"She belongs to the pack." The younger man stepped up. I pegged him at twenty-five, but he looked so familiar. I would have sworn I'd seen that face somewhere. "You have no right b.u.t.ting into pack business, Quinn."

"I have every right when pack business messes with my business. You all know the rules." Dev looked at the two wolves with distaste. "I don't allow young females to be abused in my club."

"I no longer belong to the pack," Angelina insisted from behind me. "I belong to Justin, and he belongs to me."

Justin needed to get his b.u.t.t down here because I didn't want to deal with a lover's quarrel. My mind made a sudden leap. There was something about the word "belong" that made me think. "Angelina, did you make a blood oath to Justin?"

"Yeah, the stupid b.i.t.c.h sure did." Contempt flavored every syllable Mitch.e.l.l uttered. "All because she didn't want to mate with the male selected for her. Normally we would cast her out, but she's of breeding age. We'll punish her, and she'll serve the pack."

Yeah, I bet she would serve the pack on her back or however the h.e.l.l they did it. "Angelina, were you forced into the oath?" I had to ask. It wouldn't be the first time it was forced on a woman.

"Absolutely not," she said vehemently. "I chose Justin. We were matched by the king, but I didn't have to say yes. He told me it was my choice. I love Justin. Please don't let them take me, ma'am."

And that answered the question of why me, and why I was suddenly being called ma'am and mistress. Of course, Daniel decided it was a good idea to start matching up vampires and stray wolves. Nothing bad could ever come out of that. No wonder all the vamps were coming to Dallas. Daniel was busy playing pimp. As was custom, the vampires offered their servants and lovers protection. This protection came from all of Vampire, and not merely the one being served or loved. Angelina had looked around, and I was the closest thing to a representative of Vampire she could find. She'd been smart to find me because I might not be a Good Samaritan, but I would be d.a.m.ned if I let some girl be dragged off and raped. I also knew the rules. "If she took an oath, then she no longer belongs to the pack. She belongs to Vampire, and I will call the Council in if you push me."

I really wouldn't. I hated the Council, but everyone feared them so I would invoke that name whenever I could. I would, however, make Daniel clean up his own d.a.m.n mess. Hubby and I needed to have a talk.

"Look, you stupid b.i.t.c.h, it isn't any of your concern." The younger wolf was beginning to get on my nerves.

Mitch.e.l.l stepped toward me, menace in his dark eyes. He was intimidating, his face all hard plains and stark lines, his body built on solid muscle. "Wyatt, don't talk to the pretty lady like that. She doesn't know who she's messing with. I'll explain it to you, sweetheart. Stay out of our business, little human. You might be Quinn's plaything, but he can't be with you twenty-four seven. He'll tire of you sooner rather than later. If you screw with the pack, we'll have to a.s.sume you want to be messed with, darling. I don't think you'll like how I mess with you. I won't be as pretty as Quinn there, but you'll know I've had you. I like it rough."

I kind of expected this would be a good time for Dev to roar his indignation or shoot someone, but when I looked over, he was merely rolling his eyes with disdain. "Oh, Mitch.e.l.l, you're such an ignorant man. Don't keep up with your son's circle of friends, do you?"

Mitch.e.l.l looked confused and shot a look at the younger wolf. "You talking about Wyatt? What does she have to do with Wyatt?"

"I was talking about your other son, Neil," Dev replied. "You know the one who took a blood oath to protect Daniel Donovan and everything that belongs to him, including his wife, Zoey."

Mitch.e.l.l had the good sense to go a little pale at the mention of my hubby. "You mean the vampire everyone is talking about. This is his wife?"

I was too stuck on the fact that this a.s.shole was the man who'd put Neil through such h.e.l.l. He was the one who'd tossed him to the street and allowed him to be abused by the pack. Neil had suffered and sold himself because this man couldn't handle his natural biology. Now I knew where I'd seen Wyatt's face before. I saw it every day on my friend.

Dev was still talking as my rage started to boil. "Yes, she's married to the vampire, who will probably kill you when he finds out you threatened to rape his wife. He's tolerant when it comes to me, but I doubt he'll let you into our little menage."

"Dev." I didn't dare say anything else because I didn't want to give anyone notice of what I was about to do. I held out my hand, letting him know what I wanted.

He sighed because he knew exactly what I was going to do, and he also knew it would probably cause trouble down the line. "Any way I can talk you out of it?"

"None."

He slapped the gun in my hand and before that no good, backwoods, h.o.m.ophobic, raping son of a b.i.t.c.h had a chance to move, I aimed and fired. A surprisingly high howl cracked through the room. Mitch.e.l.l fell to the floor, big hands covering his now defunct private parts.

