At the bar, Zina rushed to finish her drink, and then she spoke to Liam, Pierce, Caden, and Lulu. "Now that Alpha is here, we should make ourselves scarce so that the couple can enjoy their evening."
Zina had already seen a lot of public display of affection during dinner, and she couldn't stomach any more. But she was happy for Talia.
Zina grew up in the Dark Howlers pack, and she was two years younger than Damon, so she knew him pretty much all of her life, and she never saw Damon so lovey-dovey. It was the way it's supposed to be when fated mates are together. Zina hoped that rumors about Talia's powers were true and that soon she will find a man who will look at her like that because now that her bestie (aka Dawn) found her mate, Zina felt lonely.
Damon didn't take a seat at the bar. He was standing next to Talia and stared into her eyes that were slightly unfocused and sparkling from the alcohol that coursed through her system. She was beautiful.
"What are you thinking about?", Talia asked.
"You.", he responded.
"What about me?"
"Many things." Naked mostly.
"Like?", she persisted.
Damon leaned to speak close to her ear, "I'm thinking how ravishing you look tonight. I wonder if I will be able to tear that dress in one move, or if it will need two. Should I tell everyone to scram so that I can take you on this bar counter, or maybe we can go in the car, or would you rather do it in the forest? Restroom stall? Or we could sneak into Katya's office..."
"Please, stop.", Talia said breathily. Somehow, she could see graphic images in her mind and it took her a few long seconds to realize that Damon was sending them to her. Naughty Alpha!
Her eyes moved to his lips and then she glanced at the bar counter. "Can we really do that?"
Damon burst into a laugh. "We can do whatever you want, kitten. As long as you are willing, I am available."
He stepped closer to press his crotch area on her hip and to make a point that he was hard and ready.
"Should I request for the club to be emptied?"
Talia was speechless. Tempted but speechless. "No.", she responded after an intense internal struggle. His proposition was enticing, but she would die of embarrassment because people will probably know why the club was emptied.
Her face lit up with mischief when she got an idea. "Not here, but we have a bar at home. Don't we?"
Damon's eyebrows rose in slow motion, together with his lips that formed a smile like there were strings attached and someone was pulling them up.
"Should we go home then? Can you walk, or should I carry you?"
Talia burst into giggles. She really loved when Damon was carefree and playful.
"We came here to drink and dance.", she said and swayed a bit on the chair. "Maybe I had enough of drinks. I'm not sure if I can dance."
"You can drink as much as you want, kitten.", Damon said. "Have fun and don't worry about anything else because I'm here. If you want to dance, I will make it happen."
Talia smiled at him foolishly. Yes, she was drunk, but she was more drunk on happiness because Damon was by her side, looking at her like she was the only woman in the world, and THAT was all it mattered.
Talia finished her drink and demanded, "Let's dance."
"As you wish", Damon said, and he chuckled when he saw her tripping over her own feet. He didn't let her fall as he held her close to him.
Talia leaned on Damon and his hold was solid as they swayed on the dancefloor.
Her body was limp, and she moved with him while humming a tune.
Damon chuckled and pressed his lips on her forehead.
His kitten wanted to dance, and he was determined to make it happen, even if he needed to dance for the both of them.
Lulu arrived at the pack hospital, and she slowly opened the door of Keith's room.
The light was off, and she was not sure if they were sleeping or not. It took her a few seconds to get used to seeing in the dark and to spot Keith on the hospital bed and Sandy lying on the sofa.
Keith was sleeping, but Sandy was looking at the door.
"You are early", Sandy said while checking the time.
They were taking turns in keeping Keith company while he was in the hospital, and Lulu was supposed to come at midnight, yet it was barely eleven o'clock.
"Shh…", Lulu waved at Sandy to keep it down in order not to wake up Keith.
"He is not sleeping.", Sandy said. "We were talking until a minute ago."
"You can turn on the light. I was just resting my eyes.", Keith said, and a second later Lulu flipped the switch that illuminated the room. "I don't need company. I will leave in the morning."
Keith was perfectly fine, and Doctor Travis told him that he can leave, but that was late in the evening, and Keith thought that there was no point in heading home.
Keith's plan was to sleep in the hospital and from there head to the packhouse in the morning. Damon told him that they will discuss the current dangers Talia is facing after breakfast. It was Keith's first task as Talia's head guard and he was taking it seriously.
Katya already brought him a change of clothes, he had an attached bathroom, the room was spacious and clean, the bed was fully adjustable and there was a button for him to call nurses to bring him food and whatever else he might need. It was like a luxurious hotel, and Keith would take this chance to relax and think about things, but somehow he ended up always in the company of people who thought that he needed to be entertained.
Keith paused at the outfit Lulu was wearing. It was a sparkly black tank top and a red miniskirt, and she had a black leather purse and matching shoes with stiletto heels that made her long legs appear even longer. Lulu's clothes were tight and even though her important parts were covered, nothing was truly hidden.
"I think Lulu is here to tell you that there is a party, and she won't come tonight.", Keith said to Sandy with amusement in his voice.
Lulu needed a moment to realize that Keith was looking at her outfit. "No. No. I'm coming from Shifters, that's all."
"Did they close early? Or did something bad happen?", Sandy asked. Leaving Shifters before two o'clock in the morning is considered early. "In any case, you had time to go home, change clothes, and come here before midnight. Or did you come here like this with an intention to seduce Keith?", Sandy said teasingly.
There was a time when Sandy thought that something was going on between Lulu and Keith, but neither of them acknowledged it and Keith was no more than his polite self, so Sandy assumed that it was Lulu's one-sided crush.
