack motif, The Pit is the hottest club in town. The club has an entire room with floor to ceiling flat screen T.V.s, showing everything from the latest concept cars and bikes to rock videos.
The club’s main room has a floor designed in black and white checkerboard to resemble a checkered flag, leather bench car seats in every color line the walls instead of couches, and to give the effect of oil change pits, two sunken chrome and neon trimmed bars run lengthwise down opposite sides of the room.
The stage rises out of the floor on hydraulic lifts that stop at eye level to the crowd, while racing Christmas trees line the back wall, blinking wildly to the sound of the music as the band plays. Strategically placed platforms are peppered throughout the room, where dancers hop aboard as stripper poles rise out of them from base to ceiling.
Colored neon running lights run along the base of the walls and frame out all the trim work throughout the club, including the restroom doors. The restrooms have black granite counter tops with chrome, high-necked faucets. The stall doors are made of old metal car doors, each painted a different color and finished off with mirrored window tint. There truly isn’t a cooler concept for a club anywhere in the city.
Kat, Bre, and Tony enter the club. Walking up to the bar, Kat orders a round of shots — doubles. Handing Tony and Bre each a glass of Sex on the Beach, Kat makes a toast.
“Here’s to a great night.”
“Hear, Hear!” they exclaim in unison.
Clinking the shot glasses together, the three of them down the red liquid, then chase it with a bottle of Shock Top. Tony snags his beer off the bar, saying, “Come on guys, let’s walk around and see what’s happening.” They follow Tony through the room, chatting and laughing as they go.
Several drinks later Kat comments, “Thanks guys. I so need this tonight. It feels wonderful to just get out and let go for a change.”
Grabbing Tony’s hand and leading him to the dance floor, Kat calls out, “I love this song… come dance with me.”
Keeping hold of her hand Tony yells, “Alright, you’re lucky I like the Exies.” Meanwhile, Bre grabs a cute guy and joins them on the dance floor.
From across the room, Gage is watching. He catches sight of Kat the moment she walks into the bar. He isn’t planning on seeing her again so soon, and is unprepared for the little jolt that hits him as she walks through the door. Dressed in a black corset that laces up the front, a pair of white True Religion super low rise jeans with silver stitching, a thin, sexy leopard belt, and matching leopard shoes with five-inch heels and red soles. She turns heads from the second she arrives.
After several drinks, she and Tony head to the dance floor. At first, they dance together but stay a decent distance apart. The longer they dance, the flirtier she becomes. In the beginning, there’s some light touching as they dance around each other. As the music changes from song to song, they dance closer and closer, rubbing up against one another while smiling and laughing.
Gage leans against a wall, trying to ignore the feelings this public display of affection’s stirring in him. His confusion increases, the more he watches them touch. What is wrong with me? I don’t even know this woman. Why is the sight of her dancing with someone else having any effect on me?
As Gage continues watching, Kat turns, facing away from Tony while they dance. Tony slides both hands onto her waist, pulling her against him as they begin grinding against one another front to back.
Jealousy, rage, and the need to possess her slams into him like a Mack truck. He wants to head over to the dance floor, punch Tony Moretti in the face, and drag Kat off into a dark corner with him. Why am I having such a strong reaction to the two of them dancing? Because they aren’t just dancing anymore, they’re practically fucking on the dance floor.
The intimate way their bodies meet have him moving in their direction. After a few steps, Gage is interrupted by one of the cocktail waitresses. “Hi Gage. Erin asked me to tell you both registers need a pickup of large bills, and they’re running low on fives and singles.”
“Thanks Lissa, I’ll take care of it.” Gage heads over to the bartenders to pick up the cash bags.
Exiting the dance floor, Kat and Tony head towards the bar. Fanning herself with her hand, Kat states, “It’s so damn hot in here, I need a drink.”
“Yeah, so do I. What do you want?” Tony asks.
Once they have their drinks, they turn and watch Bre still out on the floor, dancing. “She looks like she’s having a great time. Doesn’t she ever get tired?”
“Hey, you know my sister, she’s like the Energizer bunny, she keeps going and going and going.” They were both laughing when a tall brunette walks up to Tony.
“Hi Tony.”
