Amber: July: Mystic Zodiac, Book 7 (3 page)

T
heo nudged Andreas
, pulling him back to the here and now. A cute blonde stood in front of them, batting her baby blue eyes at him expectantly.

They were standing at the bar directly in front of the two-way mirror. Whoever was behind it had his wolf captivated. He did a mental shake and focused on the bartender. “Sorry.”

“What do you want, handsome?” She purred, her hand hovering over an upturned glass.

He checked out the beers on tap and picked what he thought would be a dark lager. It didn’t really matter what he got as long as it allowed him a couple more minutes to see if the one tempting his wolf would emerge from behind the glass partition.

The wolf inside clawed to the forefront in anticipation. Panting for a glimpse to see who called to him. He insisted they remain riveted to the spot, and Andreas was curious enough to want to stay there as well. His animal knew on an instinctual level that his prey would come to them. With Andreas’s keen hearing, he heard the quiet snick of a door opening and shutting quickly. The sultry redhead with an hourglass figure from the flyer emerged from the hallway to his left. A breath shuddered out of him in relief she still worked at the bar. A small part of him second-guessed his decision to drive the three hours from town out to the secluded area.

Her gaze snapped to his, locking them both in place. Arousal made a swift and powerful trip through his body. Every nerve ending stood on end, and his dick swelled in his jeans.

She stopped mid-step, her eyes opening wide. It was as if she knew the effect she had on his body. Andreas cocked his head to the side and focused on the woman. It was a blessing the bar wasn’t filled to capacity yet. It allowed him to pick up her heart rate, which beat out a rapid tattoo. Her breathing accelerated, her chest rising and falling quickly. Whether she knew it or not, she was reacting to the mating vibes his wolf was putting out.

“Amber, you back from break?” The blonde who had served them asked, shocking them back into reality. “I need ten.”

Amber.
He said her name in his head, liking the sound of it. It evoked thoughts of slow burns and hot nights. Passion and lust hotter than the sun.

The redhead, he now knew as Amber, sauntered toward the bar, her feet ungluing from the floor. “Yeah, I’m back.” The normalcy in her voice threw him off guard for a moment. She sounded carefree; like the moment that passed between them was something she experienced every day. “Anything interesting happen while I was gone?”

The blonde tossed a rag in Amber’s direction. She caught it easily, letting it dangle from her hand.

“Those jerks at the end are still there. You might need to grab Leif or one of the other guys to toss their asses out. They’re nothing but trouble, and not the good kind like these two hunks.” She nodded at Theo and Andreas, her bright gaze eating up his friend like he was the main course on the buffet menu.

Amber turned her attention to them. She glanced quickly at Theo, before her gaze landed on Andreas. “I don’t know, Brit. Surfer-boy might be up for some fun and games, but I’m not sure the other one can handle my kind of trouble. Looks a little…uptight to me.” One corner of her mouth quirked up into a sassy little grin. Mischief sparkled in her green eyes. Andreas couldn’t help but fall for her a little bit more.

Ever since seeing her picture earlier that day, he couldn’t get her off his mind. Her image called him to seek her out. Find out more about her. His wolf pushed him to bask in her glow and allow her to become the center of his universe.

“That’s never stopped you from having a good time before,” Brit quipped, bringing Andreas back to the conversation. “Maybe you can loosen him up, and show him what a good time looks like. Give him a piece of this fine ass.” As she passed by Amber, she popped her in the butt. The loud smack echoed within the confines of the back bar. The wolf pitched forward, wanting to protect its mate from the playful slap. Andreas thought he’d rather be the one popping that ass. Having her bent over his knees with her tight derrière thrust up in the air, trembling in anticipation of the first hit. It was his newest fantasy and,
fuck
; it made his dick hard.

“I’ll be in the boss’s office. He doesn’t have one of his girls back there, does he?”

The blonde’s words brought Andreas out of his daydream. He really needed to do a better job of staying in the present. He knew on some level that Amber had just come from back there. He hoped like hell she wasn’t involved with the boss of the place somehow. He’d hate to have to fuck the guy up.

