“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then we’ve entered some sort of freaky alternate reality where shifters don’t exist, ’cause that’s the only way that’s going to happen.”

“If you say so.” He could practically see her shrugging, dismissing Glory and Ryan’s budding mating. “Will you be noticing every move I make?”

Damn. He really needed to stop whimpering. It was so…unmanly.

Chapter Nine

A woman’s figure caught Julian’s eye before he’d taken two steps into Nocturne. He found himself fascinated by her movements. The skin-tight black leather pants showed off a well-rounded derriere. The tight pink tank top she wore showcased slim, strong shoulders and lean, lightly muscled arms. On one wrist was a thick leather band, a huge gleaming turquoise decorating the center. Perched on her head was a black fedora with a silver band. The fedora was just the accessory she needed to showcase her multihued hair.

She danced like a woman who knew who she was and challenged every man on the dance floor to dare to take her on. One tried, and was dismissed with the wave of one slender hand and a derisive toss of her head. It was a miracle that hat didn’t fly off and hit the guy, not that Julian would’ve minded. No one should be sliding up to his woman like that, eager to touch her. He was the only one who got that privilege, thank you. Her hair swung gently as she moved to the beat, her body twisting and writhing in a primitive rhythm that had every nerve in Julian’s body standing at attention. He found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the sight of his mate as she danced with her friends.

“Holy shit. Is that—?” The shock in Alex’s voice had him turning to look at the Grizzly. Alex’s mouth was hanging open, his expression full of unholy glee.

“Oh fuck no. No, she didn’t.” Even over the pounding music Julian could hear that Ryan was growling. His hands fisted and his blue eyes darkened to near black.

Julian turned back to the dance floor to see what the two of them were staring at. His own jaw dropped at the sight that met his eyes. “Holy crap, is that Glory?”

And he’d thought the Sailor Mars skirt was short. She’d be more covered up wearing a bikini bottom. He might be nearly mated, but even he could admit she had a damn fine ass. He tilted his head as he stared at far more of Glory than he’d ever thought to see. That pale blue mane of hers was playing an interesting game of peek-a-boo between her butt and the men dancing around her. She’d somehow straightened the curly mass, causing it to fall nearly to her knees. Thigh high boots gave the outfit the illusion of decency. “I thought people weren’t allowed to go out dancing in just their underwear.”

Ryan’s low growl showed the man was not amused.

“She’s wearing a corset.” Alex’s gaze drifted over to his own mate, dressed in her own pair of skintight jeans and one of the lacy tops Tabby tended to favor.

“I noticed.” If the Grizzly clenched his jaw any harder his teeth would snap.

Alex tilted his head, a slow smile drifting across his face. “Do you think she’ll tell me where she got that? I’d like to get one for Tabby.”

Julian eyed the corset. It was one of those strapless thingies that turned Glory’s molehills into mountains. He could just imagine what it would do to Cyn’s glorious breasts. “Ditto.”

From the way Ryan’s chest was heaving Julian figured he was two seconds away from storming the dance floor.

But then he forgot all about Ryan as Cyn caught sight of him. She crooked her finger at him with a wicked grin, daring him to join her. Julian knew his eyes had gone silver, but he didn’t care. He stepped out onto the dance floor and grabbed his mate, pulling her close. He could practically smell the disappointment in the men around him as he showed that Cyn belonged to him. “Having fun?”

“Always.” She glanced behind him. “Where’s Chloe?”

“She decided not to come. She still tires easily.”

She shimmied and he damn near moaned. Cyn looped her arms around his neck and tugged on his braid. “I should have asked you to wear your hair down.”

He rolled his eyes. She had the strange obsession with his hair. “Should I have put it in curlers first?”

“Sure. I was also thinking of scheduling us for matching facials and mani-pedis.”

There was only one response to that. “The one with the cucumbers over the eyes? Sign me up! I hear they do wonders for your pores.”

Cyn shook her head. “I am so tattooing a purple fairy on your ass.”

“I’d rather have your name.” It was an ongoing argument between them, because for some strange reason she thought he was joking. He’d been trying to get her to tattoo Property of Cyn on his ass for weeks now, but she blocked him at every turn. Perhaps it was time he had a chat with Tabby. She might do it for him. He’d just have to make sure she didn’t laugh her way through the whole tattoo. He’d hate it if it looked like it was done by a five-year-old.

They settled into an easy rhythm, moving and swaying together as if they danced with each other a thousand times before. It wasn’t long before her head was resting against his chest, her hat perched on his head. Her fingers stroked through his loosened hair, combing it for him. She’d shoved the rubber band into his back pocket, copping a feel before stroking his hair once more. He let his own fingers do the walking down her back. When his hands landed on her ass he squeezed. Damn, he liked these pants. He’d have to see if he could get her to wear them on their next date night.

She tilted her head back and looked at him through her lashes. It didn’t take him long to find out what she was up to. She began to nibble on the exposed skin of his throat, licking and tasting him. He shivered and tilted his head when she found an especially sensitive spot.

“Somebody likes that,” she whispered, her warm breath tickling the moist spots she’d left behind.

“Oh, yeah, somebody definitely does.”

He felt a tug on his hair and allowed his head to be pulled back. He was rewarded for his obedience by more warm, wet kisses. He closed his eyes, savoring the touch of his mate and the fact that she wanted him. It was hot as hell to have her taking the lead. Normally he was the one who instigated any touches or kisses. To have Cyn take the initiative made him weak in the knees. He was so hard he could probably drill holes in granite.