Page 291 of Flirting with Darkness

Larry was the first one who picked up on the fact that something was wrong. “Uh, it’s up to the lady to find out.”

Dex gripped the two new shifters before they could edge away and shoved them into the booth. He grabbed one of the chairs and spun it around, straddling it. He folded his arms over the back and turned his gaze on Nova.

“Well?”

She had the fucking audacity to arch an eyebrow at him with enough sass he wanted to get her on her knees. “I don’t take my scent charm off for anyone, sorry.”

Ah, so that’s what it was.

Dex’s grin widened. “You should leave then. I can’t have my guys fighting over you.”

Nova looked at George and then Larry, but neither of them would meet her eyes.

“Fair enough.” She made to move, and George was out of his seat so fast she blinked in surprise.

The bear wouldn’t even help her out and Dex enjoyed watching her scoot her way to the edge.

Nova stood and he finally got a good look at her.

Dex gripped the chair so hard he felt it splinter. “I apologize for the inconvenience, Nova, but you know how shifters can be about potential mates.”

“I do.”

He turned to face the four shifters in his booth, dismissing her completely. “If you’d like to stay for a bit, put anything you want on my tab.”

“The name?” she asked.

Dex felt his impulse control slip and he wanted to commit chaos at the implication she didn’t even know who he was. “Dex.”

He saw her adjust her low-cut leather pants in his peripheral, and Dex had to close his eyes before he gave in to the urge to mark that flawless skin.

“Thank you, Dex.”

His answering snarl only made her smile and he waved his hand, hoping it would piss her off enough she’d leave.

The sound of her walking away didn’t help either.

“What do you want?” he snapped at the two newcomers, ignoring the look Larry and George shared.

“Uh.”

“Look, if you think he’s too scary to work for, then you shouldn’t even be here,” Larry told them. “Dex is the one we answer to.”

Both shifters squared their shoulders. One of them didn’t really want to be there.

He tried to focus, but all he could think about was the sound of her boots and how distinct they were. Dex could hear the chains rattling on her body, charms tinkling in her ears, and he couldn’t stop listening.

His attention followed her all the way to the bar on this level where he heard the shirt she wore slide across the wood. “A purple haze, please.”

Nova didn’t put it on his tab though.

How the fuck had she even ended up at his table?

“Dex?”

“George, Larry, figure out if you want to deal with these assholes every day.” He stood and made a beeline for the bar.

Waitresses and patrons moved out of his way.

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