The Last Warrior (Shifters Unbound #13) - Jennifer Ashley Page 0,32

and some of the females, must be drooling for them.

A tall, red-haired man pushed through the crowd, his eyes lit with rage. Ben knew he sensed the testosterone flaring from the guys ogling Jaycee, and the wolf in him wanted to come out and play.

Ben intercepted the man. “Keep it cool,” he yelled over the music.

Dimitri Kashnikov was a red wolf, tall and tough, a savage fighter. But this wasn’t a Shifter bar—he couldn’t go all Lupine and start slashing his claws around.

Dimitri growled, the sound rumbling to Ben through the music. Ben watched him force his eyes to flicker from the wolf’s, then Dimitri waded through the crowd to Jaycee.

He got behind her, his mate, and began gyrating with her, arcing her body inside his. Jaycee didn’t mind. She leaned back into him and caught his rhythm, the two becoming one in the dance. Their undulating was very sensual—no one dirty danced like Shifters.

Mate-bonded pairs. What could you do?

Ben made his way to Rhianne and caught both her hands in his to continue their groove. He wished he could fold himself around her as Dimitri did with Jaycee, to imbibe her warmth and her swaying body.

What the fuck was he thinking? Rhianne was Tuil Erdannan, the daughter of Lady Aisling, a woman who could raze this club and everyone in it by simply drawing a breath. If Ben touched her daughter, she’d crumble him to dust and feed what was left into a furnace.

But what a way to go.

Ben jerked his thoughts from their treacherous path. He had this dance, and he needed to enjoy it. His job was to protect Rhianne, that was all, and to return her home when it was safe. He didn’t have time to fantasize about the beautiful woman.

Why did it always have to be this way? Something deep inside him mourned. Ben always did his job. Had for a thousand years. Did it so others could walk unharmed, live their lives, find happiness.

Everyone but Ben.

The endless song finally drew to a close. Not that this club ever let the music stop. One piece segued into the next, which was equally thumping and harsh.

Jaycee gave a final twirl and laced her arm through Dimitri’s. “Okay,” she yelled. “Now we go talk.”

Dimitri had danced out his aggression and beamed his affable smile on Jaycee’s and Rhianne’s admirers. He could be smug—he was leaving with the hot Jaycee.

Jaycee led the way through the crowd and out into the street. It wasn’t much quieter here, with the roads and sidewalks teeming as the New Orleans night ramped up.

Ben suggested they walk to Jackson Square. As they strolled along, tourists rode past in horse-drawn carriages and bicycle rickshaws, bands and street performers did their thing, food carts sent aromas into the air. Couples walked hand in hand, or danced near the bands, just generally kicking back to enjoy life.

People moved aside for the group without realizing why, though Ben and Dimitri greeted strangers with warmth. They smiled back, happy and unafraid.

Jaycee found a vacant bench near the middle of the park, the fragrance of grass and late flowers floating around them. Lovers ambled by or blatantly kissed on the lawn.

“I apologize again,” Jaycee said to Rhianne as they settled themselves, Dimitri and Ben bookending the two ladies on the bench. “I smelled Fae and my instincts kicked in. My bad. I owe you a debt.”

Rhianne blinked. “Why should you owe me a debt? I stole your pants.” She stretched out a leg to admire the black leather, stones glittering.

Jaycee laughed. “I like her,” she said to Ben then returned her attention to Rhianne. “But I like your mom too, so I guess it’s natural. And hey, you look great in those. Ooh, nice shoes.”

Dimitri groaned. “Goddess, Jaycee, we didn’t come out here to talk about shoes.”

“Are you kidding? We should always talk about shoes. They’re perfect with the outfit. You have good taste, Rhianne.”

“I tried to find something worthy of your clothes,” Rhianne said.

“And you did a fantastic job. Stop poking at me, Dimitri. I swear, ever since he mate claimed me, he’s been all over my case about everything.”

“Someone has to keep you in line,” Dimitri rumbled. “Or try anyway.”

Jaycee ignored him. “So, Ben, what’s the deal? Did Dylan find you? I didn’t want to involve him, but Lady Aisling told me to, so…” Jaycee opened her hands in a helpless gesture.

“Yeah, he found us,” Ben said. “Wanted Rhianne to go back and be his pet spy.