“Hey Brittany. What’s up?”
“I saw you race tonight. I just wanted to congratulate you.”
“Well thank you. This is my good friend, Kat. Kat, this is Brittany.”
Kat reaches out her hand to shake Brittany’s. “Great to meet you, Brittany.”
“You too, Kat.”
Brittany turns to Tony and asks him a question. In the middle of their conversation, Kat leans into Tony, puts her lips close to his ear and says, “I’m heading to the ladies room. I’ll be back.”
As Kat leaves the ladies room, she notices the bar is packed and the band just hit the stage. She starts to make her way back to the bar, but people are bottled up everywhere. It’s so crowded, it’s like being at a concert. Weaving her way through the crowd, someone headed in the opposite direction bumps into her as they pass by. A hand reaches out and grabs her arm, steadying her and keeping her from falling. ”I’m sorry, are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fi...” Looking up, her eyes lock with the most beautiful and piercing pair of green eyes she’s ever seen. But she has seen those eyes before. Breaking eye contact, Kat takes a better look at who is standing before her…It’s the guy from the track tonight…Gage. “…ne,” she finishes.
Acting like he isn’t sure, he asks, “You’re Kat, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Gage; we met at the track tonight.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“We’re really busy in here tonight. The band’s a local favorite. Did I hurt you when I ran into you?” he asks with concern in his voice.
Gage is still holding onto her arm. The spot where his hand makes contact feels as if it’s on fire. Heat radiates outward, like flames licking at her skin. The sensation spreads over her entire body, inch by heat-drenched inch. It is so intense that it’s making it hard for her to think and form words to answer his questions.
“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?” Concerned, he takes her hand. “Let’s get out of this crowd. Follow me to the back of the bar. We’ll find a quiet place to check you over.”
Stumbling over her words, Kat says, “Oh, ah, I’m f-fine, really.”
“You seem a bit shaken up. I’d feel better if you’d let me check you over, Kat.”
“O-Okay, lead the way,” she raises her voice so he can hear her over the music. Following Gage, Kat’s mind starts racing. He must think I’m a frigging idiot. Why was I just standing there not saying anything? Shit, I didn’t get hit in the head, but you wouldn’t know it from the dumb blonde look I must have been giving him. And why am I letting some guy I just met hold my hand and lead me to the back of a bar? Good thing I know how to protect myself.
Kat gets out of her head and back to reality as they pull up short in a dark secluded area at the back of the club. She blinks and realizes they are by the rear exit door.
“So are you alright? You looked a bit shaken up back there.”
“I’m fine… really. Just a bit embarrassed. I don’t know why I reacted that way.”
He prompts her, “You mean, not saying anything?”
“Yes, that’s part of it.”
“What’s the other part?” he presses her for an answer.
Uncomfortable, Kat gives him a hesitant look and begins fidgeting with the ribbon that laces the front of her corset closed. She tries to figure out what she wants to say as she slides her thumbs in the front pockets of her jeans. Kat looks up at Gage and their eyes meet as he’s staring down at her with a cocky grin on his face. “Do I make you nervous, Kat?”
“Oh fuck it! Yes…yes you do.”
He raises one eyebrow, while still grinning at her. Kat finishes, “And you can wipe that stupid cocky grin off your face right now or I’ll knock you into next week.”
Laughing now, Gage holds his hands up in front of him like a criminal. “Alright, I’ll try not to take so much pleasure from watching you squirm. Besides, after watching you race tonight, I have no doubt you can kick my ass if you really want to,” he jokes.
“So what did I do to make you feel uncomfortable around me?”
Kat explains while shifting from foot to foot, “Okay, I can’t believe I’m saying this but…you touch me…and I don’t know why, but my body reacts to it or maybe I should say, overreacts to it. Both times tonight, here and at the track when you touched me, it felt…familiar somehow. My skin heats under your touch. It’s so…automatic. That’s never happened to me before with anyone I’ve just met. And believe me, I’ve had my share of casual sex and I never react like that to anyone.” Oh god, dumb thing to say. And I so have not had my share of casual sex.
“Oh really?” He’s grinning at her again. Before she can say or do anything, Gage whispers, “So when I do this,” rubbing his index finger from her bare shoulder down the length of her arm, “it makes you feel…what exactly?”
