Dual Embrace: 3 (Shadowpeak Wolves) (2 page)

He was stunning.

Soft, wheat-colored hair hung like a halo around his head. Even in the bar’s dim lighting it glimmered, reflecting every glint of light.

A strong jaw framed his glorious face. Intense eyes, a shade of blue so dark they bordered on black, peered down at her. All other noise in the room faded.

When Dusty realized she was staring, her jaw hanging low, she quickly slammed her lips together, lowering her gaze to his chest.

Big mistake.

Was there nothing about this man that wasn’t sweet, simmering, mouthwatering perfection? And why wasn’t every slut in the bar hanging off him? There were certainly enough of them here.

“Who are you scowling at?” he asked.

Dusty’s cheeks heated as she realized she was glaring around the bar, growling quietly at the other women.
What the hell is wrong with me?

“No one,” she muttered. “You getting me that whiskey or not?”

“But of course, you had only to ask,” he answered with old-fashioned grace.

She picked up her empty glass and peered inside. Was Samson sticking something in her alcohol? Drugging her? She should tell this bozo to shove off.

“Isn’t bozo a clown?”

Dusty jolted as he sat beside her.

“I’ve done many things in my life, but being a clown is not one. Here,” he switched her empty glass with a full one, “can’t have a pretty lady staring at an empty glass. What kind of gentleman would that make me?”

“I’m not a lady.”

“Well good, because I’m not much of a gentleman.” He winked.

“What do you want? You want to sleep with me? Fine. Keep buying me more whiskey and I’m yours.” Even as the words came out she was slightly shocked. She hadn’t been attracted to anyone since she’d slept with Cain, hell, since the first day she’d met Cain. So why had she said that? She had no intention of sleeping with this guy, did she?

“Why, my dear, I feel so used. Don’t I deserve dinner and a movie first?”

His lips twitched as he brushed his hand over her arm. Waves of ice-cold sensation swam along her skin. She gasped. Arousal flooded her body, her senses, her mind. Spots shot through her vision as the walls of her sheath clenched and released.

“What the hell was that?” Dusty asked breathlessly, snatching her arm back. Aftershocks continued to run through her body as she gaped at him. He looked equally amazed, staring down at his hand as if surprised to see it was attached to his arm.

“I have no idea,” he murmured.

“I got to go.” This was too weird. Hot sex she could handle. But mini orgasms from such a casual touch? Crazy.

“Surely you are not going to run away?”

She frowned. “I’m not running.”

“No?” He arched a brow, daring her to stay. Dusty settled back onto her stool. One thing she couldn’t turn down was a dare.

“More whiskey?”

“Might as well, long as it’s the good stuff.” She attempted to keep her voice light. What the hell was wrong with her? She rubbed her arm. She could still feel his touch, a cold burn that shocked her nerve endings to life.

“Of course, my dear.”

“I’m not your dear,” Dusty snarled.

“Then perhaps you’ll grant me your name.”

She glared at him.

Crazy man laughed. “Well, I’ll simply have to come up with a name for you myself.”

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“What would you like it to be?” he teased.

“Algernon.”

He appeared completely flummoxed, his lips moving but no noise emerging. She almost smiled.

“Algernon?”

“Ah-huh, Algernon.” It was the worst name she could think of. She hoped an unattractive name would lessen his appeal. Wishful thinking.

“Well, all right. Algernon, hmm.”

Dusty stared at his back as he turned toward the bar. Who the heck was this guy? Not someone out trolling for a quick fuck. If so, there were far easier, more accommodating prey in the bar than she, and let’s face it, with a face and body like his, he could have anyone he wanted—weird shocks and all.

She frowned when she realized no one was staring at him as he walked across the room. He was far too mesmerizing to ignore.

“Why isn’t anyone looking at you?” she blurted out as he returned, placing a bottle of very expensive whiskey on the table.

“Excuse me? Why would they be?” He looked around the room.