I stood over him even as Albert showed up to hold back Wyatt. "That was for Neil. If you ever come near me again, I won't stop shooting. I swear I'll fill you so full of silver, you'll bleed metal. My only regret is that eventually your d.i.c.k will grow back. But I bet it hurts." I handed the gun back to Dev and gestured to Angelina, who seemed much surer of herself now. "She belongs to Vampire. We do not give back what is ours. We do not share what is ours"-Dev cleared his throat-"unless we really want to, and we won't share with you. You don't have to worry about my husband, Mr. Roberts. You mess with Angelina and I will hunt you down."

I turned to find Angelina holding on to the long-delayed Justin.

He held his girlfriend close but looked awfully impressed with me. "I would threaten him, but it would probably look silly after what you just did. I think you just cured me forever of companion fascination."

"You want to explain to me what's going on, Justin?" I asked as the Roberts family was being escorted off the premises. There was a very efficient cleaning crew already swabbing up the blood so no one went all blood l.u.s.ty.

Justin frowned. "Mrs. Donovan, as frightening as I find you I..."

I could finish the sentence for him. "You are way more scared of Daniel. Well, I'll take this up with him and trust me, he should be afraid of me."

Dev was watching me, his foot tapping impatiently. "Are you done? Is there anyone else you would like to maim?"

"Not anyone who's here," I replied honestly.

"I would really like to get to the s.e.xually deviant portion of the evening." Dev took my hand and led me through the crowd and up the stairs.

He blew past several employees who wanted to talk to him and told the bouncer at the bottom of the stairs that he wasn't to be disturbed for the rest of the night. By the time he slammed the door of his office, he was in a state. He pulled me to him, ours chests b.u.mping with the force. He tangled a hand in my hair, his lips moving on mine. I might have been intimidated, but I remembered what Felicity had told me. Something about the way her magic had worked on him brought back bad memories. The way he was devouring me now made me think those memories must be beyond bad.

When he finally let me come up for air, I pulled back just a little. "Dev?"

His breath moved his chest in a steady, deep pace, a sure sign of his arousal, but he let me go and walked around his desk. He threw his body into the chair and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "If you don't want to be here, there's the door, Zoey. I'll have the driver take you home."

"I didn't say I wanted to leave." He was so testy. Dev was my good-time lover. We laughed and teased and played. I guess if I was honest, that was what he really was to me. He was a playmate. I hadn't seen this side. "I just thought maybe we should talk about what happened."

I thought it was just a funny little episode. We'd all been caught at one time or another in some form of magic, but this was serious to Dev.

His green eyes were dark and that sensual mouth turned down. "I don't want to talk, Zoey. I want to f.u.c.k. I want to bend you any way that pleases me and make you scream when you come. I want you soft and sweet and entirely submissive to me. If you can't do that, then walk away and I'll figure something else out. If you hadn't already unmanned the local werewolf alpha, I might have been able to start a fight."

So much anger and pain. It was right there, etched on his gorgeous face. He'd never shown this much of himself to me. I know there are many women who would have walked out, determined to not be used by another to forget their troubles. But I knew when my lover really needed me. I made my decision. He didn't need to talk tonight. He needed something else. He needed to know I was here for him.

I drew my shirt over my head, tossing it to the side. He sat back in his chair, just a little of his rage dissipating and turning into desire. Slowly, so he couldn't miss the show I put on just for him, I pushed my jeans away, toeing off my shoes and standing in front of him in nothing but my undies and bra.

"Come here, lover." He held a hand out, guiding me down to sit on his lap.

There was only a single lamp lighting the room. Soft light made him look younger, more vulnerable than usual. I leaned forward, kissing his nose and cheeks and his furrowed brow. I wanted to kiss away his troubles.

His hands brushed across my b.r.e.a.s.t.s before unhooking the clasps of my bra and tossing it away. I leaned back, giving him the access I knew he wanted, and he fastened that sensual mouth on my nipple, tugging and sucking it with affection. I could feel the hard length of his c.o.c.k pressing against me.

I wrapped my arms around him, adoring the heat of his skin. While his tongue played on my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, I let myself be surrounded by him. His scent, his warmth, the slide of his skin against mine. The world seemed to disappear when I was with Dev.

And I'd lied to Felicity. He meant more to me than a good time.

My fingers found the bottom of his shirt, and I pulled it overhead, exposing the beauty of his chest. He was built on lean lines, every muscle sculpted and perfect. His mouth found mine again, tongues playing as his fingers delved past the waist of my panties. I was already wet and ready. He really only had to look at me to get my motor running. His fingers slid over my c.l.i.t, every nerve I had lighting up.