“You tell me, do you feel anything when we touch? A sensation, a spark, something different from what you normally feel when you’re with a woman you’ve just met?”
“Maybe.”
Totally embarrassed and pissed off after telling this asshat she’s just met how she’s feeling, Katrina lashes out, “Oh, never mind. Just get the fuck out of my way! I need to go find my friends.”
As she reaches out to push him out of the way, Gage takes her hand in his and seethes, “Where are you going? Back to rub yourself off all over Moretti on the dance floor?”
“That’s so none of your god damn business. And why do you care anyway?”
“You asked me if I feel anything when we touch.” Pulling her close to him, he takes the hand he’s still holding, places it over the outside of his jeans and presses it against his hard cock. “Hmmm, I don’t know, what do you think…do you think I feel anything, have any reaction to you when you touch me?”
But before she can answer, he places his index finger under her chin, tilting it up to him as he crushes his lips down on top of hers. That simple contact of a kiss makes him feel like he’s been hit by a lightning bolt…and one kiss just isn’t enough.
With an urgent need growing inside him, he runs his tongue back and forth along the crease of her soft pink lips. Her lips part, opening to him, and he takes the kiss deeper, drinking her in as their tongues touch, tangling and sliding against each other. He sucks on her tongue, then lets her suck on his as they explore the inside of each other’s mouths. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Kat leans into him as a sigh escapes her lips.
Her sigh is the only permission he needs.
Gage places his hands on Kat’s ass, lifts her up and whispers against her lips, “Wrap your legs around my waist.” She does as he asks without hesitation, and is instantly wet and ready for sex.
Moving them further back into the shadows, Gage leans against the wall, placing Kat back down. Splaying his long legs to even out their height, Gage takes her mouth again; running his hands through her hair, down along her jaw line, across her bare shoulders and the ripe mounds of her breasts. “Lean forward,” he whispers. “I want to look at you.”
Doing as instructed, Kat leans far enough forward so Gage can see down the front of her top. Using two fingers, he runs them back and forth along the edge of the corset, dipping inside to rub them against the hard nipples pressing against the fabric.
He runs his lips and tongue along her jaw line, then down the side of her neck and over the creamy white tops of her breasts. Using his teeth, he pulls the wide, satin ribbon at the top of the corset, allowing the bow to come undone.
“I want to taste them,” he moans, looking into her eyes.
She groans in a breathless whisper, “Yes.”
Gage’s nimble fingers unlace the first three rows of ribbon. He releases her breasts, leaving them bare over the top of the corset.
“Beautiful,” he breathes as he takes a breast in each hand, brushing his thumbs back and forth across the hard, beaded nipples. Rubbing each nipple between his thumb and forefinger, he gives them a light pinch.
Kat jumps. “Oh!” she exclaims.
Dipping his head, Gage flicks out his long tongue, sensually licking and stroking first one hard nipple, then the other. Throwing her head back, Kat moans out for more and Gage is happy to oblige. Still manipulating her left breast in his hand, he uses his mouth to devour the right. He licks and sucks, gently at first, then harder and more aggressively as Kat, panting heavily, moans out loud, and grabs a handful of his hair, pressing him harder against her breast.
God she tastes so sweet. He can’t get enough. He switches sides to give the same attention to her left nipple, as Kat reaches out and begins rubbing and stroking his cock through his jeans. Groaning at her touch, Gage pulls her against him. The heat coming off her as their bodies meet sends a shiver down his spine. His cock is pressed against the seam in her jeans at the top of her legs as she begins to grind against him.
Once again, he grabs her ass and lifts her onto him. He moves her up and down over his stiff cock over and over again. He savagely takes her mouth and she responds with the same hunger and urgency he does. Leaning next to her ear he whispers, “I want you… Now!”
It’s more of a demand than a statement. Katrina doesn’t know this man, but her body is responding to him like she does.
Without thinking, she begins to beg, “Yes…Please…Now…Fuck me. I want to feel you inside me.”
