Hell's Belle (16 page)

“What in the
hell
are you doing?” Hearing the harsh demand, I opened my eyes, blinking the haze away, recognizing my surroundings as one of the curtained alcoves that surrounded the dance floor. The strong grasp was released, and I rubbed my tender wrist. I was not a woman to be treated so callously. Passion quickly turned to anger. My face went red with fury, instead of desire. And the man before me hesitated, finally realizing his jeopardy.

“No, the question isn’t ‘What in the hell I’m doing?’ but ‘What in the hell are you doing, Lucas—” I stepped forward, poking him in the chest, “—Alexander,” another step and another poke, “—Deveroux?’” Another sharp jab. He winced, stepping back with each poke. Following his retreat with slow, deliberate steps, I barely took a breath before growling, “I know your mama taught you better than to shove a lady into a dark room without her permission or request.”

Like a good Southern boy, Luke looked pained at the mention of his mama. And well he should. I knew he’d been raised to know better. I may no longer be with her son, but I was still one of Mamie Deveroux’s favorite visitors. One word to her about Luke’s ill-treatment and she’d lay low the almighty Wolf Alpha.

Luke was giving me those puppy eyes. That had worked so well when we were together, but things had changed. I had changed. And I wasn’t done just yet. This had been a long time coming. “But more importantly,” I poked him once more for good measure, “you don’t have the right to ask about what I do when you’re not around.” I didn’t mention that I’d been the one to leave him. That seemed too low a blow with Jacq within earshot. And what was with Luke’s sudden jealousy? Surely Mynx wasn’t right…

I could feel Jacq at my back, but she kept silent, letting me fight this battle on my own—a point in her favor. For that I almost forgave her for telling me to stay in the kitchen during the hellhound attack. Almost. I made a concerted effort to calm down before I accidentally burned the place to the ground. Although I’d been unsuccessful in locating the Beast-Clan’s good manners handbook, I was sure that torching the Alpha’s nightclub was a big no-no. Weres were temperamental like that.

“Lace, look.” Luke ran a hand over his short hair in frustration. “This isn’t what you think.” At my doubting look, he quickly reversed. “Well, maybe it’s a little of that.” Mynx was right. Damn her.

Jacq moved closer. I wanted so badly to lean into her, to seek comfort. But what I wanted wasn’t necessarily what I needed. A confused frown formed on my face. I felt more than Jacq’s presence. I felt
her
. I could sense her anger, her smoldering passion, and other, more elusive emotions. Strangely, I didn’t feel Luke. Obviously I was not developing an empathic ability. So it must have something to do with our previous magical interactions. I focused solely on Luke. There would be time to explore this new ability later. Right now, I had bigger fish to fry. Though fortunately for the man standing before me, I only meant that figuratively.

“Look at yourself.” Luke gestured at my pants. “The good detective there was putting off enough heat to draw security’s attention. She was practically glowing with it.” He gave Jacq an accusing look, evidently assuming the heat had all come from her. In our years together, I’d never shown him my fire. Partially because it was a secret, but mostly because my ex had this thing against magic. I didn’t know why. All Weres were more or less anti-magic, but Luke was nearly fanatically so. Why he had wanted to date a witch had been beyond me, but since I’d been almost a magical dud, it hadn’t mattered.

I looked at the two hand-shaped scorch marks Luke gestured to. Light brown, they stood out against my nearly white jeans. “You should see our healer, Lace. You’ve got to be burned.” His voice was gentler, his expression concerned.

That lasted for all of five seconds.

Luke took a deep breath, nostrils flaring. His concern was quickly replaced with hard eyes and flat tight lips. Realizing what his more sensitive nose must have picked up, I blushed and crossed my arms. It was awkward enough standing around in wet panties without my ex getting a whiff of exactly
how
and to whom I’d been reacting.

Jacq jumped in, “There was never any danger. I felt Cate use her magic to shield herself and the club.”

