We came to the halfway point in the hall where it opened into a small foyer. The door leading to the bar was on one side. The rest of the foyer was mainly a seating area with a few human objects like a water cooler and cigarette machine.
I stopped and dropped my shields. Others could sense me much easier, but I needed to find him. Closing my eyes, I thought of that butterscotch sweet energy, letting the memory enfold me. Then, I felt him. He was in the club alright. In fact, if I wasn't mistaken, he was coming our way.
“He's coming!” I took a few steps away from the door leading to the club. He had to have felt me by now.
“Your heart is pounding so hard, I can hear it.” Kale nudged me, moving to stand closer. “Relax.”
I took a deep breath as dizzying adrenaline flooded me. The door before us opened, and it took all of my strength not to instinctively throw up an energy barrier around Kale and me. I couldn't tap any power unless Harley gave me a reason. Being the first to do so wouldn't go over well, not if I wanted to walk out of there alive.
Harley Kayson strode through the door with a grin on his handsome face and a tall blonde at his side. Our eyes met, and my insides shriveled. He looked much too happy to see me. Here we go.
“Alexa O'Brien. I thought I sensed your delicious presence.” Stopping a few feet away, Harley made an obvious show of looking me up and down. “Most definitely surprising. Please tell me that it's pleasure that brings you here rather than business.”
I couldn't help the memory that surfaced at the sound of his voice. I could still feel the sensation of his fangs buried inside me. My cheeks grew hot. I had hated myself for responding to him without resistance. The last time I'd seen him, he was on his knees pleading with Arys, for me.
I met his coal black eyes evenly, refusing to fall into the seductive pull of his energy.
Harley was an incubus vampire, as was Arys. It was in their nature to use the lure of desire to sway their victim.
“I need to speak with you.” I cut to the chase, unwilling to be intimidated. “If you refuse, then I'll leave without any trouble. I'm just asking for a few minutes of your time.”
I knew that there was no way he would refuse me. If anything, he'd agree simply out of sheer curiosity. At least, that's what I was counting on.
Harley cast the briefest of glances at Kale before returning his eyes to me.
Regardless of the smile he wore, there was little humor in his gaze. It was dangerous and calculating but also intrigued. I had to take that as a good sign.
“I most certainly would love to know what brings you here. In fact, I'm dying to find out.” He said it with a smirk that had me second-guessing my actions yet again. Would I ever stop being amazed at my own foolishness?
“Just me and you.” I looked pointedly at the human woman at his side. “But, Kale stays close by.”
“Or, Kale could enjoy some time with my lady here.” Harley winked, and a tiny flutter began in my stomach.
“No.” I shook my head. I could feel Kale's tension; no doubt, Harley could, too. I wasn't allowing for distraction techniques. “I'm here to ask you for something, a proposition if you will. No games. No bloodshed.”
“Well, now you really have my attention. You took a real gamble walking in here. I can refrain from giving in to temptation for one night.” Harley licked his lips, drawing my eye. I knew what it felt like to have those lips pressed to mine. He'd tasted me, taken my energy into him. As much as I'd hated it, I'd been unable to fight the fact that it felt so good.
“Can you?” I didn't mean to say it. It just slipped out.
I held my breath, fearing I'd gone too far on that one. Shit. His eyes never wavered as they bore into me. With just the slightest shock of silver in his dark hair and fine lines around his eyes, he was the epitome of the sexy older man. I couldn't help but be painfully attracted to him, even though I knew that it was due to his power.
He took a step closer, as if he couldn't help himself. His voice was low and smooth like silk when he said, “Maybe the real question, Alexa, is can you control yourself?
Anything you throw out, I'm going to accept. Keep that in mind.”
“Fair enough.”
Kale shot me a look that clearly conveyed his take on the situation. I chose to ignore it. I was here now, and I was going to say what I came to say. To him I said, “Stay right here. Give me fifteen minutes. Then, come and get me if I'm not already back.”
He nodded tightly, but his eyes were on Harley's midnight snack. I shouldn't have brought him here. This place was his weakness. A vampire like Kale should be killing.
That didn't have to mean innocents. Killing would free him from the leash he'd put on himself, which was long overdue.
I gestured to Harley, indicating for him to lead the way. I assumed he would head for the same room that he'd attacked me in. I was right.
After a brief word to his “date,” he waited for me to step in line beside him. “Forgive me if I don't quite trust you at my back. I'm sure the feeling is mutual.”