He pulled away from her mouth and rested his forehead on hers. “I’ve been dying to do that for the last couple of hours. And more. But it will have to wait until much later tonight when we’re back in my hotel room.”
“You want me to spend the night with you?”
“Yes.” He dropped his hands to her ass and pulled her closer, so she felt his erection. “You drive me wild, Jorja. All I can think about is making love to you again.” He brushed her lips once more with his and lifted his head. “Plus we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“About us.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her by placing a finger across her lips. “Not right now. Tonight, after I’ve made love to you a couple of times.”
She smiled. “I’ll hold you to that.” Jorja stepped out of his embrace. “I’d better hurry, or I’ll be late for the start of my shift.”
Kian watched her walk into her bedroom. Once she was out of sight, he took a deep breath. So far Jorja hadn’t balked at any of his suggestions. She’d promised to spend the night with him. He just hoped it wouldn’t end with her running from him in fear.
Jorja returned with her empty tray and ordered more drinks for one of her tables. She placed her hand on the small of her back and groaned while she stretched. The hours on her feet weren’t doing her any favors.
“Is your back sore?” Kian asked. He sat at the bar next to her.
“Yeah. It usually is on a Saturday night. This is our busiest night of the week.”
He gave her a suggestive look. “Then I’ll just have to rub it for you tonight.”
Jorja felt a shiver of desire go through her at his words. Ever since Kian had kissed her at her apartment, she kept thinking about the night to come in his hotel room. She was a little worried about this talk he wanted to have, but she’d try to distract him as long as she could.
Soren joined them at the bar. He’d been back at the blackjack table again. From his expression, he didn’t look too thrilled about something.
Kian must have seen his friend’s expression as well. “What’s got your undies in a bunch?”
“You mean if I actually wore some?” Soren asked.
“Now who is giving out too much information?”
“Whatever. Just take a gander over at the craps table.”
Kian shifted on the barstool and looked in the direction Soren had indicated. “Fuck. What the hell is he doing here?”
Soren shrugged. “Being a royal pain in the ass? He knew this was where we were going for the weekend.” Jorja noticed Soren shot a glance her way before he said, “I’d watch him, Kian. He’s nothing but a jerk-off who likes to stir up shit when he can.”
Jorja looked over at the craps table, but there were too many people there for her to pinpoint exactly who Kian and Soren talked about. And it was the one place she had to take her next drink orders.
She loaded up her tray with the drinks the bartender had prepared and was about to walk away when Kian stopped her with a hand on her elbow. She gave him a questioning look.
“Try to avoid the craps table, Jorja,” he said.
“I can’t. It’s in my section.”
“Then maybe I should go with you.”
“Ah,” Soren said, “I don’t think that would be a good idea, Kian. It will just draw unwanted attention to Jorja. And it could cause questions you aren’t ready to answer just yet. Let her do her job.”
Kian reluctantly let go of her arm. “Fine, but I’ll be watching.”
Jorja left the bar, dropping off the first set of drinks before she headed to the craps table. She had no idea why Kian didn’t want her near it, but she had a feeling she was missing something. It was almost as if Soren and Kian knew something she didn’t. They obviously both knew this man and had a dislike for him. And since neither one of them had thought to point him out, or describe what he looked like, she had no idea which man at the table she should watch out for.
At the table, she passed out the drinks, collecting the money for each one as she went. Handing the last drink off to a man who was surprisingly as good looking as Soren and Kian, she quickly pulled her hand away as his brushed against hers. While he fished out the money to pay for his drink, she took in his short brown hair and large, muscular body. Could he be the one Kian and Soren referred to?
“Here you go,” he said. “And you can keep the change.”
Jorja reached for the bills he held out. He placed them on her palm and leaned closer as if trying to smell her. She took a step back, not liking how much of her personal space he invaded.
He gave her a leer and a knowing smile. “Now isn’t that surprising. I never would have expected it.”
“Expected what?”
The man only shook his head and returned his attention to the table. Jorja walked away, thinking he had to be the ass Kian and Soren knew. Even though what he’d said made no sense to her, she decided she wouldn’t be repeating it to the other men. All she needed was for them to butt heads with the jerk over something stupid.
After she arrived at the bar, Kian asked, “What did the jackass say to you?”
“Nothing really. I can see why you don’t like him. There’s just something about him that rubs the wrong way. At least he’s a good tipper.”
A half hour went by, and Kian finally seemed to relax a bit, even though he kept glancing over at the craps table from time to time. Soren had opted to stay at the bar as well. She’d just returned from serving another table when a deep voice sounded behind her.
“Well, if it isn’t Kian and Soren.”
The two men turned on the barstools they sat on to face the newcomer, but it was Kian who talked. “Well, if it isn’t Brad—ley.”
The other man stiffened and snarled his lip before he said, “Brad. Not Bradley. Just Brad.”
Obviously, it was a sore spot for Brad when someone called him Bradley. And from Kian’s smirk, he had to know that as well.
“All right then, Brad. What do you want?”
Brad quickly lost his irritated look. “I saw you two and thought I’d see if you’d want to join me in a poker game. But I see, Kian, you have other things going on.” He glanced at her suggestively. “And I must say I’m not surprised you’d follow in Atticus’ footsteps.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Kian almost growled.
“Oh come on, Kian. I guess congratulations are in order. And as I said, I’m not surprised you have a mortal mate just as Atticus does. I bet Soren will find his very soon as well, since the three of you are so close.” Brad looked at her. “So how do you like being mated to a werewolf, mortal?”
Jorja blinked at him as Kian growled and snapped his teeth in his direction. “What are you talking about? I’m not mated, as you put it, and I’d have to be an idiot to believe werewolves existed. And mortal?”
Brad threw back his head and laughed, drawing some stares in the casino. “Oh, Kian. You claimed your mate without telling her you have a furry side. And I know you did claim her. Your scent is too deeply ingrained in her skin for that not to be the case.”
Kian let loose with a low growl and appeared about ready to launch himself at Brad. Only Soren’s hand on his shoulder held him in place. The way Kian reacted, with the animal-like growls and snarling of his lip, Jorja heard the word werewolf repeating inside her head. No way. Brad was just being a jerk. She wasn’t so naїve as to believe his nonsense about Kian being a werewolf.
“Get lost, Brad,” Soren snapped. “Push Kian any more and I won’t stop him from trying to rip your jugular out. Once again you’ve just proved what an asshole you really are.”
With an amused chuckle, Brad backed away. But before he left, he said to her, “Welcome to the pack, little mortal.”
Kian let out another animalistic growl. Jorja turned in his direction and saw Soren slip off his barstool to stand in front of his friend. Much to her shock, Kian’s eyes were mutedly glowing. This time she couldn’t say it was hers playing tricks on her when she blinked and they remained the same way.