“Because… Because… You know…” She swung her arm, indicating his face and body.

He looked down at himself before raising his hand to touch his cheek. “Do I have something on me?”

“You know damn well you have nothing on you. You’re drop-dead gorgeous, that’s why.”

She scowled as he chuckled.

“Ahh, hellcat, I think you just gave me a compliment. This date is indeed looking up.”

“Don’t call me hellcat and we’re not on a date. And you know what I’m talking about. These sluts would mount a table leg if it bought them a drink. Why aren’t they all over you?”

“Perhaps because I haven’t offered to buy them a drink.”

Yeah, right.

He was so attractive it took every ounce of self-control she had not to touch him. He’d just crossed the room twice, and not once did the whores populating the bar so much as glance at him. Every woman in this place should be ogling him with lust, and every man should be glaring at him, angry at the attention he was getting. Yet they all acted as if he didn’t even exist.

“I’m pretty sure you know how unbelievably hot you are. Yet no one is staring at you.”

“You think I’m unbelievably hot?”

She flushed but didn’t let herself get sidetracked. “Come on, what gives? Why aren’t they all over you?”

“Well, delightful as that sounds, they’re not ‘mounting’ me because they cannot see me.”

“Right, they’re all blind now. Or are you a figment of this?” She held up her drink, tapping the glass.

He grinned. “Not at all. To them I simply don’t exist.”

She laughed. “Right. Hey, Ginny,” she called over to the waitress clearing the table next to them. “This guy thinks he’s invisible.” She waved a hand at the gorgeous, loony man still standing beside her.

Ginny gaped at her. “You need me to call someone for you, Dusty?”

“Uhh, no. Come on, why aren’t you laughing?”

Ginny frowned. “You sure you’re okay? Have you been smoking something funny? Because there’s no man standing there.”

“Ahh, yeah. Right. Sorry.”

Dusty sent the waitress a sheepish grin. When Ginny’s attention shifted away, she turned to glare at her imaginary pain in the butt.

“Better watch the wind doesn’t change.”

“What are you talking about?” She took a big sip. Ahh, heaven in a slightly dirty glass.

“Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to frown in case the wind changes and leaves you looking that way?”

“Some of us didn’t have mothers.” She dropped her gaze, cursing herself for revealing that. She continued quickly, “I’m hallucinating. I’ve got to be. But why I would imagine someone as annoying as you is beyond me. And how did I get this if you’re invisible?” She held up the glass. “Wouldn’t someone have noticed a bottle of whiskey floating through the air?”

Ah-ha,
she thought,
let him explain that
.

“I’m not a hallucination. But I can manipulate minds. If you ask someone about that whiskey they’ll swear they saw you buy it, because that’s what I’ve told them happened. I’ve made sure that no one here can see me but you. I can also make myself formless, but then you’d be denied my delightful company.”

“Right, well, lucky me, huh?” she said sarcastically, not believing a word of it. “Mind manipulation, sure, and I’d like to take tea with Mary Poppins.” She stared at the whiskey. “I have definitely had enough.”

“Let me take you home.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled. “Not like I can stop you anyway. You’re a hallucination, remember?” She peered up at him as she shifted off the stool. “Although, if you’re a hallucination I should be able to will you away or at least make you mute.”

“I’m crushed. Can you truly say you’d never want to hear my dulcet tones again?” He placed a hand dramatically on his heart as she tried to stretch her leg discreetly. She’d been sitting too long and her thigh was weak and stiff.

“Something wrong, hellcat?”

“Stop calling me hellcat,” she gritted out between clenched teeth. Pain shot up her leg, nearly making her whimper. Part of her wished she’d brought her crutches. But she refused to use them unless it was absolutely necessary. He placed a firm hand under her elbow, helping to steady her.

“Let me help you until we get outside,” he said quietly, his voice serious. She nodded.