“Not anymore,” Amber said, whipping the towel onto her shoulder.

“Chased another one off?”

“Not until
after
she was done blowing him. If he would get us a break room…” Amber trailed off.

“Then he wouldn’t have that problem,” Brit laughed and walked away. Her laughter trailing behind her and drawing the eyes of the males around them.

Amber turned her fiery gaze toward him. He noticed she didn’t look him directly in the eyes, at least not for very long. Odd behavior for a Siren. They normally didn’t have problems holding their own with people.
So, maybe she knows there’s something special between you.

“You boys doing okay?” She wiped down the bar in front of them, leaning over slightly. Andreas couldn’t help but look down her tight red tank that had
Ecstasis D
splashed across her ample breasts. The peek gave him a great view of creamy globes and a lacy white bra cupping them ever so well. His hands would do a better job of holding them though, he thought.

She cleared her throat and he noticed her smirk. “Like the view?” Her voice dropped in a husky tone. It caressed his ears and went straight to his dick. He hardened further, and reached down to adjust his length behind the zipper.

The corners of his mouth drew up into a grin when he noted her gaze dropped when he adjusted himself. He cleared his throat and nodded when her eyes snapped back to his. He wasn’t the least bothered at being caught staring or to catch her trying to stare.

The wolf loved having her close enough to pick up the cinnamon scent rolling off her skin. He took a sip of his beer, keeping her in his sight, as she swiftly turned and walked down the length of the bar checking on the patrons. When she got to the end where three young guys sat, he noticed she stayed back a couple of steps. Her posture stiff and defensive.

“Come on, baby, come a little closer. We’re good friends with Frost, he even bought my beer. I promise, I won’t bite.” He snapped his teeth together like he was chomping on food, setting Andreas’s teeth on edge. “Unless you want me too.” The kid probably thought he was being slicker than shit, but he only came across as cheesy as hell. He’d never get anywhere with women using lines like that.

Amber snorted and shook her head. “I think you’ve had enough, Cody.” She snatched up his partially finished beer and started to turn away when the young, mouthy cub lunged for her in an attempt to grab her. It was enough to spur Andreas into motion. No one touched his mate—
ever
.

Thanks to shifter speed, he was behind the guy, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and away from Amber before she could really react. Her surprised little gasp told him she didn’t expect to be rescued. He’d teach her soon enough that no one messed with what was his.
After
he dealt with the boy.

Andreas’s fangs descended when he got a whiff of the man-child who thought to touch his mate. A bear. A dumb, young, drunk bear. The kid was probably celebrating his twenty-first birthday—a tradition the shifter communities adhered to in order to blend with humans—and riding a high of invincibility or, as bad as he smelled…invisibility.

Andreas growled low in his throat, startling the two boys with the kid. Theo appeared at his side, as did a mountain of a man with hair as pale as moonlight with skin to match, and even paler ice-blue eyes.

“Is there a problem?” the unknown man rumbled, his sharp gaze landing on each of them.

Andreas caught the flash of silver in the man’s eyes, and the glint of sharp deadly teeth. A bear as well, Polar if he had to guess. Rare for the part of the country they lived in, but not unheard of. As long as there was a cool body of water nearby, the bear would be comfortable in its surroundings.

“He tried to grab your bartender.” Andreas tightened his hold on the back of the man’s neck, digging his thumb harder into soft tissue and muscle. The kid whimpered in pain and proved just how drunk he was. He didn’t attempt to shift and fight for his life. He hung limply from Andreas’s grasp, making that pathetic noise. “I found his behavior unacceptable.”

The polar bear grunted and turned to Amber. “Amber?”

“I told you they were acting up, Frost. You should have taken that as my cue to take care of it. You’re usually better than this.”

Frost, the no longer unnamed polar bear and apparent boss, grunted again and turned back to Andreas and the other men. “Let him go. I’ll take care of it.”

Andreas wasn’t so inclined to do what the man wanted. Not when it came to the safety of his woman. The wolf in him chomped at the bit to dish out the punishment the bear rightly earned.

