Page 5 of Touched By Moonlight

“How longago?”

I shrugged. “He left about fifteen minutesago.”

“Say anything?” The alpha’s frown creased his forehead. “Why would a Fae be here in a strip club occupied byshifters?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s tired of watching his own kind getnaked.”

All these questions made me uneasy. I needed to divert his attention. “Want adrink?”

“Whisky, straight up. The housebrand.”

“Living dangerously.” I gave him a generous shot of Dante’s finest. “Usually you stick withbeer.”

He poured the glass over the bar seat. “Towelplease.”

I watched him wipe down the seat with the paper towels I’d handed him, chuck them into a garbage can behind the bar, and then resume his seat. Though I agreed with him, inside I winced. Grayson was sexy and the fact he obviously disliked Fae made my chesthollow.

“Another whiskey, please. Make it yourfinest.”

After he received his shot, he sipped, nodding in appreciation. “Tonight’s not a night for beer. I’m toorestless.”

Interesting. In the weeks I’d gotten to know him, the alpha had never been anything but cool andcontrolled.

“Why? Got a hot date?” I felt a pinch ofjealousy.

“No. I’m solotonight.”

“I could changethat.”

Words poured out of my mouth before I could bite my tongue. Flirting with Grayson? He was a tough alpha, and I always treated him with slight distance and lots of respect, not this come-onattitude.

He leaned forward, mouth wet with whiskey. “Oh, you’d be hot, Sienna. But one night would not quench… my thirst. You’re a lass a male keeps in his bed for a long time, and does his damnest to ensure she never wants to goelsewhere.”

“And you think you’re the male who could do that?” I sniffed, even as his words aroused me. “I’ve walked away from other guys’ bedsbefore.”

“You couldn’t walk after being in mine, lass.” Grayson gave a slow, meaningfulsmile.

Sexual desire poured through me. An image of me, languid and spent after hours of sex with this alpha, flashed through my mind. I was turned on by Grayson. No wonder I flirted. I hadn’t had this kind of reaction to a male in a long time. It was dangerous. Risky. I could totally blow my cover of pretending to behuman.

I traced a line on the spotless counter. Cass liked to keep it neat. Suddenly everything felt too tight, too wound up inside me. Too tidy. I wanted messy and sweaty and hot passion tangling between thesheets.

Not with just any male, but the one challengingme.

“Do you have to work tomorrow?” heasked.

I shook my head. “I’m off until next weekend. Day job’s shutting down until next Thursday,too.”

Although I’d been looking forward to peace and quiet for four days, I dreaded it as well. Lately the solo life made me restless and being restless meant I needed time outside to commune with nature. Maybe a walk in a park wouldsuffice.

“Come back with us tonight. Stay a while. You’d like it at our home. We have plenty of woods, meadow, streams. The Timber Wolf retreat is relaxing and we have lots ofroom.”

“Sounds tempting, but I have stuff I’ve got to get done.” I pulled out two beer bottles from the cooler, handed them to Cass. “I could spare you a few hours.Maybe.”

Excuses,excuses.

“What I want is more than a few hours with you. That would never satisfy me.” His gaze burned into mine and then suddenly softened. “You’re worth much more,Sienna.”

Hot and bothered myself, I turned then strode off to attend to the demands at the bar’s farend.

Face flushed, I remained busy pouring drinks, but felt Grayson’s gaze burn into my back as I worked. If I kept bantering with Grayson, I might end up in trouble. Because climbing into bed with someone as lethal and sexy as that alpha werewolf could lower all my barriers. Make me spill secrets I did everything to keephidden.

Sex itself proved risky. I enjoyed it, but felt emotionally vulnerable. So I’d gone without for the three years I’d been on therun.

Judging from Grayson’s flare of interest, he could strip away my layers, baring me as easily as he could rip away myclothing.

I needed to get away from him. Now. Before I did something I wouldregret.

Like ripping away my clothing and letting him take me naked on the bar until we both screamed ourrelease.