True, there was no danger. But Jacq must know I hadn’t been—and wasn’t now—shielding. There was no need. I’d consumed most of the heat. Now I felt both energized and sated, like a rabid football fan stuffed on Turkey day feels as the first televised game begins. I was glad she hadn’t mentioned that my own fire had generated some of that heat. I felt guilty letting her take the blame, but that was information Luke didn’t need. Sometimes Lucas Deveroux could be like a dog with a bone, never satisfied until he’d unearthed and buried every secret ten times over. Though I did feel a bit like finding a hole and crawling into it, I would not be letting anyone cover me in dirt for a long time yet.

Luke opened his mouth. I raised my hand, forestalling the comment I knew he was dying to make. He snapped his jaw shut with an audible
click
. I looked at him, thinking, my fingers drumming against my leg. Luke ground his teeth. Jacq politely coughed. Or was that a laugh? I stopped, keeping my expression neutral. I’d been rubbing the spot where her hands had, minutes ago, so visibly rested.

This wasn’t a moment for sarcasm, so I kept my tone gracious. “Luke.” At my soft words, the muscles in his jaw loosened. “I appreciate your concern.” He almost smiled, but that disappeared as I added, “However, we have an agreement with Grey. Jacq and I won’t do anything to endanger his club or its occupants this evening, at least nothing outside defending ourselves or each other.” At Jacq’s name, Luke crossed his arms, scowling. “And as far as I know, we haven’t broken any rules. Have we?” Hands on my hips, I stared him down, arching a brow.

Luke mutely shook his head. The man had never been able to lie to me. I should’ve saved us all some trouble and just asked him years ago if he was still in love with me. I let out a resigned sigh.
And I bet that would’ve gone really well.

Luke shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, giving me a pleading look. “Lace, I—”

“No.” I raised my hand then moved it to rub the aching muscles in my neck. My system’s constant battle with the phers was giving me a headache. “We’ll talk, I promise. But not here. Not now. Another night, okay?” My urge to fight suddenly gone, I looked at Luke with tired eyes. Maybe I was being rude, but it no longer mattered. I was becoming lethargic, every limb a heavy weight. Heading to bed sounded good. Tomorrow was a new day. I didn’t let my mind linger on the depressing thought that it would probably be full of the same old bullshit. We’d deal with that then. I’d had enough drama for tonight.

“Would you please ask Becca to show us to our rooms?” I asked.

Luke gave Jacq an uncertain look. Did he think the woman would maul me if he left us alone for two minutes? I should be so fortunate. I expected Luke to argue, as was his standard. But maybe he was changing. Or more likely, he knew when to cut and run. At my frustrated huff, he left.

I turned to Jacq, inexplicably nervous. She leaned against the wall, watching me with dark, hooded eyes.
That look.
It made me uneasy in ways I didn’t fully comprehend. My mouth went dry, and my mind blanked. The silence was thick with things that needed to be said, but I didn’t know where to start.

Jacq must have seen something of my hesitation because she stepped forward with hands out, dropping them before touching me. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.” Something twisted in my chest. “But I don’t regret it.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I didn’t understand why that was so important. It just was. Standing only a foot away, Jacq tucked her thumbs into her pockets, hands flexing. Stormy eyes bored into my soul. I recognized what she was feeling, because I was feeling it too. Something in us needed to touch the other, but we were both resisting.

“Let’s sit for a moment.” Legs suddenly weak, I moved to the alcove’s black leather sofa. Jacq closed the velvet drapes halfway, muting the club’s noise, before joining me.

Although we weren’t touching, as I turned to face her I felt her heat. She’d left her jacket in the car and I could clearly see the strong tight muscles that had so recently held me close. I inhaled her scent. Sage, sandalwood, and now something else. My cheeks flooded again. Jacq smelled like me. No wonder Luke had been angry. Not only did I smell like wet woman, but the auburn-haired beauty before me smelled like my personal scent of oranges. There would’ve been no doubt how
long
and how
closely
we’d been touching for my smell to transfer to her.

I tried to mentally force the blood to my heart or brain, anywhere but my face. But at Jacq’s husky, “You’re beautiful when you blush,” I felt the red in my cheeks grow impossibly deeper. Hellfire and brimstone, I hadn’t blushed this badly since my mom, Nana and Aunt Helena had tried to give me the birds n’ bees talk…all together…with diagrams. It was quite possibly the most embarrassing game of Pictionary I’d ever played.