"I need you," he whispered against my skin. "I need you so f.u.c.king much."

It hadn't been so long ago I had asked something very similar of him, and he had not disappointed me. I wouldn't let him go through this, whatever this was, alone. "You have me. I'm here."

His eyes hardened, rough desire taking over. "Show me. Show me how much you want me." His hand tangled in my hair, pulling on it with a gentle bite. "I want you to suck me, Zoey. I want you on your knees, taking me in your mouth."

It wasn't a request he made often. He tended to please me, taking his own satisfaction only after I'd come several times. Oh, he certainly was in charge when we were in bed together, but he tended to prefer to be the one tasting.

I slid off his lap, more than willing to do what he was asking of me. Desire thrummed through my system as I unb.u.t.toned his slacks.

"Slow, Zoey." He was staring down at me, completely unmoving except for his hand in my hair. "Take your time."

He might think he was in control, but I wanted this. I'd wanted it for a very long time. Sometimes I felt useless in bed. Oh, there was always pleasure there, but I wanted to please him, too. I wanted to mean so much more to him and I couldn't when he always gave and never took.

I let my palm run over the soft material of his boxers, feeling the hard erection under there. Dev's c.o.c.k was already poking its way out of the top, touching his navel. Big and thick, the head of his c.o.c.k was bulbous and already creamy with the evidence of his arousal.

The masculine scent of his desire wafted over me. Dev smelled like the soap he'd used and sandalwood and the musky smell of his s.e.xual arousal. His deep groan reverberated across his skin as I swiped at the head of his c.o.c.k, gathering the little bead of cream I found there. The salty taste of Dev spread across my tongue and I sucked, trying to draw more from him.

"That's it." His hand tightened in my hair, the sensation lighting up my scalp and rushing across my skin. "More, Zoey. Take more of me. Take all of me."

I reached up and drew the full length of him out of his boxers. I couldn't hold him in one hand. I needed two. Green Men didn't do small c.o.c.ks. He pulsed against my palm and I loved the silky feel of him. My entire body was primed to please him, wanting nothing more than to have my tongue coated with him as I took all his troubles away.

Something had happened to him in the past, something terrible. He wouldn't talk to me about it so this was the only way I had to help him through. I knew how it felt to sit up at night and go over and over one terrible moment. I would have given a lot to have someone with me, making me forget. I could be that for Dev. I could be essential to him.

s.e.x is important. It binds us to other human beings. I know I'm nave in thinking that way. There are many people who can just lose themselves to pleasure, but I'm not one of them. I learned that my heart and all those girl parts I had were deeply connected. I couldn't seek pleasure without also getting my heart engaged and Dev was making my every emotion spark even as I drew his c.o.c.k into my mouth.

"Yes. That's what I need, sweetheart."

It didn't matter how he saw me in that moment. He could have seen me as nothing more than a cheap lay. I knew the truth. He needed me. I was the only one who could take him to a place where he wasn't worried, wasn't back in that place where Felicity's magic had taken him.

I closed my mouth over the head of his c.o.c.k and drew him in. My hair spread out over his thighs and I drew hard on his d.i.c.k, sucking as I lowered my mouth on him. His heavy b.a.l.l.s felt good against my palm. I rolled them up, loving the weight.

It took forever to work my way down most of him. I couldn't take his full length. My mouth wasn't big enough. I took as much as I could and sucked hard, letting my tongue run around his width. Silky skin played against mine, Dev's c.o.c.k thickening further even as I drew on him.

He pushed me down gently, forcing me to take another inch. His c.o.c.k hit the back of my throat and I forced myself to breathe deep.

"Do you know how f.u.c.king good you feel?" Dev's voice was hoa.r.s.e, s.e.xy and low. "Do you know how much I need you?"

It was exactly the right thing to say to keep me going. I drew back almost to his c.o.c.k head, tonguing around the ridge it formed.

"Zoey?"

I let my eyes drift up and he was staring down at me, both his hands in my hair now. I didn't say a thing, didn't pull my mouth off him. I wouldn't let up, simply let him know that I was listening.

"I'll take care of you. For as long as you'll let me, I'll take care of you."

I had zero intentions of him not taking care of me, but the specter of Daniel sat firmly between us. There was no doubt in my mind that was what he was talking about. Even as I worked on Dev's c.o.c.k, Daniel was there between us.

I was caught between my rage at my husband and a growing, deepening emotion that defined how I felt about Devinshea.

Desire swamped me, causing me to let go of my every inhibition. Nothing mattered except taking Dev to a place where no one but I could touch him.