“They’re in my Den,” he growled. “Trust me. I’ll straighten them out.” Frost motioned over his head and two more massive guys, bouncers most likely, appeared. They grabbed the two men and waited for Andreas to release the third.

Before he let go of his grip, he got in the cub’s face. “You ever try to touch her again and I’ll kill you. I don’t care what Den, Clan, or Pack you’re in. You
will
be dead.” He let go and shoved the kid slightly. The boy stumbled and was caught my Frost.

“Is there something I should know?” Frost looked between Andreas and Amber.

Andreas snarled. “I protect what’s mine.”

“And, is she yours?” A smile played on the big man’s lips. He obviously knew what Andreas meant.

Amber’s eyes rounded briefly, causing Andreas to smirk. “Not yet, but she will be,” he said. “The Siren and I need to get to know each other a little better first. But I know what the wolf tells me is true.”

A
mber knew
her eyes were bugging out, but it couldn’t be helped or stopped. The man’s words were full of confidence, which she found arousing beyond reason, and yet they scared the ever-living hell out of her. She tried to tap into the mind of the sharply dressed wolf—and, no, she didn’t miss the quick flash of gold typically found in the eyes of wolves when they found something they wanted—but she couldn’t get a read on him. Absolutely nothing. She schooled her features before anyone had a chance to see her surprise. Though, she didn’t think it was quick enough to fool
him
.

He smirked and, against all odds, she blushed. Her cheeks heated instantly, and she was sure if she pressed a cool cloth to them, steam would rise.

Frost gave her one of his patent
don’t fuck up my bar
looks, and took the boys to the back office. He would straighten them out, and she fully expected to see them in the near future bearing an apology. He would probably rope them into the bachelor auction he was setting up to help raise funds for the expansion of the Den’s land rights. But she didn’t want to think about that at the moment. There was another man who called to her, demanding her attention.

She turned to the handsome wolf and studied him. He was an awfully pretty man. Definitely not her usual type. She went more for the rough and tumble men. The one nighters. The love ‘em and leave ‘em, never see them again kind of men.

But that was not this man. She pulled on her normal bravado to mask how much he fucked with everything she held dear. Her single life. Her love of doing what she pleased with whomever she pleased. Her belief that she would never settle down with one man or one woman. Which was crazy because she didn’t even know his name. How could it be possible that he turned her life upside down in an instant without even knowing who he was? She cocked her hip and thrust her hand onto it. “You think we need to get to know each other better, huh? I’m not so sure about that, wolfie.”

The sexiest damn grin she’d ever seen curled the corner of his mouth. He stepped around the end of the bar, sending her insides into a panic, and leaving nothing between them. She trembled inside, waiting to see what he would do next. Every instinct she had that should have been screaming
run
had somehow gone silent.

He invaded her personal space. “I
know
we do.” Her breath caught when he lowered his mouth to hers, pressing firmly—insistently. His tongue glided across the seam of her lips, pulling a whimper from somewhere within. She opened her mouth and let him in, against her better judgment, but that part of her brain was dying swiftly. Every cell in her body craved more of his touch, more of his taste. He drove his tongue in swiftly, brushing against hers. She tasted dark beer and rich, smooth elegance. Heat suffused her body, her nipples puckered against the lace bra she’d given him a tease of earlier.

As quickly as the kiss started, it was over. He retreated and broke away. Her disappointment a palpable thing, her knees buckling as he straightened, taking his beautiful mouth away. Before she had a chance to collapse at his feet, he wrapped a thick arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his muscular body. When he leaned in, she thought he would kiss her again. Anticipated it. Yearned for it. But, instead, his lips found the shell of her ear. “For the record, I’m a long ways from uptight, and any trouble you want to bring, baby, I can
more
than handle it.”

He stepped back to the other side of the bar, and left her feeling bereft of life. She wanted to weep and grieve his withdrawal from her. Amber shook her head and had to mentally pull it together. “Is that right?” Her voice came out breathy, and not even close to the indifferent badass she hoped.

“Oh yeah.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps flexing impressively.

She licked her lips in a bid to make sure she wasn’t drooling. “You think you can handle my brand of trouble.” She tried to inflect doubt into her words, but wasn’t too sure she was all that successful.