“Thank you.” I managed a smile. “Does that mean I’m not beautiful when I’m not red-faced?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Jacq teased. “I’ve yet to have the pleasure of seeing you any other way.” I laughed.

Sitting here like this, teasing each other, it was hard to remember my reasons for keeping my distance, but I hadn’t forgotten our dance and that I needed time to digest what had occurred. Maybe Jacq needed time, too, because she was neither the masked flirt hiding behind cold detachment that I’d first met nor this morning’s bonfire of need. She seemed open, relaxed…and waiting.

But for what?

Taking my cue from her, I relaxed, laying my hands flat on my thighs, denying the urge to touch her, not quite meeting her eyes. This wasn’t like me. I’d never blushed, stammered, or been shy around someone I was romantically interested in. That thought stopped me. When had this gone from a simple case of physical attraction (albeit an extremely strong one) to romantic interest? I wasn’t sure. But sure as I knew my name, I knew that was what this was. I was very much interested in the woman sitting across from me. And this was the wrong time to be having such an epiphany, especially when the woman in question was trying to regain my attention.

“Cate, look at me…please.” I squared my chin, raising my eyes. Jacq looked worried. I frowned. She
was
worried. I could feel it along with her continued desire. My connection to her emotions was weak but sensible.

“Why are you worried?” I blurted out, my mouth on autopilot. Gah, I wished (not for the first time) that tact were part of my personality. Was it too late to be mentally reprogrammed?

A slew of unknown emotions played across Jacq’s features. With joy and reservation, she finally asked, “Do you want the long or the short answer?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Short, please.” Jacq looked both relieved and disappointed. “But only because Becca will be here soon. How about a rain check on the other?” In a way, that was a promise that there would be other days, other talks. That secret half-smile returned momentarily before her face turned serious, watching me.

“Certainly.” Jacq released a quick breath. “The short answer. This thing between us,” she gestured to our bodies, “it’s intense, but it feels…natural…true? I’m not sure of the word you would use.”

“Right. It feels right.” I spoke softly, halfway closing my eyes, not wanting to see her rejection, but she nodded, smiling. In a way, it was a relief that she felt the same thing. But in another, it was a different sort of strain. It gave this between us hope. Potential. Possibility. Something that could never be. Maybe it was the masochist in me that kept me from stopping her explanation.

“I don’t want to scare you away.” Her words were truthful, but there was more she wasn’t saying. I’d have to make time soon for that long version.

Jacq watched me expectantly. I recognized that look now. She expected me to run, hoped I wouldn’t, and was preparing for the inevitable. How had we gotten here so fast? Luke and I had been together for months, maybe years, before I’d seen that look. Did that mean we were doomed to crash and burn at an even quicker pace? How I could hurt this strong and wonderful woman was beyond me. Yet that was the only future I could see. For us both.

“Jacqueline…Jacq.”

Her smile was radiant, a flash of white teeth and that delectable dimple. What could I say to reassure her without making false promises? I bit my lip, plunging onward, forcefully keeping my head up and my eyes locked on her dark gray gaze.

“I’ve never felt this sort of attraction to a woman before.” I took a deep breath. “And it scares me. In fact, I’ve never felt this sort of magical soul-deep connection with anyone. That scares me a thousand times more.”

Her pupils widened. I could’ve lied. Probably should’ve. But lying seemed wrong. We were both in agreement that the thing between us felt right. I wanted to keep it that way. We might never have anything more between us than honesty.

I couldn’t take that away, as well.

I took a quick breath, continuing, “But I’m not running. I can’t guarantee I won’t want to, but I plan on sticking around to figure out what this is.”
For now.
It was true, I would never run. But I couldn’t promise that I wouldn’t someday
walk
away. I knew now that, if—or when—that day came, there would be more than a little hesitation in my step.

I wasn’t sure which of us was more shocked by my words. I’d always been an extremely private person, never sharing much of myself, which had caused more than one fight between me and Luke. I hadn’t planned to share so much this time. I just couldn’t seem to stop. Giving in, I put my hand over hers where it rested across the sofa’s top—purely to offer comfort.

Or so I told myself.

“Besides…” I waited for the eyes that had been looking at our joined hands to meet my own before smiling. “You owe me a new pair of jeans.”