The Club Read online

  A Total-E-Bound Publication

  www.total-e-bound.com

  The Club

  ISBN # 978-0-85715-632-7

  ©Copyright Yvette Hines 2011

  Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright August 2011

  Edited by Rebecca Hill

  Total-E-Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

  Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-burning and a sexometer of 2.

  THE CLUB

  Yvette Hines

  Dedication

  To the other half to my soul. Thanks for all the years you made me watch one paranormal movie after another…(sigh) You made me love the vampires and werewolves as much as you. To the Five Heartbeats, my virtual and cellular writing companions, thanks for your support in “finishing” this story. Thanks to my editor, whose comments were invaluable. Always remembering my readers with applause.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Rolls Royce: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG

  Not Myself Tonight: Christina Aguilera

  Bluetooth: Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

  Coke: The Coca-Cola Company

  Camaro: General Motors LLC

  Chapter One

  “Trae, it’s time you mated and prepared to take your place in this pack,” growled Romel Wulfene, the pack Alpha.

  Leaning his shoulder against a far wall in his father’s office, Trae observed his sire as the older man paced around behind his desk. This argument was an old one. They had one of his father’s ‘talks’ every few weeks, never to any avail.

  “Look, Dad, we’ve been over this. I’m not trying to play Beta to your Alpha.”

  “Damn it, Trae—” His father slammed his fist against the wooden top of the desk, cutting off his own words.

  The furious anger of the Alpha wolf would have sent most of their pack members running for cover, but his father’s anger, which he translated to mean his father’s lack of understanding, caused Trae’s teeth to gnash.

  Romel’s chest expanded as he inhaled. “Listen, son, I’m no fool. I know an Alpha male when I see one.” Straightening his tie as he raised himself up to his full six-foot-three height, his father composed himself. “As your father, it makes me proud that I have produced an heir who will have the strength and skill to lead the pack.”

  Trae didn’t respond, he only shifted to lean his back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “However, as your Alpha, it grieves me to see you wasting precious time at that club you frequent nightly instead of sniffing through our pack to find a bitch to stand beside you and continue our blood line.”

  It was no secret to Trae what his father thought of the place he and some of the other pack members frequented after work and at the weekends. It was a popular spot that many unattached paranormals visited. A place of lust and music. It was an environment where uncomplicated pleasures could be enjoyed—not an establishment for mate-finding. Trae knew this, and when he was honest with himself, he admitted it was his personal diversion tactic. Not that he wasn’t ready to settle down, he just didn’t want to be forced to stand second in command with a woman with whom he would have no connection besides the physical.

  “It’s my time to waste.” Since puberty, Trae had understood the importance of finding a mate. The ability to keep the pack large and strong would ensure the safety of all who looked to them for protection. “Besides, we each have our own way of finding the right woman.”

  His father shook his head. “You will not find her at that club.”

  “Who knows?” Trae shrugged, pushed away from the wall and moved to stand behind the chair on the other side of the desk.

  “We were too lenient with you. Your mother and I should have selected a mate for you from the pack, as my father did for me.”

  It was Trae’s turn to growl as he gripped the back of the plush leather chair, his claws extending for a moment. “Yes, Dad, but don’t try and make it sound as if you took one for the pack. Mother turned out to be your mate, so there was no reason for you to fight the mating order.”

  Romel sighed and ran a strong hand through his short, brown hair. “You’re right, Trae. But I need you to stand with me. You will either choose soon, or I must make the decision for you, and to hell with your anger.”

  Retracting his claws, Trae closed his eyes, an attempt to rein in his resentment. He opened his eyes and gazed at his father. “What’s the rush, Dad? Am I not doing my job in the company? Pulling more than my own weight?”

  Romel nodded. “You know I can’t find fault with your work at the office, Trae. I can bear witness you are the first one there in the morning, and usually the last one to leave.”

  Tossing his hands high at his sides, Trae demanded, “Then what? What more, Dad? All I ask is for more time to find a mate who will be to me what mother is to you, someone the Great Spirit created with the other half of your soul.”

  Coming around the desk, his father stopped before him and spoke in low tones. “I want that for you, too. But you ask for time when there is none left to give.”

  The older man placed his heavy hand on Trae’s shoulder.

  “The original pack in Oklahoma have sent word they are receiving pressure from a new, covetous pack to forfeit the land and town.”

  This was the first Trae had heard of this issue. The Oklahoma pack was mostly made up of older weres, the descendants of those who had migrated to Oklahoma to protect the Native Americans there. Just as many of the tribes’ men had been lost, so the pack had been thinned out by natural deaths and by killings. Those who had survived had claimed land and built a town. At one time, the town had thrived, pack membership had grown and prospered, but over the years the younger weres had left for greener pastures, leaving the older members of the pack to fend for themselves. Trae’s grandfather and father had always taken an annual trip out there to ensure the mature members were all right. Evidently, this was no longer the case. “Why am I just hearing about this?”