“Oh god Kat, I want that too. Let me feel how wet you are first.” Not waiting for an answer, he puts Kat down, spins her around and pushes her back against the wall. Concealing her body with his, his leans over, unbuckles her belt, then the button on her jeans, and slides the zipper down. Reaching inside, he finds the thin lace panties she has on. He reaches inside, sliding his fingers down the crease of her pussy, spreading her glistening lips and dips a finger inside.
“My god Kat, you are so fucking hot and wet for me.” He presses a second finger inside as she moans out the words, “Yes, yes, yes,” and moves on his fingers, grinding herself against the thumb he’s using to manipulate her clit.
Kissing him and moaning, Kat slides up and down on his hand. She wants to give Gage pleasure too. She reaches out, fumbles with his belt, unbuckles it and runs her fingers along the top of his jeans. To her surprise, the head of his cock is peeking out over the top, so she runs her thumb over the head once, then grabs at his button fly and tears the first three buttons open.
“Uhmm,” she says in a low groan, “Commando?”
While Gage gives her the obvious answer — “Un-huh,” Katrina’s already got her hand on his hard cock, stroking it up and down while using her thumb to spread a thin bead of pre-cum over its smooth marble head.
His cock aching, Gage removes his hand from Katrina’s pants, “I need to be inside you. I want to feel you cum.”
“Yes…hurry,” is all she can manage.
The need to be together is so intense, neither one of them stops to think about where they are or if other people are watching. Quite frankly, they are both too far gone to care. Just as Gage begins to lower Katrina’s pants in an effort to pick her up and slide her down on his bare cock, a familiar scent snaps him out of his sexual frenzy.
The change, when it happens, is instantaneous. As if no longer aware of her, Gage tears his mouth from hers. Surprised by the change between them, Katrina opens her eyes in time to see Gage lifting his head, and ever so slowly turning it towards the emergency exit. He closes his eyes, drawing a deep breath through his nostrils. Something is wrong. Something is here.
Focusing on the scent, his eyes fly open just in time to catch someone breeze by them in a blur, open the exit door, and disappear outside.
About a second too late, he realizes what it is. It’s the scent of danger… the scent of another… another like him.
A shiver slides down Katrina’s spine and for a split second, she thinks she sees his eyes change and his pupils expand, and then contract.
“What is it, what’s wrong?” she whispers.
“Nothing…we can’t do this here. I don’t know what I was thinking. There are too many people around. It’s too public,” Gage responds but his mind is clearly on something else.
“That’s what makes it exciting. Don’t let whoever walked by ruin the mood.”
“No Kat! I’m sorry, but this can’t happen…not here…not tonight,” he says sternly as he starts fastening her jeans for her.
“We could go to my place, if you want,” she replies in an almost desperate tone.
“No, you have to get dressed and get back to your friends. I’m sure they’re worried about you, or at the very least wondering where you are. And I…I have to get back to work.”
Thoroughly disappointed and a bit hurt, Kat finishes putting herself back together while Gage waits for her to finish.
“Okay then, I’m going to make my way to the restroom to fix my hair and makeup before I meet up with my friends,” she says, waiting for a kiss, a phone number…an “I want to see you again,”…something… anything…from him.
”I’ve got to go,” and just like that, he’s gone.
Kat stops by the bathroom, fixes herself up the best she can and heads back to her friends.
At least I don’t look like I’ve just been fucking anymore…
“Hey guys…is it okay if we go now?”
“Where were you?” Tony asks.
“Yeah, let’s go, we’re both ready,” states Bre.
Kat thinks, saved by the bell, while ignoring Tony’s question.
Pissed, she heads out the door…Damn, I can’t believe that bastard just took off like that!
Heading out the back door, Gage scans the surrounding area in all directions.
Nothing!
At the far end of the employee parking lot sits a large dumpster that backs up to the woods. Running across the lot, Gage ducks behind it, strips off his clothes and changes.
As a panther, all his senses are sharper… more acute than when in human form. Besides, for this threat he’ll need the strength and fighting skills of his animal form in case his uninvited guest is looking for trouble.
Using his heightened sense of smell, he tracks the scent of the other to the overflow parking lot down the street. The trail ends there which means whoever it is left in a car and not on foot.
I’ll have to stay sharp until I know who this is and what they want with me.