“What about Alaskan Amber?”
“Yep. Got it. Hang tight.”
Gee, what service. The bartender backed into the crowd, but not before flashing a flirty smile at a lovely brunette in a tight red dress. His momentary distraction was understandable. This boat was bobbing with babe-alicious beauties.
The bartender returned with a stein full of golden fluid topped with a thin layer of foam. I doubted it was Alaskan Amber, but beer was still beer. I reached into my pocket for my wallet.
“It’s on the house,” the bartender said.
“You mean the boat.” I chuckled, still pulling out my wallet. “Thanks, but I don’t need vamps buying my drinks.”
“The Proprietor isn’t a vampire.”
“But he associates with them.” When I opened my wallet, the bartender took a step back, holding my beer hostage.
“She associates with all types of supernaturals.”
Supernaturals? That was a new one. I snorted. Vamps trying to fancy up their status as undead bloodsuckers.
“Whatever you say, man. What’s your name?”
“Dec.”
I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill then pocketed my wallet. “Got change in ones, Dec?” Green eyes searched mine questioningly. “For the dancers. If you won’t take cash, maybe they will.”
Dec stared at me a second longer before throwing his head back to roar with laughter—all without spilling a drop of beer. Impressive.
“Sure, we’ll see how well that goes over.” He snatched my Jackson and handed over my beer before heading back to the black-toned bar.
“Thanks, man,” I called after him.
He seemed cool like he wouldn’t hurt anyone or stand idly by if someone was in distress. I considered myself an exceptional judge of character. Dec had my stamp of approval as a friendly, even though it looked like he was currently serving blood to a towering male dressed in Armani. Oh, swell, a fancy vamp. They were typically the hardest to catch in the act of killing.
I took a swig of the brew. Dec had delivered all right. Alaskan Amber was a staple part of my liquid diet. Ah. Cool and delicious. My attention diverted over to Noel as I listened in while the she-vamp offered to mix up something called “Kiss This.”
“That sounds delicious. What about the blood you’ve got there on the shelf? It’s kosher, right?” Noel inquired smoothly.
The she-vamp smiled with wicked delight. “Is blood more to your liking?”
Avoiding the question. Not suspicious at all.
Noel returned the woman’s smile. “Cocktails. Blood. Boys. I enjoy variety.”
“Oh?” The she-vamp raised her eyebrows. “How much variety are you into?” The way she checked out Noel from top to bottom would do a dude proud. Then, she threw in the wink.
Noel’s smile did not waver. If anything, it widened. “Maybe I should be the one getting you a drink? What do you say? Couple of blood shots?”
Nice one, Harper. We’d catch this vampire red fanged. I took another swig of beer, watching my partner work her magic.
“How about vodka?” the she-vamp countered.
Damn. She was good. They were both good. They’d be good together . . . even better in a three-way with me.
The temptress looked my way and smiled smugly. “Like what you see?”
I lifted my stein. “I’d like it more if the two of you kissed.”
Noel rolled her eyes at me, but the she-vamp threw her head back with a throaty laugh. Noel stared at the woman’s throat intently. A new fantasy entered my head of Noel biting into the woman’s milky white skin then sucking her blood and swallowing it down in greedy gulps.
No. No. Bad. Wrong. Banish the thought from my brain. Good thing Ashley wasn’t around. She’d become way too good at reading my thoughts during our years together. Apparently, she didn’t like where they drifted.
I cleared my throat. Noel continued staring at the temptress’s neck as though hypnotized.
“Harper,” I yelled over the music.
Noel blinked and shook her head. “Let’s go back to the signature drink you were telling me about. Sounds yummy.”
“Super yummy,” the temptress purred. “I’ll add extra whipped cream on top.” She smiled at Noel and then winked at me.
We watched her saunter her way to the bar where Dec was mixing up a martini for some 007 in a suit. Hopefully, he hadn’t forgotten about my ones.
I stepped over to Noel. “Elusive she-vamp.” I nodded toward the bar where the white-haired woman stood filling a tall glass with ice. We watched her pour in club soda and vodka then something red. I squinted. “Is that blood?”
Noel smacked my shoulder. “No, dope. Raspberry syrup.”
“Uh-huh.” I lifted the stein to my mouth and took several gulps.
The beat of the music picked up. Sexy burlesque dancers strutted their stuff, working their way through the crowd. Bodies crowded together, swaying to the rhythm. Arms were raised into the air. None of the guests appeared to be in danger . . . yet. Above our heads, the ladies on swings pumped their legs. I bobbed my head and shoulders to the beat between gulps until I’d drained my beer.
“Allow me to take that from you, big boy.” The sultry voice had my flagpole flying at full mast. Shit. I couldn’t let the she-vamp distract me with her sexuality. She knew exactly which weapon to pull on me. I wouldn’t let her get the upper hand. I mean, unless that hand wanted to lower into my boxers.
The temptress pressed her lips to the shell of my ear and whispered, “I’m not a vampire. Not like you and your delectable date.” I shuddered internally, blocking out part of her words.
Hunter. Not one of them. Superhero. Protector of humanity.
It took effort, but I managed to pull away from her sultry lips. “Then, what are you?” I challenged.
Maybe I had it all wrong. Maybe she was a groupie. A suck junkie.
I recalled the way the woman had bared her neck in front of Noel. Oh yeah. She was looking to get bit. She wanted Noel to suck her blood.
Shit. I was hard as ice.
The sexy suck junkie leaned forward, breasts straining against their laced restraints.
“I’m Imperia, and I’m your wet dream.”
“Better not pinch me then because I don’t want to wake up.”
Imperia gave a throaty laugh. It was my turn to stare at her neck.
Damn these undead instincts.
She grabbed my empty stein and replaced it with Noel’s drink garnished with whipped cream and a cherry.
“You might want to hold on to this for your girl while she finishes her dance.”
My fingers closed around the cold glass as my eyes found Noel dancing against a shirtless dude with a black bow tie. When he turned her back to him, he wasted no time closing in, palms plastered to her hips, fingers pulling her back to grind. I stood in a momentary stupor, unsure if I wanted to push Mr. Chippendale off my hunting partner and take over or enjoy the view a bit longer.
“You’re not the only one who likes to watch,” Imperia whispered, her lips finding their way once more to my ear.
“I like to do more than watch.” My lips curved into a smirk. But when I turned to flirt more with Imperia, she’d already taken off for the bar trailed by a line of men and women shoving their way to get closer.