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Category: Erotica/Paranormal Erotica/Science Fiction
Description: When Plain Jane Genie wanders into the Last Call and casually orders a drink, she doesn't know it's a paranormal bar. She doesn't even have a clue her cocktail has a secret code that she's delivering to all interested parties. She just wants to spend her last night in London around music and people instead of staring at the walls in her hotel. As she sips her cocktail, she is stunned to hear a sexy voice whisper, "Let's play..." Luka and Quentin are shape-shifters, and when Genie crosses their radar, they don't care about her dull clothing or the fact that she seems to be a mundane human. Their Siberian Husky senses tell them that she is much more, and she is exactly what they want. The chase is on, but who catches who? Siberian Husky: Catch me if you can!
eBook Publisher: Changeling Press LLC, 2009 2009
eBookwise Release Date: November 2009

182 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [79 KB]
Words: 15459
Reading time: 44-61 min.

There was no question in Luka's mind that Quentin Blondin was a stunningly beautiful man. He often spent long moments immersed in the study of his best friend's sculpted features or the lustrous black hair that grew just so. He might even lose himself momentarily in the mysterious depths of Quentin's ebony eyes. But that was all packaging. Quentin was so much more than the beauty of his features.

What made Quentin so dear to Luka was what lay underneath the handsome surface. It was the wild nature, the sly humor, and the sparkling happiness that always accompanied their kind. When he was with Quentin, Luka wasn't ever lonely, nor was he ever bored. He thought of all the years spent with his human foster parents, and while they'd been good to him, they'd never understood Luka the way Quentin did. How could they?

Luka sat alone at their table in the London club called Last Call, and felt the vibrations of music shimmer through his body. The DJ smoothly shifted from a German techno number to a smooth, funky tune. With a sense of relief, Luka slipped foam earplugs from his ears. Quentin might enjoy the dance music, but Luka cherished his delicate hearing. The higher pitches were nearly intolerable, and if he damaged his inner ear and destroyed his sense of balance, his career was as good as over.

"This was a good call, Luka. Last Call for our last night in London."

Quentin slid into the chair across the table, picking up his drink. His erstwhile dance partner gave Luka an appraising glance, and then her eyes flicked across the room. Without looking, Luka scented the vampire she'd just spotted.

Propping his chin on his fist, Luka smiled at his partner; Quentin knew that he'd just let a possible bed partner slip away. "You shouldn't have let go of her hand, Q. The vamp just caught her."

Quentin shrugged an indifferent shoulder, looking around the room. "He's a better choice for her anyway. She wasn't looking for someone like me."

"So what are you looking for tonight?"

"We. We are looking for fun tonight." Quentin grinned at him over the edge of his glass. "I don't want to be sad tonight, my friend. I want to think back on our year in London with happiness."

It had been a good year; they'd taken a year-long contract with the European branch of Cirque du Diable, and it had been an excellent run. A very successful run. The show had been wildly popular. Both men had spent hours under the tutelage of legendary performers, and they'd been offered a substantial raise in pay to sign for a new show in North America. Tomorrow, they would return to Montreal to begin rehearsals.

"Will you miss your Maria much?"

Quentin's eyes held compassion, and for a moment, Luka was confused. Maria. They'd split weeks ago, and he certainly hadn't been grieving for her. Oh, he missed the sex, but not the drama. Maria's temper was simply not to his liking.

"Just remember, Luka, if you'd still been with Maria, she couldn't have come in here."

True, the wards at Last Call would have ensured that the very human Maria Tolomei would have remained on the outside of the exclusive club. That was another reason they'd split; he'd finally told Maria of his true nature, and she'd been less than understanding of the fact that she'd been sleeping with a shape-shifter. She'd tried, but in the end hadn't been able to cross that divide. Her rejection had been another reminder of the loneliness that ate away at him daily.

He stifled a smile as Quentin locked gazes with an attractive blonde. For their last night in London, he wouldn't mind sharing the lovely woman with his best and oldest friend. Sharing was one of the only ways he knew of to alleviate that terrible need he had for his friend. It was a need that Quentin denied, though Luka was certain that the other man returned his feelings. He often caught the younger shifter gazing at him with the faraway look in his eye that spoke of feelings deeper than friendship. He often looked at Quentin with a similar expression on his face.

Quentin rose to approach the blonde then suddenly froze in place. He frowned down at the tabletop and rested his fingers lightly on the polished wood. The expression on his face was intent and curious. "Did you feel that?"

Luka shivered and looked around the room. He felt a subtle vibration through the soles of his feet and the palms of his hands. None of the customers seemed to have noticed the shift in the atmosphere, but the head of security was walking toward the front door of the bar. Had the wards been tested? Was there danger at hand?

He looked up at the specialty bar, where the blonde cat shifter who mixed the drinks had gone still, a puzzled look on her face. She left the bar to met the beautiful vampire who headed security. They spoke quietly, heads close together. The red-haired woman glanced at the door once again and nodded, retreating to the bar on the raised platform, keeping a close eye on the entrance to the building. It wasn't an emergency, but still, she was on alert.

He glanced over at Quentin. "What do you suppose that was?"

His friend shook his head in puzzlement. "I wish I knew."