It wasn’t a long walk to the parking lot, but by the time they made it she was leaning on him heavily. Much to her chagrin.

“Looks like we have company,” he drawled, coming to a stop. “How rude of them not to call.”

She looked up, groaning as two of the leering bikers from the bar stepped from the shadows.

“Well, well, well, what have we here, Toad?” The tall, thin one walked toward them, full of his own self-worth.

“Looks like a nice piece of ass, that’s what,” the other replied.

“Get lost, I’m not interested,” she snarled.

“Don’t recall asking if you were interested, sweetheart. You followed us out here. Couldn’t resist me, could you?” The tall one leered at her.

“I can barely stop myself from jumping your bones,” she spoke dryly. “Beat it, before I’m forced to hurt you.”

Toad glanced around. “You and whose army? Far as I can see you’re a woman alone. You do what we say and we won’t hurt you. Much.”

She snorted. “I’m so scared. Does it make you feel like a big man, picking on a woman alone?”

“Ahem,” her companion cleared his throat, his hand still under her elbow. She pulled herself free, standing on her own.

“You don’t count,” she muttered at him.

The small guy looked around. “Who you talking to? Me? You think I don’t count? I count, cunt. Once you have a bit of Toady, you won’t be walking for a week.”

She sneered. “I seriously doubt it.”

“Get lost, Toad,” the tall one said, pushing his friend aside. “She doesn’t want you. She wants a real man.” He puffed himself up like a rooster.

“Yep,” she agreed, smiling sweetly. “You see any, you send them my way, okay?”

Laughing, Toad dug his elbow into the tall guy’s side. “She’s saying you’re not a real man, Ricky, get it?”

Ricky frowned. “Yeah, I get it. Listen, bitch. I’m going to show you how I shut a slut like you up.” He took a step toward her. Beside her, Algernon folded his arms and smiled.

“You think this is funny?” she asked him. “They want to rape me and you’re grinning?”

“I would put my money on you any day.”

“Who’re you talking to?” Toad whined as Algernon’s confidence warmed her. She frowned. It shouldn’t matter to her what he thought.

“I’m going to kick some dumb biker butt.” She tried to pull on her wolf, needing her strength. Her beast stirred, but it was like trying to wake someone who was drugged. Hopeless.

Great. Looked as though she was on her own.

“She needs a lesson real bad,” Ricky snarled. “Only one use for a mouth like that.”

“I wouldn’t,” she warned, snapping her teeth. “I like to bite.”

Toad took a step back as Ricky rushed forward. Dusty raised her walking stick, whacking him across the face.

Ricky yelped, falling back. The two of them came charging at her. Shit. She braced herself.

A strong gust of wind swirled dirt into Toad’s eyes. As he yelled, rubbing at his face, Dusty took on Ricky. Most of her weight rested on her good leg—her injured thigh was weak, heavy and screaming with pain.

“I thought you weren’t going to interfere,” she yelled to her grinning companion as she struck a heavy punch to Ricky’s gut, quickly following up with a jab to his jaw. Hopping back, she barely managed to stay upright.

“I got bored,” he replied, sticking his foot out to trip a bewildered-looking Toad.

“You’re crazy.” Ricky struck out at her, stunning her with a blow to her head. As she teetered back, Dusty swung her walking stick up, striking him in the eye. Ignoring his terrible screech, she smacked the wooden stick into the side of his head, wincing at the crack before he fell, unconscious. Her leg collapsed, pain shooting through her body as she saw Toad fly through the air, crashing into a nearby car.

Rolling, she tried to find her footing. Something large and heavy slammed into her side. She collapsed with the third biker from the bar on top of her, smothering her.

Agony had her gritting her teeth as she fought back a scream.

“Forget about me, bitch?”

Damn her, she had. But she wasn’t about to admit it.

“You need a bath,” was all she said before she butted her forehead into his nose. As he yelled, loosening his hold, she brought her hand up, slamming it under his chin, forcing his head back.