  “They believed they could handle things by themselves. The council only called a few hours ago requesting aid.” Lowering his hand, his father rounded his desk and stood behind it once again.

  Never having known his father to lie to him or withhold information, Trae believed his Alpha’s words. “What are your plans?”

  “I’m relocating to Oklahoma with your mother and sisters, and some other members of the pack, in a few weeks.”

  Frowning, Trae asked, “Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to go?” He was beginning to see the bigger picture and the full reason his father had brought up the issue of his mating again now.

  “No, son, it wouldn’t. Ou
r pack here is thriving and strong. They will need a leader who can carry them through to the next stage. That’s you.” His father’s declaration rumbled like thunder.

  The burden of his Alpha’s words rested on his shoulders like a boulder. “What do you need me to do?”

  Pulling out his high-backed chair, Romel sat. “We’ll solidify the details this week. So, continue to enjoy your club at night while you can. Pray to the Great Spirit that he delivers your mate to you. And know this, son of mine—if he hasn’t by the time we have the induction ceremony instating you as Alpha of our pack, then your mother and I will see you bonded to a female that very night.”

  “Good night, Dad.” There was nothing more to say.

  “I’ll see you at the house, tomorrow evening. I’m sure your mother will want to talk to you, too.”

  After agreeing to show up at the family home, Trae turned and headed out of his father’s office.

  Normally, Trae would have been angry about his father’s intention to force a mate on him, but he wasn’t. He couldn’t be. His pack needed him. Needed him to be Alpha and show he had the ability to lead them and provide strong heirs.

  A part of him no longer wanted to go to his nightly hangout spot. The thought of slaking his carnal lust with a partner or partners who would not be of benefit to his pack wasn’t appealing to him. However, the other part of him wanted this last night of freedom before the pressures and concerns of his pack became his first priority.

  After tonight, he would have to resign himself to the knowledge that he had not found his mate. He also had to be truthful with himself and admit he hadn’t put in the right energy to locate her, either.

  * * * *

  “I can’t believe I let you drag me here, Kelsey.” Olivia Sanders stared at her best friend in astonishment. Kelsey had hauled her into some wild and crazy things since they were college students, but this topped them all.

  “Come on, Liv, live a little.”

  That was the cute line Kelsey gave Olivia when she wanted her to do something daring. Something Olivia’s mind told her was most likely the wrong choice. “Feel my heart. It’s beating. I’m alive.”

  “I’m going to make you prove it.” Kelsey fingered her short, blonde hair, ensured the strands with the heavy mousse hadn’t lost their wild spike as she stared across the street and looked at The Club.

  Olivia assessed the three-storey structure as well, but with apprehension instead of excitement. The red neon lights with French script lettering shone more of a warning than a beacon of desire. There was something about this club.

  A sense of being watched, observed, crept up her spine. She looked around but the street was empty. Not even an occasional pedestrian strolled by. In itself, the lack of other people wasn’t unusual, especially since The Club was ten minutes outside the city and five miles past Nowhereville. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

  “This is a best friend’s job.” Grabbing Olivia’s arm, Kelsey pulled her behind her as she charged across the road to the two bouncers standing in front of the nightclub, one white and the other black.

  “What is? Ensuring I die of mortification?” The closer they got to the door, the more her heart raced, and she started to feel a little off-balance.

  Glancing back at her, Kelsey giggled. “No. Helping you fulfil your fantasy. Like you helped me with mine. So, get your ass movin’.”

  “Going to a play party hosted by friends of ours and watching you get restrained and spanked, I could deal with.” She dug her four-inch heels in, halting their progress in the middle of the street. “But this…”

  “It’s your fantasy, Liv,” Kelsey argued.

  Too many games of Truth or Dare after several glasses of wine was never wise. From this moment on, she was crossing it off her list of girls' night activities. Had she really told her best friend she wanted to have a ménage? She groaned. Shaking her head, Olivia said, “Great. I’ve changed my mind, so let’s go.”

  “The hell we will.” Kelsey placed her hands on her hips. “Not after I’ve been poked, prodded and tested for every sexual disease known to man just to get approval to get into this pla—”

  A midnight-blue Rolls Royce pulled up by the kerb between them and the club, putting an end to her friend’s tirade. A man stepped out of the back. He was tall, with broad shoulders and piercing eyes that settled on Olivia. They seemed to see into her soul. It was as if he stood directly in front of her, but away from her at the same time. His skin was darkly tanned and smooth, his features chiselled. He appeared to be a mix of white and Asian, giving him a mature Oriental surfer look, with his ink-black hair blunt-cut at the collar.

