Page 16 of The Satyr's Guilt
Which I absolutely will not be doing.
He set a beer in front of Galena. Another infront of her. “Hi, doll. I’m Ram.” His voice was deep and asmesmerizing as lazy swamp water. He kicked out a chair, loweringhimself into it. As he took a long draw on his brew, he brushed astrand of caramel-streaked hair over his shoulder.
Yum.
Her hand shot out to shake his. “Denim.Denim Quinn. Pleased to meet you,cher.”
He stared at her palm for a long time beforehe wrapped his big hand around it. Instead of shaking, he held ontight. Heat crawled along her arm to her elbow, onto her neck, andstraight south from there. His eyes flashed green.
Galena smirked. “Knock it off, satyr. She’snot a snack.”
Denim had no idea what her friend meant.When Ram released her, she gave him a silly-ass grin.
“Denim is my Alliance partner in New Orleansthis Mardi Gras season.” Galena sipped her beer.
“Alliance, huh.” Ram’s forehead wrinkled.Denim felt he wanted to run, but he stayed seated. He cocked hishead to the side, sizing her up. “You’re pretty but fragile. Youshould be in a less dangerous line of work.”
Denim prickled. He was another asshole whoresented strong women, who thought they shouldn’t handle tough ordangerous. “First, I’m not fragile. I’m tall for a human woman.Admittedly, nothing like the Amazon here. I also train to take downlarge, misogynistic men.”
He downed his brew, popping a finger intothe air to signal the waitress. “I bet you do. Care to try me?”
“Hmph. Second, I don’t want a less dangerousline of work. I’m good at what I do.”
“What are some of the things you’re good at?Maybe I’d enjoy them.” He winked.
Galena set her beer on the table and glancedaround the room. “Can’t you find some sweet thang to screw?”
Ram said, “I have.”
It took Denim a sec before she caught on.“Nuh-uh. Take me off your list.”
While they bantered, a short-haired guy wholooked like Joe College with red-rimmed eyes waved at Galena fromanother table. She turned to Denim. “Do you mind if I slip away fora minute? I see a friend.” She tapped her chin as if she werethinking. “Make it several minutes. The vamp looks hungry.”
“You go ahead. I’ll be fine here.” Sheglanced at Ram. “Won’t I?”
“You’ll be better than fine.” A grin tuggedat his soft, full lips as he stood to pull out her friend’schair.
Galena rose, spun around, and jabbed afinger into the satyr’s chest. “She’s my partner. It’s been a hardweek. So no shit. Huh?”
Ram’s brows shot up. “Me? I’m PrinceCharming.”
“Yeah? Not usually.” She faced Denim. “I’llreturn, honey. He’s gonna hit on you ’cause it’s what satyrs do. Ifhis eyes flash neon green, he’s feeding on your arousal. He can’thelp it. It’s his breed’s way. If it’s not what you want, kick himin his balls.”
“With pleasure.”
“Doll, my nads are in your hands. Treat ’emwith kindness. And, Galena, thanks for the praise. It touches myheart.” He tapped his chest.
Galena shrugged, leaving the table. Shemarched over to the vamp, bending to whisper in his ear. He rose,his hand moving up and down her ass.
Ram glided closer. “You’ve got a nice drawl.Everything you say sounds smooth, sexy.”
“Uh-huh.”
When a man stopped at the table to ask Denimif she’d like to dance, Ram snapped a quick reply. “No. Shedoesn’t.”
The guy scurried away.
Ram ignored her glare. “Go on. You weretelling me what you’re good at.” A lazy smile crept onto hisface.