My tongue ran up and down his d.i.c.k. Over and over, I dragged my mouth up and down, working his flesh with my tongue and teeth and mouth. His c.o.c.k filled my mouth to overflowing, invading me and overtaking me. I let my hand circle the part of his c.o.c.k I didn't have in my mouth, stroking him in time to each drag of my tongue.

His hips started to move, thrusting up to meet to my mouth as I drove his c.o.c.k deep inside.

A low moan came out of his mouth and I felt the moment his b.a.l.l.s drew up, hugging close to his body. "I'm going to come, sweetheart. If you don't want a mouthful of me, you should lean back and let me finish this."

Oh, but I'd been dying for a mouthful of him. I realized just how careful he'd been with me. He'd denied himself in order to please me. He'd focused on me and we'd missed out on so much because of it. I needed this as much as he did. I needed to know that I could transport him the way he could transport me. Dev could take me to another place when he made love to me. He could make all my troubles and worry drift away, take me to somewhere I didn't have to worry about anything beyond the next dizzying peak, the o.r.g.a.s.m that was rolling over me.

His hips rolled up, his d.i.c.k filling every inch of my mouth and I heard him groan as come spurted over my tongue.

Salty sweetness overtook my senses, his o.r.g.a.s.m making me shudder. I lapped up every ounce, swallowing him down. A deep sense of satisfaction floated through me because he was relaxed now, his muscles losing their tension.

I kept licking him, his hand softening in my hair until he was petting me.

And his c.o.c.k was coming back to life.

When I looked up at him, the dark look in his eyes was gone, replaced by a smile that drew his gorgeous mouth up.

"You have the most amazing mouth, lover. But I think it's time for a little payback. Come up here." He pulled me up and into his lap.

This time when he kissed me it was a long, satisfying exploration. He was certain I would be what he needed me to be, and he was content to take his time.

It was almost two in the morning when I finally slid out of bed. I hadn't drifted to sleep the way I normally would have. Too many things were running through my mind. This night had been different. s.e.x with Dev was fun and playful, but this was a different Dev. He'd been demanding, and I felt, for the first time, he needed me for so much more than an o.r.g.a.s.m. We'd made love, and it gave me so much to think about.

I thought Dev had finally fallen asleep, but he turned and propped his head on one hand. I was about to get dressed but sat back down on the bed.

"You can go, Zoey," Dev said quietly. "I'll be fine now."

"I wish you would tell me what was riding you tonight." I reached out to touch his chest, placing my hand right over his heart.

He smiled, a lascivious little grin, and his hand ran itself up my arm. "I don't mind telling you what was riding me tonight. That would be you, and you rode me well, sweetheart." I rolled my eyes and started to get up again but he pulled at my hand, his eyes sobering. "It happened a long time ago. I was just a kid. That f.u.c.king manipulative magic just brought back some bad memories. You drove them away with your amazing therapy."

And that was all I was going to get. "Well, I'm glad I could be of service."

He pulled me down and kissed me. "Thank you, my Zoey. I couldn't have asked for more. Now, go and give Daniel h.e.l.l like you want to."

"I don't have to go." I didn't want to leave him if he needed me, but Danny and I had a few things to iron out. I wanted to talk to him about the job, and I really wanted to kick his a.s.s for letting me walk into that situation with Angelina and Justin unaware. He had to know there would be repercussions. If I was supposed to be queen to his king, I needed to start getting the debriefings.

Dev yawned and looked generally content. "If you stay, you'll have to wait an entire day to yell at him. I don't want to be the one who kept you waiting. Go, woman. I sleep better alone anyway. You snore."

"I do not," I protested, getting off the bed and finding my clothes.

"Do, too," he insisted. "And Zoey, whatever this job is..."

"I know, I know, you want in." Those would be the three words carved into his headstone one day. I was sure of it.

"That's right. And you can be d.a.m.n sure when you go to the h.e.l.l plane to rescue Sarah, that I want in on that, too."

I stood staring at him. I'd been really careful to keep him entirely out of the loop on that one. I'd never mentioned it and been careful to never speak of it in the club.

Dev turned over with a satisfied smirk that had everything to do with one-upping me. "I know everything, Zoey. I'll talk to you tomorrow. And don't kill the vampire. We're going to need him."

I shut the door to the limo and listened as it drove back off into the night. Of all the people my move had inconvenienced, I was certain Dev's driver was the worst. The night was quiet, but the light was on in the living room. My heart clenched a little bit at the thought of Neil sitting up. I let myself in and, sure enough, there he was sitting on the couch. He was still in his slacks and polo, though they weren't as crisp as they had been. He looked more nervous than sad.

When he glanced up at me, his eyes went wide, shock replacing that haunted look.