“I know I can.” The corners of his lips curled and a dimple appeared in his left cheek. Her knees quivered at the sight, and a giddy little sigh tried to escape. She was a sucker for a man with dimples. Add in a superb kisser and she was a total goner.

This is crazy
. She took a breath and tossed him a sassy look. “Well, you’ll just have to hold that thought for a while. I have work to do.” She pursed her lips and invoked her Siren. Batting her lashes, she let some of her arousal bleed through her voice. “Maybe if you’re still around at the end of my shift, I’ll let you find out.”

Wolfie’s eyes narrowed and flashed gold. “I’ll be right here waiting whenever you’re ready,” he said, his deep voice skated over her skin like a caress. He plopped down into the recently vacated seat. His shaggy haired friend sitting next to him with a goofy grin on his face.

Amber let out a deep breath and made her way back down the bar to the opposite end. She stopped along the way, serving up beer and liquor. Chatting and enticing the men to buy more, settling back into her normal role the further she got from him. If, on occasion, she glanced at the handsome man that came to her rescue, then so be it. She never said the man wasn’t damn good eye-candy.

A
ndreas felt
Theo’s heavy gaze on him. He looked at him in his periphery, and saw his blatant curiosity about what had just gone down.

“Go ahead,” he said. Ready to hear whatever it was Theo was biting his tongue trying not to say.

“Your mate, huh? Aren’t you afraid that woman will chew you up and spit you out?”

Andreas laughed lightly. Other shifters might not be able to handle having a Siren for a mate, but that would never be his problem. “Not gonna happen.”

“Oh? And why not? Does the big bad Greek with an ancient pedigree think he can actually handle the Siren?”

“You know I can. That woman is my mate, and she’ll be putty in my hands in no time.”

Theo chuckled low. “Good luck. I have a feeling she isn’t going to go quietly into the night with you. But…you can thank me now in the form of the hot blonde’s number and a huge fucking steak.”

“Do they even serve food here?” Andreas looked around and, sure enough, they did. He wasn’t sure how he missed it before, but he had. Well, he actually did know how. His wolf had all of his senses focused on one woman and nothing else.

Amber strolled back toward them. Her hips swished from side to side, grabbing his attention. His hands would fit perfectly on them when he fucked her from behind. Her beautiful ass softening the blows as he powered into her over and over again. He tore his gaze away from her waist, and allowed it to travel up when she stopped in front of another customer. A grin flirted on her lips as she talked. She must have felt the weight of his stare. She tilted her head and looked his way. Her friendly, flirty smile turned to something entirely different. It was sensual, seductive, and pure sin.

Oh yeah. She was going to be his by the end of the night. He could feel it in his bones.

“What can I get you boys?” She stopped in front of them, leaning over the bar. She angled her body toward him, giving him another great view of her tits.

“Well, Amber,” Andreas said, doing a good job of catching her off guard. Her sultry mouth popped open, then closed with a snap. “My friend here would like a steak and ale. He’d also like the number of
your
friend.” He pointed behind her to the blonde who’d come back from break.

“That’s up to Brit about the number, but I don’t think she’ll be opposed to it. I’ll get him the steak and ale. And what about you? What do you want?”

The answer was easy. “You.”

“You’ve already established that.” A saucy grin curled her lips. “I’ll warn you right now. I don’t do long-term.”

“We’ll see about that. I’ll take a steak and ale as well while I wait for your shift to end.”

He loved how her eyes sparkled at his challenge. “How about you give me a name to go with that cock-sure attitude?”

“Andreas Stathos, to pepr
o
méno mou.”

“Don’t think a foreign tongue will have me swooning at your feet, Andreas. Eímai dik
í
mou moíra.” She spun away and whispered in the ear of the other bartender.

Andreas chuckled softly at his feisty mate. She would be the perfect partner for him.

“What did she say?” Theo turned to him expectantly.

“I called her my destiny and she said, ‘
I am my own destiny’.
”

“So, she put you in your high and mighty Greek place. I love her already.”

“That she did.” He grinned, thrilled with the turn of events for the day.