  Heat began to swirl in her core. She couldn’t move until he finally turned away and strutted towards the club. She enjoyed watching the way the black leather pants clung to him and the matching long vest swayed and moved with his body.

  She wanted him.

  “Good evening, Anton,” one of the guards said as he opened the door to let him in.

  Returning the greeting, the man disappeared behind the thick, oak double doors.

  “Oh, shit. Did you see Mr Sexy Samurai? It’s possible I just came in my panties,” Kelsey moaned as she adjusted her micro-mini skirt.

  Yeah, she’d seen him. For the first time that night, Olivia wanted to know what was behind those doors. What awaited her inside this ménage club? “It can’t hurt just to look around, right?”

  “Damn straight,” Kelsey agreed. “I’d do you and him if I had to, just to get into this place.”

  Olivia allowed the laughter to spill from her mouth. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Ladies, can I see your access cards, please?” One of the two mountains at the door held up his hand as they approached, barring their way.

  Kelsey dug in her small clutch purse and pulled out a pair of cards. They had got the entrance passes thanks to Kelsey’s fantasy—the Dom who had restrained and spanked her had used his contacts to get them access.

  The black guard took the cards and scanned them. Nodding, he said, “You two are good.”

  “Enjoy, ladies.” The white man pulled the door open.

  “We will,” Kelsey sang out as they entered the club.

  The large doors closed behind them with a thud, sealing them inside, where the darkness was broken only by the flickering red-and-white strobes around the dance floor.

  As soon as they crossed the threshold, Olivia knew there was more to the club than met the eye—more than the casual gossip outside its walls would suggest. It wasn’t Christina Aguilera’s Not Myself Tonight blasting loudly from the speakers, or the people gyrating on the floor in so many multiple groups she lost track of arms and legs. It was something else. She couldn’t explain it or put it into words. Patrons mingling around the outer perimeter of the large room stared at them, but the feeling of being watched was not what was causing the hair to rise on the back of her neck.

  Just being inside this club was turning her on. Her skin felt as if a million fingers were caressing and stroking her. She looked around. No one was near them, but everyone seemed to be watching them, especially the men and women lounging around the bar and tables. As if they were waiting for something.

  “Kelsey, how you doin’?” Olivia turned to look at her friend.

  “I’m good, but I’ll be even better as soon as I get out there and dance.” Kelsey swung her hips from left to right, following the beat of the song and the moving bodies on the dance floor. Nothing in her friend’s body language showed Kelsey responding to this club any differently than she would to any party. Kelsey took a step in the direction of the dance floor.

  Olivia grabbed her arm. “You can’t leave me by myself.”

  Facing her, Kelsey said, “Liv, I was just joking when I said I’d do you with that tanned hunk.”

  Olivia put her hands on her hip and eyed her friend. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.” She glanced over her shoulder, then leaned over to her fri
end’s ear. “Something’s up with this place. I feel—”

  “Good. You’re supposed to ‘feel’. That’s why we’re here, remember?” Kelsey winked at her and shimmied her body from side to side.

  Olivia rolled her eyes.

  Stopping her movements for a second, Kelsey spoke seriously. “Our cell phones are fully charged.” She tapped the Bluetooth device flashing in her ear. “We’ll meet back in this spot when the club closes. If you need me before that, call me. I’ll tear this place down to find you.”

  Now, that was the Kelsey she knew, street chick to the core. That’s why Olivia would never have allowed anyone else to know her deepest fantasy and accompany her to fulfil it. Olivia might have mastered kick boxing, but for a white girl, Kelsey knew down-and-dirty, kick-off-the-heels-and-remove-your-earrings style fighting.

  Smiling broadly, Olivia nodded. “Got it.”

  “Good.” Blowing her a kiss, Kelsey headed to the dance floor and was quickly swallowed up in the masses.

  * * * *

  Trae watched the medium-height black woman talking to her friend at the door. She and the white girl were matched in height and similar in dress with their mini-skirts, one with a midriff-revealing top and the other wearing a sheer shirt that displayed the red bra beneath it. The bra matched the bold colour of the red shoes they both wore. The similarities ended there. The black woman’s skin was as dark as obsidian and she wore her straight, ebony hair clipped high on her head, so that it made a sort of rooster-tail down to her shoulders. The style bared the long column of her throat. He wondered if she knew what type of signal she was sending out to some of the inhabitants of the room. He allowed himself a cocky smile. Probably not.

  She looked skittish, as if any moment she was going to run out of the door. However, even from this distance, his preternatural sense of smell enabled him to pick up on her arousal. As much as the little rabbit was nervous, she was turned on more. Her scent was so heady in the air he could taste it. Unable to stop himself, he licked his lips. This woman would be a delicious diversion from the things weighing on his mind. Just for a night.